I have everything, except you - Thomas Brodie Sangster fic

29. Plan

I knocked on their front door, praying that it was Dan who opened it. No such luck. 

"Oh, Milly." Thomas's voice was slightly raspy and I couldn't help but shut my eyes as his accent drifted towards me. "I don't really want to see you, sorry." He pulled back, not rude enough to shut the door in my face. 

"Actually, I'm here to talk to your dad," I said, watching his expression turn to one of confusion, his eyebrows drawing together in a frown. "Is he home?"

A minute later I'm sitting on the couch in my usual spot, although it felt different now that Thomas and I were barely speaking. Dan passed me a cup of tea, sitting beside me and crossing a leg over the other one. 

"So, Milly, what's up?" He asked, nervously eyeing Thomas, who sat just in the other room. 

"You know how dad lost his job? Well, he's not doing great. I really don't want to move, Dan. I really really don't want to go. And.. I just don't know what to do!"  I blurted out, my bottled-up anxiety and anger pouring out. Dan blinked at me, then composed himself.

"Right... Right, yeah um. Milly, sometimes these things happen. It can be tough to find work, and your father is just going through a rough patch."

"Dan, spare me the inspirational pity talk. Just tell me what I should do," We were interrupted when his phone rang, and he checked the number and smiled at me apologetically. "Sorry, Milly. Just hold on a sec," He got up and left the room.

I crossed my arms angrily and glared at the back of Thomas's head. I was behaving really rudely, but I couldn't help it, I was just so worried I'd have to leave. 

It was silent except for the ticking of a clock and the buzz of Dan's voice in the other room. 

"Why don't you want to leave?" The question came out of nowhere, and Thomas was still facing away from me. "Huh? What do you mean? My whole life is here, school, home, people.." 

"Yeah, but who? Who's keeping you here right now? Wouldn't it be better to go? Make new friends, start over?" 

His words stung, and I felt tears spring to my eyes. I hadn't really thought about why it was so devastating to have to leave. I realised that a small part of me wanted Thomas to tell me he still loved me, to make things right with him again. For my friends to want me back in their lives, especially Ryan. I was just about to reply with something cutting when Dan walked back into the room.

"That was a mate of mine," He said, running a hand through his curly brown hair. "I have to go help him out, he works for a taxi rank and one of his drivers just bailed on him. I'll see you kids later though. Milly, you're welcome to stay for as long as you want, sorry I can't help more right now, but it'll all work out." He smiled again, and I stood up, pulling on my jacket.

"It's okay. I've got somewhere to be, anyways," I walked out the door with him, not bothering to say goodbye to Thomas. He got in his car, waved to me then drove off. I turned in the other direction, towards town, and started walking.

I walked around the shops for three hours, going into all of the clothes shops and asking if they were looking for employees. Most places weren't looking for help and the ones that were turned me away when I didn't have a CV. I could've kicked myself for being so stupid. 

I was pretty much giving up, so I went to the foodcourt and sat with a donut, sadness taking over my expression. Once I'd been sitting there for too long, I got up to put my rubbish in the bin when a sign caught my eye. 'HELP WANTED' in bold red letters. McDonald's, hmm. Not my dream job. But there was nothing else. 

Taking a deep breath, I went inside.