I have everything, except you - Thomas Brodie Sangster fic

9. Not alone

Even though nobody's actually reading this, I should still be updating regularly, and I've been shit at that, so I'm posting two chapters for the one person that's going to read them. ;)

I had to tell Steph, the plan was back on track and I couldn't keep it from her anymore.

She couldn't believe it at first when I told her over the phone, then she told me I was seriously weird, (in a nice way) but calmed down about it soon and told me it wouldn't be long until he was under my spell, I was a knockout.

I smiled, and wondered why I hadn't told her sooner. I heard my mum coming towards my room, I knew it was her from the click of her heels on our wood stairs.

I felt a bit panicky, in that moment. I don't know why, it was just how I felt whenever she approached me. Just the feeling that accompanied her overbearing presence.

"I see you're up," Her arms were folded, it was like she was constantly irritated by me, even before I had a chance to actually annoy her. "We have your father's work dinner party tonight. A lot of important people will be there, and I want you to make yourself presentable and be downstairs in thirty minutes,"

I groaned, having forgotten all about my dad's dumb work do. And, "make myself presentable"? What was that supposed to mean? I was wearing a really nice white crop top and my favourite washed out denim ripped jeans, which I thought looked really cool. Apparently not.

"I'm not going," I huffed, picking up my phone. My mum looked down at me, she could tell immediately nothing she could say would sway me, so she called for my dad. "Phillip! Come and talk some sense into your daughter, would you!"

I heard the scrape of a dining room chair, and pictured my father's weary sigh and sloping walk as he trailed up the staircase. He appeared at the door, looking shy. He didn't usually come to my room, just let my mum handle all of the 'problematic teenager' issues.

He swallowed. "What seems to be the problem, darling?" He places a gentle hand on my mother's arm, and I see her eyes soften. "She," She points at me, "Says that she isn't coming tonight, when she knows very well how important this evening is to you and how we all must be together and meet all of the guests,"

"Let me talk to her," He coaxes, then looks at mum until she gets the message and leaves. He sits on the end of my bed, letting out a breath as he looks at me, with my arms tucked beneath my legs and a look of defiance casting my features into a frown.

"Now now, what will I do with you? You know, Milly, I can't make you come, I guess. You don't have to honey." He says, and it makes me want to cry. He already gave in, despite then having to face the dragon waiting outside the door, no doubt eavesdropping on the conversation.

What he said: "You don't have to"
Translation: "I would really like you to come because I don't want to be alone with your mother for four hours and it will make her happy, but I won't force you."

I knew I had to go, the guilt was already getting too much. "Alright, i'll go! But i'm bringing Steph," I said, giving him a quick hug. He got off my bed, smiling.

I let out a defeated sigh and picked up my phone to text Steph.

Milly: Hey. Dad's got some bs work party 2nite. Come with me so I don't die of boredom??

Steph: Srry boo. Would luv 2 but.. I have a date with Jordan!!

Milly: No way! omg good luck! Dw i'll suffer on my own :( jk have fun :3

I chucked my phone to the other side of my bed, annoyed. It seemed like Steph's love life was going smoothly and according to plan, unlike mine. I got up to find something in my closet that my mother would deem appropriate for tonight. Meaning something with a sophisticated print that had a full skirt and that covered my shoulders. Bleh.

**

The "party" started as expected. Grey men in grey suits and their perfect wives attached to them like decoration. There was introduction after introduction, my fake smile was getting a lot of use tonight, it was almost as perfected as mum's.

I shook a lot of hands, and repeated the same lines over and over, as if shooting a difficult movie scene: "Good evening," Smile. "Pleasure to meet you," (Then they say some bullshit about what a wonderful, polite, pretty young lady I am) "Thank you" Fake laugh. Move on to the next pair. Repeat.

On and on, until I excused myself to 'go to the bathroom', and sat in a chair in the lounge room sipping at a weird cordial-like drink, surrounded by portly rich men with whisky in hand.

I was feeling drained, and bored out of my skull. There was a roaring fire in the middle of the room, and I scanned the faces of the people on the other side of it, surprised to find a set of steady, cool eyes already locked on mine. Thomas.

**

When the shock subsided, I wondered what would be the best move. In the end I didn't have to choose, because he came over and sat beside me.

"Hey," He smiled, his accent caressing my ears, I would never get over the sound of his voice.

"You know your mood swings are really hard to figure out," I said, crossing one leg over the other.

"Yet you're the one confusing me," He answered patiently. "Wha-" I could tell I wouldn't get an answer,  he was always annoyingly cryptic with his choice of words.

Before I could say anything, my dad was suddenly above me. "Oh, Milly. You know Thomas. You're in the same year level, aren't you?" He asks.

"Y-yeah. How do you know him?" I ask, confused. "One of my closest friends, Daniel, is Thomas' dad sweetheart. We've known each other since before you two were born. Unfortunately we drifted apart when we had children, but turns out he just started working for us!"

Thomas and I looked at each other, both of us startled by the new revelation. Daniel made his way over to us. He looked so different from Thomas, he had curly brown hair and he was far taller, but they both had the same eye colour.

"Hey, Milly! Pleasure to meet you," He shook my hand. He placed his hand on his hip, smiling slightly awkwardly. He motioned to my father's straight black hair.

"I remember when we both had fringes, and I used to straighten mine all the time," He chuckled, draining the last of his beer. Much like my father, he didn't seem to be one of those old grey men who drank whisky.

"Ah well, we best leave the kids to it," He patted dad on the back, guiding him off and reminiscing about the good old days. Thomas looked at me.

"Well, it's a small world, I guess," he shrugged. "I think your dad knew mine when they both lived in England," I said. "Then he moved here with my mum and I guess you guys must've stayed, well, until you came here, I guess," He nodded, and I bit my lip, searching for something to say.

"So.. Does this mean you're talking to me now, like full-time?" I asked gently.

"I'm no stranger to consequence, Milly. The consequences of not talking to you aren't all that bad." My face fell.

"But I guess I have no choice." I looked up, and he was looking at me with this small smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

**

Steph: How's it going? Sorry I couldn't make it x

Milly: I'm back in