Suck It And See | A. Turner

[Chapter 12]

It was in the blink of an eye, and Jade found herself on a train once again on its way to Newcastle. She was relieved to be leaving her dreaded relatives behind, even if it was for only a few weeks. At the same time, she was dreading her return, because she wasn't quite ready to be civilized with her dad and his girlfriend. She certainly didn't feel like hearing Jason's crazy juvie stories, or having to deal with Jack's adolescent over-dramatizations. 

She certainly wasn't looking forward to visiting her mum in the hospital. 

Jade had only seen that cold, white room a handful of times, and every time it made her skin crawl. Some people were freaked out by the foreign machinery or the sterile smells, but Jade couldn't help but be upset when she'd see her mum hooked up to the machines and wires, looking like an skin that had been shed and left behind to rot away. And she was in so much pain from the chemo; she tried to hide it but Jade could see through her brave face and kind smile. Jade felt somewhat guilty for not wanting to go, but honestly, who could blame her? Our parents are the strongest people in our lives, we rely on them to protect us. But how does a child protect their parent from and imminent and painful death?

"Attention all passengers, next stop is:"

"Newcastle Station,"

Jade yanked her buds out of her ears as the train jolted to a slow halt. With a tough yank of her luggage she made her way down the aisle and exited the train, landing clean in the middle of her hometown. The air was crisper, wind colder, and the people seemed just a tad more bundled in themselves than usual. Not just in their scarves and jackets neither. Perhaps it were just the holiday spirit, the rush to complete one's shopping and make it home before the snow storms would eventually hit. Jade's phone kept buzzing in her pocket, her dad was continuously sending her texts to ask if she'd arrived in the station yet. Jade only began to ignore him after the third text and made her way to the car lot where she knew he'd be. 

Winter in Newcastle had hit her like a brick wall as she exited the station; with chilly winds twisting into her hair and wispy ice chips dripping against her face. She lugged her heavy bag through the car lot, the anxiousness of getting home finally settling in and a new pang of anxiety hit her at the thought of seeing her dad again. Jade soon spotted her dad's metallic grey SUV, parked and running as a means for the boys inside to keep warm. Her father saw her within the rearview mirror and instantly jumped out of the car.

"There she is!" he greeted her with glee. Jade grew a fake smile on her lips as he father embraced her, the smell of his aqua velva and moldy flannel making her nose twitch. He had cut his usually combed-back hair into a sort of buzz and shaved his beard, an attempt to look younger Jade had figured. His hands were warm, even in the freezing cold and his aged face held mirth and joy at seeing his daughter again. 

"Hi dad," she muttered, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible. Her father, Peter, gave a harsh knock on the passenger side window, prompting Jade's older brother, Jason, to scramble to jump out. 

Jason was a good-looking lad, standing at a good six-foot-something with his own shaggy, jet black hair that covered his eyebrows. He was wearing basketball shorts of all things, baggy and hanging just over his knees whilst he were using an old thick jumper as a means to keep warm. Jade couldn't help but take notice of the purple shiner that lay beneath his right eye. 

"Hey Jade," he greeted her monotonously and gave her an awkward side hug, "How was it? The old hag?" 

"Jason!" Peter scolded his son.

"Am I wrong, Dad?" Jason quipped back. Jade refrained from rolling her eyes.

"It was fine," she replied, "Can we talk about it in the car instead of out here, please? I'm freezing,"