Run Wild • Ackley Bridge

• deadbeat dad •

I wake up, across from Cory the way I fell asleep, as we did share the blanket last night, just not in the conventional way people may share blankets, but it was fine.

I mean we stayed up for a little while talking about random shit before I fell asleep, mid conversation I believe.

I get myself up out of bed and quietly run up to my bedroom, pulling out a sweatshirt and leggings to wear, which I quickly put on before walking out my room again and to the bathroom where I see Jordan walking out of it.

" Morning" he lightly smiles.

" Morning, sleep well?" I ask him as I walk into the bathroom and grab my tooth brush.

" Yeah... thanks" he says, before walking back into Wills room to probably get changed out of his sleepwear.

I brush my teeth, spit out the toothpaste and wipe my mouth before running back down the stairs to where Cory is awake, sat on his phone and must've got dressed down here while I was upstairs.

" Hey I need to do something, will you be here later" He asks me, as he quickly stands up and walks over to the door.

" Yeah, Nas and Missy are coming here though, to get ready for this party thing" I say, as I walk over to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea.

" Zain's party?" He questions me, to which I nod at.

" I'll see you later then, but I really need to go" He says, before picking up his bag and running straight out of the door, slamming it shut behind him.

I stand there confused for a second, but quickly brush it off before filling up the kettle with water.

I begin to clean up the house, and while I'm fixing the sofas Jordan comes downstairs and looks around to see if Corys here.

" Corys gone somewhere" I tell him, as I fold up the blanket.

" Tell you where?" He questions, as he walks over to me to help with the cleaning up by grabbing two glasses that are on the side tables.

" hopefully to see Jamie" He laughs, as he puts the two glasses onto the side where the sink is.

" Whose Jamie? He's not gay is he? Is it his boyfriend?" I question him, as I fold up Corys hoodie that he left on the floor.

" No-one, hes no-one" He tells me, quickly turning his body away from me so I can't see he's lying, although he clearly is.

" No, you can't do that. Whose Jamie?" I ask him, walking over to where he's stood.

" His son alright." He says, turning to look at me, his facial expression not changing, but then again it barely has in the time I've known him which hasn't been long.

" He didn't tell me he was a dad" I slightly laugh, very awkwardly, because my brain isn't exactly processing this information.

" That's 'coz he's a shit one." He shrugs, but with undertones of almost anger.

" what do you mean?" I ask him, my voice almost shaking as I told Cory how shit my father was, and now I'm being told that he's the exact same.

I feel for that kid, I mean for me growing up without a dad was the fucking worst, and I really hoped that Cory would not be the same.

" I mean Cory hasn't bothered with that kid ever since I told him he was the father ." He tells me, as I walk away to finish with the cleaning up, trying to act as though what Jordan's telling me doesn't bother me.

But it does.

" Whose baby is it? Like whose the mother?" I ask, as I fill the sink up with water to wash the bowls and plates in the sink.

" My ex, Candice" he tells me, which causes me to look back at him with a confused look, which he quickly realises.

" she told me it was mine, got a DNA test and everything and well, it wasn't" he says, as he sits down on the breakfast bar and watches me as I clean up.

"I'm sorry Jordan" I say, looking over at his direction.

" I mean it's done now. That kid will just grow up without a dad. Which is a good thing if our Cory ends up anything like our dad" he tells me, as I put the last bowl into the side, before wiping my hands down with a tea towel.

" I guess it's best" I say.