𝑅𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦 |𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑒

Four

Millie walked in her house with no 'hello' or 'how was school' or 'are you fine'? She had no idea where her dad was, it's not he had a job or anything. Ever since they moved to California, her dad couldn't find job and that's probably what her parents argued about. The only way how Millie was attending her private school and her dance studio was off a scholarship, everything else her mom paid for. Still a bit tearful, Millie went straight to the toilet. She cried for an hour and wouldn't let her mom come in and shouted at her to leave her alone. Millie left the bathroom after her mom went to work, knowing that, she put on her headphones letting all her emotions go.

As for Finn, it wasn't like anyone was going to check up on him so he locked self in his bathroom, slumped in his bath tub. He thought no-one would disturb until someone came knocking on his door. He went down the steps really sluggish not bothering to do anything.
"Finn?? Can you open the door??" Someone shouted from the other side.
"If this is Charlie Heaton, go away."
"You know we have key right? We can come in and take any privileges away from you."
"Then use the key! I don't want to open the door." He said, even though he was standing a few inches away from the door.
"Finn, I can see and hear you. Open the door." He ignored them and sat on the sofa. "Okay Finn, I'm coming in. You better have clothes on or something." Charlie unlocked the door and closed the door, smiling at Finn as he turned around. "Were just checking up on you. See how schools going, how your job is going?"
"I think I'm fired. I think I'm expelled. I had a terrible first day." He bit his lip.
"Tell me what happened. Did you make any friends? We're here to talk Finn if you need anybody." He sat next Finn throwing a pillow playfully at him and he caught it. For the first time, Finn opened up. He needed to.
"I made two friends. Maybe one now. Millie was my tour guide and then I shouted at her cause I was frustrated at her. This Jack kid came up to me and we have a lot in common actually."
"And what happened with your job?"
"There was this bitch, Grace—"
"Finn!" Charlie cut off with a stern face.
"There was this MEAN GIRL , Grace!" He exclaimed. "She went to the same dance studio I worked and she was being mean to Millie and this other kid so I came in and she insulted my life. And how have no dad. No mom. No family. How I'm a lowlife."
"You don't have listen to anything what she says Finn, that girl has serious issues if she's talking normally about that stuff. We'll have a chat with her. I'm not even sure how she got all this information."
"That's what Millie said. Not to listen to anything she says. How it's all talk. I pushed Grace and left the studio. Millie followed me and said something that pissed me off, so I shouted at her how she's so lucky to have parents that love her. But apparently—" he stopped. He thought and didn't continue.
"But apparently what Finn? If there's an issue at home, we need to know."
"Apparently— her parents are ten times better then I thought." He got up and walked to the door opening it for Charlie. "You can leave now. Don't you have a Gaten kid in Vancouver?" Charlie walked over to him.
"After leaving your house they said another person in Vancouver was taking care of him and they told me to stay down here with you." He put his hand on Finns shoulder. "Thank you for opening up," he walked out the door and relieved Finn shut it walking up to his room.

Flashback
"Finn, baby. You need to open up to me," Mary caressed his cheek. "I know his hard, seeing me lay here with all these cords attached to me and seeing me sick but, I need what's going on at home and school." Finn was tearing up, he didn't want to see his mom in pain, dying slowly. "Oh baby, don't cry." She hugged him.
"Schools the same. We have to do a science project for science week. I don't know what to do yet, but Nick said he'll help me and Malcolm."
"That's good. Is Nick okay at school?"
"I think so. He's being really to me since you got sick." He trembled, trying not to let tears fall out of his eyes.
"And nothing has changed at home?" She smiled, waiting for an answer. "Finn? Tell me what's happening at home?" She looked worried. Finn was only eight and didn't know what to say.
"Daddy isn't happy anymore. I think he's sad about you. We all are." She sighed deeply.
"When I go away, I need you to be real strong for dad and Nick. When I go, the hospital will give you a very special note, okay?"
"Mommy why are you saying that?! You aren't going go, you won't leave! Don't leave me here mommy, not all by myself!" Finn cried.
"Hey hey, lets not think about the future, don't worry about the future anymore." She smiled wiping away Finns tears. "It's your birthday in three weeks. You're going to be a big boy. Almost nine years old! You're nearly as old as me," she laughed and so did Finn tearfully. "I have a gift for you, I think you'll love it." But when she was going to continue
"Come on Finn. Visiting times over." A nurse had to come in since Finns dad was in too much of a state to come get Finn. He hugged his mom one last time before getting up.
"I love you Finn."
"I love you to mommy." Her time was coming and she knew. She was terminally ill anyways. Everyday was more painful than the last and she wanted it to end. And in three weeks it would.

Finn woke up from what felt was like a dream except, he wasn't in bed and he was still standing on the staircase. Finn had been having these when he first got into care but then they stopped after getting counselling, but that was two year's ago. Every time he had one of them, he always felt sad and depressed.

Millie's dad was probably home by now. It was eleven pm and her mom was working late nights, so it was just Millie and her dad. She did go downstairs after hearing him fall over. He was slumped on the couch, drunk unable to do anything.
"Hey dad." She gulped, walking towards him. "How was your day?"
"I'm feeling goood!" He moaned. "How's your day?" He slurred.
"My day was fine." A tear fell down her face. "There's a new boy. He's okay. We did have a bit of a falling out though."
"Oh- I'll...I'll beat 'em up for ya! Noboody makes my muffin c-ryy!"
"I'm sure he didn't mean it. I'm sure he was just mad after what he went through."
"What...did he-he go through?"
"His parents are dead, dad. He looks really happy though." She smiled sweetly to herself. "Don't tell him this but, he's sweet. Yeah I've only known him for a day but—"
"Ima go beed...me sleepyhead.." he stuttered and got up. "Help me won't you?" He let out a hand.
"Sure thing dad."

A chapter that isn't really important.

Word count: 1310