dix neuf

28 2 1
                                    

12:09

My dad is here.

This is just fantastic.

Spring break starts today and my mom made it a point that I visit my shit-fuck of a father.
I'm in my room, packing my stuff, and my dad is sitting out there with my mom.
I didn't even know I was going until he showed up.
I threw a fit, but of course, I had to do what my mother said even though I'm eighteen.
Random sweaters, and t-shirts, and jeans are thrown in the duffle-bag.
I hear a knock on my window and I already know who it is.

I see Rae outside and open the window.
She climbs in and flops on my bed.
I stuff some underwear in the side pocket and she sits against the wall, her her feet tucked up to her chest.

"Who's in your driveway? And why are you packing?" She asks, almost panicked.

I huff, "my father."

She cringes. "You don't like him, do you?"

"Nope, not one bit."

"Why are you going then?" She watches me carefully as I look around my room for anything else I may need.

"Because my mom thinks it's important that I spend time with him."

"Oh. Toothbrush?"

I give her a quizzical look.

"Did you pack it?" She clarifies.

I snap my fingers, mumble "you're smart", and go grab it from the bathroom.

When I walk into the room, I see her standing over my duffle-bag.
Everything I packed is in a pile on my bed and Rae is folding my clothes.

"What are you doing?" I already know, but I want to know why.

She shrugs, "folding. Just because you hate your dad, doesn't mean you have to be a slob."

I huff in annoyance and move to take my shirt from her hand.
She steps back and furrows her eyebrows.
She places the shirt in my bag and grabs another.

"Where were you?" I ask the question that's been nagging at me since I saw her.

"Wandering," she says simply.

"Wandering where?"

Her shoulders fall, "does it matter?"

"Yes! You didn't even tell me you were leaving!"

"It was unexpected and I didn't feel like I had to!"

"Well, I wish you did. Because now I'm going to fucking Nevada for a week and I barely got to see you."

She looks at her feet. "I'm sorry."

I shake my head and hear a knock on my door, "Harry?"

Rae's head snaps up to look at me and my eyes are wide.

"Get in the closet," I whisper.

She looks at me like I'm crazy, "no!"

"Yes! Go!" I command.

She groans and climbs in anyway.
I open my door and my mother is standing there.

"Honey, your father is waiting. Why is your room so cold?" She questions.

I blink a few times, "I had the window open."

"I see that. I have the heat on, close it. Also, hurry up, I don't want to keep your father."

"Alright," I say and smile.

She gives me a confused look and walks away.
I close the door and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Rae opens the closet door and steps down.

"You're ridiculous," she says and goes back to folding.

"Yeah, and you're dead."

Rae glares at me and throws the shirt down in frustration.
She bites the inside of her cheek and covers her face.

"I should just go. I'll be back next Friday." She whispers. She climbs up on the bed and heads to the window.

"Rae," I call when one of her legs is outside.

She looks at me expectantly.

I look at the floor then back at her, "I'll leave the window open so you can come in whenever you'd like."

Her face breaks into a small smile and she nods.
Her other leg swings out the window and she guides herself down.
She waves a little and a small smile is on her face as she begins backing away.
Then she turns around completely.

I swallow and close the window, making sure not to lock it.

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