Trickery → irwin

Chapter 17

Someone knocking on the door awoke me literally making me shoot up from my bed. I rubbed my eyes looking down at Kori who was still in dreamland with her lips slightly parted.

The knocking continued so I got up throwing a beanie over my messy hair running down the stairs. It's not like I was expecting anyone so I had no clue who it could be.

I opened the door stopping mid yawn at the man standing before me. Just one look at his face and I knew who it was, the similarities between us was crazy.

"Hey Ash, wow you've gotten big." His voice was deep and slightly raspy.

I felt sick, I was ready to puke all over the floor. I was completely caught off guard and didn't know what to do. So I just gaped at him wondering if I was still alseep and this was just some nightmare. That had to be it, there was no way my dad was here at my house.

"Sorry for just dropping in but I heard about your mom and wanted to make sure everything was alright."

"Why does it matter? It's not like you cared about us before." I spat after I was able to form actual words.

He smiled shamefully, "Ok I deserved that but I did miss you. I made some mistakes but I payed for them and now I'm a free man, a free man that wants to see his son again."

Something slid against the floor and then a thump occurred behind me and I sighed knowing exactly who it was. Turning around Kori was on the floor rubbing her knee since she most likely tripped on my long sweatpants.

"Go back in the room." I told her pulling her off the ground.

She looked over my shoulder obviously not knowing who was standing mere feet from us.

"You have a girlfriend?"

"She's none of your business. Kori go." I gave her a small push and she obliged going back up the staircase.

I turned back to him, I didn't like referring to him as my dad, and stood up straight trying to show my dominance.

"Get the hell out of my house before I call the cops."

Before he could even question me I grabbed the house phone clutching it tightly in my large hands. He took a step back eyeing my hand then my face.

"I'm your dad whether you like it or not and the cops won't do anything. But I'll leave for now, see you around." He turned around while I slammed the door shut making sure to lock it.

I placed the phone down taking in and releasing huge breaths. I was angry and confused. Why was he out of jail? And why was he suddenly interested in being a part of my life?

Sitting on the couch I tugged at my hair not sure what to do. He knows where I live and he will come back. Does mom know he's out?

A pair of hands pulled mine out of my hair but I put them right back.

"Stop or else you're going to go bald."

I ignored her. She didn't understand what was going on.

"Was that your dad?"

I nodded looking up at her. The word dad was very touchy to the both of us and I guess that's why we understood each other more than most people.

She sat next to me carding her fingers through my hair which felt very relaxing. My eyes fluttered at her touch but I was still on edge.

"He shouldn't be out of jail, everything's going to be bad again."

Kori's hand stopped as she leaned forward to look at me, "What do you mean?"

I never talked about him to anyone mostly because he had been gone for so long I didn't feel the need to bring him up. It was embarrassing to talk about and made my stomach do flips.

"He was in a gang and eventually the police caught him and took him away. He did a lot of terrible things." I gulped feeling my throat constrict, "He almost killed me once. He came home drunk and set off his gun but luckily it only grazed my hip."

Kori was astonished. I probably scared the hell out of her but she had to know the truth. She would most likely leave and never want anything to do with me but it was for the best.

She pulled up my shirt staring at the scar from that night. Her hand rubbed back and forth over it before she placed my shirt back down.

"I'll call Calum to come pick you up." I said getting up.

"But-"

"I just need to be alone right now." I admitted and she nodded in understanding.

Calum rushed over after I told him what happened and he took Kori after reassuring me that I would be ok. I knew I wouldn't be.

Beer after beer I consumed trying to flush away haunting memories. I knew I would be drunk pretty quickly since I hadn't drank in a while.

Halfway through my last bottle I got up, my mind feeling fuzzy, and walked out the house. I didn't remember if I left the door open or not but I didn't care. I walked, well more like stumbled, around the neighborhood swinging the bottle in my hand.

Everything felt weird like I was dreaming and walking on a cloud. Some of the beer spilled onto my shirt and I panicked dropping the bottle making it crash onto the ground loudly.

"Shhh." I put my finger to my lips glaring at the glass.

"Hey Irwin."

I didn't recognize who was calling me so I squinted trying to decipher who this guy was. He was my height and his clothes were dirty and had holes everywhere.

Why is a hobo talking to me?

"Heard your dad got out, the bastard deserves to rot in a cell."

I stared blankly at him not sure what was going on.

He shoved me making my back hit a fence, "I'm talking to you moron. Wow I guess stupidity runs in the family."

I clenched my jaw grabbing his collar so that we were nose to nose, "Wanna say that again?"

~*~

I woke up blinking from how harsh the light was in my room.

My room?

Sitting up it was clear I was laying in my bed. But that didn't make sense. Last thing I remember I was outside.

Luke barged into the room yelling something over his shoulder stopping when he saw I was awake.

"Rise and shine sleeping beauty."

"I feel like shit." I groaned flopping down onto the sheets.

"Well considering how many bottles we found laying around it makes sense." He handed over two pills and a glass of water.

After I swallowed them my headache still pounded so I crawled under the blankets holding my head between my hands. It felt like someone smashing a hammer against my skull and it wouldn't stop.

"What happened?" I kept my voice low trying to make my headache subside.

"We're not really sure. Kori was worried about you and when we came back the door was wide open and the place reeked of beer. Calum drove us around until we found you knocked out on the side of the road all beat up."

Whatever happened I couldn't remember. All I knew was that I was tired and needed to get some sleep.

A bunch of voices started rising making me moan in pain clutching my head even tighter. Feet rushed upstairs and soon Calum charged into the room looking panicked.

Before I could get a word out two officers ran in pushing Luke out of the way so that they could reach me. They flipped me over and I felt handcuffs around my wrists.

"Ashton Irwin you are being arrested for assault and battery."