I gazed out the window as we headed down the motorway towards London. All I could see was different coloured cars shooting towards us, like they were desperate to escape the cramped capital city
The sky was full of grey clouds, like they about to burst and soak us like water balloons…I had a feeling the rain would drop when we arrived at Dougie's
As I thought about it now, everything kind of made sense. Dad had never liked me being a fan of McFly, I remember 'Five Colours in Her Hair' coming on the music channel not long after I moved in with Dad, being a typical eight year old, I got up and started dancing and singing along, but Dad came in and switched it off, telling me I wasn't allowed to listen to such rubbish, even at a young age I strongly disagreed with him.
By the time I was twelve he'd let me put McFly posters up, but I still wasn't allowed to a concert or to buy their CD's. I didn't get why he thought of them so badly, I'd had to sneakily buy each of their albums and hide them under my mattress…at least I know why now.
The rain started falling sooner than I thought, we'd only just entered London when the sky ripped opened, this didn't seem like a good sign to me, but Dad smiled at me "It'll all be fine, don't you worry"
"Don't worry?" I repeated "How can I not worry? He maybe my brother but that does not mean he will take me…"
"He more than likely will…"
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then you'll go to Jazzi's"
I stayed silent, I didn't want to go to Jazzi's, I wanted to go to Dougie's but I knew he wouldn't take me, no matter how much Dad may beg and plead.
We pulled up outside a large modern house, that had two cars outside…oh my god he had company!
I stared at the house, it could only be around ten years old, if that. It was huge, enough space for me…if he would take me that is.
Dad got out the car and knocked on the door, I stayed in the front side, sliding down desperate to hide, already knowing my fate.
The front door slowly opened to reveal my brother…he went to shut it again but Dad stopped him. He shook his head vigorously, until, I assume, Dad mentioned me…
Dougie's eyes swivelled around to look at me through the glass, he looked from me to Dad and back again, I could see the irritation on his face, at Dad, not me... that still didn't mean he'd take me in though
Dad walked back over to the car and opened my door "We're going in to talk"
I gulped, I didn't want to go inside, not when Dougie looked so pissed off, and he had a visitor, this was NOT the kind of thing you discussed in front of people! But I went in all the same
I didn't take in what the house looked like inside, I was too worried that an argument was going to break out, I did however, take in the living room
It was rather normal for Dougie, dark red walls, black leather sofas, big plasma screen TV, real wood fire place, the occasional skull here and there, it was very low key…I also noticed there was no visitor…maybe my brother just had two cars?
Dougie sat on a black leather armchair and stared at Dad, my heart hammered, I didn't want things to be this way, I knew they wouldn't be easy and straight forward, but I didn't expect there to be this much negative atmosphere.
Dougie spoke to me before Dad "Belle…" He said "…I'm not mad at you. This isn't your fault, it's all him " His gaze turned accusingly at Dad "So you want me to take Belle in so you can run off with your latest floozy?"
"Silvia is not a floozy…"
"Sounds like one"
"She isn't"
"Tell you what" Dougie said "Lets just get done this quick and easy…"
Oh God he's going to say I can't live here…
"You don't deserve a second chance at being a Dad, so therefore Belle doesn't deserve to live with you, she deserves better…sadly she'll have to have me instead"
Wait…what? Did he just say I can live here? This question was obviously on my face at Dougie continued
"She can live here with me… and you can stay the fuck away"
I stared at him, he just said I can live here? Oh thank God.
Dad looked at me, to Dougie and back again "If that's what you want Belle"
As I looked at my father, I could see the hurt in his eyes, but I thought he'd hurt enough people, maybe it was time he got a tasted of his own medicine "Yes Dad…this is what I want. I want to live here with Dougie"
"And Tom" Dougie said "Don't forget Tom"