I waited {L.S}

2.2

I woke up to arguing, then heavy footsteps. Mom was yelling about the fact we're all asleep, while the other person kept saying Lottie called, they didn't want to be here. I sat up and held the blankets tightly. Eventually, I heard Lottie tell them they both needed to shut up before coming into my room.

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked when she saw I was awake. I nodded and she let out a small breath of relief. "Dad's here, alright?"

I nodded again, standing up slowly. She grabbed a backpack I hadn't noticed before, then left my room to wake up Fizzy to help with the twins. I stood in my doorway, waiting for someone to tell me what to do.

Mom turned towards me. "You don't want to go with him."

I looked down. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to be here, with her.

"Leave him alone," Fizzy said, nodding for me to walk in front of her. "He doesn't understand this like we do."

"He's not even on the divorce papers," Mom bit out. I stopped walking and Fizzy spun around.

"Don't even go there. He has every right to Louis, too. He is still his dad no matter what."

Dad came out of a room, shaking his head. "This is exactly why they're not staying with you. You want to bring up shit like that."

"Keep walking," Fizzy mumbled before I could react to my dad. "She's drunk."

We walked down to the bottom floor, where she set Pheobe down before walking outside. We got to a car I hadn't seen before, but Fizzy got in it with no issue. I looked back and forth for a few seconds, memories of the day he took me.

"Louis," Fizzy called. "It is okay. We know him; he's our dad."

I got in and closed the door, taking a deep breath. The twins were buckled up in car seats and Lottie sat in the front.

A man that looked familiar walked towards the car, getting in the driver's side. "I'm glad you guys are fine."

I looked at him, which caused him to turn around. "Hey, Lou." I waved just a tiny bit before my hand fell back into my lap. My dad smiled before starting the car. He glances at the twins, making me realize that Pheobe was asleep and Daisy was awake. "Anyone hungry?" Dad asked.

Daisy immediately started saying she was, and the older two girls agreed. I shook my head and pressed my lips together, looking out the window.

"Are you sure, Lou? We're just gonna get a burger or something like that."

"He just... doesn't eat much," Lottie added on before I said anything. Well, I probably wouldn't have said it. Kayla thought since he made it into a punishment when I talked, my brain only lets me talk when I know I'm completely safe. If there's even the chance that I might not be, I couldn't force words out of my mouth.

"Well, I'll get you something anyway. You don't have to eat it." I nodded. I wasn't going to argue. I didn't know how long we would be in the car, and I didn't want to make him mad.

Dad went to a drive-through and ordered something for everyone. I kept my stuff on my lap once I had it, watching the dark street.

"You're only allowed outside at night, only with me. Just because it's dark does not mean you're allowed out, understand?"

I nodded, chewing on my lips. He grabbed my shoulder and pushed me outside, holding my shoulder in a painful grip while walking towards a car.

"Louis?"

I jumped, opening my eyes. My dad smiled, his face only illuminated by the light in the car.

"Hey, we're here. Come on."

I rubbed my eyes and sat up straight, knocking the bag to the ground.

"It's alright," my dad said before I could freak out or apologize. "Don't even worry about it."

I looked up at him and let out a long breath before getting out of the car. Dad closed the door and walked behind me to the door, which was already opened.

Once we were in, I could hear a few voices. Dad put his hand on my shoulder, so I turned my head towards him. "Are you tired?"

I shook my head. I wasn't, not really.

"Can we talk for a bit? I think there are some things you don't know."

I started to nod until I heard "Hey, Dan." A woman looked up from a four-year-old that sat on her hip when she entered the entryway. She paused when she saw me. "Who's this?"

"Louis," he said. I looked away, taking a deep breath. "My oldest."

"I thought Lottie-" she stopped suddenly. "Yeah, that's right. I'm going to get him to bed, then I'll be right down to help with the girls."

My dad nodded, then had me follow him to a plain-looking room. "Okay, first of all, I want to say that I missed you, every day. And I'm sorry I wasn't there when you got back. But, when you were taken..." he paused for a second, "it caused this hole in the family. Especially after a year. After that... we couldn't talk without yelling."

Who was that? Downstairs?

"That was my fianceè. It wasn't good for your mom and me to stay together, and so we broke up, and got a divorce." I nodded, chewing on my lip. "Then I met her not long after, and we clicked. Lottie and Fizzy, the twins, they all love her, but I'm not expecting you to feel the same way, alright? This is already hard enough on you, you don't need any more stress with that type of stuff."

And the boy? Is he your-?

"Yes, he's my son. His name's Earnest. He... He reminds me of you, actually." He closed his eyes and shook his head for a second. "I'm glad you're back, Lou. I missed you."

I missed you too, I signed. I'm sorry-

"Don't be sorry. You went through more than we did, Louis. I'm sorry that it's not the same, and that it's weird here. But I'm still your dad."

I nodded, then hugged him. He kissed the side of my head and I let out a long breath. I already felt more comfortable here. He wasn't treating me like I couldn't understand.

"Why don't you get some rest though," he suggested. I nodded, letting go and sitting on the bed. "This is your room. Starting tomorrow, you'll be able to decorate it, rearrange it, all that type of stuff.

Really?

My dad just nodded and laughed. "Of course. Of course, you can rearrange your room."