MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! By the time I publish this chapter, Christmas & New Years will be long gone but hey, it's the thought that counts. I hope ya'll had a good Christmas, got great gifts, spent quality time with your families, & the same towards New Years. Bless every single one of my readers, your support is my passion. :) I know I'm extremely late with posting this chapter but with school, personal life, & whatnot I'm finding it kind of hard lately to even get 20 minutes writing in. I finally just decided on giving you guys a long, long, loooong chapter, which is why it's taking me so long to update.
(P.S.) For the comment about the "and" sign; Gaaah, I'm sorry but it strongly bothers me typing out the word "and". I feel much better just typing the sign & moving on. If I type the word out, I'll just have a strong urge to change it immediately. Crazy preference, I know, but I've been this way for years so eh, get used to it haha. As for lemons.. I don't think I'll be doing those, sorry. It'd just be too awkward for me, I'm not a person to write out sex scenes, but I'll sure enough read 'em. Weird, huh?
ATTENTION! This story is being edited because I've had MAJOR typos throughout it all. I don't really proofread my chapters before posting them anymore like I used to, so if you see a typo or incorrect grammar, it's not on purpose, it's not intentional. In one of my chapters, I was switching the scene, & apparently when I used the horizontal line to indicate the change, it didn't go through. That was Chapter 5 I believe. I know you guys were completely confused, even I was confused when I was rereading it. Most likely by New Years, the story will be edited to perfection.
On to the story. -UNEDITED-
"Just call him!", Hiro shouted, nudging me in the shoulder.
"What will I say? What if he hangs up on me? What if-", Hiro cupped his hand on my mouth to shut me up.
Hiro rolled his eyes, obviously fed up with me. "Call".
The boy & I were resting on the bed in my room, holding the piece of paper with my dad's phone number on it that my mom had wrote down for me. My baby sister was sitting at the edge, her face holding no specific emotion. It's been days since I obtained these 10 digits, but I decided to practice exactly what'd I say to my dad when.. if he picked up the phone. It was like studying a script for an upcoming audition.
I took a deep breath & started entering the digits from the white, crumpled paper into my phone. Placing the phone by my ear, I bite my lip in anticipation.
Riiing. Riiing. Rii-
"Hello?", a deep voice rumbled in the phone. I drew in a breath as I formed my mouth to respond.
"H-hi. Is this David?".
"Speaking. May I ask who's this?".
I gulped & closed my eyes, a wave of fear washing over me. Well, here goes nothing. "This is Heaven. Your daughter".
The phone was quiet for what seemed a long time. Suddenly, the deep voice came back.
"Heaven? Is.. that really you?".
I nodded as if he could see my gesture. "Amirah's here, too".
"I thought I would never see nor hear from you guys again. Your mother made sure to keep me away from my two kids all these years. I can't believe this is happening right now".
Amirah reached over & snatched the phone out my hands before putting it to her own ear, earning an irritated look from me.
"I heard you got a new wife & kid now", Amirah spoke. Silence once again dominated the line, only to be broken moments later by my dad heaving a great sigh.
"I guess your mother told you everything. Yeah, I have another family here in Florida, but that doesn't change my love for the both of you girls at all".
The preteen laughed, a genuine laugh I haven't heard in a while. "I still love you too, daddy".
We spoke to our father for precisely an hour before he had to go, promising us he'd call tomorrow. After we hung up I set the phone down, throwing a side smile in Hiro's direction.
"That turned out much better than I thought", I admitted. Honestly, the way that phone call played out was perfect in every way. Hiro wrapped his arms around my shoulder & pulled me closer to him. My sister smirked at me, making a heart sign with her hands. I rolled my eyes.
"I told you there was nothing to worry about Heaven", Hiro gloated. Boy, he sure did love being right. In his defense, he was a boy genuis, so why wouldn't he?
I hopped off the bed. "Yeah, yeah Hiro you told me so. Do you want a cookie?".
"Preferably chocolate chip.
Smartass, I thought, laughing to myself. "I'm going to go see what I can make for lunch. I'll be back in a few", I told the two before walking out the door to the kitchen.
*HIRO'S POV*
"I'm going to go see what I can make us for lunch. I'll be back in a few", Heaven told me & Amirah before leaving. Great timing. I ne..eded to talk to Amirah about something quite.. personal. Heaven definitely couldn't hear this. I got up & quitely closed the door, & the little girl looked at me weird.
"What are you doing?"
I plopped down next to her. "I really need your help with something".
"Hit me".
Looking down into my lap, I fiddled with my thumbs. "Um.. I want to ask Heaven ou-"
I was cut off by Amirah squealing, a huge smile dominating her face. My hand flew across her mouth, shooting her a glare that said 'shutup'. She quickly stopped & sat back down, but the smile stayed pasted.
"As I was saying.. I want to ask Heaven out, but I want to do it in a special way. Not a basic way, but not some cliche way either".
"Just keep it smile; ask her out on a date".
Furrowing my eyebrows together, I processed the thought. Just ask her out. Maybe I don't need to go all out. Just ask her out.
Focusing my attention back to Amirah, I tilted my head. "But where would I take her?"
Amirah placed a finger on her chin, thoughtfully. "A restaurant".
"Basic".
"So what? Heaven doesn't like going all out all the time. Little things make her happy, she just cares about the thought put into it".
That was true. You could give Heaven the most simplest thing in the world, but if she sees you put genuine thought into it she'd love it. I definitely needed to get started reserving & planning this now.
"Now I just have to build up the courage to ask her out on this date".
*HEAVEN'S POV* (A WEEK LATER)
My father kept his promise & called Amirah & I everyday for the past week. We actually started to feel the connection with our dad again. Wednesday evening, I was cleaning up my room when my ringtone started to blast throughout the room.
Oh won't you stay with me
'Cause you're all I need
I rushed towards the device, checking the caller.
Father, the screen read. I immediately pressed answer.
"Hey dad!", I chirped into the phone.
"Hey honey, I want to ask you & your sister something".
"Spill it".
I heard a crapload of noise in the background before my dad started speaking again. "Thanksgiving break is next week, so I thought why not have you girls come down here for your break? I know this is a late notice."
It took everything within me to not scream joy into the phone. "Amirah & I would love that!"
"That's great. I'll pay for you girls' tickets. I can't wait to see my babies again".
I grinned. "I can't wait to see you again either".
"I'll talk to you later".
Beep!
Dropping the phone on the bed, I ran to Amirah's room. She was sitting at her desk with her computer, but quickly turned to face me.
"What the-"
"Dad asked us to come to Florida for spring break!", I shouted, my happiness bursting at the seams.
Amirah jumped up out of her seat, staring at me with wide eyes. "Shut. Up. No way!".
"And he's paying for our tickets", I said, throwing myself back on her bed. I was too excited to see my father.. maybe even as excited to see my stepmom & my half-sibling?
"This is amazing! I can't wait to tell mom when she gets home".
"Oh! That reminds me, I have to go talk to Hiro".
When I mentioned his name, a look of realization flashed over her face for a split second.
"Yeah, go talk to Hiro. I have to uh.. get this work done", Amirah said, pushing me out the room. Before I could turn around & confront her, the door was closed & locked. I sighed, making my way back to my own environment.
I grabbed my phone, dialing Hiro's number. On the 3rd ring, he picked up.
"Hello?".
"Hiro! You won't believe what just happened!".
"What?"
I paused, just for dramatic effect. "My dad asked me & Amirah to come Florida next week!".
The reaction I was looking for didn't come. I waited it out, but the phone was so quiet for a long time.
Too long.
"Hiro, hellooo?"
"What do you mean you're going to Florida?! Thanksgiving break is next week & ..", Hiro stated, his sentence trailing off.
"I know that. You're supposed to be happy for me, what's going on?".
Silence.
"Really Hiro?"
"I.. worked so hard on this", he mumbled into the phone. What was he talking about?
"You're supposed to be happy for me! You know what Hiro, whatever you're going through, call me back when you're over it", I snapped before hanging up. Man, I felt the guilt washing over me for my harsh choice of words, but I didn't care. Obviously, Hiro didn't care about my feelings so why should I care about his?
*HIRO'S POV*
I sat at my computer desk in awe. Heaven was going to Florida next week, which killed my plan completely. She probably thought I was a jerk for the way I reacted but can you blame me? I spent all this time planning out this date cause I wanted it to be a special night for the both of us, & here she goes, popping this on me. 2 days after me & Amirah's discussion, I started to work on getting the reservations in for next week, what I was going to say her, & even thought of getting her a gift.
But all of that shattered in front of me in a mere 11 words.
My dad asked me & Amirah to come Florida next week!
The scenario kept replaying over & over in my head like a broken DVD player. Furiously shaking my head, I got up & walked downstairs. Aunt Cass was in the kitchen cooking Lord knows what, snapping her head towards me as my footsteps became louder.
"Hey Hiro.. why the glum face?"
After heaving a huge sigh, I told her what my issue was. After my explanation, she rushed over to me, hugging me tight.
"I know it hurts, but at the same time you have to put your friendship before anything else. Do you understand?".
"No I don't", I muttered. I graduated high school at the tender age of 13 with flying colors, & enrolled into San Fransokyo Institute of Technology at the age of 14, but I couldn't understand when it came to girls & relationships.
"What I'm saying is, you two may have feelings for each other but you have to remember that you're still friends, also. Heaven really wanted you to support her, & I'm sure you let her down just now".
I took what my aunt said & let it sink it, realizing she was right. My selfishness got in the way of me being excited for my best friend.
"You know what Aunt Cass? You're right. I'm going to head over there right now & apologize", I replied, heading to the front door.
"Hiro?"
I turned around. "Yes?".
"Go get her".
- 10 MINUTES LATER -
I shortly arrived at Heaven's doorstep, debating whether to knock or ring the doorbell. Before I could even make a decision, the door swung open & there stood no other than Mrs. Johnson. Sigh.
"Um.. I need to speak to Heaven", I firmly stated, trying to ease the awkwardness hanging in the air. Of course, all the woman did was glare at me & go about her way. Holding back an eye roll, I stepped inside the house & closed the door behind me.
"Heaven?", I called out. Soon, footsteps were heard & she came into view. Her face immediately hardened at the sight of me.
"What?", she asked, quite rude if you ask me. But I most definitely deserved it.
"I came to uh.. say sorry. Never should have acted that way towards you".
Heaven wouldn't look me in the eyes. "What was that about? You were acting funny.."
"No, no. I just had some.. issues at the time".
"Issues like?", she pressed. I was not going to tell her what I had planned; that would be held off for later.
"Nothing. It's not important".
Heaven closed her eyes in frustration. "Obviously it is important if it made you act in such a way".
"Trust me it's nothing".
"I thought best friends told each other everything Hiro?"
"They do".
"You're not telling me anything, though".
I groaned. What was this, an interrogation? "Heaven.. it's nothing".
"You know what, fuck it Hiro. Whatever", she spat, positioning herself to go back up the steps. My eyes widened at the strong obscenity. Never have I heard Heaven drop the F bomb.
That's how I know she was really pissed.
"No, wait. Heaven it's nothing I swear".
"Whatever, I don't care".
"Why are you acting like this?"
She snapped her head towards me. "No. It's why you're acting like this. I tell you everything & you can't tell me one damn thing. Screw you".
"Chill out, it's nothing major".
"Chill? Chill? No I will not 'chill', because you've been on this weird tip today, & I'm not feeling it at all".
"I don't have time for this. I'm going back home", I walked back to the door, putting my hand on the shiny, gold handle.
Heaven rested her arm on the handrail, watching me. "Fine. Walk out. See if I care".
And with those words, she walked back to her room, slamming the door.
And with those words, I made my way back to my own territory.
FINALLY HUH? I had to make this chapter real long for you guys because of the long wait. Chapter 12 is here everyone. Their first huge argument, oh gosh. Hmm, I wonder what will happen.