[2] FAR FROM HIM // t.stark

Chapter Three

I am not sleepy, but I close my eyes as I wish for some peaceful mind. I can't stop thinking about the family at that park and how I wish I could still have what they have. Pure happiness with genuine laughter although it could be a stupid joke we're laughing at. Not caring about threats. Dad driving instead of Happy to our favourite places. I still can't accept that my father is gone....forever.

     Somewhere during the deep thoughts, I felt my throat stings and my head pounding as I fight back my tears. I hate crying. I cried non-stop the first few weeks of Dad's death. I didn't eat. I was so thin. Constantly sick. My eye bags were scarier than Chuckie. However, suddenly, I told myself not to cry anymore because no one can help me through it, so instead of being a crybaby, I have to help myself get back the life I had though I know it's never going to be the same. Well, trust me I tried to be strong. I look too fine to be someone who had just lost her father. My friends and teachers saw them and told me I was not being myself. I told them to back off and let me do whatever I want to do. Then, something happened that snap me back to reality.

     Morgan fell off the stairs and was warded for a few days. I found Dad's letter in my room (when Dad bought the cabin and renovated it according to his and Mom's likings, he had reserved a room for me). Since then, I realised that Dad put alot of hope on me. I became a quiet person until now.

     I heard someone knocking my bedroom's door. Mom peaked and I stared at her, waiting for her to scold me for shouting at Morgan at the park, but what came out, surprised me. Although I masked my surprise.

     'Morgan has been asking about you,' Mom said as she leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms on her chest.

     I rolled my eyes and groaned.

     'I don't want to know what makes you angry at Morgan, but you should know better than shouting at her in public. She's just a kid, Terri. And as a big sister, you've done everything except being nice to her.'

     'When I was her age, Dad went on a business trip for days without contact. Then came home like nothing happened.'

     Mom opened her mouth to counter back what I said, but I continued, 'Sometimes, you and Dad had to go to a meeting together and I had dinner alone. Ugh, whatever, Mom. Maybe it's not me.'

     'I didn't think it would hurt you like this, Terri. Whenever I asked you, you'd always say you're okay and that you can do things on your own. Or you'd always say Happy can help.'

    'We all depended on Happy too much. I swear, sometimes, Happy wish he didn't know us.' I sighed as I sat up. Looking outside, it is still bright; and there's someone at the dock. 'Forget about it. I want to be alone for awhile.'

     I left Mom in my room, headed out and found Happy at the dock, sitting while sipping his beer. There were no fishing rod, but he looked like he's ready to talk serious. Beside him, there was another foldable empty chair with a bottle of Coke beside it. I smiled.

     I took a seat. 'How do you know I'd be here?' I grabbed the Coke and drink it. 'Um. Thanks for this, by the way. You know me too well.'

     Happy chuckled softly. 'I didn't. I just like to save a seat for you especially after the breakdown.'

     'Huh. Here I am wondering how is it so much easier to talk to you rather than Mom.'

     'Why? What did your Mom tell you about the incident?'

     'She told me that Morgan has been asking if I'm okay,' I started.

     Happy raised his eyebrow. 'Isn't that good?'

     I continued, 'And she told me that I shouldn't shout at Morgan in public and I haven't been nice to her.'

     Happy chuckled again, taking another sip of his beer while staring at the lake emptily. Well, you don't have to have a reason to like the lake, to be honest. The mere breathtaking scenery and the calm breeze is enough to make you feel free from any of your burden and worriness.

     'What was it that you want to tell me at Starbucks, Happy?' I asked after awhile.

     'Ah.' Happy put down his beer and sat up straight. He turned to look at me with all seriousness in his face. 'Have you listened to the news lately? About the time-machine your father built?'

     I frowned. No. 'Why?'

     'There have been a few reports saying some people are trying to steal the machine.'

     'Is that a bad thing?' I asked emotionlessly. Truthfully, by now, I barely had any emotions left in me except being angry and sad at everything.

     'Is that a bad thing?' Happy repeated angrily. 'Terri, that time-travel machine is what helped them to kill Thanos. The mschine is also the reason why we're all safe, the reason that you're here. If it lands in the wrong hands, God knows what will happen then!'

     'It's in the Avengers care. We shouldn't worry about it. The Avengers know how to protect the machine. They have a tight security system, don't they?'

     'Terri, you don't understand, do you?'

     'Understand what?' I looked at Happy blankly.

     Happy blinked, as if I just said something stupid, or just my stupidity shows this time around. 'You, your mom and Morgan could be in danger.'

     'Why?'

     Happy groaned frustratedly. 'Oh my God, Terri! What's wrong with you? What happened to the over-thinking, bubbly and clumsy Terri I knew? What happens with the caring and kind Terri? Where is that person?! Terri, I know your father's death took its toll on you, but that doesn't mean your feelings and life are dead, too. Terri, you have a Mom to take care of; a little sister to look after. Isn't that what your father wants you to do?'

     Again, I cringed when Happy nicknamed Morgan as "your little sister".

     'Terri, listen to me. Please think about it. If you still can't accept Morgan, do it now for Tony. He'd hate it if he knew that you're abandoning her when she needed you most.' Happy said softly. 'When you were gone, Tony was lost. He didn't know what to do without you and I'm not lying. You changed him in so many ways, but five years isn't short.'

     I kept quiet, didn't really know what to respond to that. It's nothing different than what Mom has been telling me to soothe me when I'm irritated, but with Mom, I'd counter back by telling her what both of them had done to me when I was a kid, like telling her what she did wrong. I know I shouldn't but sometimes, I feel the need to win when fighting with my mother. But I can't seem to do that with Happy. Happy has always been with me since I was a kid and I can't complain anything about him.

     Seeing that I won't talk soon, Happy said, 'I think you should pay a visit on the Avengers, catch up with them. Talk with them about the machine and maybe discuss what to do with it if the reports are true. I know you have a good mind, Terri. Every one of us knows that.'

     I didn't respond to that.

     'Imagine,' Happy said after a few minutes of silent. 'The world when someone doesn't know how to use a technology in a good way, stealing someone else's work for his advantage. Worst, the family got hurt.'

     'I get it, Happy. You're telling me to protect what's left of my father. I will have no doubt to do that, but not right now. I'm just a school kid.'

     Happy pressed his lips together into a thin line. 'That's what you think. What eveyrone else thinks, you're powerful.' Then he got up and squeezed my shoulder before he left.