Breathing the Dead ~ H.S

Chapter Twenty-One

A/N: So, this chapter's a bit short, and you might find it a bit boring 'cause it's more like a filler chapter than anything else :/ Sorry guys x

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: MISSING PIECES

"I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now," Mike was telling me as he took a seat with me & Harry at the mess table, "but just give me a few minutes to explain myself,"

I stayed silent and only shot a quick glance at Harry; my eyes begging him to deal with this while I tried to get my head around everything.

"You've got 10 minutes," Harry told him curtly, "and then you're out of here,"

"Well, Laura, I don't know how much your mother has told you, but..." his voice trailed away as he caught me glaring at him, "hey now...don't give me that look,"

"Why not? Do you expect me to be happy to see you?" I snapped, "You don't need to explain anything, 'dad'. Mum's already told me everything," I crossed my arms and glowered at him.

Mike's eyes widened but he said nothing; clearly deciding to let me talk.

"She told me how you didn't want me. She told me how you tried to make her abort me. She told me that the only reason you stuck around during her pregnancy was because you were too fucking lazy to find your own place, and you weren't quite ready to say goodbye to your sex life. She told me how you left as soon as I was born. As a matter of fact – you weren't even there for my actual birth, because you already hated me that much," I spat, "so sorry if I'm not exactly jumping over the moon at your sudden reappearance, when I've never even seen you my whole fucking life!"

"Laura, please," Mike pleaded with me, "I know I messed up. I know I don't even deserve to be called your father, but your mother and I...we married early. She was only 18, and I was 20. And when she got pregnant two years later...I had no idea how to react. I...I freaked out, Laura. I never wanted to have kids that early in my life...t-to be honest I hardly wanted any kids at all," he gulped, "but as the years passed a part of me wished I had stayed. Part of me wished I stayed to watch you grow up. And yesterday...as soon as it hit me who you might really be, I had to see you again. You look so much like your mother, Laura, you know that?"

"Yes. I know, thank you," I said coldly; crossing my arms.

"And as soon as I took a good look at you...I was only just beginning to ask myself: 'Could that really be my child?' But...before I could ask any questions, that pommy one refused to let you near me," he nodded at Harry.

I felt Harry tense up, and he angrily stood up from his chair. "If you had any idea what she's been through these past months..."

"Harry, please," I said softly; tugging at the hem of his jacket, "just sit down, babe,"

Harry looked at me once before sighing and lowering himself back down on his chair; his eyes not leaving Mike for a second.

Jesus...if looks could kill... I bit my lip in concern at the type of look Harry was giving him.

"Laura, I know I've been the worst father in the world," said Mike; trying his hardest to sound brave with Harry's eyes burning holes into his forehead, "but...I really do hope I can make it up to you,"

I looked at him in shock; shaking my head in disbelief. "All those years...you were never there. For me. For my mother," I began to dig my nails into the wooden table, "you didn't even want anything to do with us, and now you think you can make it up to me?!" I scowled at him, "Well, guess what, Mike? You're too late. Way too fucking late," I hissed.