Bring Me Back To 5SOS {Book 2}

26- Fixed

Maya's POV

A week after my talk on the roof, I decided it was time to go back home. I was going to fix the mess I created with Dad.

Uncle Cal was still asleep on his bed when I got out of the shower. I lay down next to him and waited. His eyes slowly opened. He smiled and closed them again.

"Morning," he mumbled.

"I want to go home."

"Are you sure? Do you think you're ready?" He asked.

"Yes. I need to make things right," I said and stood up, tugging lightly on his arm.

"Maybe you can convince him to join the band again while you're at it."

My hand dropped as he flew to his mouth, his eyes finding anything but me to look at.

"Uncle Cal, what did Dad do?" I asked.

"The day we left, he said he was quitting the band. I've tried to call him, but he won't answer," he said.

This was all my fault. They started a fight because of me. Dad couldn't leave the band. He just couldn't.

"I'm going to fix this," I said. "I'm not letting him leave the band."

"How are you going to convince him? Your dad is one of the most stubborn people I've ever met," Uncle Cal said.

"And so am I," I replied. "I'm his daughter. I've got this."

*~*

Uncle Cal opened the front door to the house, greeted by darkness. I flipped on the lights and immediately wished I hadn't.

Dad was on top of Zoe on the couch, both of them shirtless. Zoe squealed and covered herself. Dad turned to us and frowned.

"What do you want?" He growled.

"I wanted to talk to you. Not see you making out with your girlfriend," I snapped.

Tone it down a little, I said to myself. Don't start fighting as soon as you walk through the door.

I'm going to wait upstairs," Zoe said.

She quickly put her shirt on and slipped by Dad to the staircase. I watched her in a mix of disbelief and disgust.

"We're getting a new couch," Uncle Cal said.

"What is it you wanted to talk about?" Dad asked me, ignoring Uncle Cal's comment.

"I just wanted to apologize for all the trouble I've been causing. You're right. I did all those things for attention. I just got back, and you were already leaving to go to LA. I didn't intend for all these problems to happen. I didn't want you guys to argue and scream at each other, but you wouldn't listen to me," I said. "I felt like you didn't care."

Dad looked down at the ground and gestured for me to come closer. I sat down on the recliner, not wanting to even look at the couch. He thought for a moment before speaking.

"Maya, don't ever think I don't care about you. I love you very much. I was just shocked by what you did. I'll stop acting like an asshole if you stop acting out," he said.

"Okay. I promise," I said.

"Make sure you keep it," he said and kissed my forehead. "Let's spend the day together. Just you and me."

"What about Zoe?" I asked.

"She's fine. I think we need to have some Michael and Maya time."

"No! No, no, no!" Zoe's voice rang out from the stairs.

I got closer to Dad as she stomped down to the landing. He protectively put his arm around me.

"Dad?" I said, looking at him for answers.

"Don't worry. I'll handle this," he said.

"You stupid girl! You ruin everything!" Zoe screamed at me.

I flinched at her words. Her eyes started turning black.

"Daddy, I'm scared," I said.

"I know, baby girl. Go to Luke's room," he said.

I was still frozen in fear until he nudged my shoulder, urging me to leave. I got up and quickly ran up the stairs. I stood in the hallway out of sight as Zoe started yelling again.

"You are such a fucking idiot. Don't you ever listen to me? For once in your life stop acting-"

I covered my ears to drown her out. Her loud voice scared me more than Dad's did.

She yelled insult after insult while he did nothing. He just stood there as she threw any comment she could think of at him.

She took a step back, her chest heaving as she breathed. Thinking she was done, I uncovered my ears, but she was just getting started.

"And your stupid bitch of a daughter-"

Dad grabbed her wrist and slowly brought it down. Zoe's angry expression turned to confusion and fear. He looked at her with more anger than I'd ever seen.

"You can insult me all you want, call me any name you can think of, but never talk about my daughter like that. Get out of this house," he said.

"What? You can't be serious," she said. She took a step towards him, but he pushed her away. "Michael, baby. Please just-"

"I will tell you one last time. Get the fuck out of my house!" He yelled.

She stood there speechless. I took this as my chance to get back at her. I ran down the stairs and jumped between her and Dad

"Rejected! Rejected! You just got rejected. R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D rejected!" I shouted.

Loud laughs erupted from Dad and the guys, who were walking down the stairs. Uncle Ash clapped his hands together in applause. Uncle Cal held his stomach and fell into a fit of laughter.

"That was the best thing you've ever done!" Uncle Cal said and wiped tears from his eyes.

"You people are sick! You think this is funny?" Zoe shouted.

"No, it's not funny," I told her. "It's hilarious."

She went to lunge at me, but I hid behind Dad. Without even looking, I could tell he was giving her his warning face. She glared menacingly at all of us one by one.

"Fine. I'm leaving. See you in hell," she said and ran out of the house, taking her shadows with her.

"Oh, my god! I can't believe you just did that," Dad said, laughing while shaking his head.

"Well, believe it. No one messes with my family."

Luke crouched down, and I got on his back. I tightened my grip around him as he paraded me around the house and the others chanted my name.

"It's great to have our Maya back," Luke said.

I fluffed up his hair and said, "It's good to be back. I love you guys."

"We love you too, Maya," Dad said. "Now who's up for some FIFA?"

"I think I'll sit this one out," I said as Luke lowered me down to the floor.

"Really? Are you serious?" Uncle Cal asked, passing around controllers.

"Of course not! Pass me a controller," I said and turned to Dad. "You're going down."

*~*

That night, we all were laying down in the living room. I was on the floor between Dad and Uncle Ash. I snuggled up into Dad's chest and closed my eyes. I finally felt like I was at home.

I missed moments like this when we could just spend time with each other. No fights, no arguments. Nothing. We could be together as a family without anything getting in the way, just like before.

Maybe all the stuff that happened wasn't such a bad thing. It brought us closer together. Our family was okay again. Better than okay. We were happy.