Be My Eyes

15: It's Final

"Razor! Razor don't!" Tatty cried.

"It's fine calm down!" He insisted as he inched further accross the broken log above the raging river below. He was high enough that falling would cause him serious harm and Iona didn't feel comfortable with this. Parker hadn't said anything.

"Razor it's just my school bag it really doesn't matter i can get new books! It's the end of the year!" Tatty exclaimed, walking up to the edge of the log but not stepping on it, probably afraid of tipping Razor's balance.

"Would you be quiet!" Razor snapped and Tatty shut up, fiddling with her hands nervously.

He had edged closer and slowly bent down, grabbing Tatty's bag which had somehow gotten thrown all the way over there when they had been bouncing along the river's edge.

Razor grabbed the bag and very slowly started turning around to head back. Tatty had her hands out towards him and Parker was practically radiating nervous energy.

He finally came away from the river, handed Tatty her bag and jogged over to Parker and they continued walking in pairs.

Tatty walked beside Iona, glaring at Razor in front of her, and she growled loudly. "God he'll be the death of me!" She grumbled, pulling her bag onto her shoulder and Iona nodded with a slight laugh.

"He saved you a lot of trouble though! I know your huge English essay is in that bag and Miss Melford would have skinned you alive if you didnt hand it in by today, she already extended your deadline!" Iona pointed out to Tatty's annoyance.

"Whatever" Tatty moaned, still glaring ahead at Razor who was chatting away to Parker like nothing was wrong.

Iona strolled along, enjoying the summer sun and she smiled, life was pretty good for Iona, obviously she and her dad still had ever growing debts and she hadn't really succeeded in meeting anyone new during her first year at college but she had amazing friends already and it was summer so she couldn't complain.

This year had been tough academically and she had failed to meet anyone new, Tatty however had gathered a group of acquaintances who often invited her to raging parties (either Razor, Parker or Iona were usually responsible for dragging her drunk self from said parties), Razor had a few new friends from the college football team and often practiced with them, and Parker had met a few people but no matter what, they all spent most of their time as a four, and that was the way Iona liked it.

Iona left the group early to head home, she wanted to make her dad dinner before he got in because he tended to be pretty exhausted after work now and that didnt aid his cooking abilities in any way.

She bought some ingredients and headed home to start cooking.

She was exhausted from the day out with her friends, they had just been walking around the town but she still wasnt used to all the activity. She never used to have any friends, especially after her mum left, and she closed herself off from everyone.

Iona hummed quietly along to the sad song she had playing in the background as she placed the toppings onto the ready made pizza base. Pizza was always a win with her dad.

She had just shoved it in the oven when she got a text message. It was from her dad and it said, "something has come up at work and wont be home until later, sorry pumpkin. There is stuff in the fridge to make pasta for your dinner. I am really sorry, see you later".

Iona's heart sank as she read the message. She couldnt believe him! All he did was work, she started to feel angry as she stared tiredly at the oven, her gaze then shifting to the bits of grated cheese, spare tomato slices and other toppings which were scattered in a mess on the counter top which she still had to clear up.

She let her body sink down onto a chair and she heaved loudly into her hands. She tried to calm herself down, saying to herself over and over that he cant help it and that he has to work over time...because her mum left.

She soon became angry again, but at her mum this time! Iona couldnt listen to herself anymore and she stormed over to the radio, turning the music up so loud she could just about drown out her thoughts.

Once the pizza's were cooked, she wrapped one up for her dad and began to dig into her own.

She was just lifting a slice to her lips when the door bell went. A rush of hope surged through her, and pizza in hand, music blazing, she ran to the door and swung it open.

But it was not her dad there but the full 5ft 9, light blonde hair, young and skinny image of her mother.

Iona stood staring madly at her mother, feeling the strong will to slam the door right in her stupid face, but she didn't. She couldnt think of anything to say to her, she hadnt seen her in two years and she hadn't expected to ever see her again...but here she was.

"Iona, it's good to see you" she said in a curt, polite tone which made Iona's muscles tense. Still Iona stayed silent. "I see you are eating Harry's healthy diet!" She pointed out indignantly, glancing at the drooping pizza in Iona's hand which was now spilling toppings onto the floor.

Something in Iona snapped at that exact moment and she clenched both her fists, the pizza crunching up like a piece of paper. "I made this actually! As a nice surprise for him!" Iona snapped, growing hot with anger and irritation.

So many questions were grinding around in her head that it was almost painful. Her mother smiled sickeningly.

"And, where is he now?" She asked, peering around Iona into the corridor triumphantly, as though she had won some kind of imaginary battle.

"Working! He has to work double time now because of-"

"Now now, dont you think that if he really cared about you, he'd be here for dinner at least! Is he ever here...or are you always alone?" Her mother interrupted, secreting an aura of authority and solidarity.

"Yes he-"

"Well clearly i should never have left you."

"No you shouldn't ha-"

"Right, the decision is final. You are coming to live, with me!"