Like gravity

Chapter Two

[A/N] First up, I would like to thank those who read the first chapter. I appreciate it very much. Secondly, I apologise for not updating this story for months. I have absolutely no other excuses except for the fact that I'm in my final semester in Uni and am really busy with tests and assignments and add on to the fact that my finals are coming in less than a month.

*wipes sweat*

Anyway, here's the second chapter. Enjoy!
(I did not proofread so apologies for grammar/spelling errors)

{Dedicated to steffy_t because 'The Seat Filler' is probably one of the best stories on Wattpad and everyone needs to read it, if not for the storyline but for Lincoln at least.}

| Junior Year of High School, September |

Melanie's POV

"Going somewhere, sis?" my older brother, Max says by the door of my bedroom.

"Shush, Max! Get in here," I quickly tug him into my room before closing the door and locking it because I cannot have my parents knowing, especially my father, of the fact that their little girl will be out with some boy.

"So, need my help?" Max says, laying on my bed and staring at the ceiling.

"At?" I ask while putting on my bracelet as a finishing touch to my whole get-up for this date.

Max snorts at me, while chuckling, as though I just asked a stupid question. "At sneaking away, of course! You can't possibly leave the house through the front door looking like that."

That is when I realise that Max was actually slurring his words a little. It wasn't obvious but because he is my brother, I could tell the difference. Squinting my eyes, I turn to look at him and ask, "Max, have you been drinking?"

"Psh, what no," he says but snickers after that and says, "Alright, maybe a little."

"It's only 6pm! Too early to be drinking!" I say, disappointed in him.

"Oh, come on, Laney," Max whines. "There's no such thing as too early when it comes to drinking. Plus, I drank like a tiny sip only. Screw off."

I sigh and shake my head, "You aren't even supposed to be drinking, Maximilian. You promised."

"Whatever, I'm eighteen. I'll do whatever I want," he shrugs, glancing at me. "And don't call me that. You know how much I hate being called that, especially because dad calls me that."

I ignore his last sentence. "You know, if father catches you, he will-"

"Yeah, yeah, he will send me off to military. Do I give a fuck? No. So you shouldn't too, Laney," he cuts me off, a tinge of irritation in his voice.

"Fine," I mumble under my breath, knowing that whatever I say will fall on deaf ears.

"Anyway, why do you call dad, 'father'? Are we in the eighteenth century or something?" he asks with a snort.

"I just do," I reply curtly, not wanting him to ask further. But Max being Max, he does not stop.

"That's bullshit. You're Melanie Williams. You have a reason to everything, a solution to every problem."

"Fine. You want to know why?" I ask rhetorically, letting out an exasperated sigh. "It's because he is my father. He is not my dad or my daddy. He is just my father, that's all he is to me. Father because it is formal and it connotes and emphasizes on the formal relationship between us, which is what it is."

"It connotes and emphasizes on the formal relationship between us," Max repeats mockingly and shakes his head. "Only you would explain something that way. Why do you still put up with his bullshit, Laney?"