Change

When the unexpected comes

I take the bus in Oxford (where I live) to where I'm meeting my brother while Social Casualty by 5sos blares into my ears.

You see, even though my parents didn't really get along that well and the relationship between my mother and I wasn't in the best of terms, my brother has always been like a friend for me.

I know that sounds cliché but for us it was a weird thing, considering we were both like oposite poles.

I remember when we were younger we would draw half of a Ying & Yang with sharpie into each other's arms. We would always say that we'd get it tatooed as soon as we both were eighteen.

I hop off the bus when it gets to Chalbury, where my brother lives with our mother. I penny board to All Saints Church until I see him with his skateboard. We spend the afternoon riding our skates, making a small talk and avoiding the parents subject for as long as we can after our usual interchange

+ So how's it with dad? Is he still married to his job?

-Hmph, you know how he is. And mom? Is she still as perfectionist?

+And controlling, I went through one hour of argumet before coming here for going out instead of studying.

-I don't get why you stayed with her...

+Because I prefer having a controlling parent much rather than being with one I only get to see five minutes a day when I'm lucky.

-Touché.

We just enjoy our freedom together until we have to get back. Around seven my brother takes me to the bus stop, where we say our goodbyes and part ways.

Once I get home I notice something is different; my father's bag is at the door along with his shoes and you can smell something in the air... Cologne?

-DAD?

~Oh uhm hi Nora, I see you arrived earlier...

-Me? It's half past seven dad, and you usually don't come back until eleven.

~Yeah well you see I got out earlier but I uhm have to go out again... I hope you don't mind

He awkwardly scratches his neck before fixing his shirt for like the thousand time. This is not just a job interview, he's dressing too casual for that, but something about his nervousness tells me this is important.

-No dad, it's fine

~Great then, I'll have dinner out, grab yourself something from the fridge... Oh and don't wait for me awake

-Okay bye, have fun

He gives my shoulder a squeeze and smiles slightly before taking a deep breath and going out of the door.

Well... That was awkward... I guess I'll ask him about it in the morning.

That nigh it is past 1am when I hear him coming back home humming to some song... Last time I remember hearing him sing it was at my fifth birthday. This must be really big.

☀☀ Time skip to the next morning ☀☀

I wake up to the smell of pancakes, wait pancakes? I quickly skip downstairs to see my father making pancakes while dancing and singing around the kitchen

-Dad?

~Oh good morning Nora, take a sit; breakfast will be ready in a bit.

-Umm okay? So dad, how was yesterday?

~It was just fine

-Oh come on, I'm not five

He sighs dramatically as he sets down the food an sits in front of me.

~Well if you really want to know... I wasn't planning on telling you this way but... I've been dating a woman for some time now. Her name is Katherine, we're both taking this very seriously so you might be having a new mom soon.

~Well? What do you say?