The Boy Next Door ~ Ethan Karpathy

Chapter 5 ☯ My dad

"I'm sorry" Said Ethan for the 19th time. 

We had just gotten out of the water and mum was already in the car. 

We were walking off the beach draped in our towels.

"It's fine! I told you, I don't care about it." 

I pat him on the back but before I could pull away, he grabbed my wrist and intertwined his fingers into mine.

He was just staring straight ahead. I looked at his face but I couldn't decipher his emotion. 

It was a face I had never seen on him before. 

At that moment realised that I was holding his hand tightly and he just smiled without looking at me.

That Smile

And then I felt the butterflies in my stomach erupt back to life. 

We came into view of the car from behind. We couldn't see mum yet. 

He unravelled his hands from mine and I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding.

I was wondering why he did that but then I saw him open the car door and gesture me in. 

I giggled and stepped inside, him following behinds.

On the way home it was really silent. 

I really wanted to grab his hand again but I thought that would be too much. 

Maybe he just does that with every girl when he's sorry?

I shook the thought out of my head and looked at him. Just in time to find him staring at me with a faint smile. 

I instantly blushed and looked away. What was he doing to me?

☯☯☯

That night I couldn't sleep. I was just too happy. 

After a while, I felt like something to eat, so I went out of my room quietly making sure not to wake anyone up. 

I sneaked down the stairs but someone was talking in the kitchen.

"I understand... 

I still can't believe it... 

No, I don't think I should tell her yet... 

He'll be okay?... 

Ok, I have to go... 

Ok.. 

Ok bye." 

My mum hung up the phone. 

And places her hands down on the table in distress on the verge of tears. What was going on?!?!

"Mum?" I questioned coming out of my hiding, 

"Oh gosh. Caitlin, g-go back to bed." She stuttered. 

"Mum," I said more sternly. "What's wrong? Who was that? Is this about Ethan?"

All these questions were floating around in my head and I needed answers, now. 

"I'm sorry honey, and no it's not about Ethan." 

A huge weight got lifted off my shoulders hearing those words.

She looked hesitant before continuing, 

"It's, 

It's your d-dad." 

She breathed out, blinking back the tears. 

I gaped my mouth open and looked down. Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. My dad?

I hadn't seen him for years, ever since my parents divorced. 

He never got custody of me because he was an 'unstable parent'.

Just another way of saying he was an out-of-control alcoholic. No one at school ever knew why I didn't have a dad. 

Some people started to create rumours that he died or that he ran away. I didn't want to tell anyone. 

"So? What's wrong?" I asked in anticipation, 

"um, h-he's in hospital." She blurted out, unable to breathe steadily.

What?