What's Wrong With Us? {Cashby}

06| Goodnight?

Alan's POV

I walked down the street towards my house with Oli by my side. It was around ten and I had finally decided that it was time for me to be getting home. Vic had offered to drive me but since my house was only a few streets over I just told him I would walk. However Vic, along with everyone else, was uneasy about me walking by myself so now I was walking silently while Oli hummed some random tune.

I had the best time and being around all of them was great and I really hoped that we would all continue to hang out. I've got some friends don't get me wrong, but I've never been the type to socialize willingly. It was a good feeling knowing that I might actually become a part of the close knit group of kids I had just met.

We finally turned down my street and I saw my dad sitting on the front porch smoking a cigarette, he hadn't done that in years.
"That's my place." I said and gave Oli a smile.
"Awesome. You live the closest to Vic out of all of. I'm surprised we've never met before." Honestly I was surprised as well. We all went to the same school, except Gerard, and I had never heard of a single one of them. Our school was huge in all of our defense and none of us could name half of our own year let alone half of the actual student population.

"Well you can turn around if you want." I said with a slight laugh. "It's getting dark and it'll be pitch black by the time you walk back." It was getting dark but I just wasn't sure how my Dad would react to me being walked home by a guy from group.
"Ehh its all good. I'll walk you to the door." I just nodded to him and stuffed my hands in my jacket pockets.

We made it to the front porch and I looked from my Dad to Oli a couple times before speaking.
"Dad this is Oli and Oli this is my Dad."
I said quickly and Oli stuck out a hand to shake my Dads.
"Nice to meet you sir." He said and my Dad never made a move to return the gesture. Oli pulled his hand back and shot a suspicious glance at my Dad.

"Where were you?" My Dad asked standing up in front of us. His height was even with Oli's and I suddenly felt small next to both of them.
"I-I was hanging out with some friends I made today." I explained.
"From where?" He questioned further.
"Group." This caused my Dad to laugh.
"Why didn't you give one of us a damn call?"
"I didn't-"
"Well maybe you should have picked him up instead of expecting him to walk a forty-five minute drive." Oli snapped all of the sudden causing my eyes to widen.
"You can stay out of my business boy and you can also get off my property."
"Of course." Oli said with a sickening sweet smile. "Here Alan." He said and handed me a piece of paper. "Call is if you need us." He said kind of quietly before waving and stepping off of the porch.

As soon as he was out of ear shot my Dad grabbed my arm and pulled me in the house.
"I sent you to that place to get better, not to come back with fag friends!" He yelled and I backed up a few steps.
"Sorry Dad. They were just really nice."
"Well don't make a habit of it and if you do then you better not let anything they do affect your progress. Mrs. Adams called today and said she didn't think you were a completely helpless case." He said before turning and walking down the hall.

I stayed in my spot a few more minutes before walking up the stairs to my room. To my pleasant surprise my phone was laying on my bed. I jumped for glee and then suddenly remembered the piece of paper I had been holding in my hand. I opened it and on it, in loopy letters, was everyone's numbers. With a little note at the bottom saying, 'text us your number and feel free to text any of us any time', there were random doodles all around the paper and it made me smile. I quickly sent a text to each number and added them to my contacts. I instantly got some replies, Kellin's being the most enthusiastic, and within a span of ten minutes I was added to a group chat that included all of them.

I spent the rest of the night texting back and forth with them until around two in the morning. Finally I said goodbye and changed into some comfy clothes before I laid back down on my bed. When I did I was shot with a pang of sadness. I know I'm seventeen and it really shouldn't bother me but every night since I could remember my Mom had always stopped by before one of us went to sleep to tell me goodnight. I knew she was up because the tv was on and I hadn't heard the creek of the stairs since I came in my room. The more I thought about it the more upset it got. Was I really that much of a disappointment to my mother? So much that she wouldn't even say goodnight to me anymore.