The day I wrote a song about you

Chapter 16: Medalist

"Hey! Leave room for the Holy Spirit!" Ben entered the kitchen with who I supposed was his girlfriend right behind him.

"You're one to talk." I muttered.

"Huh?" He frowned at me.

"I didn't speak." I shrugged innocently at him. Cara rolled her eyes after looking at me, trying to stifle a laugh.

Ben grabbed a soda and handed another to his girlfriend, getting out of the kitchen without saying a word. When I thought we were finally alone, another person came in.

"Oh, hey." That voice. I turned around. It was her dad. He looked a little more composed, his hair combed back and his beard shaved, but he still looked unhealthily thin. "I don't think we've met." He told me, extending his hand. Mhm, yes, we did? "I'm Bogdasha." I think I'd stick to Mr. Belinsky.

"Nice to meet you, sir." I said, trying to muffle the confusion in my voice. "I'm Nico."

He patted my back and walked towards the fridge. Cara and I watched as he scanned it for a minute. "Where's the beer in this damn house?"

"It's already outside, dad." Cara informed.

Bogdasha smiled wide, showing a gold molar. "Good." He gave her daughter a side hug, squeezing her tight. I was pretty sure by Cara's face, she wasn't used to that burst of affection. "You're the best daughter I have." He kissed her cheek and left the kitchen.

"And I hope I'm the only one." Cara chuckled as she shook her head. "Don't mind him, he was really drunk the other day, he probably doesn't remember you." She added after a moment, her eyes turning a little sad.

"Are your mom and dad okay? I mean-" I frowned.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." She shrugged. "They sleep in the same bed, that's all I know. They argue a lot."

"Why doesn't she... has she thought of divorcing him?"

"I don't..." she glanced down with a frown. "I don't know." Cara looked up and was fast to change her mood. "Are you hungry? Let's go outside."

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Sandro was two years old today. His dad bought him an electric police car so Sandro could drive it. Brandon realized right after that he should've bought it with a remote control since the kid was too young to understand how it went. I knew those cars were expensive and he got all mad until Cara tried to convince him that he could use it without it being turned on. Sandro seemed to love it and everyone was happy all again.

I had my suspicions already, but I realized that everyone relied too much on Cara. When something happened, Cara was there to fix it. When the kids asked for something, they asked Cara, not their mom. I couldn't hide it but I was getting a little mad observing it all.

Ash's fiancée appeared and she was like fifteen months pregnant. Thank god Cara said they were moving out, I couldn't imagine another kid in that house. She was nice, even if she couldn't properly move, she helped a lot. The men did nothing apart from watching the grill and drinking beer. I wasn't used to this sexist environment, and even if I wasn't a very organized person myself, I still helped.

I spent the night eating, since Cara's mom thought I was too skinny and kept putting food onto my plate. I chatted a little with Emmett, played with the twins and even talked with Ash. He was the nicest one, that was for sure. Eleanor was the kind of person that didn't listen when you were talking, so I limited myself to nod and smile at everything she told me.

All I could conclude was that her family was the complete opposite as mine.

When everyone was finally done eating, they all sat at the table except for the kids, and had some drinks. Bogdasha was really quiet, apart from one or two very loud jokes that he would tell, he limited himself to drink. He sometimes laughed, and I swore he was laughing to himself. Cara sat beside me, the first time she did it in all the time I was there.