Battle Scars (l.brooks fan fiction)

Chapter 5

My dad means the world to me. No one could replace him. Mum screwed up so all I have left is dad and I'm not going to let go of him.

I told him about my need to move out and he could not be more supportive, he sees mum as a toxic person to be around for me. He's actually encouraging me to move so that I don't have to be around her.

———-

Earlier that Day

I flicked through the channels as I ate my nutigrain, finally settling on Cartoon Network. What can I say? I love adventure time. I hummed along to the theme song as someone entered the lounge room and walked to the kitchen.

"There's my Taylah, it's been so long since I've seen your face at home. Don't tell me my baby girl is growing up and getting all the boys," my dad laughed.

I turned around and blushed. "Shut up dad!" I laughed, getting up and running into his open arms to embrace him in a hug, "I've missed you!"

"So how have you been? And how has the cactus been?" he asked, taking a sip of his coffee. Cactus, for your information, was our nickname for my mum.

"I've been good. Made some friends. And she's... well she's been how you'd expect."

My dad sighed. He had tried to step in on many of the occasions when mum had vodka'd herself up and insulting the living shit out of me but it never worked.

"Dad, I want to move. I want to get away from here. I want to move to a nice suburbs, preferably with my friends, and get the hell away from mum. I'll even transfer schools. I'm only eighteen and I don't have the money but I'll start looking at résumés and I just nee-"

"I'll pay for your first month of rent, second and third if I have to, I want you out of here and away from that woman who hasn't been your mum in a very long time. You hear me?" dad ranted. He loved mum so much but hated how she treated me. He'd put me before mum any day. That's another thing mum dislikes about me now.

——

My dad started up his car, "I'm really proud of you for this Tay."

I smiled as he drove away from the house and followed the directions on the GPS to Luke, Beau and Jai's house. I had texted Luke and Beau to look up some units and flats that were being rented out, and had asked Jai to organise for Daniel and James to go over to help us house hunting.

After about 30 minutes of medium traffic we finally made it to Luke's house. Boy was I glad it was a 26°c day and not a cloud to be seen.

I wound down the window as Luke came out of his house and walked up, leaning his arms on the window ledge. He was wearing a white t-shirt with black skinny jeans and black vans.

"You're wearing something that actually goes together?" I said in a question tone, my dad suppressed a laugh and instead gave me a little flick on the arm and a stern look.

"Jai dressed me."

"Makes sense," I teased, sticking out my tongue. Luke got in the back quickly followed by Jai and James. Beau was in the car in the driveway with Daniel... according to James.

"Fuck!" Jai muttered.

"Exactly my reaction last night when Essendon lost to Collingwood again," Dad grumbled lightheartedly.

"Oh don't get me started dad! We all know Collingwood is the better team," I said.

"Ba! Have you seen Essendon play on their good days?" Luke piped.

"You mean their drug days?" I smirked.

Jai's mouth dropped open and he looked between Luke and I, while James oooohhhh'd in the background. We pulled up at the first apartment and walked in.