I'm Already Gone

Chapter Four: Getting Along and Meeting The Gang

-4-

I walked inside, and I nearly dropped my longboard. Jesus Christ. 

The place looked comfortable, but you could tell that quite a bit of investment was put into it as well. I looked at all of the decorations and furniture, and I mentally told myself to focus on not being clumsy. 

"There's a guest bedroom upstairs, so just leave your shoes by the door and follow me." Niko instructed, taking off his shoes and padding up the large staircase in his sock feet, lugging my suitcase along. I slipped off my Vans and followed after him, holding onto my board carefully so it didn't bump into anything.

We entered a nicely furnished guest room that had a dresser, double bed, nightstand, and desk. Niko set my suitcase on the floor near the bed, and I set my longboard and backpack down near the dresser. 

"Dad? Is that you?" I heard a girl's voice call out, and I turned towards the door. A girl who was a tad bit shorter than me was standing in the doorway, looking at us with a curious stare. She had straight blond hair that was fairly long, with bright blue eyes and a slightly crooked nose. 

"Matea! Good to see you're back," Niko grinned, walking over to give her a hug. Matea hugged him, but was still looking at me oddly. Niko noticed, and began to usher her out of the room. "Excuse us a minute." he said to me.

They only went into the room next door, which I assumed was Matea's room. I heard Niko beginning to tell her who I was. I guess the walls around here aren't that thick.

"You see, Matea, before I was with your mother a long time ago, I was with another woman," Niko explained. "I never heard from her after we split up about seventeen years ago."

I clenched my teeth when I heard that, balling my hands into fists. Yeah, cause you guys just split up normally like any other couple. Bullshit.

 "However, at the Kirsche house last week, I met the girl in the other room, Lana," Niko said. "She's the daughter of the woman I used to be with. It's going to be as surprising to you as it was to me, but...she's my daughter, too."

"What?!" Matea exclaimed, and I didn't blame her. Suddenly finding out that you have a half-sister is a very weird feeling. "Are you serious, Dad? This woman never talked to you after you broke up, but suddenly you guys have a kid together?"

"I know it's very strange, but it's true. I spoke to her mother yesterday," Niko said, and I paused at that statement.  I wonder what exactly they talked about? How did Mom handle it? I heard the sound of papers rustling, and I assumed that Niko was showing her my birth certificate and the letter. "She's going to be staying here for a while. She grew up never having a father, Matea, so she needs to get to know me, as well as you and mom."

There was a minute of silence before Matea spoke again. "That makes sense," she said finally. I could tell she still sounded thrown off, though. "It's still so weird, though. Out of nowhere, I have a sister..."

"It will take time to adjust, but soon you'll find she's just like one of us," Niko assured, and I sighed, walking over to my suitcase and starting to unpack. Who was he to make that kind of assumption? "I love you, Matea."

"Love you too, Dad." I heard her say, then I heard the sound of the two of them walking back into the hallway. I kept unpacking until I heard Niko call out from the doorway.

"Lana, this is my daughter, Matea. Matea, this is Lana." Niko introduced, and I nodded at her.

"Hey." I said casually, smiling at her before turning back to my clothes, sorting them into neat piles in the dresser drawers. I needed some music, so I grabbed my phone and started to play some Arctic Monkeys.