How To Stay Afloat (BxB)

Chapter 5: everyone's got daddy issues

Trigger warning: mentions of selfharm and domestic abuse

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Austin almost chokes on his food when he tries to eat, but starts laughing again. He coughs and then laughs again.

I don't even remember what we're laughing about, at this point the laughing is funnier than whatever started it. And watching him almost choke on his food is hilarious as well.

Austin stops abruptly, looking towards the corridor with dread. I stop laughing, too and hear someone closing the front door of the flat.

"Austin?" A deep male voice calls out.

He quickly jumps up. "Hang on, I'll be back in a second." He says and walks out the kitchen, closing the door behind him.

"Dad, you're already home?" I hear Austin's voice. His dad came home. Now I understand his reaction. I try to avoid having friends over when my dad's home as much as I can. He doesn't approve of any friends I had at home and I doubt he would like my current friends.

"Where did you put my wallet?" The man asks, his voice is angry and slurred.

Austin is whispering something about keeping it down and not having his wallet.

"Don't talk to me like that, I can shout around my home as much as I want to." His dad shouts angrily.

Is he drunk? It's only half past 6. Why would he be drunk?

I hear them arguing and frown. I'm not supposed to hear that, but I'm curiously listening in. I cannot make my ears not listen, it's not my fault.

"You've had enough." I hear Austin say and then there's the sound of glass breaking, followed by a loud thump.

I jump up scared. What the fuck just happened?

I can hear Austin hiss in pain. That's enough for me to rush out to see what's going on.

When I get outside of the kitchen I find Austin lying on the floor with a broken bottle and liquid around him. It smells like rum or whiskey.

"Are you fucking stupid?" Austin shouts and slowly sits up from the floor, holding his arm. His father is standing right behind him, next to the front door. Both of them glare at each other, not noticing me.

"What did you just say?" He fumes and makes a step forward, raising his arm while Austin flinches away, protecting his face with his forearms.

I'm frozen in my spot. Shit. This looks like it's a normal situation for them somehow. Like their arguments usually escalate. And I thought my father is an asshole.

His dad steps forward, but stumbles over Austin's feet. When he finds his balance he spots me just standing there.

He stops in his tracks, wide eyed. I look at him, scared to move. He slowly turns his head towards Austin. "Clean that up. I'm going out." He says and then walks in my direction. I step out of the way and he disappears behind the door opposite of Austin's room. He comes back out, holding a wallet and walks straight past me.

"I forgot something at work. I'm taking the bus." He says, walking back towards the front door.

He opens the door and halts for a second to look at Austin who's still sitting in the floor and glares at him. "I'm sorry. Sorry." He mumbles and then leaves.

"Fuck off." Austin shouts when his father is out of view. He kicks the door closed with his foot and groans angrily.

I must have been holding my breath because as soon as the door is closed I take a deep breath.