Disallowed ⇔ Matty Healy

Chapter 5

Time drags. Checking my watch, i see I've been sat here well over an hour now.

This is ridiculous! What are they doing? I can't of got this wrong. I mean, the damn file of his is right there, sat in front of me.

Let me guess, gone for a spot of shopping? Trying to spoil him and and win him around by buying his affection.

I already hate this guy. I don't even have to meet him. I can just see it now. He comes walsing in, acting like he owns the place. Mum and dad running around, waiting on him, hand and foot. Thinking he's somehow better than me and Danny.

I'm starting to wish it was just a child they'd adopted now. Least it would be easier, better for me. I give it until this time next week and my mum and dad will have forgotten i even exist.

I reach for his file again, i pull it back in front of me, staring at the picture of him. I can't stop the scowling expression on my face as i stare down at it. The more i look, the more i get this feeling of hate. We're not going to get on. It's pointless even trying.

Mum and dad better brace themselves.

.... In fact, I'd better. They're here.

I hear the car doors slamming shut one by one. I pick the file up and walk over to the bin. No point in keeping it. He's not staying!

I walk out of the kitchen just as the front door opens.

My dad throws the keys on the side shelf. "Della. What you doing home? You sick?" my dad heads over to me. He throws a hand up on my forehead to feel my temperature.

"I'm fine" i step back away from him. I'm so mad i don't even want to look at him, never mind talk to him or have him touching me.

"Why aren't you in school?" Mum raised voice shouts up towards me as I'm half way up the stairs now.

I try keeping my cool. But it slips. I stop, turning quickly around to face her. "So- hang on" i shout. "You're the one going behind mine and Danny's back, yet you're the one asking the questions?" she shoots me a surprised glance, never having heard me shout like this at her before. "Save your lecture" i scoff before running back up the stairs to my bedroom.

"Della, Maria Jones. You get your arse back down these stairs, now!" Dad shouts up the stairs. Scaring me.

I stay sat on my bed. Closing my eyes taking in a deep breath. I really am in trouble. My dad never gets angry. Especially with me. This is a scary first. My dad always has my back.... used to. See, he's changing towards me already. 

I walk down the stairs hesitantly. Fearing what I've done this time.

"In the kitchen" my dad calls, already sat at the table.

I walk in, seeing that stupid fucking file sat back on the table. I take a seat next to him slowly. Keeping my attention on the floor.

"You know this doesn't belong in the bin" his voice is now softer, calmer. But his expression tells me he's still annoyed with me.

I roll my eyes and turn my head the opposite way. I'm not budging on this. I don't want him living here with us.

"So, where's precious Matty?" i ask with a bitter tone at my dad.

He sighs, before reaching for my hand. "Look at me" he tells me, giving my hand a light squeeze. "I know this is hard. And i know it's something that's going to take time to get used to. But we're a family. Nothing is going to change that. We're just, welcoming someone else into it" he smiles at me. That smile where he's trying to convince me to believe him.

I pause for a while. It's funny, when you're alone. You have all these questions. All these things, ready to say to someone. Yet when the time comes. Your mind goes blank. Like it's telling you the other person is right and it's pointless adding anything else on.

But he's not right. Non of this is right.

"But why him? I mean-" i take a deep breath. "Why a teenager?"

He takes a sip from his coffee. "Dell" he says quietly. "You'll never be replaced you know" the humor in his voice causes me to fight against a smile. And i lose. "There's only one of you ain't there?" he nudges his shoulder into mine before chuckling together.

"He'll be mums favorite. Like Danny though" i shrug, voicing my thoughts to my dad. Him always being the only one i can talk to. Mums never got time for me. She's always running around after Danny. Doing everything for him. Making no secret about him being her fave.

"He's sixteen Dells. I doubt we'll hardly ever see him. That's the reason we decided on adopting him. He's old enough to do his own thing. And, with him being the age he is, it means it'll only be for a couple of years" he pulls me into him, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "Just-" he breathes out. "Give him a chance" he nods down at me, kissing the top of my head.

I sigh, knowing i have no choice. Their mind's are clearly made up already. "I'll try" i tell him, standing up and pushing the chair back under the table. "That's all i can do"

I head out of the kitchen "That's all we're asking" he calls back to me.

"Right. Get your shoes on. We gotta go" mum shouts across to me as she puts hers on.

"What?"

"We're going to go get him now" my dad's back out of the kitchen.

"Why do i have to come?" i shake my head. That annoyance that only just left, creeping back again. Yeah, thanks mum!

"Because you're skiving" mum stands in front of the mirror, applying some more lipstick "Therefor, you're grounded. So do as you're told. We've gotta go pick Danny up from school and then head off"

We head out. Dad being the first one to the car. I rush over to him "I'm not grounded am i?" i look up at him hopeful. Knowing I'll get my own way with him. He shakes his head with a full teethed smile. "Let's go get your brother" he opens the car door for me.

Ugh. Which one you meaning?

We arrive, eventually. I pull out my headphones i had to put in to drown out Danny's nagging, asking where we were going every two seconds.

"Now listen. You be nice, do you hear me?" Mum walks around the car to get to me and link her arm through mine.

I roll my eyes at her before circling around above my head to gesture i have a halo.