Jackson and I are driving to the doctors for his checkup.
We are getting sick of staying home every single day due to Jackson being on crutches. Though I never thought I'd admit this I actually want to go to school. We're over the moon that we've had Stephanie emailing us our school work so we don't have much catching up to do.
"Your recovery is going well, all of your injuries are healing the way they should be, you have a few more days with your crutches and then they are off." The doctor says.
"Thank you so much, Doctor. I'll book an appointment for next week." The doctor nods before leaving the room.
"I'm hungry," I whine as we leave the building.
"Let's get some lunch then." I kiss Jackson on the cheek and walk toward the driver's side of my car.
As I'm driving around finding a nice place to have lunch Jackson starts talking.
"I have one week left with my crutches, so we should go to the beach on the weekend with everyone" he suggests.
"That's one day out of the week we still have off, but yeah we can do that." I agree.
"Well maybe they can all sleepover again and we do fun stuff over the weekend," he sounds like a child. I chuckle.
"I like the sound of that, what should we do?" I ask. Turning into the car park of Taco Bell.
"Friday night we should go see a movie at the drive-ins. Saturday we go to the beach and Sunday we should stay at home and go in the pool and chill before the others have to go home," he plans out.
"You know what? I like the sound of that, I'll let the girls know." I say as I get out of the car. I walk over to Jackson's side to watch him get out of the car, you know, just in case he happens to fall.
We walk into Taco Bell and take a seat in a booth, facing each other. As we wait for our order to come to our tables, Jackson's phone rings. By the look on his face I know it's someone he doesn't want to deal with. Jaw and fist clenched and eyebrows creased Jackson answers his phone.
"I told you to leave me alone!" He says angrily.
What?!? I'm so confused.
"No, I don't wanna hear it. You left us, my sister is sick and mum is a full-time worker who is looking after a sick child. You left. There is no way in hell you'll ever be coming back!!" Jackson says fiercely.
Oh no. I watch Jackson listen to whom I assume is his dad on the phone.
"Fuck you, Peter."
"Who was that?" I ask grabbing both his hands in mine.
He hesitates for a few seconds before he answers. "It was my dad." He pauses. "And I know I've never told you about him and maybe now is a good time but I just didn't want to drop everything on you, when you have a lot going on at the moment." He says.
"No, your problems have no less importance than mine do. No matter what is going on, you can talk to me about whatever it is that is bothering you, okay?" he nods his head in reponse as our food is brought to our table.
"My dad left when he found out my mum was pregnant with Charlotte. During the nine months of mums pregnancy, I never really saw my dad, maybe two or three times." Jackson stops and looks out the window before looking back at me and starting again, "my dad never really wanted me either. My dad didn't have time for me, he only had time for his work and the skanks he was cheating on mum with. Mum never really confronted him about it because she knew that if he left she couldn't cope with looking after her child. But the asshole got up and left. Mum was devastated, I was a thirteen year old doing the job my father was meant to be doing, When Charlotte turned 1, Mum went back to work and The babysitter would come before I left for school and then she would leave when I got home from school." He pauses letting me sink everything in before starting again. "Four years later Charlotte is diagnosed with leukaemia and somehow my dad found out and is now trying to come back, and he should know that I will never let that happen." Jackson finishes clenching his jaw.
"I'm so sorry, Jackson. I'm shocked that someone could be so selfish and cruel," I say, angrily.
"I didn't think my dad could so selfish an cruel," he assures.
"Just know, you can talk to me whenever you need to, okay?" I say, getting him to look me in the eyes.
"I know that. I'm sorry for not telling you earlier. I know it's probably been on your mind about where his whereabouts were but I just needed time and I didn't want to dump all of my issues on you when you are trying to get better, you know?" He says, leaving me shocked.
"Hey, I don't want you to think that my life is more important than yours," I say, finishing my meal.
"But you are. You are so important to me." I look at down at my lap, hiding my red, blushing cheeks. Jackson lifts my chin with his index finger.
"Look, you don't have to answer this question but when we were playing 10 questions, you said you missed him, do you though?" I ask, curiously.
"I don't miss him personally, I miss having a father figure for me and Charlotte and I missed how happy mum was before he left," he replies.
It's over, the curiosity of Jackson's dad is finally over.
YOU ARE READING
Starting Over
Teen Fiction"Your gonna have to move, this is my desk." "Is it? Well, that sucks because I don't see the name Jackson anywhere." I say, tracing my finger along the table pretending to find his name written on the desk. "Wow, the new girl has attitude." He slams...
