Tangible Things [ ONGOING EDITING ]

Vol: 1. Chapter Four

+  F O U R +

"What do you mean, yes?!"

I'm momentarily stunned when my parents agree to letting Melanie and I attend a party. In Charleston. The only reason I'd said yes, was because I knew—thought, that they'd say no. My parents were known for saying no. It didn't matter what it was, if it was too expensive, or sounded sketchy—it was an automatic decline.

But now, seeing my mother smile while snuggled into my father's side, I can see why she's decided to say yes. She's happy. So, she's projecting it onto us the only way she knows how; love.

My father got a dazed, silly smile on his face as he playfully winks over at me. "Go on, have fun, bug. God knows you deserve it." A part of me is thankful that they're being so understanding in a situation with such circumstances, but another part of me is just utterly confused.

"So, you're telling me," I start off, "that Mel and I are allowed to go to a party. In Charleston?" My father shrugs, pulling out the keys to his truck out from his pocket.

"Is that not what you wanted?" He asks sarcastically, tossing the keys over to my sister with a careful bat of his eye.

Melanie grabs my forearm, dragging me over to the staircase. "Yeah, Jules. Stop questioning the poor man."

Once we back into our bedroom, and Melanie is pulling all sorts of colored outfits from her closet, I'm still in shock. "I can't believe he just handed you the keys like that. I had no idea it'd be that easy."

"Oh, Julia," she starts, laughing slightly. "This is not going to be easy. D'you you see that look he was giving me? If the truck comes back with even a scratch, I am so dead." I laugh along with her, knowing full well how right she is. My father loved his truck like a son—considering he never had any, the truck was a some sort of replacement for what he couldn't have.

She turns her attention back over to me again, gesturing to a navy blue sweater with stars. "So," She raises a suggestive brow. "How bout it?"