Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the well known characters like Josh Franceschi, but I wouldn't mind it if I did!(:
The first week had gone by in a breeze, it was finally Friday and I was going to make great use of it by doing absolutely nothing but watching movies. All week long there had been people packing into the house, my father said it was his boss. I hoped to make a good impression on them, my father needed this job, it was his first stable job in months. The last job he had always gotten in trouble because he couldn't focus or he was always drawing on things. My father loved drawing; it was a way of releasing anger for him. Sometimes I felt bad for him but other times I was just extremely angry.
Walking to his work I listened to one of my favourite bands, Mumford and Sons. I hummed along to the music not noticing that my father was stumbling out of his office. "I am fine, I'm just not feeling well, and that is all! It's none of your damn business, so what if our boss is coming next week!" I heard that through my headphones. I looked up hoping as much as I could that it wasn't my father, regret filled me immediately as I saw that it was. I sighed and raced towards him.
"Get your father out of here, get him sobered up," William Hartley said, "I'm sorry you have to deal with it, I would help but I'm filled up with work." Mr. Hartley was the man who got this job for my father, they had been friends since college, my father had studied abroad here. They were quite close, but I couldn't blame his wanting to get away from my dad, who wouldn't? I mean he was a mad drunk, he was unbearable. "It's fine," I said reaching for my father's car keys. "Thanks for the help." I smiled and looked down, I never really liked having people look at my smile, I was still a bit shy but I tried my best to be a bit more confident. The situation I was in was already embarrassing, until my father started getting sick in the parking lot, right when a bunch of the school buses were starting to drive to the children's' homes. I was mortified, and just so ashamed, I heard a car stop and I looked to see whom it was, a tall man, somewhat chubby, stepped out of his car.
"Do you need any help?" He asked seeming concerned. "Dad, just leave her alone, its not like this doesn't happen all the time." Some one said from inside the car, I looked to see who it was, sure enough it was Desiree. I looked down in shame, I always pushed aside every rash comment and snide remark, but this one hurt, because I knew it is true. I tried not to cry in front of the nice man, "Thanks, he is fine, I will take care of it." I smiled and turned around to see Josh Franceschi walking out of my dad's office with what I'm guessing is his father.
So today did just get a trillion times worse, I had swallowed my bulge in my throat and wiped away a single tear. I put on a small smile as in to apologize and looked up. "Oh my gosh is everything alright out here?" The man said as Desiree and her father sped away. "Yea, my dad is just a bit sick, he hasn't been feeling well." I said quickly hoping that my drunken father wouldn't compromise the lie. "Do you need something, a ride, anything at all?" He asked, genuinely meaning it. "No sir, I'm fine, I just have to drive him home, or at least attempt to drive." I said, with a slight attempt at humour. "Josh why don't you take her and her father home?" He said with a pitiful smile. "No, really its fine. I don't live to far away, just on Bredcross lane, I can probably handle it." I was a little uncertain about the last time; I was only 17 not old enough to drive in England. "Nonsense, Josh drive the young miss home, we just moved into that neighborhood, so no worries, he knows his way! I hope your father feels better," looking at his son now, "I'll see you at home." He got into his car and waved politely at me.
"So, like I said, I got to see you!" He said enthusiastically, so enthusiastic that he rubbed his head and looked down embarrassed. I laughed a bit, I looked towards my dad who was now in the drivers seat searching for his keys sloppily. I tried not to turn beet red, I took a deep breath, "Dad, get in the back, it's my turn to drive again." I regretted immediately saying "again" I didn't want Josh knowing that this happened often.
"I can tell he is drunk you know, it's fine, my mom was an alcoholic." He looked a bit sad when he said that, I exhaled a bit, feeling a tad bit better. "Thank you, by the way, for well, driving him home. We should probably go before he throws up in the back." I said, I buckled my dads seat belt and swatted away his angry arms. "Dad, just go to sleep." I was quite angry.
"You know, I'm pretty sure that there is an AA group some where out of the city, its pretty close, you should look into it." Josh said as I crawled into the passenger seat. We drove out of the lot and began down the road, my house was about ten minutes away from here. It then struck me that Josh and his father were the new people down the street and his father was my fathers boss. "Please, please, promise me that you wont tell your dad that he was drunk, he is the new boss at the office right?" Josh nodded as I said that, "Please."
He looked at me and smiled, "I promise, you'll just owe me." He laughed a little, he had a nice laugh, it was cute, it wasn't an obnoxious one and it wasn't a strange high-pitched one, just a subtle cute one. I smiled and looked back, "Dad how are you?" I said seeing my father starting to try and wriggle out of the seat. "Shut up Candice, you're the reason, just stop. Don't try and be nice now, it's too late." I fought back the tears, knowing that he was talking about my mother leaving, which lead to his drinking problem, which I guess made me the guilty one. I faked a smile and said, "Dad, just get some wrest."
"So where are you from? You have an odd accent, it sounds Australian, or maybe a New Zealand accent." I smiled, "My mother was from New Zealand and my father is from Australia, so it's a bit of a mix I guess." He smiled and bit his lip while still looking at the road.
I smiled and felt my dimples forming, he laughed, "What?" He asked peeking at me quickly. "No, it's nothing." I said trying not to blush, we went on with few conversations here and there, I learned that he was born here and he had been in London with his family for three years but finally came back. He talked about how much he loved music and books. We spoke about growing up now versus growing up in the 90's and how amazing it was. I was a bit sad as we pulled into our neighborhood.
"It's this one on the right", I said pointing to the lilac house with the dirty shingles and unkempt yard. He pulled into the driveway and stopped the car, "Do you want help bringing your father in?" He asked with a sweet smile on his face. "No, I'm fine, I think I got it!" I said laughing and looking back at my father who had been quite silent.
"Dad, you ready to go inside?" I asked trying not to aggravate him. "Yes dear, get my scotch out." He said sweetly trying to persuade me, and failing utterly. "No scotch for you tonight Dad" He groaned as he struggled to pry open the car door, Josh unlocked it and we watched as my dad struggled yet again with his seat belt. I raced out and got to his side helping him out. "Can you help me with the door?" I said motioning to the front door of the house, Josh walked over to the door with my father's arm on his shoulder. I opened the door instead and helped my father in, he jumped on the sofa and went face first into his favourite pillow. I frowned realizing just how embarrassing this whole situation had been.
"Thank you so much for helping me out, I'm sorry that you had to see this, I am truly sorry." I said looking down. "It was no problem at all, we all have our troubles, don't worry though, I won't tell anyone." He said rubbing my arm. "I'm just glad I got to talk to you!" He said winking as he tossed the car keys to me and waved walking towards his house. "I'll talk to you another time then!" I said smiling trying not to freak out.
In the back of my head the whole time I knew it was all-wrong, I couldn't like anyone, all people would do is hurt me, and I couldn't let that happen. But it seemed really hard, something about him was different, he made me feel special and he made me laugh, and I didn't even have to fake it.