Introduced (Reece Bibby fanfiction)

Chapter 45

The rest of the meal was quite awkward. Occasionally we'd make small talk but apart from that we sat in silence.

When we got back to the house we both went straight to bed since everyone else was asleep, me sleeping downstairs again. Everyone's families were going home the next day so I wasn't really sure where I was going to sleep because I couldn't sleep in Reece's room.

Things didn't improve the next day, they were probably worse in fact. Me and Reece didn't even make eye contact throughout breakfast and I think everyone suspected that something was up.

I had to go to the hospital that day to sort out things about my mum. Tom drove me there after breakfast, giving the lads some time with their families alone before they all went back home. We arrived at the hospital and I was greeted by one of the doctors who took me into a room and started talking about arrangements for my mum. Tom waited outside in the reception area. I'd forgotten that she was being buried in Cyprus and wanted me to go out there. I couldn't face doing that though, not right now.

The doctor then told me that my mum had left a number for me to ring and I guessed it was her husbands'. I had this gut feeling that I wouldn't like him if I met him, after all he did with causing mum to leave me and dad when I was younger, and the same went for my two 'half-sisters'. I know I said yes to my mum when she first asked me to meet them but now it feels different, it feels wrong to do anything with her family without her.

I must have sat in silence for a few minutes thinking because when I next noticed the doctor was stood by the door.

"You can say your last goodbyes if you want" he said kindly, holding the door open for me to pass. I noticed I had a few stray tears running down my cheeks and quickly wiped them away while shaking my head. That was another thing I didn't think I could face.

The doctor acknowledged this and left me to find my way back to the reception. I'd been in here plenty of times before so I knew my way around.

I turned the corner to see Tom waiting by the door, leaning on the wall since there were no seats. When he saw me he walked forwards and pulled me into a hug, automatically assuming that I'd be upset. We stayed there for a while, just hugging and me gripping onto his t-shirt and sobbing into his chest. Everything seemed to just hit me in that moment and I broke down, hugging Tom even tighter.

"It's okay, come on and let's go back to the car. I bought you some chocolate to try and make you feel better" he said, stepping away and wiping tears from my cheeks. I smiled weakly as he put one arm around my shoulder, leading me back to the car.

The journey home was silent apart from the sound of me munching on chocolate. Tom had calmed me down when we got back to the car, reassuring me mainly that things between me and Reece would sort themselves out.

We were driving down the main road and were nearing my dads house when I realised something.

"Dad" I gasped, sitting up straight. Tom pulled the car over to the side of the road with a confused and worried look on his face. "I haven't told my dad about mum, he needs to know." How could I forget to let him know? I mean, I know we aren't on good terms and he won't welcome me on his doorstep but I should have realised sooner.

"Do you want to go now? We're near the house and I don't mind stopping" Tom replied. I nodded and took a deep breath as he pulled back onto the road for a few metres before pulling up on my dads driveway.

My hands shook and my breathing was unsteady as I walked up to the front door, terrified at how he would react. I reached up and knocked on the door and then stepped back and played with my fingers, waiting for a reply. The door suddenly flung open, my dad taken aback by the fact I had the nerve to be there.