𝙹𝚄𝙽𝙺𝙷𝙴𝙰𝙳༉‧₊˚. ᴄʜʀɪꜱ ᴄᴏʀɴᴇʟʟ

𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆.

"YOU KNOW, DATING AFTER REHABILITATION IS FROWNED UPON."

Ozzie said, interrupting Delia's focus on the chirping crickets.

"I mean, it's not a rule. Just frowned upon." Ozzie continued, leaning back in his rickety porch swing.

"I frowned upon dating before rehab," Delia replied, wondering where her father was going with his sudden conversation. She hoped Chris wouldn't return outside quite yet from the quest for beer Ozzie had sent him on.

Ozzie looked at Delia from the corner of his eye, wondering when, if ever, she'd be able to have a fluid conversation without the use of sarcasm. Although he couldn't complain, as he knew she'd had to have inherited that quirk from him. "You frowned upon everything before rehab." Ozzie's face was stoic as he said this, but he smiled as he saw the hint of both annoyance and amusement in his daughter's eyes.

"I'm not dating anyway." Delia pulled her knees to her chest in an effort to keep warm as she shared an old yet familiar look with her father. "If I wanted to, I could. I'd be fine." Ozzie persisted with his knowing look as Delia struggled to voice what exactly she meant, her words only furthering his fatherly assumptions. "I just don't want to."

"Okay, kid." His gaze returned to the water, the ripples causing the reflection of the string lights to dance on the inky darkness. The corners of his mouth were still turned up in an almost antagonizing smile, wanting Delia to share the details of her 'friendship' with Chris.

Most of Delia's high school relationships occurred while she lived in Astoria. Her mother was far too busy with rock journalist duties to counsel her on the antics of teenage boys and first relationships. So, Ozzie had assumed the role of guiding their daughter through all the bullshit which was high school boys in a small town. He would listen to Delia drag on and on about some little asshole with a big truck who probably didn't even open doors for her and seldom called before eleven PM. He gained a quick understanding of how to offer advice without upsetting her, when to leave her alone, and when not to.

Now, he would be beyond pleased to hear all about her newfound situation. An issue with a man was far better than an issue with sobriety, and Ozzie dearly missed hearing about mundane issues.

"I don't need to know anything." Delia sighed, though it was not an exasperated sigh but almost wistful. She decided not to elaborate, hoping her father would grasp what she meant in the few words. Delia had ultimately come to the decision that no matter what happened in her and Chris' relationship, she would be happy. She certainly didn't mind if the random moments of intimacy continued, though she also wouldn't be surprised if they stopped altogether.

The two sat in a few more moments of comfortable silence, Ozzie surprised by the tone of Delia's voice. The short expression was vastly different from the pessimistic reply he expected.

Chris returned with Ozzies pale ale, sitting beside Delia as he handed her a blanket. Ozzie hung around long enough to finish his beer, then bid goodnight, sending his daughter an almost sly smile before he trudged inside.

Delia glared back, wordlessly attempting to dispel Ozzie's premonitions about leaving the two alone.

She almost felt like a kid again, surrounded by the familiar earthy smells wafting through the tree-shrouded property. She was sure she'd have splinters from the deck and possibly a cold in the morning, but she didn't mind. Delia lost herself in happy reminiscing, welcoming the nostalgia she once considered insignificant.

Chris, too, basked in the tranquility of it all, appreciating the quiet the most. Although Seattle was not the largest of cities, nor the loudest or busiest, like all cities, the noise was a constant. Cars backfired, music blasted from every little club or cafe, sirens sounded, and construction seemed everlasting. Compared to the little Oregon town, Seattle was a hellscape. A hellscape Chris had grown to love, but couldn't deny the appeal of a town like Astoria and almost envied the place Delia once called home.