When The School Bell Rings

• CHAPTER • SIXTY •

"Where's Dad?" I ask Noah as I walk into the kitchen, still in my pyjamas. 

He looks up from his bowl of cereal, laughing at my bedhead before answering. 

"Don't know. Haven't seen him since Wednesday night," he eats a spoonful of cereal before continuing to speak with his mouth full, "Assumed he was on nights again"."

I roll my eyes at my brother's disgusting behaviour and walk to the fridge. 

I pour myself a bowl of cereal and go to sit next to him. 

We eat in a comfortable silence, and I realise this is the first time we have spent time in a room together and not fought in a long time. 

Once we are finished, Noah shocks me by taking both of our bowls and washing them up before sitting back down again. 

"Do you think Dad's okay?" he turns to me with a concerned look in his eyes. 

I take a breath, not knowing how to answer his question. 

"I have no idea," I place my hand on his shoulder comfortingly. He drops his head and breathes deeply before sliding off the bar stool and walking out of the room. 

I watch him go, staring at the door even after he has walked out. 

"He's fucking done it again," I lean my elbow on the counter and press my forehead into my hand. 

I stay like this for a while, willing myself not to cry over his repetitive, destructive behaviour.

After finally lifting my head, I pull out my phone from my pyjama pants pocket and dial the first number I see. 

Luka picks up almost instantly. 

"Hey, babe. What's up?" his voice sounds cheery, but slightly out of breath. 

"I think my Dad's done it again," I keep my tone steady, shoving my emotions away into a small box in the back of my mind. 

"I'm just at the gym but I'll be at yours in fifteen," his tone is serious now and I can hear him packing his stuff up in the background. 

"Okay," I nod my head and end the call, heading to my room to get dressed. 

I take a quick shower and throw some black leggings on, with Luka's black hoodie before heading back downstairs. 

I'm putting my socks on when the doorbell rings, but I practically run to open it. 

"Do you know where he could be?" Luka's face is determined, his jaw clenched in anger. 

This mixed with the post-workout look on him has me forgetting about my dad for a second. I take in his full outfit, the sky blue hoodie and black shorts having me practically spreading my legs for him. 

"Camille," he snaps me out of my dirty daydream. I blush, standing aside to let him inside the house. 

"I think I know, but if he is, he has no coming back from this," I rub my hand over my face, the stress finally getting to me. 

"Hey," Luka puts his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look up at him, "We'll find him. Whatever it takes."

I nod my head and he pulls me into a hug. Inhaling his musky aftershave, I relax my shoulders and hug him back. 

He plants a kiss on my head before releasing me and taking my hand, guiding me to his car. 

I climb in and put the destination into the car screen. 

When Luka sees the name, he looks at me with shock in his eyes. 

"Are you sure?" he asks me. 

"Unfortunately," I fall back into the chair, closing my eyes and silently praying he hasn't relapsed again. 

He begins to drive, turning on the radio when he realises I'm not up for conversation. 

After about twenty minutes, we pull into a falling apart street, warehouses lining up on each side of the road. 

"It's that one," I point to the steel warehouse ten yards ahead. 

Luka pulls the car up on the side of the road and puts it in park. 

He climbs out first, insisting on being by my side as soon as I step out of the car. 

"I'm not letting you out of my sight, here," he pulls me into him, his arm around my shoulder as we walk into the warehouse. 

The smell of old booze hits me as soon as I walk in. I close my eyes once I see the piles of sick and bottles around the place. 

Luka rubs my shoulder, sensing my discomfort. 

Once ready, we make our way past the sleeping drunks, covered in newspapers and blankets. I try to scan each of their faces to check for my dad but he's not there. 

We make it to the next room and I sigh when I see a table with white powder residue basically covering it. There are a few people sat at it with rolled-up dollar bills in their hands, a line of coke in front of them. 

"Let's keep going," Luka urges me and I nod. 

We head through the rooms, looking for him until I finally see him, slumped in the corner of one of the rooms. He's passed out, with beer bottles surrounding his unconscious body, and white powder covering his nose and above his lip. 

"I fucking knew it," I say under my breath. Luka turns his attention to where I'm looking and sighs. 

"What do you want to do?" he whispers to me. I keep my eyes on the sorry state of my dad, building up the courage to do what I've wanted to for so long. 

Luka lets me go as I walk towards my dad, crouching down in front of him. 

"Dad," I try to wake him but it doesn't work. I try louder and he groans in his sleep, shaking his head. I kick his foot with mine and he finally awakes. 

"Camille," he slurs his words, "My gorgeous daughter has come to get me."

I roll my eyes and stand up. 

"Dad, you can't keep doing this," my voice is angry, years of pent up rage finally releasing.

"I'll get help," his grin is lopsided, his eyes barely open. 

"It's too late for that, Dad," I say, "You've made your decision. I'm done. As soon as I graduate, I'm leaving."

"You can't leave me," he whines, his jaw rolling. 

"You left me. You left Noah, Oscar and I when you started drinking. You left us again when you started using drugs. If you knew what was best, you'd leave them alone in the house until they graduate. But you and me... we're done."

I turn around and storm out of the building, leaving Luka to catch up to me. 

YESSSSS CAMILLE <33