Chapter 22 - Thank You For Coming Back
He swung his legs over the side of the climbing frame, and looked at the very beautiful view in front of him. Albuquerue was amazing in Autumn. It might have been the way the sun hit a certain part of the trees, making them shine. It might have been the way the animals seemed to slow down. It might have been that the leaves turned their different colours, making everything seems brand new. But for Troy, it was something different.
For him, it was the way that the bitter wind whipped your face, making no-one come out from their warm houses, leaving the park a place of quiet. A place where he could go to clear his head, think his thoughts.
He moved his hand through his hair, flattening it back into place after he had done so. He sighed, and looked around. It was empty, just what he needed. The birds gentle chirpping noises lulled him into his daydream.
Today, had been quite a day. One he never expected to come around, but somehow did. And he was happy for it. He now knew where he stood in this world, and more about his past. Whenever he had asked about his early days before, a quick change of subject was made by both parents; and now he understood why. They were ashamed.
But they had no need to be. In fact, if he had been told, he would have been surprised but not angry; he would have felt slightly relieved, maybe even happy. Happy that he had been given a different start to life, than other people. He then of course, would have wanted to find out who those people were, which could have gotten complicated. But whats done is done, and what had happened had, happened. No going back. He wouldn't want to anyway.
A noise broke him away from his daydream. He whipped his head around, and caught sight of two people he had never laid eyes on before. An adult and a boy. A father and a son.
He watched from his place in the climbing frame, as the father, probably in his late thirties, swung the boy around and around in the air, the boys playful screams being heard for miles.
Troy smiled at the two interacting, and wondered in the back of his mind, if his father had gotten back in time to do that. If he had bonded straight away with his father, or had the two been distant, like they were now. Maybe, Robert, his second father, had interacted like that with him.
He could still see Robert's face in the back of his mind. His deep laugh, his hands that often tickled Troy's sides, making him laugh and shriek. He had only known Robert for a short time, and even though others, Gabriella included, had known him for longer, he still felt close to him. Probably always would.
His eyes searched around the park for the adult and child again, but realising they were gone, he jumped off the climbing frame, and walked on his journey home. His legs moved in a steady rythmn, his arms swinging from side to side.
After a few minutes his mobile went off, and he searched his pockets for it. Stuffing the scroll (which he still had) into another pocket, he flipped up the phone and answered.
" 'Ello?"
"Hey" A slow, upset tone came through the other end.
"Gabriella?" Troy wondered.
"Yeah, it's me" She replied, again sounding like something was wrong.
"You ok?"
"Eh, sorta"
"Wanna talk about it?" He kept moving, nearing his house, still talking.
"Nope, but don't worry, you'll hear it all when I get back"
He laughed half-heartedly, still worried about Gabriella.
"But seriously, it's nothing serious?"
"Nothing I can't deal with, I'm fine, don't panic"
He released a breath, he didn't know he was holding, and was relieved.
"Good, so hows camping going?"
"One word: Terrible!"
He laughed again at his girlfriend's humor.
"Sounds great"
"I wish you were hear" He heard her sigh.
"I wish I was there too, but only another few days left"
"Guess so"
Troy heard rustling in the background, and then Chad's strong voice coming through.
"Go away Chad!" He heard her say. "I've gotta go, I miss you, I'll be round when I get back, ok?"
"Sure, bye"
"Bye"
And then he hung up. He was surprised how long he had managed to hold up not telling Chad, his best friend, his secret. But he knew it was impossible; it would be too awkward.
As he neared his house, he found the lights on, and his father's car in the driveway. He sighed as he realised they were home. He walked up the steps and opened the front door.
"Mom, dad?"
"We're through here!" He heard his mother shout through.
He stepped into the doorway, and looked around, finding his parents sitting on the floor. They were unpacking, their clothes and bags everywhere, it was hard to see where the humans were.
"Good trip?"
"Yeah, good break?" His father answered, hoping to hear he'd played basketball.
"Yeah, played basketball, chilled..."
His father smiled at his boy, his basketball boy.
"Good good" His father replied before grabbing a pile of clothes and walking over to put them on the table.
Troy stuck his hands in his pockets, his fingers feeling the scroll. He took it out, and felt his fathers eyes on him. He too walked over to the table, and placed the scroll in front of his father, concern leaking through his father's eyes. Seeing this he smiled.
"Thanks for coming back" He whispered, almost so they couldn't hear but they did. He looked at his father, seeing relief pass through his eyes, tears shining in his mothers.
He waved and turned walking up the stairs to his bedroom, flopping down on his bed, exhausted. It had been a long day.
A very long day.
I hope this is ok, I didn't really know where to go next, and I didn't want his father and him to fight of something, so this is what I came up with. I know it's not got much going on, but hey, it's a chapter :)
Don't worry, more drama is coming soon!
Just a little note to say that if any of you had been reading 'The Other Side Of The Rainbow', I had a sudden burst of writing energy, and wrote another chapter. I had sorta forgotten and just left that story, not really knowing if I should continue or not.
I'll probably not post it yet, I want to write another few chapters of it to see where it goes, even though I know what's gonna happen. If I don't think it's turned out good, I'll probably just delete it :(
Anyways, please review, and another chappy will be coming soon!
Thanks guys :)