To Capture a Heart ✔️

Chapter 8

I came home to a half drunk father. I watched as he lay across the sofa, his feet dangling off the edge of the worn fabric. The bottle of scotch was held limply in his hands as his eyes shut under the dim light of the living room. How has my life come to this?

I watched in disgust as he took another swig of the dreaded drink, spilling a little of the clear liquid over his creased, stained shirt.

As if sensing my presence, his eyes spring open, eyeing me as I walk further into the living room. My dad struggled to sit up, holding his back as he sits in an upright position.

"What are you lookin' at?" He slurs, his eyes looking everywhere except at mine.

"Nothing," I say, keeping my distance from this mean drunk.

"Go to your room," This unrecognizable man in front of me staggers to his feet and takes a step towards me. My reflexes cause me to move backwards, sinking into myself.

"What's wrong?" He questions, a huge grin plastered on his face. "Are you afraid?" I watch as his hand flies forward, just missing my face by a couple of inches.

Unexpectedly, my father burst out into laughter, holding his belly as he spread his scotch filled breath around the room. What is going on?

And then he takes another strike. And he doesn't miss.

I wobble backwards, cradling my cheek with my hand, tears brimming in my eyes. On the verge of tears, I looked up at my father, who had laid back down on the sofa, falling asleep instantly.

My blood is boiling, bringing me back to reality. I have a drunk for a father. The only person who brought me comfort left me a couple weeks ago. Louis is-

Louis!

Forgetting about my sore cheek, I shook my dad awake. He's been drunk for too long, he couldn't have picked him up from school.

"Where's Louis?!" I scream in his face as he stirs in his wake, eyeing me harshly.

"At his friend's house..." He answers before falling back to a deep sleep.

I sigh, praying that he's telling the truth about his son.

My cheek still stings from the contact, the throbbing faded as I pulled myself up the stairs, to my tiny room.

I pull my phone from my pocket, checking for any messages. None. My fingers find my music app, filling me with the Adele lyrics that get me through the hardest of times.

It's so cold out here in your wilderness
I want you to be my keeper,
But not if you're so reckless...

The words fill me, taking over every insecurity and worry I've ever had, as I lay on my bed and drift off to the soothing words complete with a soothing voice.

***

I wake to my harsh ringtone. As I stir on my bed, I pick my phone up, reading the name on the screen. Christina. Quickly, my finger answers the call, bringing the phone to my ear.

"Kaylee? Kaylee, can you please come to my house? Please I really need..."She drifts off, not finishing her sentence. I can hear the hurt in her voice and I could feel the pain that Ferris put her through.

"Of course, of course I'll come-"

"I'll text you the address."

And just like that, the call was cut off. My mind was racing. What did Ferris say to her that hurt her so much? Aside from probably embarrassing her in front of the entire canteen, how much more harsh could he have been? Without thinking, I jump off my bed, run down the stairs and make my way to Christina's house, not thinking of the consequences that await me when I return back home.