One Love

Chapter 22

(This chapter is really short! Sorry about that!! Next chapter will be up soon!)

Hayden’s POV

            My dad, my brother and I all sat together in my house. We were going over remember when’s, and remember that time..? It was emotional. There were tears and there were many laughs. I hadn’t seen Peter since two days ago when we were at the hospital, but I knew I needed to spend time with my dad. Tomorrow was the fourth of July and I was nervous.

            “Do you need anything?” I asked my dad for the hundredth time today. He was only released yesterday and he was still the old him, with occasional coughs and throwing up.

            “No sweetie, thank you.” I nodded and went into the kitchen to get myself a water.

            “How come you didn’t ask if I wanted anything?” Jason asked when I got back. I laughed and opened my water about to put it to my lips when I saw him slowly get up. I knew that stance he was in and so did my dad.

            “Jason, don’t you dare.” My dad warned with a huge smile on his face.

            “Yeah Jason, don’t.” I said. I knew I couldn’t drink it because then he would make his attack. Ah, to hell with it. I began to chug and he jumped on me, both of us hitting the floor hard. The bottle was ripped from my hands and was dumped on me, I grabbed it quickly and began pouring it on my big brother. We were screaming and laughing while we were both getting drenched. When the bottle was empty I hugged him and he hugged me. We sat up and my dad was smiling at us, a sad smile, with tears in his eyes. We both stood and went and hugged him. He didn’t mind that we were both wet while we hugged.

            “I’m going to miss you kids so much.” He said before sobbing to us. I held back my tears, I needed to be strong now. There was a knock at the door and we pulled away. My dad wiped his face while Jason went and let whoever it was inside. My mother walked in and I took dads hand. She saw all the water on the floor and gasped.

            “This is hard wood flooring! Clean this mess up off my floor right now!” My mother screamed at Jason and I.

            “Oh shut up Karen. It’s my floor remember?” My dad spat. Go dad. I was glad he was sticking up for herself.

            “Not for long.” She said. I took two strides before my right hand collided with her left cheek. She held it and stared at me in shock.

            “You have no fucking right to talk to him like that!” I screamed, I put my hands up to push her but Jason’s arms were around my waist and pulled me back while I kicked and screamed. He pulled me about 6 feet away from her and stopped.

            “You disgust me.” I thought I had said it, but it was actually Jason. Jason was mom’s boy. He always was, but not anymore. “You really do mom. I thought that you would be supportive, even after all the shit that happened. But here you are putting it right in dads face.” He let me go and walked towards her. “You know what mom? Yeah, he’s going to die. And I know you think that after he does we’ll come running back to you, but I’ve already found Hayden and I an apartment a couple blocks away. We aren’t coming to you. We’re going to live together, and when she gets home from school we’ll talk good things about dad and nasty things about you. You know why we’ll do that? Because we can. So say what you fucking need to say, and then get the fuck out of dad’s house.” She stared up at my brother in horror before she turned to my dad.

            “I just came to say that I won’t be bothering you anymore. When you pass I don’t want the house, so sell it. Goodbye John.” She turned to Jason and I. “I would say I’m sorry, but I’m not. Goodbye kids.” She stared at me and I shot her the finger, I’m sure you can guess which one. She nodded and left. My dad stood.

            “Clean up the floor.” He whispered, going downstairs to his room. I cleaned the mess up while Jason went god knows where. I stomped up to my room and fell on my bed. Peter’s blinds were drawn and I didn’t want to bother him. I closed my eyes and it didn’t take long before I was in a dream where everything was okay.

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            The next morning I woke up really late. It was 1 in the afternoon and I went downstairs getting some coffee.

            “Hi daddy,” I said, kissing his cheek before sitting next to him on the couch.

            “Hi baby girl, you woke up late.”

            “I know,” I groaned. “Where’s Jason?”

            “With Drew. They’re getting really serious.” He said, grinning at me. He was such a proud father it made my heart melt.

            “Good, Jason deserves someone as great as Drew.” He agreed and we sat in silence. There was a knock on the door.

            “Come in!” My dad called. We both weren’t getting up so why not. Peter walked in wearing black cargo shorts and a tight white shirt. He smiled at us before sitting in the chair next to the couch.

            “Aloha everyone.” I smiled at how cute he was.

            “Good afternoon Pete, what’s up?” My dad asked, taking my coffee and taking a sip before putting it back in my hands.

            “I was wondering if I could talk to you about something sir.” We both looked at him.

            “Of course, what is it?”

            “Since today is July 4th, there is a carnival downtown on the beach and there will be fireworks, so I was wondering if it would be okay that Hayden joins.” My dad chuckled beside me.

            “Of course she can.”

            “Dad are you sure?” I didn’t want him to be home alone.

            “Yes, go out and have some fun.” I nodded and turned back to Peter while he stood up.

            “I wish I could drive you, but I can’t, do you think you could get a ride with Ronnie and Sam?” He asked.

            “Yeah, I’ll text her right now.”

            “Okay, thank you John.” He shook my dad’s hand and waved at me before he left. My dad looked sideways at me.

            “What?” I asked, finishing off my coffee.

            “He is such a sucker for you.” I shook my head while I went upstairs to prepare for tonight.

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            I took a long hot shower. Ronnie said she would come and get me at 7, so I had 4 hours to get ready, but I needed to eat too, so I’m sure that would take time. I blow dried my hair and curled it, that took me an hour and a half. I was about to decide what I wanted to wear before my dad called me from downstairs. I bolted down, afraid something was wrong.

            “Dad? Where are you?” He wasn’t in the kitchen or living room. I ran down to his room and he was on his sitting on his bed, a book in hand. “Dad? Dad are you alright?” I was out of breath from the stairs, geez I needed to work out.

            “Yeah, I need you to tell me what perfidiousness means.” I sighed, my hand over my chest. My heart was racing.

            “I almost had a heart attack.” He chuckled. “It means betrayal of trust.”

            “Which is quite appropriate for my situation huh?”

            “Yes dad, but you don’t need mom, you have Jason and I.” He got up and hugged me. When he pulled back he went into a fit of coughs. I grabbed his water from the side table and handed it to him. He thanked me.

            “You’re hair looks great sweetie.” I smiled at him and he lied down, placing the book beside him. I crept quietly upstairs to my room. Now what should I wear?