I actually do have an excuse for how late this chapter is. Well, maybe not exactly. But I have had this chapter written since Saturday, but have been unable to post. I suppose the rest of the delay is entirely my fault. But I place the blame elsewhere.
disclaimer: STILL not mine.
Derek just left. I think that's the most I've ever heard him and Addie almost fight. Then again, I don't think Addie was really helping; she kind of did things that she knows annoy Derek. I mean, even I know never to interrupt him in the middle of a story. He looked just about ready to shoot her, but he'd just let it go. I really don't think it's healthy, but whatever, it's not my problem.
Alex didn't show up once while Derek was here. But the day after he left, Alex was here, trying to convince Addie to go do something, even though she kept telling him that she was too tired, and all she really wanted to do was sleep. Alex isn't a very good listener when it comes to the word no though, and he just kept at it until she finally went with him. I'm glad he did; she came back much happier.
We see neither hide nor hair from Derek for the next couple weeks, even though Addie keeps promising that they'll come down for a day. Addie keeps showing up, but she's alone. I don't know about you, but I find that suspicious. She tells us that Derek is just really busy right now, and even she barely sees him. I don't know, but that seems suspicious to me, because Addie manages to come, so why can't Derek. Not that I mind the lack of Derek. Alex comes around almost everyday after I get home from school. His grandma is pretty sick, so he's out here for awhile. He goes and sits with her everyday (she's in a rest home), usually after he comes to see, well, me mostly, since Addie's not around. We talk about everything when he's here. He thinks something's weird with Derek too. At least I'm not the only suspicious one.
0ooo0
Addie comes home two weeks before the wedding, once again Derek-less. I give her a big hug. I've missed her terribly. I kind of don't want her to get married, because I don't like the idea of her never being at home. But I want her happy more, so if that's what she wants, then she most definitely deserves it.
Alex is over right now. I sit quietly in the corner. Even though Alex is really good about paying attention to me, he's not very good at it whenever Addison's in the room. I have decided that she should dump Derek for him, but I'd never actually tell her that. I don't have a death wish, after all!
The phone rings, and Addie picks up. "Hello? Oh. Hi, Derek… What? But I thought you were… No, it's fine. I just thought that… Could you stop interrupting me? I don't interrupt you when you speak… I'll see you later… I love you too."
When she hangs up, she tells me and Alex, "Derek has decided that he's going to come for the rest of the weekend."
"That's… good," Alex says.
"Yeah."
Wait a second. Shouldn't she sound happy he's coming? I mean, you think she would, right? Then why does she just sound tired?
"You okay?" Alex asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Addie shakes off whatever mood she was in and puts on a smile.
"Sure?" Alex asks.
"When's he gonna be here?" I ask. They both kind of jump. I guess they forgot I was there.
"Probably later tonight," Addie tells me.
"So what should we do until then? I'm bored."
"We could go to the park," Alex suggests.
"Can we, Addie?" I ask my sister. Daddy's at work, and Mom is at some tea thing or something, so she's babysitting me, even though I'm basically old enough to be home alone, and anyways, we have Rodger, so it's not even like I'd be really alone.
"Sure," she smiles. "But put your coat on; it's cold outside."
"Geez Adds. You're not even married yet and you're already acting like an overprotective mom," Alex teases her.
"Oh, shut up," Addie tells him.
It's not that cold outside, just a little chilly, but she makes me put my coat on anyways. The park's only like a block away from our house so it's not a very long walk. The three of us walk together, and when we get there, Alex pushes me on the tire swing. Addie and I go on the see-saw. Then they go sit and talk while I keep playing.
It's not that easy being the only kid in a house, but you get used to it. My mom says that I have an overactive imagination, but if you ask me, it is just active enough. How am I supposed to get through those boring dinner parties without pretending I'm a princess or the President or something? And those parties are still beyond boring. So clearly it could be more active.
Anyways, I'm playing on the playground, which is now a pirate ship, in case you were wondering. I am the Dread Pirate Red Hair, daughter of the Dread Pirate Red Beard, just in case you were wondering about that. As I climb to the crow's nest to search for land, I look over at my sister and Alex. They're both staring in my general direction. I wave, and Addie waves back. They go back to talking, and I go back to playing. But now I am a spy, with a mission to gather information from the enemy. I look over at my sister and Alex again as I begin to sneak up on them. She shivers; after all, it is kind of cold out (except I've hardly noticed). Alex shrugs off his coat and wraps it around her. He's wearing a long sleeved shirt, so he's not too cold, I guess. He keeps his arm around her too. They smile at each other and just stay like that for awhile. They look happy; I don't want to interrupt.
Mission aborted.
0ooo0
Later that night, Derek shows up, bearing his customary M&Ms for me and a smile for Addie and my parents. We all eat dinner together, and Derek tells a really long, pretty boring, story about why he hasn't come for the past two months. I don't remember why that was. Something about too much work. Finally, he asks Addie how the wedding planning is going, and if everything is going to be ready. They're sitting next to each other, so he takes her hand while he listens. And he does listen. He even asks questions and waits for her to reply and everything. Sometimes I get so focused on his boringness, I forget that he's a good person on the inside.
After that, I get ready for bed. I mean, not just after dinner, but later. I'm going to say goodnight to my parents when I hear Addie and Derek arguing. Finally.
"Derek, you promised," Addie complains. "You said you'd stay for the weekend."
"I know, Addie," he replies. "I wish I could. But Mark needs me."
"Mark doesn't need you, Derek. I need you," Addie hisses.
"He was just dumped, Addison." Derek's voice gets very cold very quickly.
"He gets dumped every other week, if not sooner," Addie says. "And always for the exact same reason. If he doesn't want to get dumped, he should stop cheating on his girlfriends."
"Addison, he liked this one."
"He likes all women."
"True. But he needs me now."
"Why? So you can be his wingman so he can pick up some other girl? Don't think I'm stupid, Derek. I do actually pay attention to how many times you go out with Mark and end up coming home drunk and without him."
"Addison, quit it. So what if that's his way of coping? He's coping."
"I just hate that he has to drag you into it too," Addie says quietly.
"I know."
"Go," Addison sighs. I turn to walk away before Derek can see me. "I'm not going to play second fiddle to him forever, Derek. Every once in awhile wife has to trump best friend."
"Yeah?" Derek asks. He sounds mad. "Well, at all times, husband has to trump ex-boyfriend."
"What?!" Addison exclaims.
"You think I don't realize just how much you hang out with this Alex guy? You're here every other weekend, and every single time you come home with hours of information about Alex."
"You're being really selfish, right now, Derek." Addie sounds like she's going to cry. "Get out. Go. Eat, drink, be merry. But don't think I'm going to forgive and forget so easily."
I barely make it around the corner before Derek comes storming out of the room, and out of the house.
0ooo0
I feel really bad that I can't do anything to comfort Addie, but then I'd have to admit to eavesdropping, and I'm not going to do that. The next morning, Addie calls Alex and he's at the house within twenty minutes. They go out, and when they come back, she does look happier, so I'm glad for that.
Derek doesn't come back for the rest of the weekend, and Addison has to go back to school alone.
After I hug her goodbye, I hear her whisper to herself, "Only two more weeks."
I gasp. That's right.
Only two more weeks.
So I'm thinking one more chapter and an epilogue, because I just like epilogues. I can't promise just how quickly those will get up, because I'm slow in the first place, and on top of that, I think I'm coming down with the awful cold that's put my friends out of commission. You'd think this would give me more time, but so not true. Welcome to my life. I'll get it up as quickly as possible. I promise.
-Juli-
