"Hard to forgive" ᵉⱽᵃⁿˢˢᵒⁿ ᵗʷⁱⁿˢ

xii. "dad"

Cecilia's. P.O.V.:

I hated it. The day was not nearly as we had imagined it and now pain because of a damn allergy, that was all stupid. I kicked the air with my leg, but the jerky movement hurt a lot, so seconds later I screwed up my face and pressed my arm against my stomach. Damn the pain.

The last time I had been exposed to lactose was a long time ago, as I always tried my hardest to avoid it. I've had worse and stronger pains when my father used me as a punching ball, but still it was anything but pleasant and I snorted in annoyance. Why now of all times and today?

Felix had been gone for a few minutes and my gaze wandered around the room. I hadn't noticed the pictures hanging on the wall before, but they showed fans standing in costplays next to their idols. Just cute, I thought. There was a picture of a man in a Darth Vader suit carrying a little boy on his shoulders. The boy was wearing a Luke Skywalker mask.

Would I get used to something like that? Certainly Scarlett and Chris' lives were lavish. Comic cons, filming, parties and then they had a family to support too. I wasn't sure that would have been for me.

Another wave of pain ran through me and I exhaled in a hiss.

I wonder if Scarlett or Chris had an allergy. Maybe lactose intolerance too, that would be funny. A commonality. No, stop. What am I thinking?
I tried to sort out my thoughts. Then suddenly I heard my mobile phone and pulled it out of my pocket. A picture of my father appeared on the screen and above it was written 'Dad'. I audibly exhaled.

If I didn't answer, there would be mighty trouble later, but if I did answer, I would probably hang up with a tear-stained face and be upset.

The mobile rang a second time. I had no choice.

Uncertainly, I answered the call and held my phone to my ear.
"Hey dad" ,I said and immediately heard my father's voice through the receiver.

"Cecilia, where are you? The school has called me and Catherine several times asking if you were sick", he shouted, snorting loudly. I could hear music in the background and guessed he was just in a bar with his colleagues.

"We-", I started but was interrupted again.

"No, I don't want to hear any excuses. I want you to come home right now! We can't. Felix and skipping school, fine, but you can't afford it. You'll never find anyone like that", he went on and I listened. Ironic how he wanted to know where we were and then wouldn't let me talk.

"Dad, I'll let Felix know and then we'll leave right away. I just don't know how-", I started to talk but he interrupted me again and I ran my hands through my hair in frustration.

"Where are you, Cecilia", he asked. He sounded quite angry and mumbled a few words I didn't understand.

"In London", I replied, hearing my father banging on something. Then he talked something about how he probably wanted another one. He probably just ordered himself some alcohol.

"What are you looking for in London?", he hissed and I could hear the annoyance coming out of one voice.

"We were going to Comic Con and I know that-", I explained, but my father really wasn't going to let me get a word in edgeways today.

"For a pointless event you guys just take off?! When you're home you can experience something like that?", I listened to his words and my eyes widened for a few seconds. Tears gathered but I tried to suppress them and turned to my father. "I know that was stupid of us. I'm sorry", I stopped.

"Can you maybe tell me what my lactase tablets are called?", I then asked quietly and heard him burp. Probably from his drink.

"I don't know. Haven't bought them in ages", he replied dismissively and somewhere it hurt me that he didn't even ask if everything was okay. I quickly pushed the thought aside.
"We'll be on our way soon. If all goes well, we'll be home in two hours at the latest"

"Stay where you are. If you come today, I can't guarantee anything", he said and then he just hung up. There was something with his voice. The tears left my eyes and I sniffled up. I couldn't tell if the tears were because of Dad's words or my pain, but I knew I was miserable.

I bit my lip and propped my head in my hands. It was only when my name rang out that I realised I was no longer alone in the room. Scarlett, despite being pregnant, knelt beside me and touched my shoulder. She smelled of lavender. I winced briefly and lifted my head. Not only Scarlett was in the room, Elizabeth Olsen and Chris were here too. And my brother, of course, who sat down next to me.

"Hey sweetie, don't cry", she brushed a strand of hair out of my face and gave me a pitying look. It was with difficulty that I didn't flinch. Actually, it was a kind of reflex I couldn't do anything about. How I hated pity.

"Lia, does it still hurt so much?", asked Felix, smiling gently at me.

"Dad called", I spoke and looked at my brother. His face darkened.
"He doesn't want us to come back today", I whispered. Besides Felix, the most anyone could have heard it was Scarlett, but I tried not to worry about that.

Felix nodded thoughtfully and was about to start talking when Chris spoke up and lifted a small brown paper bag into the air. "We got you some things from the pharmacy. These should make your pain better quickly", he explained, pulling out a packet of lactase tablets which he handed to me.
Elizabeth poured me a glass of water and pressed it into my other hand.

"Thank you", I whispered, throwing them a slight smile. I felt Scarlett's hand stroking my back soothingly.