The Boy From Italy (Pentatonix)

Ch 26. Rick

I'm still sick but here's a double for y'all.
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The first day of second quarter was on a Wednesday. It was the perfect temperature for Scott to take the motorcycle to school as long as he wore his letterman jacket and a helmet. The day was really starting to look good for him until Scott checked his phone a moment before starting the ride to school.

Kirstie: I miss you.

What gave her the right to miss him? The question rattles around in his head, Scott not moving a muscle from where he's perched on the motorcycle. He isn't sure how long he sits there until phone buzzes again. Against his better judgment, Scott checks the message again.

Kirstie: I know you read that.

He's filled with so much blinding anger after reading the second message. It doesn't matter if he read the message or not. She broke up with him, she ruined him. He's still trying to pick up the pieces of what she did to him. One last, final message comes before Scott fully losses it.

Kirstie: I'm sorry. Just message back. Please.

She wants him to message back? Well, Scott can definitely make that happen.

Scott: Fuck off.

The second thing Scott does is go through his phone's contact list with shaky hands. All of his plans this morning had been to drive himself to school but Scott is smart enough to know that he shouldn't be on the road right now. His thoughts are going to fast and too slow at the same time. He can't tell his mom or she'll freak out and want to talk about what's bothering him. Scott wants a lot of things but that isn't one of them. Finally, Scott finds the name he's looking for a clicks call.

It rings a few times before a voice answers. "Hey, Scott. I wasn't expecting you to call me today. What's up?"

"I'm not okay. Can you pick me up, please?"

"Of course. You're at Connie's place?"

"Yeah."

"I'll be there in twenty minutes. Stay safe."

The line goes dead after that. Scott wasn't sure what more he was expecting from the conversation. After all, Scott's father has never been the most talkative man.

---

Rick stares his son down as they sit at a grungy old booth in a small restaurant just as grungy. Scott doesn't talk to his dad often, sticking to his mom's side instead. After their divorce things got messy, really messy. Then his mom got pregnant and things only got worse. Scott started helping his mom out more and Rick sort of melted into the background. Scott started only seeing his dad on holidays and special occasions. It was better for Connie that way. Scott's not entirely sure why he never tried to protect his dad during any of it.

"Are you okay?" Those three words are the first thing said to him after not seeing Rick for nearly four months. There just never seemed to be enough time. Even with working less at Smoothie Sailing, Scott seemed to be busier than ever. "And I know you have school today. I won't tell if you won't."

Scott manages a small chuckle at his dad's words but it's hallow founding and not even Scott can bring himself to believe it. "I'm so far from okay that I've forgotten what it feels like to not lie when saying yes."

"Talk to me, Son."

And he does. Scott tells him everything. From meeting Mitch, to school starting, to the rough patch with Kirstie that later led to her cheating on him, even to feelings Scott isn't entirely sure he wants to admit out loud. Scott knows that he's nowhere close to being able to date again, yet whenever he looks at or touches Mitch it's like something just clicks. He hasn't felt that for a while. It disappeared with Kirstie almost six months ago, Scott just didn't want to admit that either.

Rick sighs once Scott finishes speaking. "Fuck. That's heavy. You won't want to hear this because it's bullshit advice, but you need to move on. In whatever way is up means for you. As your dad, I shouldn't tell you to go find a rebound, so this is me not telling you to go find one."

When Scott laughs this time it's a little more real. "I'm sorry for having you pick me up. I was having a moment of weakness."

"Hey, you don't have to apologize for that. I'm your father, Scott. Even if not always around for you, if you call me because you need me then I'm going to show up. End of discussion. I'm really glad that you called when you did. I needed this too."

"Can we do this more often?" Scott asks the question softly. He doesn't ask questions like those often for fear of being rejected, even when he knows it won't come. "Just hanging out or shit..."

Rick smiles. "Of course. I would really love that, Son. Are you sure Connie will be okay with it?"

Scott shrugs. "Dad, I love Mom a lot, but she doesn't get to tell me if I can see you or not. Not anymore. Not when I really need you in my life."

"If you need me then I'm here. And I'll be here even when you don't."

Scott manages another small smile. "I love you."

"I love you too, Son."
---

How do we feel about Rick's first appearance in the book?