A Falice Story

13. Girls Day

I wake up to FP muttering, "Oh shit." I roll over to face him, and I see he's picking up his phone off of the nightstand. He clears his throat before answering, "Hello?" He lets out an audible groan and turns it on speakerphone so I can hear. 

"FP! Do you know where our daughter is?! She's in Riverdale with you, isn't she?!!" Gladys shouts into the phone. I wrap my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder for support. "First of all, why the hell are you calling me at five in the morning?! Did you just realize she was gone now?" Gladys huffs, "No--no of course not...so she is with you--" 

"She got here last night. Said that she took the bus here. Now I'd like to ask you, how you managed to let our eleven year old daughter get on a bus by herself and travel nine hours away without knowing?!!" He yells into the phone. 

"You haven't changed a bit since we signed those divorce papers--" she snaps. FP runs a hand through his hair, frustrated at himself for losing his temper at her, a habit he's been trying hard to break--but it's not like she didn't deserve it. "And you're just as irresponsible as you were when we signed the divorce papers..." 

"I've been working a lot!" she defends. "That still doesn't give you an excuse for letting her take off like that!" FP pauses, "How's the new boyfriend?" It's quiet on the other end for a few moments. "How'd you know I have a new boyfriend?" Gladys questions, her voice sounding on edge. "That was the first thing that came out Jellybean's mouth when I asked her why she ran away," he pauses, "She also told me he's threatened to hurt her," FP challenges, the anger over someone threatening his little girl very present. 

"What? No--Chad would never say that to her!" Gladys argues. FP lets out an exasperated sigh, "Listen, Gladys. I'm not going to sit here and fight with you all morning. I want Jellybean to live with us in Riverdale--that's what she wants too." 

Gladys laughs into the phone, "That's what she wants? Really? There's not a chance in hell she's staying with you! And what do you mean, us?" FP looks at me, realizing she might have caught on to us living together. "Jughead and I," he lies. She laughs, almost tauntingly into the phone, "You know that's funny, FP, because I still keep up with what's going on in Riverdale--and a little birdie told me you've gotten very cozy with that little home-wrecking, maniac!" 

My head shoots of FP's shoulder, my hormones telling me to yell something back at her, but FP stops me, not wanting to make the situation worse. "My personal life is none of your business anymore. I want you to give me full custody of Jellybean and that's final." 

Gladys sighs, "I'm coming to Riverdale to get my daughter, I'll see you in a couple days, FP." We turn and look at each other, eyes wide, as the phone clicks. FP tosses his phone on the bed and flops on his back. "I can't believe she called me a home-wrecking maniac! I am not!" I finally get to let out. He looks up at me, frustration towards his ex-wife in his eyes apparent. "This is just great--now we have to get lawyers involved...it's going to be another mess--just like the divorce was!" FP rants. 

I don't know what to do, other than wrap my arms around him and curl myself into his side. He kisses the top of my head. "I'm so sorry, Al." I tilt my head up and my eyes meet his, "For what?" FP sighs, "For causing more stress on you--after last month's chaos, I wanted everything to be stress-free for you and the baby." I rub my belly, smiling, "We're just fine." 

FP pulls me closer into him, "I'll figure this mess out, I promise." I rest my hand on the side of his face, stroking his beard gently, "You don't have to do it alone." His lips meet mine, all of our emotions seeming to culminate into one kiss. We finally break apart, both of us needing air. FP strokes my hair, "Now let's get a couple more hours of sleep..." he mumbles. I smile, "Perfect."