Transformed || l.h.

Chapter Five

Monday morning, Georgia rolls out of bed and into the shower in record timing, a little more pep in her step for some reason. She blow dries her hair and slips on somewhat warm clothing before walking into the hall to see her dad at the breakfast table.

“Geeps!” he calls, looking up at her from over the top of the newspaper.

“Yeah dad?” she responds, sifting through the pantry to find something to eat. Jonathon smiles, “I got those numbers you wanted. You’ll just have to call the guys later today when you get home and get permission from them.” Georgia nods and pours herself a glass of milk, “That’s no problem. I’ll be home from Julia’s around seven.” Jonathon glances at his daughter who is scurrying around the kitchen in search of one thing after the other and a slow grin creeps up his cheeks.

“Dad, you’re scaring me.”

He laughs nervously, rubbing his neck, “It just hit me that you’ll be turning eighteen in a few months. I feel like you should be eight and riding your bike up and down the road or something.” Georgia smiles sadly before gulping down the rest of her drink and cleaning out the cup. She leans forward and kisses her dad’s cheek, “I love you, daddy.” He returns the sentiments and watches as she slips out the front door. Jonathon sits in the silence of his large house as he hears his baby girl’s engine rev just as she’s pulling out of the driveway. He gets up slowly, setting the newspaper on the table, and treks to the refrigerator.

Standing up on his tip-toes, Jonathon reaches over the lip of the fridge door and picks up a small photograph lying just behind it. He runs his thumb over it carefully, not wanting to smudge the handwriting or the photo itself. “Hey honey,” he says softly, emotion welling up in his chest quickly. “I wish you could be here, Rebecca. She’s so beautiful.” Jonathon looks out the window even though he knows Georgia is long gone. Looking down at the picture, Jonathon sees what he always sees - his beautiful wife of seven years looking back at him with a baby girl wrapped up in a pink blanket in her arms. Next to her is James, a mere four year old, sat down on the mattress, grinning up at the camera with chocolate between his teeth.

“We miss you a lot down here,” he says quietly, trying to hold back a sniffle. “I miss you a lot, sweetheart. And right now? I feel like we’re so lost without you.”

Jonathon kisses the photo and replaces it in its spot on top of the fridge and swipes at his eyes, glad he was home alone. Then just as he always does, he goes into his room and dresses for work, coming out moments later in a suit and tie. With a fake smile he walks out the door, “I wish you were here, Beck. I wish you were here.”

~*~

“Hey Georgia,” Ashton greets, his shoulder against his closed locker as he watches the brunette unlock hers. She holds in a groan and instead replies in a sweet tone, “Hey Ashton, how are you?” He smiles widely and obviously doesn’t catch the forced happiness, “I’m doing great. How was your weekend?”

Georgia almost grimaces at the memory of her early morning jog on Saturday. She looks up at Ashton with an eyebrow raised, “What is Luke’s mom’s name?” Ashton glances at her sideways in a confused way, his arms slowly slipping from their crossed position to fall to his sides. “Uh, Liz, why?”

“No reason,” she dismisses, “just wondering.”

Ashton snorts, “Do you want to know the names of all your enemies’ mums?”