Chapter 2

"Good Morning Andy," my father says as I walk down the stairs in my sweats, "any plans for the day?"

My first day of being 17, life is full of possibilities, I could go in my new car to the mall or just drive around in it for the fun of it. I love my parents for getting me the jeep, I don't know what I would do with out them. "No dad, I think I might just ride around in the jeep for a while, enjoy my new found freedom." I answered and put some bread in the toaster and went to go sit down across from him. He was sitting in his police uniform reading the newspaper and was ready for work.

"You do know that you are supposed to see your father this weekend, you can go and make a quick appearance but make sure you do go to see him. " Tom said to me. That was one of the things I loved and hated about dad, even though he has been my dad for ten years, he still encourages my to see Mark when I am supposed to and he makes sure I never miss a weekend with him even though he knows how reluctant to go I sometimes am.

"Yeah. I guess I will show up there for a bit today." my toast pops so I get up and spread honey over it and make my way upstairs to get changed.

After eating my toast I go take a shower and change into my clothes for the day, I pick out a pair of jean shorts and grab a gray v-neck t-shirt. I grab my cell phone and keys and make my way out the door.

"Don't forget to thank Mark for the car." my mom said as I was walking out the door.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Mark got you the car, we didn't have time to tell you last night cause you went on your drive." mom explained.

"Oh." I said. Mark was trying to buy my off again, this time with a car. He deserves some credit, I mean the car is pretty amazing but knowing that he bought it to make me forget he is never around takes some value off of it. "I guess I'll go over there."

I got into my jeep and started the 20 minute drive over to Mark's house. I remember two weeks ago when I was last over there we had dinner together on the Friday night but half way through he got called to the hospital and he had to leave. So I did what I normally do when I am stuck alone at his house, I went downstairs into my favourite room, the movie room where there is a giant screen and a projector with giant comfy leather seats and I watched a movie. I fell asleep in the chair and when I woke up it was to the sound of Mark entering the house at 3 in the morning. I could hear him walking around the house and I'm guessing he went by my room and I wasn't there because I could hear him making his way downstairs. He came into the room and sat beside me on the couch that I was lying on and we watched a movie together. When I woke up in the morning I saw that I had Mark as my pillow and he had his arms wrapped around me in a protective way. These were the moments where I did miss him in my life but I knew that within the next couple of hours he would probably be called into the hospital again and I would probably end up going home early,that was how our weekends usually go, so I did what I always do, I fall back asleep with my father.

I was brought out of my memory when I reached Mark's house, he is a successful attending plastic surgeon at Toronto General Hospital so he has an image to uphold. His house is giant, there is a gated entrance which leads to a long driveway where the 5 bedroom 8 bathroom house resides. There is a swimming pool in the back yard along with an entertainment patio which he uses pretty often. I put the code into the gate and make my way to the front door. I can see a couple cars parked in front of his house so I decide to park my car in the garage. I get out and walk into the house, the first thing I see is a bunch of empty beer bottles and a bunch of people asleep on the couches and the floor. I see Mark asleep on the floor with a half empty beer bottle in his hand. I make my way over to him and I nudge him with my foot.

"Mark. Mark. Get up." I say but he doesn't answer, he just sighs in his sleep. It's hard to believe that he would have a party with his friends on my birthday and he is probably going to be hung over today which makes my pissed. I reach down and grab the beer bottle that is in his hand and I pour it over his face. He is startled awake.

"Good, your up." I say and he rubs his face trying to wake up, "I see you decided to have a party last night, mom wanted me to come but I see you are busy so I am going to leave you to this mess." I look around the room.

"Andy." he also looks around the room, "you don't have to go."

"Yeah, I do. Thanks for the car by the way." I say as I slam the door shut behind me.