This chapter is more like a "background" for this story.
S P R I N G
V A C A T I O N,
2 0 1 5.
"Hey, darling!" My father said as he stepped into my mom's house. I gave him an awkward smile while he pulled me into a hug. I already fucking hate this.
"Hi." I responded feebly. My father and I have never really been close enough for me to be comfortable being around him. I have never lived with him, I see him maybe every three months or so, and I have been to his house once in my life, and that was when I was six. I'm sixteen now, and I think that says a lot.
My father looks at me with his mouth slightly agape as he looks at me. "You cut your hair?" He asks. I nod and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
"I also dyed it." I say, his eyebrows perk up as he starts examining my hair. "All I did was dye it a shade or so lighter than my natural hair color." I shrug.
"I like it. All of it. It suits you well." He smiles. He looks around one last time and claps his hands together, rubbing them after. "Shall we head off?"
I nod.
For one week, I'm going to my father's house to visit. Not for him, not for my step-mother, but for my little siblings. Peter, Holly, and Michael.
Holly is the oldest and the one closest to my age. A few months ago, in January, she turned sixteen as well. I was born in June of 2000, while Holly was born January 2001. My father, being the fat slut he is, had impregnated her mom shortly after mine and didn't tell my mom until I was two. She's the closest one to me out of all seven of my siblings.
Peter was the second youngest, being thirteen. He and I never talk but we always miss each other dearly when we are separated. We don't have much in common, but I'm alright with sitting on the couch with a book in my hands while he plays a video game just so we can be together.
Michael was the baby of the family. He was the last child my father and his wife had. He is so smart for his age and just the cutest little thing in the world.
I can't wait to see them.
....
My father has been driving for thirteen minutes and I'm already nervous. Ever since I was a kid, I've had an issue with cars. I'm terrified of crashing/falling/drowning to death in a car. Usually, I do really well in the car with my father. I think it's because I don't think he would jeopardize his own child's life. Having that mind set really helps.
Twenty minutes goes by and I have my phone in my hands while I'm aimlessly talking to my father.
"Yeah, I'm really excited that I'm going to be a senior next year." I say, typing a quick text to my mom.
Me: Mom, Kurt's driving is really scaring me right now.
After five minutes, my phone vibrates with a response.
Mom: What do you mean?
Me: He's swerving all over both lanes and we're on pretty narrow roads. I don't feel good about his driving...
Mom: You'll be fine lol. For God's sake, he's your father. Plus, he's a cop. They kind of have to be safe drivers. :)
Me: Mom, I'm not kidding right now. This is truly scary..
Mom: Annie, you're going to be just fine. I promise. Now don't even look out of the window, play on your phone or something. Distract yourself from the "scary driving".
I roll my eyes at her texts. She's not taking this seriously. Nobody takes me seriously. I sense when bad shit is about to happen and right now, my radar is going off.
Around ten minutes later, my father and I are in a light conversation about the plans my little sister has made for us.
"She's been looking forward to this for weeks." He tells me.
"I have too. I've missed her so much. What has she planned?" I ask him. Just before he can answer my question, we hear sirens going off behind us. I look up into the rearview mirror and see red lights. This must be one of Kurt's friends or something. But why would they be here? They're three hours away from their jurisdiction.
My father raises his hand off the wheel for the officer to see. "I'm going to pull into this little gas station right here." He says. I nod.
After sitting for a minute or two, a cop comes over to us with his shades on his face. My father rolls down the windows and gives him a smile. "Hey, brother! How are you?" He asks.
"I'm fine, sir." The cop responded. A small part of me wants to burst out crying already and I don't even know what's happening.
"Look, I'm one of you guys." Kurt says, pulling out his badge from the center console. "I'm sure whatever happened is just a huge misunderstanding."
"Sir. We got a call from a concerned driver that the driver of this vehicle might be under the influence. I'm going to need you to step out of the car right now." The officer says, taking a few steps away from the door. I look at my father and he looks guilty.
"What's going on?" I ask.
"Nothing, honey. Everything is fine." He says to me.
But it's not. It's not fine. Under the influence? Is he drunk? Was that why he was swerving? I couldn't smell any liquor on his breath when he spoke and he wasn't slurring. Those are the signs, right? This all has to be a joke. Ashton fucking Kutcher is going to jump out from behind the building and yell "Prank'd!".
This is all a joke.. Right?
I'm stretching this into two chapters. Sorry.
