Fresh Start

Chapter 7

Re-cap

As soon as I reached home, mum was standing there with the door open, old tears staining her face. I wrapped my arms around her waist, and she hugged me back.

But it was at that moment, I was facing our house whilst hugging my mum, when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. At first, I saw 'man legs' and then the top half of him appeared and I swear I stopped breathing for a bit. My mum let go of me and turned to face inside too, win her arm slung across my shoulder.

I took a deep breath.

"Dad?"

My dad, who left us 6 years ago, who I hadn't heard from apart from an email once a year, my dad, who didn't even come to my sister's funeral.

And he was just standing there at the bottom of the stairs, looking as if nothing had happened.

"Lauren." He started towards me and put a hand on my shoulder. How dare he?

"Get the hell away from me." I shoved his hand off my shoulder and placed my hand in my mum's. "Why are you here? You didn't seem to want to have anything to do with us for the past 6 years, especially when we needed you most."

He didn't even look fazed. Is he blind?

"Look, Lauren, I'm sorry for-"

"Don't." I cut my dad off and looked at my mum, she just seemed in shock. I don't blame her though, she has every reason to feel completely confused.

"Please hear me out, I have exciting news!" I just rolled my eyes and let them settle on him, whatever his news is, he can say it, but it won't change my views on him. "I'm getting married."

"What...?"

My mum was looking at dad, sadness clouding her face as she searched his eyes for any sign of joking. And when she found none, she took in a sharp breath. "Is it... Her? ... The same woman who you left me for?" He nodded silently.

"Yes. It is her and... Well, Lauren, do you want to be a bridesmaid?

"Yes dad. I want to be a bridesmaid for the man who tore apart our family for a woman who is nothing compared to what you had." My voice was full of sarcasm. Obviously. What the hell is wrong with this man? "You must be completely delusional! Listen dad, the fact is that you ruined this family. I don't want to ever see you or your whore of a fiancé again. And neither does mum, because you broke her heart... But, in a funny way she is so much better off now. Because you never deserved either of us. Oh and by the way, I am disgusted that you couldn't even show your face at your own daughter's funeral. So leave, right now."

And that seemed to do it, to be honest I was expecting more of a fight but I guess this shows just how little he genuinely cares for us. He left straight away and I immediately broke down in uncontrollable tears.

"I can't believe you said all that..." My mum stated in a sort of dazed way.

Oh shit... Maybe she actually wanted to talk to him, I'm such an idiot! Maybe she had something to say to him...

"I'm so glad you said it, sweetie. That was so brave of you; I wouldn't have been able to say any of that..." She trailed off, looking tired all of a sudden.

It was kind of disconcerting for me seeing my mum in such a vulnerable state. She is usually so strong and put together, but right now all I want to do is give her a hug, make her a cuppa and run her a hot bath. And now I sound like a mother...

/////

The next day I woke up from a beepy noise coming from my bedside table followed by a loud vibration and looked across to see my phone screen light up. Groggily grabbing my it, I typed in my password (just. It's a surprisingly difficult thing to do when you've just woke up) and saw that I'd just got a text from Daniel.

- Hey, are you alright after whatever happened last night? -

I hadn't actually asked myself that question, but I guess I was OK. I've lived wothout my dad for a third of my life, and I've managed pretty damn well so far.

- Hey :) yeh I'm ok, a bit of a surprise but it's not even worth my thoughts so I'm fine really. -

Just as tapped SEND I recieved another text, this time from Annabelle.

- Hey, what happened last night? I came to find you and couldn't but Daniel told me you had to leave..? -

- Oh, yeh. Really sorry about that! Do you want to meet up and go shopping or something and I'll tell you everyhing? -

- Good idea, I'll pick you up at 12 -

I completely forgot she could drive! That makes things so much easier.. And I think retail therapy is just what I need right now.

When Annabelle got here, we headed off to the Bullring* to do some serious shopping.

After spending the majority of my left over birthday money from a couple of months ago in shops like Forever 21, Topshop and River Island we headed to the food hall for 're-fuelling'. Shopping really takes it out of you.

"So, why did you have to leave the party?" Annabelle asked after taking a bite of her pizza.

I told her the whole story including the part with the couple landing on me and making out at which point she froze and a deep red blush found it's way to her cheeks. I looked at her quizzically and she avoided eye contact.

And that's when hit me.

"Ohmygod. It was you. You were one of the kissers! ...But who were you kissing?" I took a sip of my coke.

She started twiddling with her hair nervously and slumped back in her chair.

I tried not to spit out my mouthful of coke when I realised who. "Holy crap. You kissed Alex!"

"Maybe." A small smile made it's way to her - now slightly less red - face. "Sorry, if I knew we were kissing on top of someone I would moved... how did I not notice?" Annabelle started mumbling to herself and she probably even started questioning her own sanity.

Despite last night, things were starting to look better for me already this year.

This time one year ago, I would've laughed if someone told me what I'm going through now. It was an impossibility back then: being friends with Annabelle, being not a girlfriend to Daniel... And now it's reality.

:-:-: Helloooo. New update! Bit of a wait but I've kind of been busy doing nothing this weekend because EXAMS HAVE FINISHED!! I'm a free person for 12 weeks!

Don't forget to vote if you enjoyed and comment any thoughts, and a follow would be appreciated too!!

*The Bullring is a huge shopping centre in Birmingham, England.

Jules xoxo :-:-: