The Last Luna

2

~Avery~
"What?!", Dylan's mom yelled, with her eyes growing wider every second.
"No.", Dylan said calmly with a blank expression. "That's not happening.", he added when he noticed his dad had no plans of answering him.
"Shut up.", Mr. Arthur said with a stern voice, forcing Dylan's mouth shut, same with his wife.

Now all eyes were on me. One pair hoping for a yes and the other two pairs shooting daggers.

"No, thank you. I just came to ask-", I got cut off before I could go on.
"If you live here you'd never need to ask for anything again. Your wishes would be right in front of you before you can even think of asking and you'd be away from him.", Mr. Arthur dropped the advantages, trying to avoid saying my dad's name. I could guess that Dylan doesn't know about my 'family' but I'm sure his mom does.

"But I'd be around him.", I said, glancing at the red angry eight year old boy who kept shooting daggers at me, trying to look threatening. Everything about him annoyed me. I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"He'll behave." Mr. Arthur said, glaring at Dylan before fixing his eyes back on me.
"You can't make such a decision all of a sudden Arthur. This is our house. Not yours." Dylan's mom tried her best not to sound annoyed or pissed. The last thing she wanted was to trigger him

"I didn't ask because I knew what your answer would be. It's so annoying that you care little about Avery when you know how she connects to this family."

Connects to their family? "How?", I was curious to know. How am I in any way connected to their family?

I glanced at Dylan, wondering if he was my brother or something.
He had his eyes fixed on his dad. He was lost. He kind of looked traumatized, probably praying his dad was joking.

Tch, like I want him as a sibling any way.
We looked nothing alike, I doubt I'm a blood relation to this family.

"I know and that's exactly why I don't want her around!", she yelled, pissing Mr. Arthur off the more.
"Then get out.", Mr. Arthur gave his reply, instantly shutting his wife up.

I was frozen on the spot, realizing how I messed up the mood of this family just by showing up. No matter how long I stay here. No matter how I act or how I behave if I stay, I'd never be accepted. Not by Dylan, not by his mom.

All I've been doing is tearing the family apart and I don't want that. Something told me that this isn't the first time Mr. Arthur was acting this way towards his wife cause of me but this was the first time I was witnessing it.

The place went dead silent for a while. Mr. Arthur looked mad, his wife looked worse, Dylan looked tired, he looked broken. Almost pitiful. I wish I could understand how he felt. Watching his parents argue.

It made me wonder... When mom was still alive, did she pass through what I do with my dad. The thought of her suffering made my heart ache more than it already was. Why was this the first time the thought crossed my mind?

I gulped as soon as Dylan's mom dropped her reply after minutes of silence. "So you'd rather have her around? You'd choose her over me?"

Mr. Arthur's expression remained the same. He didn't seem to get affected by the question at all. He didn't have any plans of answering and Dylan noticed this.

His eyes were wide and raging. After accessing his dad, he turned to me, about to scream but the drama was enough for me. I didn't need him to add, "There's no need for all this arguments. I'm not staying. I was never planning on. No matter how many times you drop that offer. I would never accept.", I said, bluntly. "There's no need to argue with your family over me. Please." I added, sighing.

Dylan's mom rolled her tear filled eyes, leaving with Dylan, making me more comfortable.

Living with this family would definitely be better than living with the mad man back at home but I feel I'd cause trouble. I don't want to be more of a burden than I already am, besides, I'm going to die soon for sure. There's no way I'll be able to survive two more years with my father. The thought of dying always brightened up my dad. I mean... If I die that means no more suffering right?

"Avery..." Mr. Arthur trailed as soon as they were gone, squatting to be my height and get a better look into my eyes.
"Thank you fir caring so much. It means a lot." I let out a wide smile for the first time this year and actually meant it. Even though I mean nothing to the world, I meant something to this man. Today he showed me that it wasn't just pity.

"You're crying." Mr. Arthur said, wiping off the tears on my cheeks. I was surprised actually, I hadn't realized I was crying.
"Happy tears!" I grinned, rubbing my eyes to stop the water works but that wasn't helping. Realizing I was crying just made more tears flow. It was embarrassing.

Yes I was happy but I was still in so much pain.
Today, I got beat up by my dad though I'm getting used to it.
I realized how much of a burden I am to Mr. Arthur's family.
I had to look at Dylan's stupid face for more than five seconds.
Realizations that my mom suffered before she died.
Wishes that Mr. Arthur was my dad.

Actually, I was wishing for so many things.

"It's okay. It's okay. Don't worry about me please. They're happy tears. I want you to be happy with your family too.", I wasn't thinking straight so I wasn't sure of what I was saying but I felt it was helping. "I don't want to see your wife so sad because of me so please sir, take care of her more than you take care of me... And Dylan too. They need it more than I do."

"You're wrong about who needs it more but okay.", Mr. Arthur sighed, standing up but still looking at me. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I'll be a better father and husband from now on.", he promised.

"That's great!." I said, giving up on stopping my tears. "And... And of you don't mind... I'd like a new phone ple-"
"I'll have it delivered to your door today."
"Thank you." I said, feeling awkward that I had the guts to ask at a time like this then heading for the door after a moment of silence.

"Please come here more often. If you do I promise Dylan would get used to you. He's not as bad as he seems." Mr. Arthur added when I opened the door.
"Yeah, right." I said under my breath but shouted. "Sure!", to his hearing. I left immediately after, running home, realizing that I'm probably late.

My heart was pounding now, I had completely forgotten about what happened just a few minutes ago at Mr. Arthur's house. Right now, I wasn't sure what was on my mind.

Prayers that my dad wasn't home yet? Or prayers that he died in some kind of accident today.

I got to my house's door, opening it immediately. I found it hard to breath immediately.

It was like he was waiting for me to come home. Like he was standing by the door, waiting for someone to open it.

He had a strong grip on my neck, lifting me up while I struggled to breath, I made no effort to get out of his grip. I'd learnt that it was pointless.

"You're late.", he said, throwing me to the side, watching as I landed on the floor, hitting my head hard in the process. I could feel myself loose consciousness as the seconds passed and I just let it happen. The last thing I saw before 'resting' was how much blood I'd already lost within seconds. I smiled, happy already.

No way am I coming out of this alive