Complicated

Chapter 18

Unusually, Renzo and I have been hanging out since the day we "acquainted". He's been bugging me for days now since I won't agree on watching Star Wars episode 1. 

"Come oooon, Ave. Watch Star Wars. It's awesome." he says as he pokes my arm. "First, I ask you, which will cause more pain to you: not watching Episode 1, or watching Star Trek?" I ask him. "Pft, Ave, as a matter of fact, I HAVE watched Star Trek, and second, it's not my kind of 'thing'" he says. "Not your kind of thing? But Star Wars and Star Trek is just the same." I tell him, and anger is suddenly present in his face. "WHAT?! HELL NO! YOU CLEARLY DO NOT SEE THE AWESOMENESS IN STAR WARS. And to do that, watch Episode 1 with me. Come on, Ave!" he persuades, and with the amount of spark in his emerald green eyes, I just can't refuse. His eyes at the moment looks exactly like Tom's. And I can't resist Tom.

"Ugh, fine. Not now. I have to do my homework." I say. "How 'bout tomorrow?" he asks, a pinch of enthusiasm in his deep voice. "Can't ,my sister's coming home in the afternoon, and I have 'tutoring' with Mr. Kingsley tomorrow." I tel him, and his face gets etched with sadness. "You know, how about.... Sunday? Or Monday?" he says as he tries to get the schedule straight. I shrug. I'm just going to watch it because he wants me to. He should be the one who decides. "Fine I'll just call you later." he says. And I wave my hand for a goodbye, and smiles, and waves his hand back in one quick flick of a wrist. And I blush.

I continue to walk the sidewalks to our house in a daze because of the incident with Renzo. The charm courses through his veins, along with his blood. I get greeted at my home with a smiling Jellybean, a wonderous scent of apple pie enters my nostrils, and an ecstatic Astrid. I also see my father, who's reading his own book, smiling as he does.

"Hey." I say as I wave my hand, and their heads all turn to catch a glimpse of me. "Oh, Hi hun." dad says as he smiles. "Hi, honey. How's school?" mom asks as she wipes her hands on her apron. "AVE! You and I have GOT to talk later!" she says, then she squeals like a mouse. "Oh, it's been alright, Mom. Thanks for asking." I answer Mom, and I look to Astrid, signalling that we 'll talk later in our usual rendezvous. Her room.

We eat like famished cannibals. Dinner consisted of roasted duck, apple pie, and caesar salad conspired of fresh greens and a delectable dressing. A burp escapes Mom's lips, and we all laugh. Especially dad, whom we haven't seen smile in a while. Dad clears his throat, a signal saying that what he's about to say is crucially important. "Big news. Daddy's started working on a brand new novel." he says, and we widen our eyes in unison. Next thing you know, my mother's shrieking in excitement, and I'm hugging my dad in enthusiasm. "Really?!" Astrid says, and we all sit down. Speaking of dad being an author, I remember Nicholas Kingsley, with his sparkling eyes whenever he talks about his addiction to my father's work. I love the way a person's eyes sparkle when they talk about their passion.

We all tone down the enthusiasm, and my mother clears her throat. Another great, big, news. I can apparently hear my heartbeat when these kinds of situations boil up. I can hear the every drop of blood rushing inside of me, and she finally opens her mouth.

"Turns out we're going to have another person in the family."

My jaw drops, and Astrid squeals in delight. "Mom.... You're.... Y-You're.... pregnant?" I awkwardly ask, and she nods her head. I stand up from my chair, and hug her as tight as I could. My father smiles at us, and waves his hand down, signalling that we should hush and sit down. "Your little sibling is the reason why I wrote a new novel. It's dedicated to him, or her, and I hope you're not jealous." dad says, and I quickly reply. "Of course we're not, dad. why would we be jealous? Your new novel and our new sibling is a gift. We already cherish it, and we wouldn't want anything else." I say, and Astrid nods in assurance.

 After that heart mending meal, Astrid and I meet up in her room. And after she shuts the door, she squeals in this high pitch tone that sounds like she got bitten by a wasp. 'Why the heck are you screaming?!" I shout at her, and she stops for a moment, sits on her bed, and screams into a pillow. Her favorite pillow. A sign that this IS big news. "Patrick. Asked me out." she says, and I widen my eyes, and the next thing I know, I'm squealing with her.

"How'd he say it?" I ask, and after that, it was a whirlwind of questions and answers and squealing balled up into one. Her eyes sparkle in glee, just like how Nicholas does when he talks about dad. It's been an hour, and she's obviously exhausted. She lays her head on her pillow, and shut her eyes closed. "I wish everything would go the way they're planned" she says before she drifts off to sleep. 'Don't keep you hopes up, kid.' I think as I pat her head. Astrid does not deserve the pain I'm feeling, or at least, the pain I once felt. Patrick Faulkner, you better treat her the way she should be. I don't want to see my sweet little sister in pain. I don't want to see the people I love in pain. But why do I feel pain whenever I see Tom happy?

The world's twisted like that.

I make my way to my bedroom, but dad calls me. "Ave, dear, I want to talk to you." he says, and my heart stops. 

What.

"Okay?" was the word that I could only say in shock. He gestures to the dinner table, and he sits down. "I hear you have um.... a mentor." he says. How does he know that. "Um.... Yeah, Mr. Kingsley. He's a big fan of yours, dad." I tell him. "Yeah, I heard. Ave, I know you want to write. And I want you to put your best into it. I want you to have the best. But I can't teach you at the moment. I have the novel to deal with. I want to  meet him." Dad says, and I nod. "Sure. Um.... When?" I ask. "Tomorrow. When you pick your sister up from the airport. Invite him over to dinner." he says. "Okay. Well, dad, I'll go and ..... sleep, now." I say as I go upstairs, but he grabs my hand. "Honey, I just want you to know that I'm really proud of you." he says, and I smile. "Thank you, dad." I say, and I peck a kiss on his cheek. 

I make my way to my bedroom, grabbing Jellybean on the way. The warmth in my heart is still present. I never knew that my dad would be proud of me. And it's really nice to feel that you're appreciated for once.

I tuck myself in the sheets of my bed, and I start to try to sleep. But my vibrating phone disturbs it.  I pick it up in annoyance, and read the text. It's from Renzo.

Good night, Ave. Star wars for the win. :)

The annoyance goes away as heat rushes into my face. My cheeks are red as a tomato, and I pinch them to let the color fade. I smile. The Faulkner Brothers do have this undeniable charm. It's carved into their veins.

I drift off into sleep. The day's bipolar. From pain, to happiness, to weirdness, to awkwardness, to enthusiasm, to sleep. I guess life is a roller coaster. Full of ups and downs. And thankfully, the roller coaster I'm riding in is currently at the top, bringing me bliss instead of pain.

I continue to walk the road of depression, now with more people with me. They've become my map, my guide, my light. Something to ward off the demons in pain's eyes, something to uncover me from the darkness. But the darkness isn't half bad. The darkness is Tom. And Tom's not half bad, either. He's starting to turn into a light again. And the end of the road of depression is soon nearing.