Delgado

Chapter 41

A/N - neither you or I expected a double update, trust me

No more assignment progress later, here you go😍😍

~~~

Scott

Fatherhood.

Something most men dream about, something they hope for, something that changes them from the second they hold their child in their arms for the first time and lasts until the day they take their final breath.

Key word in that sentence.

Most.

My father was the opposite, and where I was today was down to nobody but my eldest brother. Santiago displayed to me everything I didn't want my child to see, and Zane had shown me what it meant to be a father.

I just hoped I was good at it, I didn't want to let anyone down.

There was a large jump between helping to raise my little brothers, and growing up and parenting an actual newborn baby. But I had faith in myself, and I had faith in Makayla, and I knew that we'd provide nothing but the best for our baby; no matter what.

~

11 years ago

Fridays meant one thing and one thing only.

Sleep.

They signified the end of the school week, five days of suffering, five sleepless nights, all to be made up for in one go. It's not that I didn't like school, I did- it meant getting away from the house, from him, for a few hours every day; and there was nothing I liked more than being away from my father.

I may only be 14, but I was far from stupid.

I knew what we were living in was wrong, but there wasn't anything we could do about it. So we adapted.

We all took our shoes off, Zane tossed down his keys and went to do a sweep of the house, check if he was home. It was the same routine.

"Homework, Caleb", he called over his shoulder and my brother groaned, picking up his rucksack and stomping up the stairs, "cut down on the attitude". His footsteps grew quieter and I chuckled to myself, Zane always got his own way one way or another and I loved it about him.

"Scotty, I want food", Xav rubbed his stomach and began to lead the way to the kitchen, "can you make cakes?". Xander and Chase trailed behind us, and I watched the former for a moment...he didn't look happy, never really did anymore.

"Do you have homework?", I asked Xav, taking a leaf out of Zane's book.

"Maybe", he shrugged, "I dunno".

"Go get your bag", I told him and he groaned, "I'll make the cakes later". Zane entered the room, his jacket gone and his tie too.

"Is he?-", I went to ask and he shook his head, thank fuck, "I was gonna-,".

"Can you go and check on Caleb?", he asked, "I'm sure he could do with a helping hand".

"Yeah, sure", I didn't argue, even though I wanted to sleep. I picked up my bag from the doorstep and headed upstairs; they came first...I'd have to just sleep later.

~

Caleb was sitting at the desk in his room, a pen being squeezed in his hand and a crumpled sheet of paper in front of him. He hated homework just as much as I hated not being able to sleep.