The call came early. Theres only one type of call that comes that early so, Phil knew when he heard the phone ring.
His hangover was disgusting and the pounding in his head almost refrained him from answering. But, theres only one type of call that comes that early.
"Hello?" A groggy phil rasps into his phone, his throat felt terrible after all the sobs that poured from his mouth last night.
"Phil? Is that you?" Was that PJ? God Phil hadnt heard his voice in years.
"Peej? What's wrong?" Phil sits up slowly, stretching the aches from his tired body away.
The line was silent for a few seconds before he heard a sigh, "theres no other way to tell you than out right. Your mother has passed away Phil."
There was a huge weight lifted off of Phil shoulders, that he didn't even know was weighing him down.
"Really?" He whispered. Afraid to wake himself up from the dream he felt he was in.
"Yes, I'm so sorry Phil. I just thought you would rather hear it from me and not someone else," PJ rambles from his side of the line.
"You're right, thank you. Uhm..so I guess I should come back to town?" Phil slings his legs over the side of the bed and stands up slowly.
"That would be..appropriate."
He lifts a pair of pants from the ground and slides them up his legs and buttons them.
"Okay well...I'll see you soon then Peej," he said running a hand through his shaggy hair.
"Alright, I wish it werent on such terrible terms though." PJ said softly.
Phil has to refrain from scoffing- terrible isnt a word he'd use to describe this event.
"Yeah. See you soon," he pulled the phone away from his ear and hung up before checking the time.
6:43 am.
No other call comes this early.
He walks over across his small, crappy room to his closet where he grabs the duffle bag he brought his whole life in when he ran away from that woman.
And again, hes moving his whole life because of her. It's amazing how people can still control you when they're dead.
He packs all the clothes that he has into the bag, everything else he needs he puts in a box and he shoves the lot in the trunk of his car.
As he steps back to look at the run down shack he called a home for the past few years and lets out a long sigh.
"Guess this is it."
He didnt know what "it" was but he felt the phrase was right for this moment. He pulled the keys out of his jacket pocket and unlocked the door before pulling the jacket from his frame.
He gets in, and drives off before thinking about the town he's going back to. The old streets, buildings, lights. The old faces.
Is Dan still there?
Surely he still would be, PJ would tell Phil if he had moved..right? Their last night threatens to welcome its self back into Phil's mind before he shook his head quickly. Trying to erase the memories before he drank.
He knew he needed to stop, but god damn it. It was the only thing that could flood the painful times that threatened to suffocate his mind. He needed to find a good outlet, something that wouldnt kill him slowly. He needed something different.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He had been driving for about three hours now, before he saw the sign welcoming him back 'home'. He couldnt tell if the sign made him feel happy or if it felt like a sick joke.
He decided on the latter.
As he crept through the town in his car he couldnt help but wonder if the old faces would remember him. He had changed a lot, but he still felt as though he looked the same.
Well...minus the tattoos, leather jacket and pierced lip. Other than that he was still the same.
He felt himself turning down different roads and gazing at all the houses that had managed to look the same after the years it had been. Before he knew it, he was stopped across the street from Dan's house.
He wasnt sure if he still lived there, seeing as though there were two cars in the driveway and not one.
Adriana couldnt be old enough to drive now...could she?
His question seemed to be answered as he hears a shout and the front door sling open, "its fucking ten in the morning Dan! Ask me what's wrong when you put down the fucking glass and are sober you dickwad!"
A teenaged girl slams the front door with a backpack slung over her shoulder and textbooks in her arm. She finally gets to the car that, Phil assumes, is hers and leans her head on the side of the roof.
Before he knows it, Phil's opening the car door and jogging across the street to her. When he finally sees her he taps her shoulder lightly and she turns to him stiffly.
"Ph-phil?" She asks with tears running down her face.
"Hey, Adri..." he says softly, wiping her tears away with his thumb.
"Y-you're actually b-back?"
He gives her a half smile and nods, "yeah. I have some business to tend to. Uhm...do you have school?" He says motioning towards her books.
She looks down at them and back up, "no. I was going to the library to study. Dan's inside throwing himself another pity party, if that's who you came to talk to."
He shook his head," I didnt..well. Not yet anyways. Do you wanna go get a cup of coffee? Are you old enough for that?"
She let's out a small laugh and nods, "yeah. I'd like that, my car or yours?"
"Well, seeing as though yours looks like it's about to fall apart. Let's take mine. I'm parked illegally anyways," he laughs with her and they make their way across the street to his car.
"So, how old are you now? 16?"
Adriana nods, "I just had my birthday actually. Dan gave me the money to get my permit-though I was already driving to and from work."
He chuckled and unblocked the car, "ooh you're like a bad ass now, huh?"
She laughs and sits in the passenger side, shutting the door before responding, "I'm the bad ass? Look at you! You're like every moms wet dream now," they both let out a loud laugh as he starts the car and she buckles up.
He sets his hand on the gear shift and she places her hand on his, "I'm really happy you're back Phil." She smiles and his heart is lifted for the first time in many years.
"Yeah...me too, Adri. Me too."
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Can we all let out a collective "awwww" now? Thanks lmao
Stay safe sweets 🖤
- kam
YOU ARE READING
Alcoholics Anonymous | phan |
FanfictionPhil Lester has been a mess since he left his home town, his star quarterback days are long gone- leading him to find some sort of peace at the bottom of a bottle. But when his mother dies, he finds himself back where he grew up- wanting to be his o...
