Forever And A Half

27

Week 4:

My mouth was dry from last night so I slipped downstairs for a drink,

"See what you've done Joe?" Tracey's angry voice flowed to me,

"It's not his fault, she kept fighting back," my mum commented,

"I tried but she's too stubborn," Joe's cold voice came through a little quieter.

"You see, Tracey, maybe it's better if we go back to Brisbane," my mum sounded tired. I could hear Tracey tutting,

"Give them time, they'll sort it out," I laughed quietly. I seriously doubted that.

"You could stay, Nikki. She could go and live with Tyler until the holidays are over," Joe piped up. I couldn't take it anymore. I walked into the kitchen,

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" I said sarcastically. He nodded,

"I would actually," he crossed his arms and turned his head.

"But if your mum told you that I had to stay then you wouldn't do anything about it, would you Mama's Boy?" his face turned red and he clenched his fists,

"I may be a 'Mama's Boy' but you'll never be a Daddy's Girl," he shot back. I felt my heart break at the mention on my dad.

"Joe!" Tracey called out,

"It's not my fault that he's gone," I spoke with clenched teeth as I forced myself to hold in the tears. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he'd hit me hard.

"Or is it?" he received a blow to the head and rubbed it tenderly. Tracey gripped his ear and pulled him up the stairs. Mum opened her mouth to say something but I put a hand up to silence her,

"Save it. I'll message Tyler to see if I can stay with him. You enjoy yourself with Tracey," I marched up the stairs and slammed my door. I pulled out my phone,

Me: Hey Tyler

Tyler: Hey Boo! How are you?

Me: Not so good, do you mind if I come and stay with you for a bit?

Tyler: If it's because of that deadbeat Joe then sure ~Jackie

Me: Awesome, do you mind if I come tomorrow?

Tyler: No problem Sweetheart ~Jackie

Me: Can I talk to Tyler

Tyler: Sorry, mum wanted to message you herself

Me: It's all good

Tyler: So what's Joe done now?

Me: He brought up my dad

Tyler: Meaning?

Me: We had a fight and were throwing around some names, I called him a mama's boy and he told me that I'd never be a daddy's girl because of what happened.

Tyler: And what happened?

Me: He died when I was five

Tyler: That's horrible, how?

Me: My brother Marcus

Tyler: Say no more, how do I find Marcus

Me: He was executed for it, don't bother.

Tyler: We can talk more in person tomorrow or we can drop it

Me: I think I'll drop it

Tyler: Consider it dropped, cya tomorrow Ada!

I put down my phone and started packing away all of my clothes. I packed everything of mine away because I'd need it all for the rest of the holidays. I packed everything but the stuffed panda that Joe had won me at the show and the necklace he'd gotten me for Christmas. I left that on the chest-of-drawers.

"Ada, honey can I come in?" mum stood in the doorframe watching me pack,

"Sure, but Tyler's already said I could go and I'm all packed," I mentioned so she didn't try to change my mind. She put a plane ticket on top of my bag,

"All payed for, you just have to board the plane," she said. I nodded.

"Thank you," I put it in my carry-on bag.

"I'm going to be out with Tracey tomorrow so Joe will have to take you to the airport," she started leaving the room,

"I know you want to get us alone so that we can bond again but it won't work. Either you walk with me to the airport or I go alone," I said sternly. I could hear her sigh behind me,

"Please don't take that tone of voice with me," she said.

"I'm going to be gone for the rest of the holidays. You won't see me until we are both back in Brisbane. You haven't done anything with me all holidays, the least you could do is walk me to an airport," I pointed out. I turned to face her and she nodded,

"Alright, I'll walk you there to say goodbye," she left the room and I muttered,

"You make it sound like it's difficult,"