Damaged Goods. (A Harry Styles Fanic)

Chapter Thirteen

Two weeks went by and things were starting to get a little more stressful for Lola. Schoolwork was more of a burden than ever, and any time she was spending at home was equally as irritating. If she wasn't being forced to look after Jake, she was revising, or if she wasn't trying to avoid Harry, she was having an argument with her Mum.

Speaking of which, she was home late yet again tonight. She'd made a habit of swanning off carelessly without telling them when she'd be home, it was like Lola was the Mother and Christina was the teenager. The roles had switched between them and frankly Lola was bored of making an effort to be caring towards her Mum when she got nothing in return. Even when Jake caught a virus last week, Christina relied on Lola to nurse him better despite having her own responsibilities.

Whenever Christina returned home each night, she showed increased amounts of affection towards John. More than Lola could tolerate witnessing without throwing up. She would just roll her eyes and get back to her homework, trying not to vomit at the exaggerated kissing noises.

One night when she didn't return until 11pm, John started to get a bit anxious. He called her, texting her asking where she'd got to, and that Jake was asking for her to read him a story. Lola didn't understand how her Mum could be so selfish and have no consideration for anyone else's feelings. Lola was used to it herself, but she felt a little sympathetic for John as he had yet to see her as the sour old cow that she really is. He was blinded by her looks, how fake she acted, as if she was the perfect nuturing mother when infact she was the opposite.

As for everyone else, Gemma had moved back to University for the term. Harry had become increasingly distracted and him and Lola hadn't spoken a great deal since she confronted him about his stepdads illness. Lola didn't want to change this relieving change however and kept her distance, observing from afar how worn out he looked. She assumed he was run down with schoolwork too, exams and along with what was happening at home. Although she had a twinge of sympathy in her body for the boy, she still hated him with a passion.

"That'll be her" John said, hearing a car pull up outside, There were clicking footsteps towards the front door before it opened, and the sound of an engine revving outside.

"Hommmmme!" Christina sang, followed by a little giggle as she lazily pushed the door closed. She kicked off her work heels and swung her bag over the bannister, her suit jacket scrunched up into a ball as she threw it onto the stairs.

"What are you doing?" Lola queried, noticing her Mums sloppy behaviour "Are you drunk?!"

"Nooooo" Christina slurred with a smile, pinching Lola's right cheek firmly as if she was a baby "I only had a glass of wine with a few friends after work, celebrating a birthday in the office, is that not allowed?"

"You should have said since your son was asking for you" John said sternly, standing with his strong arms crossed in the hallway. He looked cross as he saw how childish Christina behaved when she'd had a drink. 

"Aw i'm sorry" she said, throwing herself onto John in a lazy hug, pouting her pink lips close to his face. Lola scowled as Christina batted her eyelashes a little, giving John the puppy dog eyes until his firm facial expression softened. It made her feel ill, thinking about how strong her breath must smell of alcohol right now, the stench of stale smoke woven through her clothes "Forgiven?"

He gave her a weak smile, and a small peck on the lips. Christina grinned devilishly and rested her head on his shoulder

"I love you okay you know that, i'm so happy that we've all become such a nice little family. It's just what we've been waiting for, isn't it Lola?"

Lola glared at the two of them, raising her eyebrows at her intoxicated Mum. Instead of answering she simply sighed, rolled her eyes and stormed upstairs. John was definitely doing some serious wishful thinking if he thought Christina was telling the truth, and that all she wanted was a happy secure family.