Pretty Boy- Jonathan Brandis (ongoing)

part six

August 31
Day two or camping. We woke up relatively early and went to a small diner for breakfast. After talking for a while, Jon asked, "so, what do you want to do after high school?"
"Well, I want to college here in California, but I don't know where. My grades aren't great and I haven't figured anything out yet. I'm kind of a wreck when it comes to the whole 'after high school' thing."
Jon shook his head. "No. What do want to do? Travel the world? Move to the inner city? Spend the winters in the Bahamas on a yacht?"
I laughed. "I haven't got the money for any of that stuff. I just want to have a steady job, get married, have kids and dogs and live an average life in a very average neighborhood." I shrugged.
Jon looked at me like I was crazy. "Well you can be boring Ms. Keeley, but one day I swear I'll travel the world, go to the Philippines and Australia and places like that. But you know I can't go by myself. I'm gonna need a buddy." He looked up at me.
"Well, I hope you find your buddy," I said.
"I hope I already have. I really hope she's sitting right in front of me now." He smiled.
I blushed. "Okay. Sounds like a plan." I joked. I hope Jon did get to do these someday, with his wealth. But with me? In our dreams.

-

August 31 (continued)
We spent the day going on hikes and exploring the little town. Back at the tent, I got a call from my dad who I hadn't heard from since May, and that was only when he wanted a favor from me.
"Hey, Ashley! I haven't seen you in a while, would you want to stop by tomorrow?"
"Dad if you want something from me, you can just tell me now." I sighed.
"Ashley, I don't need the attitude. You're my daughter, I just want to see you."
"Okay," I said and hung up the phone because I was on the verge of tears. I don't know why my dad became such a piece of shit after the divorce because even when I was a kid, I could tell he never really loved my mom. But funny thing is, my dad used to be a great guy. He used to be a person that my brother and I looked up to. He took us to parks, he took us camping, swimming, and hiking, like he should have. I would do anything to have that version of my dad back.
Jon walked up to me and hugged me from behind. "You ok?" He asked.
"Yeah. My dad just called. He wants me to stop by tomorrow. Do you mind taking me to his house on the way home tomorrow?"
"Course not, Keeley." Jon said in a soft voice.

-

September 1
Jon and I hit the road at 8 am. It was a very boring ride because I couldn't stop thinking about all the things that could go wrong at Dad's house. I had a really bad feeling about this.
Four hours later, we were here. I walked up the door of my dad's run down 1 story house and knocked. He opened the door, and I could smell the alcohol and smoke on him.
"Hi, darling!" He said and tried to give me a hug but I pulled away. He frowned at me, and looked at Jon without saying anything, but giving a blank look."
"Come in." He said with a lot less enthusiasm. I sat on the edge of the couch, and Jon stood next to where I was sitting.
"You don't talk much do you, Ashley?" He said as he sat down on a different couch. "A lot has changed since you were ten years old."
"I could say the same about you, Dad." I said as I looked around at his trashed house with cigarette buds and beer cans everywhere.
"Shut up, Ashley. I know I didn't raise you to be a bitch." Dad said as Jon struggled to keep his mouth closed.
"Damnit, Dad! How can you say that to me? You haven't been a part of my life or Brendan's for the past five years!" I raised my voice a little.
"CLEARLY, BECAUSE IF I HAD YOU WOULDN'T BE A BITCH JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER! YOU'RE ALREADY ON YOUR SECOND BOYFRIEND, AREN'T YOU! YOU ARE JUST A STUPID LITTLE SLUT EXACTLY LIKE YOUR MOTHER!" He got up and screamed in my face.
Then, Jonathan lost it. He got up in my father's face and said, "DON'T YOU DARE FUCKING TALK TO HER LIKE THAT!"
Dad looked taken aback. He sat down and scoffed. "Whatever, macho man."
"Come on Ash, we're leaving," Jon said as he tried to take my hand.
"Wait. There are some things I need to say to my father." I turned to him. "Don't you ever come near me or the rest of my family, again. You have no right to sit here and insult mom and I after you destroyed the family after the divorce, and left the rest of us with nothing. Mom did a better job raising Brendan and I than you could ever, because you can't even take proper care of yourself. So leave me the fuck alone." I said and stormed out the door with Jon.
Immediately after I got in the car the tears came. Jonathan put me into his lap and ran his fingers through my hair. "It's okay, Keeley. I'll never let that happen again. You're gonna be alright, now, calm down." He kissed the top of my head. Jonathan was the best thing that happened to me in a very, very long time.
He started the car and started driving to my house. Once we were there, he held my hand till we were in my room. We cuddled in bed, and after ten minutes if silence, he said, "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
"No, Jon I'm sorry." I stopped crying.
"Don't be. You know you're safe here with me now. I'll never let you get hurt again." He reassured me.
A few minutes later, Mom opened the door, and he eyes widened. I laughed. "Mom. Come in, it's fine we weren't doing anything."
"I sure hope so-" she joked until she saw that I'd been crying. "Honey, what's wrong?" She said as Jon backed away from me a bit.
"I went to visit Dad. Big fight." I didn't want to explain the details at the moment.
"Oh god. Not that sick bastard. I hope you're alright, honey. I'm making dinner here pretty soon." She turned to Jon. "I don't think we've met. Are you Jonathan?"
"Yep, that's me." He squeaked.
"Wow. You are even more handsome than I thought." Mom said as she raised her eyebrow at me. She was so embarrassing. "Well, I'll leave you two alone." She walked out of the room and closed the door.
"Maybe I should get going," Jonathan said.
"Do you have to?" I asked.
"I guess not," he said as he climbed back on my bed and laid next to me and kissed me.
___________________________________
Dedicated to my friends I've made in the Jon fandom 💓 love u all