My Dad, My Ghost //DISCONTINUED//

Chapter 4 - Dinner

(A.N.) Sorry for the very very very late update... I mean at the same time, it's not like I have a lot of readers but if you are here since the prologue, thank you! Thank you for sticking by even if I'm the least active person alive 😂 without further ado, let's get to it.

———

As soon as the man walked through the door, I am glad it isn't Mr.Wall. Or at least I don't think so...

I guess I pictured Mr.Wall as this creepy mysterious old man like in the movie Nine Lives.

Anyways, the man in our doorstep is not old. I mean... not old old you know?

He has salt&pepper hair. He looks pretty handsome (not saying I'm attracted to him, that would be really weird... and creepy.) and he looks in his 40's, like dad. But he's not dad.

This man's face is a little more oval-shaped, his nose is longer, and his hair isn't as closely trimmed as dad's.

He is tall, but so am I, which leaves only a head of difference between us. He's okay... I though, but he's not my dad. He better not be expecting to replace him.

Oh my god! I am becoming the over protective daughter who doesn't even give the step dad a chance.

He deserves a chance. But if he makes me clean the bathroom two times a week, I swear I'll never forgive him.

Oh wait... am I really thinking of him moving in? No, I am not. I am seeing in the future, because he better not break my mom's heart.

~

"Soooo... how did you and mom meet?"

Wow typical conversation starters, brother. Too much for being nice.

We just learned the man's name is Mark. That sounds like cool step-father's name. Good job there, seeing the positive side of stuff!

My brother doesn't see it like that. He seems to have already decided he did not like that man and wasn't going to let him enter our family that easily.

Luckily, Mark didn't seem to notice the coldness in my brother's voice.

"Well you see, Mr. Wall is actually my father." He answers, "I work at the shop three days a week after class."

"Class? How old are you?" My Felix asks, clearly judging him.

This time, Mark noticed. He looked a little nervous. It's weird to see someone being intimidated by my brother. Felix is not exactly muscular, but I do have to admit that his attitude can be a little unsettling sometimes.

I guess getting picked on at our old school changed him. Before dad died, we went to a private school, but after his death we changed for a public school.

I know private schools aren't all like this, but our old school was filled with spoiled snobs and pricks. And the teachers totally didn't care about us.

I counted at least 4 fights the last week we were there and the third one ended with an ambulance and a broken arm.

" I'm 38..." Mark's voice brought me back to reality. "I'm taking a course on marine biology."

"Okay.... and-"

"Felix. That's enough!" Mom cut him off quietly.

"No, I have another questi-"

"I said that's enough" Mom said again, a little louder this time.

Felix looked down to his plate. He looked hurt.

"I'm done." He mutters under his breath. "I'm not hungry anymore."

He gets up a little more violently than usual and runs up the stairs to his room.

When I look back at mom, she was staring wide-eyed at the staircase, looking as hurt as my brother. Our approval must be really important to her.

"I'm... Uh, I'll go check on him." I say "Are you finished?" I ask politely, looking at both of their empty plates.

"Um... yes sure, thank you darling." Mom answers, forcing a smile.

I take the plates to the sink and wash them quickly. Then I go up the stairs.

When I pass by the dining table, Mom and Mark aren't there anymore. I see them on the couch, watching a movie. Mom's head is rested on Mark's shoulder, his hand caressing her hair.

I smile at that. He might not be that bad, if we give him a chance. At least he makes her happy, and that's what counts.

My brother's room is the last door upstairs. The hall is dark at this time of the evening, and being the Drama Queen I am, I feel the need to walk in slow motion while humming a scary background music.

I mean I have time right? Not like he's going anywhere.

~

Boy was I wrong...

"Felix?" I ask, looking around his room. He is nowhere to be seen. "Felix where are you? This isn't funny!"

Still no answer. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Felix come on! We're having brownies with ice cream! You don't want the ice cream to melt do you?"

Silence.

Now I'm really worried. My little brother would never turn down brownies with ice cream.

I take another step inside his room. He would never allow it if he was here. We have a strict 'stay-out-of-my-room-if-you-wanna-live-a-long-and-happy-life' policy between us.

'It's so cold in here!' I thought. 'Wait... why is it so cold in here?'

I look at his window, a horrible thought forming in my head. It is wide open.

Would he do that? Would he jump because of mom and Mark? It's a pretty harsh fall from the second floor.

Then I see something that makes me feel better. Not good, but better.

There is a piece of tissue tied to the window. No, not a tissue. It's more like a bedsheet. And another, and another. Bedsheets are tied together by strong knots, hanging down the window, and stopping a few inches before the ground as I see.

"Oh brother..." I mutter to myself. "what have you done?"