Against All Odds

Chapter 6

Lucas

When I was young I'd always dreamt of meeting Mum again. But I'd grown up now to the reality of Mums absence, realising she'd left me for good.
I barely even remember what she looks like and now I'm expected to sit in the same cafe as her, with my long lost sister.
"No, I can't do it." I shake my head firmly at Dad, who's waiting for me to come out of the house so he could lock the door behind me.
"You haven't got a choice, its been along time since I've seen Sandra and you won't ruin this for me." Dad threatens, making me shiver.
Zipping up my leather jacket, I hesitantly walk out of the house and hear Dad lock it quickly as though worried I'd change my mind.
The two of us stride towards town, me a step behind and really wishing I didn't have to do this. In my eyes, Mum has no right to come back into my life after all this time. She was practically the reason Dad went down the drain.
"Be nice Lucas." Dad warns me as the cafe were we're meeting comes into view.
"Aren't I always?" I say sarcastically, earning a hard glare from him.
As we enter the cafe, my eyes scan the various tabled trying to work out which one was my Mum.
As I search the cafe I lay eyes on a familiar figure. It's the innocent looking girl from the window opposite mine.
She turns around, clearly feeling my stare and our eyes link again. Her innocence fills me with longing; longing to be as innocent as she was, as untainted.
Her eyebrows frown slightly and she cocks her head to the side, probably trying to work out why she recognises me. Then Dad waves a hand in front of my face and our contact is broken.
"Lucas, say hi to your Mum." Dad smiles to my utter surprise; I hadn't seen him smile so broadly since...well ever.
I glance down to the table we're standing next to and meet eyes with a very elegant lady.
"Hello Malcolm, its good to see you." Sandra stands and kisses my Dads cheek making him blush bright red, then she turns to me. "Oh Lucas, you've grown so much!"
She smiles, her lips painted almost as red as Dads face. As she leans forward to hug me I take a step back. Her smile falls but I see the understanding in her eyes.
"Well come join us, this is my daughter. Lola, meet your half brother." Sandra sits back down and I notice a girl, probably a year younger than myself, smiling at me with the same painted lips as her Mum. Wait...our Mum.
I nod my head in acknowledgment but don't offer her a smile. She may be my half sister but just by looking at her I can tell she's the definition of a 'popular kid'.
The conversation is strained and I spend most of the time staring at the window, wishing I could escape this messed up family.
The waitress serving our table isn't my neighbour, thank God, because every time I notice her I find my eyes following her every move. Something seems to be annoying her. As she serves a man who appears to be in his twenties he smirks at her and whispers something but she immediately walks away before he has a chance. What's that about?

My mind wonders what her family is like. She probably has two parents who have normal jobs like a teacher or a doctor. I bet she's really clever as well.
I bet her life is as peachy as can be.
"Lucas, your Mum is talking to you." Dad kicks me under the table and I wince ever so slightly, ripping my gaze away from the girl who's carrying a load of plates into the kitchen.
"That's OK Malcolm, it's a lot for him to deal with." Sandra puts her hand on his, silencing Dad immediately. "Son, I'm sorry that I've been so distant over these past years, but I do hope we can start afresh and..."
"Distant? You disappeared! I don't even know who you are, and you certainly don't know me." I retort angrily, crossing my hands in front of my chest and leaning my chair backwards onto two legs.
"I understand why you're angry at me..." She starts but I stand up, fed up of her thinking she can just waltz back into my life.
"No you don't understand, if you cared then you'd have stayed in contact." I shove my hand in my pockets and stalk away from the table, in desperate need of a fag.
"Lucas wait!" Mum calls, but doesn't follow me out of the cafe.
Letting the door shut behind me, I shiver as rain hits me. I don't remember it raining on our way here.
I yank my hood over my head before I get soaked and stride away from my idiot family.
Why should I let her into my life? She left Dad in pieces. Made him turn to drink, drugs and money.
I growl in annoyance and slip a rollie out of my pocket, lighting it up and placing it to my lips.
After a few breaths I find myself calming, my anger subsiding.
Without thinking my feet walk me to the skatepark where, sure enough, Harvey is sat with his mates.
"Yo Lucas what's up?" Harvey stands and greets me with a brief knock of the fists.
"Nothing much." I shrug and slump down next to his mates. Although I'd spent the last few days with these guys I still couldn't remember their names apart from Tyler.
The conversation is boring until Harvey brings up the possibility of a party.
"This posh kid is holding a house party because her parents have gone skiing or whatever, you boys fancy crashing it?" He suggests but no one seems particularly interested. "Come on guys, free bar."
The guys ears pricked at the sound of free alcohol and I smirk in slight amusement.
"But what about Stan's thing?" Tyler perks up and I frown, recognising that name.
"I wasn't planning on going to that jerks thing anyway." Harvey rolls his eyes and swiftly moves on. "Who's up for this party then?"
Soon, the group of us head to the streets to try and find the party. I'm pretty sure Harvey has a sixth sense when it came to free alcohol because pretty quickly we find the house.
Not that it's particularly hard to find considering the booming music and the teens passed out on the lawn.
As soon as I step into the party I'm bored.
The others leave me as they see familiar people. Harvey sticks by me for a bit but I'm not stupid; I can tell he's checking out the brunette on the dance floor.
"Man, go get her." I slap his shoulder and jerk my head towards the girl he's currently having eye sex with.
"You sure?" He seems unwilling to leave but I insist so, naturally, he grins and runs over to his 'friend'. It doesn't take him long and soon they're grinding hard against one another.
Its clear he's up for a good night.
"Lucas?" A voice comes from beside me and I jump, eyes leaving my mate. "Ohmygod it is you!"
I frown, recognising the girl in front of me but not sure where from.
"Who'd have thought I'd run into my long lost brother in a house party?!" The girl gasps in delight and grabs my hand firmly, pulling me towards some girls.
As she introduces me to her squealing friends I rack my brains, trying to remember her name.
"Lola, you didn't tell me your brother was a hottie." One of the girls smirks at me and I smile back. That girl just saved me from sheer awkwardness. "I'm Charlotte."
"Lucas." I shake her outstretched hand and she nods. Lola and the other girls move away, which I'm glad of if I'm being honest.
"Harvey mentioned you, apparently you skate good?" She swirls her drink around the glass, my eyes flicking from her face to the glass.
"You know Harvey?" I raise my eyes. That boy sure does get around.
"Sadly." She takes a sip from her drink, biting her lip as she does so. This girl's hot. "He's good mates with my twin and Harper."
Harper...where have I heard that before?
"Who's Harper?" I ask in curiosity.
"Just a good mate of ours." Charlotte shrugs and points to Lola. "You're sister seems put out."
My eyes wonder to the girl who I barely even know. She glances over and catches my eye briefly before looking away quickly.
"Half sister." I roll my eyes at her immaturity. "I only met the girl once before and it was extremely brief."
Charlotte gives me a sympathetic smile and reaches her hand out, squeezing my shoulder.
"Lola's high maintenance I've got to admit but she's a nice girl. I'm sure you'll see that when you get to know her better." Charlotte speaks softly and yet I can hear her clearly over the rowdiness of the party.
I keep my mouth shut and simply nod. What good would it do if I off loaded all my doubts onto this girl I barely knew?
"Let's dance." Charlotte takes my hand in hers, downing her drink in one swig and then pulling me into the noisiness off the dance floor.
This girl could hold a decent conversation and holy shit can she dance. I like her already.
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