Good Luck Anna

Favours

Sunday is spent with us all quietly sitting in the living room, we stare at the T.V but it's clear that none of us is paying any attention to it. The whole day is very subdued, by seven o'clock I'm falling asleep on the couch until movement across the room stirs me.

I open my eyes to Alex hovering over the top of me, "time for bed Anna."

Briefly forgetting that I'm no longer six grumbling, "I wasn't sleeping." Edward chuckles from behind his newspaper.

"Yes, you were wood chipper, c'mon get to bed so you're not shattered at school tomorrow." I can't even try to argue with him goddamn snoring giving me away again.

Nodding slowly, I crawl off the chair mumbling a "goodnight" before leaving. Closing the door but decide to linger outside for the enviable "adult conversation" to start. My only hope is that it isn't as heart breaking as the last one.

"Can I ask you a favour Edward," Alex's rough voice finds me easily through the door.

"Of course, son." Edwards warm tone is so comforting.

"I need a job. Will do anything you need me to. I'm happy to clean or whatever you have going. I just need money." He sighs, probably regretting giving up his well paying supermarket job at the start of summer.

"We already have a couple of very good cleaners, pretty sure we could find a position suitable for you. I'll have you start next week so you don't go scaring off the clients with those bruises." Edward chuckles to himself since he is also sporting an impressive bruise on his jaw from dad.

The relief is clear in his voice when he says, "thank you, honestly I really appreciate this."

"Not a problem son," my chest swells with emotion, I love that man so much.

"Em... also I need you to treat me just like all your other staff, no special treatment just 'cause we know each other. If I fuck up you need to pull me for it... we should keep it professional in the office." He sounds more sure of himself than he has done in months.

Not missing a beat he responds with, whatever you want son."

"Thank you Edward, seriously thank you." There's movement in the room as I realise too slow that it's coming toward the door.

It opens and I am face to face with a scowling Alex. "Bed now, you peeping Tom."

Edward laughs, I stick my tongue out at them both before sulking off to my bedroom.

The next morning my stomach is churning with nerves, how the hell am I meant to tell my friends about dad and all the shit he has pulled this weekend. This is still on my mind when I wander into the kitchen.

Alex is sitting at the small dining table, he clearly didn't sleep at all last night, a literal flask of coffee is steaming next to him while he types away on his laptop.

I flick on the kettle to make some tea catching his attention in the process, "You about ready to go?"

My eyes involuntary roll, as I groan, "the train station is just down the street, I can go by myself."

"No, you won't you are only bloody fifteen Anna, I will take you"

"I'm Sixteen next week" I practically shout at him.

Alex jolts slightly eyes flickering to the corner of his laptop, then he sighs softly. "Yes you are, we can go shopping on Saturday, you can pick something out for it."

"There's no point I only want one thing and you can't give it to me." He flinches like I actually slapped him, with the pain that flashes across his face it probably would have hurt less if I had done.

He looks away from me setting his jaw and when he looks back his face is void of all emotion.

Fuck that was a dick move on my part, completely despicable throwing that in his face. I open my mouth to profusely apologise but Edward barrels in interrupting me.

"Ah Anna, you ready to go? I'll take you to school." Edward is in his usual jolly mood clearly missing the tension simmering in the room.

"It's alright I'll take her." Alex sounds so fucking empty. I'm such a asshole.

"No Alexander you are going to bed," he flicks his head toward the door as the fight leaves Alex he just nods leaving the room without so much as a glance in my direction.

Shit.