Together Forever

Chapter Five

RACHEL
You know what's so hard about being strong? Nobody might care if you're hurt.
Poor Isabelle.
It was all over the school. Her mother was in the hospital. I didn't know why, and I didn't want to know, for whatever sick reason.
I sank into my seat in the busking cafeteria, when're the aroma of roasted beef and French fries drifted around the room. I was alone. No Tristan. And no Dimitri.
I knew there was no way Isabelle would be free to come over for our project. I had this sick and twisted feeling in my stomach that wanted to urge her to come over to forget about about her mother. I just wanted to reassure her.
"No news from Isabelle, huh?"
I lifted my head and saw the freckled face of Dimitri staring down at me. He had puffy red eyes. I didn't know if he was crying or just...well, crying.
"No." I blankly said. Dimitri just nodded and set his bag on the seat next to mine.
"Do you mind?" He asked. I just shook my head; I needed the company.
"You should eat, Rachel. Sitting doing nothing won't bring Isabelle's mother back." He sighed.
I sighed. He was right. Starving myself won't do me any good.
I stood up and quickly grabbed a salad from the counter. I sat back down and opened it and started eating. The moment the lettuce entered my mouth, it transformed from a supposedly 'healthy' snack, to sand-tasting food in my mouth. It had no taste; I might as well be eating cardboard.
Dimitri noticed my facial expression, because he sighed, clearly irritated. As I swallowed, I saw a figure moving gloomily in the cafeteria. It was Isabelle.
"Isabelle!" I screamed, not giving a care in the world that everyone looked at me crazy.
She locked eyes with me, and she smiled crookedly, making her way to me and Dimitri. And Tristan was behind her.
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ISABELLE
I saw Rachel through the corner of my eye. My mouth went from salivating to dry. I made my way to her and Dimitri, with Tristan following close behind me.
My Mom ended up in the hospital because of a car crash. It turned out the man was a drunk driver. And he was really drunk. It was typical for drunk driving to occur, though I was not happy.
I slid down on the seat opposite Rachel, as Tristan sat next to Dimitri.
I didn't exactly know why Tristan was really gloomy all of a sudden. If he was concerned about my mother, I find it cute.
"Isabelle, are you okay? What happened to your mother?" I heard Rachel whine. I wasn't really in the mood to tell her, but she deserved to know.
"My mom had a car crash. A drunk guy crashed into her." I sighed. Dimitri and  Rachel gasped in perfect unison. But Tristan... Tristan stiffened, as if I had just accused him for stealing a jewel.
"I hope she gets better." Dimitri said, sympathy practically oozing out.
"I'll never forgive him. He promised to stop drinking..." I heard Tristan whine.
"Tristan?" I quietly said. He just shook his head.
"When the principal took you back to class, he came to me." He started. I didn't really know if I wanted him to continue, but on instinct, I encouraged him to go on.
"My dad landed in the hospital as well. The same time as your mother did." Tristan choked back tears of frustration.
My heart raced rapidly. What did he mean?
"The drunk man was my father."
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TRISTAN
I stared at my crying reflection in the bathroom mirrors. I can't believe my dad got drunk. Again.
Him getting drunk forced back so many memories which hurt me so bad, my scar was still healing from all those years.
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FLASHBACK
TRISTAN's POV
The fine autumn breeze caressed my hair, as I walked down the pavement to my house. I just came back from school, and had scored an amazing A+ in my exam. I'm pretty sure Mom and Dad will be proud.
As I neared our house, I heard screaming and shouting. Really angry shouting. And I would recognise that voice anywhere. It was my Mom shouting and screaming.
I ran up the stairs, thinking taking the elevator and waiting would be a time of waste, and barbed into the door of our apartment, which was surprisingly unlocked.
My hands trembled in fear and anxiety as the scene unfolded right before me.
Mom yelling at dad in fear, and Dad throwing her favourite vase at her, which shattered into smithereens right before her feet. She let out a river of tears escape as she saw me.
"Frederick! The child! You have a child!" I heard Mom scream. At this point, I didn't care that she called me a child, all of this was more important. I wanted to scream.
But all that came out was-
"Mom? Dad? What going on?!" I cried. Mom tried to hide her tears but she couldn't. And Dad couldn't find the words to describe what he was doing. But when I looked deep into his eyes, I saw a stranger. This wasn't my dad. This was a monster. His eyes... They were the last thing I saw before blacking out, and hearing my mother scream dad's name again. Little did I know, this would be the last time I ever saw those pair of beautiful sapphire eyes again.
END OF FLASHBACK
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RACHEL
Finally, after what seemed like hours at the cafeteria, the bell finally rang. I stood up, and walked to my science class with Dimitri, while Isabelle went to her Drama class.
I waked at a slow pace, wanting Tristan to come back from wherever he went. I couldn't believe what he just said.
That drunk man was my father.
His words rang in my head. It was just too difficult to think about Tristan's father that way.
Dimitri noticed my endless pondering and slow walking, because he stopped in the middle of his tracks and forced me to look at him.
"Listen to me. Isabelle will be fine. And so will Tristan. I know what you're going through. So trust me when I saw it'll be fine." Dimitri said. His soft voice and gaze calmed my nerves a bit. I nodded slowly and made my way to class, hoping that Dimitri wasn't just an idiot, but an idiot transforming into someone useful.
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