Free Kendall

Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Books and new friends

Ari's POV

TW: Transphobia

I reach my house after everyone else was dropped off.
The light is on, which means Dad is home from work.

I smile. 

I park my car, grabbing my backpack and purchases, locking it and coming inside.
I unlock the front door and hear Dads Alexa playing Sinatra, so I know it's Italian night. Yum.
I am about to take off my shoes when I overhear two voices coming from the kitchen.

The first is distinctively masculine and the second is...

I go into the kitchen to get a better hearing advantage, and it's her.
I pale, feeling the blood rush out entirely.

Dad turns around and sees me.
"Oh, Ari," He says. "It's not what it-"

I cut him off.
"What the hell is she doing here?"

My mother sits at the end of our kitchen table, in a fancy dress with a heavy amount of makeup on.

"She found our phone numbers," Dad replies. "And asked to have a chat. Ari, she hasn't seen you in seven years."
"Ari-" My mother starts to say, but I cut her off.
"Do not use my deadname, woman," I reply. "I want you out of my house and out of my life you transphobe!"

My mother pales, my words sinking in.
I feel no remorse. No guilt. She has been rude to me my entire life. She is the one who punishes people like me, and I will never want anyone to experience what I had to experience.
She stands, grabbing her belongings, slips her shoes on, and walks out of the house.

I breathe out deeply before turning over to my Dad.
He looks both proud and terrified all at the same time.

"Has she changed at all?" I ask.
My dad shakes his head.
"I wanted to see if she really had, and I believe that she's trying, but she's just as bad as J.K Rowling or any other transphobic person."

(A/N: I love the Harry Potter fandom, no disregard to them, but J.K Rowling isn't a favourite of ours.)

I nod, feeling a tear slide down my cheek.

"How about we put all this spaghetti into Tupperware," Dad says. "And we change into our nightclothes, pop some popcorn, and watch something on tv?"
"That sounds great," I reply.
He smiles.

I get to work on the food while he changes, then we swap.

Once I'm done and in my pj's, I put A Court of Mist and Fury next to A Court of Thorns and Roses and grab Neverseen from my bag.
I waddle into the living room, and Dad is sitting on the couch with a giant bowl of popcorn and an open arm.

I sit next to him and find the remote.

"Thanks," I say. "For trying."
"It's alright my Ari-Tari," Dad replies. "We'll call your sister in the morning, she will want to know all the details, but for now, it's just you and me time."

I smile, choosing the new Percy Jackson tv show.
"Look!" I excitedly point at the first episode listed.

He smiles.
"We always loved those books and play, not the movies though. Is Nico in it yet?"
I shake my head.
"Nope, not until the third season."

Dad frowns, and I hand over Neverseen.

"Is this the next one?" He asks.
"Yup. I got it at Barnes and Noble."

He claps, putting it on the side table.
I got him hooked on the series after I read it from the library.

The opening scene of PJO starts to roll, and the two of us quiet down, enjoying the peaceful night.

***