Bet ~Jean x Reader AU~

Chapter 4: Lingering Silence

"So, how ya holdin' up there, squirt?" my father, YF/N (your father's name) asked, his voice muffled slightly over the phone.

I popped a few pieces of popcorn into my mouth and shrugged, "You know me. I'm doing good."

"Are you adjusting back into the grind again?" he added.

"Yup," I replied. "Same old, same old."

There was a brief silence that lingered between us, the line filling with awkwardness from it. To be honest, I didn't really know what to say. In fact, I wasn't really sure why YF/N had even phoned me. It wasn't like we talked often. I mean, we weren't estranged or anything, but we weren't necessarily best buddies either. The only time he ever called was due to emergencies, but if that were his reasoning for calling me, then he would've already cut to the chase. So, I was oblivious.

"So...what's up with you, pops?" I pressed, tossing back another few pieces of popcorn. "Anything new?"

"Uh...not really," he sighed, his voice sporting exhaustion at the edge of his words. "Work is still work, bills are still comin' in, still dealin' with that damn leaking faucet, and so on so forth."

"Wow. You sure know how to advertise this whole adulting thing," I smirked sarcastically. "You should've been a salesman."

"Don't grow up, Y/N. It's a trap," he chuckled lightly.

I snickered, "Little late on that heads up, pops."

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right," he chortled warmly. "Why'd ya have to grow up?"

I couldn't help but grin to myself at that. It wasn't every day my dad talked to me like that. It made me remember how happy I was to be his daughter. It made me remember how proud I was to be his daughter...but those feelings of glee were short lived. I let the small waves of pride withdrawal from me, being replaced with suspicion. I hated to shift to that mindset, but I couldn't help it.

"Dad, what is it? Are you in trouble? Do you need me to come back home?" I questioned, chewing my lips between each word.

There was a brief silence before he sighed, "What? A father can't just ask his daughter a question?"

"Dad," I said, sharpening my tone.

"Okay, okay," he huffed. "You're right. There is something."

I bit down on my bottom lip and pressed, "Are you in some kinda trouble?"

I could feel my heart pick up the pace, my pulse throbbing in my ears. Anxiety was washing over me. I had no idea what he'd say or what would be chucked my way. Knowing my father, it could have been anything. He could've been hyping me up to tell me he was getting a promotion at work or preparing me for something less desirable. And he never gave me any view of what.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he continued, "When...when was the last time you talked to your mother?"

My blood ran cold. Of everything he could've brought up, I never imagined that. Not once did that cross my mind. I truly expected him to announce he'd either get promoted or ask for help with something. Those both seemed like much more believable options.

I tightened my hold on my cell and swallowed, "Why? Why does that matter?"

"Y/N, she's your mother," he pressed, his voice soft.

"And?" I threw back. "She was your wife and that didn't stop you from ditching her."

"You know that's not how it all went," he breathed in frustration. "You know that...that...that's different. She's your mother. You know it's gotta be killing her that she hasn't heard from you."

I could feel my blood starting to boil. I loved my father, but he was truly starting to irk me. I was fine talking about anything else -anything else- but that. I had no intentions on talking about my mother and especially not with my father. That just seemed absurd to me. After all, why would he have cared?

He breathed in a haggard breath and sighed, "Y/N, listen. I know you're not...close to your mother. Trust me, I know, and I understand. But in the end, she is still your mother. You owe her at least a phone call every once in a while."

That pissed me off. That was what really got to me. Father or not, he dared to say that. He had the audacity to claim such a thing. I was in no mood nor mindset to care about that conversation.

"I owe her nothing," I said numbly with a hoarse voice.

I must've surprised him because his voice shook as he spoke, "Y-Y/N...s-she's...she's your mother."

"So?" I swallowed coldly. "She was your wife. You were married for almost twenty years when you walked out. Didn't that mean anything?"

"Of course it did," he whispered. "That was the most difficult day of my life. Walking away from your mother and you was the hardest thing I ever did. But I had to, sweetheart. Things weren't...they weren't going well at the time."

"And if you had stayed?" I questioned.

There was another long pause that drifted between us. I hadn't meant for the conversation to grow as serious as it had. I never meant for any of it. I was perfectly fine with having to come back to h/p (where you live) to help him do whatever it was he had to do. I would've even given him money if that were what he wanted. But no. It couldn't have been that easy.

"It...it would've been too complicated," he answered quietly.

"Exactly. You left us because you were fed up with her bullshit," I snapped. "Both of us. It might've been her you divorced, but you left both of us and I was forgiving of that. I was forgiving about being left with her." I could feel myself trembling. "I was forgiving about all of it. So, please, don't try to tell me I owe her anything when I was so sacrificing."

Silence.

"I...I'm sorry, Y/N," he said softly. "I should've brought you with me. I know that I should've, but -"

"Please don't," I sighed. "Just...just forget about it. I need to go. I have classes tomorrow."

"Okay, sweetheart. I love you," he continued.

"Love you too," I replied quickly before hanging up.

I clutched onto my cell, pressing it to my lips as I wrapped my arms around myself. I could feel my adrenaline still pumping through my veins, my pulse pounding in my ears. I squeezed my eyes shut, biting down on my bottom lip. Breathe, Y/N. Breathe. I told myself. Just chill out. I slowly opened my eyes, bringing my gaze to the ceiling. You're fine. You'll be just fine.

**Ello my sweet, sweet lovelies! I hope y'all enjoyed this post! Hopefully it peaked your interest a bit. As always, thank you SOOOOO super duper much for all the support! Y'all are the bee's knees!! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross