The lost son ~John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer

12. Even though you raised me I will never be your father

I was watching Lakers on TV when suddenly Nicole burst into the living room.

- Josh, go to your room!

- But the game hasn't ended yet. I need to know who wins!

- It's midnight, go to sleep. Now!

- Stop telling me what to do, you're not my fucking mother!

I knew that I shouldn't talk to Nicole like that but I just couldn't stand her. Living with her for the past few months was horrible. And dad always did what she told him to.
Not even a second later John appeared.

- What was that? Don't you ever yell at her again!

He ran to me and slapped me across the face. I felt a sharp pain and my cheek got hot. I went dizzy and almost fell on the floor. It took me a few seconds to understand what really happened.

I wanted to tell him how disappointed I was, but I just turned around and went out of the house. How could he? I thought that he was the best father in the world. She changed him. He was no longer the same dad. He was just a puppet in her hands.

I tried to call Flea but he wasn't answering. It was late, maybe he had already been sleeping. I was wandering through the streets and didn't know what to do with myself.
I've decided to call Anthony.

"Josh? Did anything happen? You've never called me so late."

"Yeah, can I stay at your house for a bit?"

"Of course kid, just tell me what's going on."

"I'll tell you when you pick me up. It's so cold here."

I told him where I was and half an hour later he was there. I went inside his Porsche. Anthony stared at my cheek for a moment and then asked:

- Oh god, who beat you?

- John.

- What the hell?

- I don't wanna go back there. At least not until he apologizes.

*

- Here's your room, there's a bathroom if you want to have a shower before you go to bed.

- I won't be getting any sleep today, I guess.

- Oh sweety, I'm sure he didn't want to do this. He will apologize and everything will be fine again.

- You don't understand. It's all because of Nicole. I'm sick of living there. I thought about renting my own flat, it isn't such a bad idea anymore, I don't wanna go back there.

- I know that she's weird, but you know, John loves her. She can't be that bad.

- She's so sweet to him but she treats me like shit. She tells me when to turn the TV off, when to be back home and how to dress up. I'm not a child anymore, she does everything to humiliate me. And he's ok with it.

- Did you try to talk to John?

- Of course but she would always cut in.

- Well, I was living alone when I was your age and it wasn't that bad. Maybe John will understand his mistakes when you move out.

- Tomorrow they are going to a concert at 4 pm, will you help me to get my stuff when they won't be at home?

- Of course. I'll help you find a nice flat too. Now go to sleep boy, you need some rest.