𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 9

weird occasions

hailey₊˚⊹౨ৎ ₊˚⊹

i sat alone in the dimly lit living room, the silence of the empty house pressing down on me. the ticking of the clock was the only sound breaking the stillness. i glanced at the half empty bottle of beer on the coffee table and took another swig, hoping to numb the ache in my chest and what happened this morning. my father hadn't come back home since yesterday. probably opening some women's legs.

my phone buzzed, breaking my thoughts. it was a message from my older brother, aiden: "leaving for the airport now. i'll miss you, hails. stay strong. i asked aj to look after you from time to time."

aiden was always my role model, but he had received a scholarship to a prestigious university in europe. it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up, but it left me feeling more alone than ever. he was the golden boy in our family. he was always mom and dad's favorite. especially dad. he would always protect me whenever dad got out of control. but without him, i was just a whore to this family. i glanced at the framed photo of the tow of us on the mantle.

me and aiden's friend, aj lynch was now going to be some kind of babysitter from now on. i wasn't really fond with the idea of aj taking care of me though.

we were all the golden trio everyone dreamed of. we played everyday and had a sleepover once every saturday. but that changed when our mom died because of cancer. since then, dad drunk an enormous amount of alcohol and aiden would be gone for his part time job. while aiden wasn't home, dad would hit me and punch me and insult me in ways i never thought humans could. that fucker. but every time my brother came back home, dad suddenly became an angel. that's when i drowned myself in alcohol too, whenever i was anxious and got the beatings from dad. it was a way of coping. and then i started drifting away from aj and my own brother because... to put in simple words, i was a fucked up mess. aiden was also greifing but he was able to stand up for himself and found a job and now on his way to go to a new college. while im stuck here, with this fucker whose named as dad. 

from those days, i never hanged out with them anymore and met up with the wrong crowds. i wanted to talk to aj but i was afraid of how he'll think of me when he knew i was drinking. it's selfish and meaningless, but i just didn't like it. he deserved better friend like aiden than a fucked up one.

suddenly i heard a knock from the door. i stumbled slightly as i got up, probably the effect of the alcohol.

i opened the door to find aj standing there. he was smiling and the next second, his expression softened with concern. 

"hey hailey," he said, his voice gentle. "aiden said to check up on you every now and then."

i forced a smile. the last thing i wanted was for aj to see me like this. "hi aj. thanks, but i'm really fine."

but aj stepped inside, as if to ignore my protest. "how are you holding up?" fuck. all i wanted was for him to get out of the house. i didn't even clean up dad's vodka and my beer.

"i'm seriously doing just fine," i lied, avoiding his gaze. "you don't have to do this aj. i can take care of myself."

aj raised an eyebrow as if saying 'you sure?' "aiden is worried about you. and so am i."

i turned away, trying to hide how much i want to tell him what was wrong with me. but I couldn't because i don't even know myself. why i act the way i am. and who's aj to guess what's going on in my life? "i'm not your responsibility, aj. just go."

"too bad because i'm not going anywhere." what an ass.

"leave."

instead of responding, he made his way to the kitchen. I followed him, anger and frustration showing in her steps. "what are you doing?"

he opened the refrigerator and started pulling out ingredients. "i'm making dinner. you probably still haven't eaten any."

"well i did, so no need." i quipped.

he really had the audacity to grin. "when you're hungry, you always check the fridge. and you also frown." he begins to prepare something.

i rolled my eyes. i watched him, torn between wanting to scream and just letting him do what he wanted. "why are you doing this?" i asked.

"why do you think i'm doing this?" he asked back, raising his eyebrows. when he sees the confusion in my face he laughed, "because i'm your friend, idiot." 

i stood there, stunned. after me ignoring him all these years, he still considered me as his friend. a wave of relief washed over me. its weird because i didn't want him to be my friend because that's what best for him but a part of me still wished i could play with him again. after i become a decent human. which was never. "okay." i nodded.

as aj cooked, i read a book about some dystopian book where the girl dreams about white birds. whatever, the main character is hot. that's all that matters.

anyway, i was reading a book but i was distracted by aj's cooking. when we were kids, he would cook for me all the time and i would watch him make the best foods in the world. aj's dream was becoming a chef and i was so excited to be his first food tester. i missed those times.

"busy staring?" aj smirked from the kitchen and snapped out of my thoughts. shit, i was staring. 

"you flatter yourself," i replied.

"if you say so." he chuckled and he brought a plate to my place.

it was curry. best meal in the world. not because i liked curry. i mean of course i did but because it was aj's curry. his curry was literally the best thing on the earth. i can't even explain. and there was a salad as a side plate like he always made whenever he made curry.

"your favorite." he smiled.

"is there n-"

"no, there are no nuts in there." he answers for me without me finishing my question and yet he knew. he remembered.

after that, he had a phone call from his parents and was gone for a while while i finish my food. shit this was so good.

just as I was putting the dishes in the sink, aj came back. "how was the food?" he asked, putting his phone back in his pocket.

"delicious as always." i smiled. yes, i wanted him to go away but I also didn't want him too. because i really fucking missed him. "anyway, i'll go to bed."

"this early?" it was still nine pm. but i needed rest. exhausted from the morning events. and had to get my mind off of aj.

"yes. this early." i replied. he paused so i paused before releasing my breath. "see you soon tomorrow?"

"tomorrow it is." he grinned and then walked out the house.

fuck.

AN:

I. AM. SO SORRY. like sorry from the bottom of my heart because i didn't update this story. i already had two chapters made but then I erased everything because damn i seriously didn't know what to write. but now i think i have a plot in mind. SO SORRY FOR KEEPING U GUYS WAITING!!!

love, xx