Luke
"So, I will see you later, I hope,"
"Absolutely, just let me know how it goes so I know what I'm walking into,"
"Will do," I said, kissing Sierra goodbye, "Might end up being homecooked if she gets that much in a mood,"
"I'll do whatever,"
"I love you,"
"I love you too,"
I took my bag and left, heading down in the lift and to my car. It was almost lunch, so I hoped Gabi and Maddox were awake.
When I got home, I made sure to jingle the keys really loud and then slammed the door pretty hard, taking a while to climb the stairs.
"Dad?"
"Hey Luke,"
I opened the door and found Gabi laid on her bed, Maddox spinning on her desk chair, bags packed in the corner.
"Good morning,"
"Afternoon now,"
"Oh- yeah. Afternoon. Are you staying for lunch or do you want to go back now?"
"I can go back,"
"I don't mind, we have plenty,"
She looked at Gabi and they communicated between them with their eyes, then Maddox picked up her bags and shook her head.
"I'll go back, I have a huge essay,"
"Do you have a huge essay?" I asked Gabi, since they shared classes, "Or does one of you have terrible time management?"
"That would be me," Maddox said, "Thank you for having me, Gabi,"
"Are you not coming with us to drop Maddox off?"
"I'm really tired,"
"Okay, have a nap then. Want me to pick up some lunch?"
She nodded and shut her eyes-I could tell she was genuinely tired- so I took Maddox's bag and we left.
"So what did you guys have for tea?"
"Gabi cooked,"
"She cooked?"
"Well... Gabi defrosted,"
"Ah, I see. Did you sleep okay?"
"Yeah,"
I twisted my lips and tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, stopping at a red light. Someone else's radio filled our car, and then the light turned green, so we were left in silence again.
She sat up straight, tapping her fingers on her lap, looking out the window.
"So, how do you find school? Is it as boring as Gabi makes it seem?"
"Kind of. But I do a lot of extra things like badminton, and drama, and the flute, because I live there,"
"That's pretty cool. You share a dorm with Maja, right?"
"Yeah, she's really messy,"
"Messy roommates are the worst!"
"Yeah. You can drop me off here,"
"Are you sure?"
She nodded and got her bag, unbuckling her seatbelt.
"Thank you for having me,"
"Of course. Hopefully I will see you again soon, enjoy writing your essay,"
She gave me a small smile, then climbed out the car, so I turned round and went back through town. On the way home, I stopped by a deli and got Gabi and I paninis and a cake each, then got back home and put the radio on, waking her up.
Clearly, she had had no sleep which would really not work in my favour.
While we ate, she sat in silence, just leant against my body.
"I know I rarely suggest this, but do you want a coffee?"
"I have a donut. It's fine,"
"Okay... what did you get up to then?"
Her cheeks turned red and she shrugged, looking down.
"Just played video games,"
"Cool,"
"What did you get up to?"
"Watched tv, ate some pizza, fell asleep,"
"Who were you with again?"
"Michael,"
"Cool,"
I had sprayed myself heavily in aftershave before leaving so that I didn't smell of Sierra, but I was getting paranoid, so I went to unpack my bag and change hoodies. After, I gave my room a quick hoover, and went to change the spare room covers only to find they hadn't been touched.
That was the one track they had failed to cover, but I knew they wouldn't use it anyway.
She walked past as I was hoovering in there, and then scurried off to the bathroom, locking herself in. Then a second later, she came back out and went to her room instead, then downstairs.
"Gabi?"
"Just getting a drink,"
"Can we have a chat?"
"Why? I'm tired,"
I jogged downstairs and sat at the kitchen table, nodding for her to sit opposite.
"Why do we need to talk?"
"Because I have something I need to tell you,"
"Oh... okay. Well, so do I. I need to tell you something,"
"Okay, what is it?" I asked.
"You go first,"
"No, you can,"
"No, now it feels weird," she whined, putting the glass down, "Same time,"
"You want us to say it at the same time?"
"Yes,"
"Fine,"
"Okay,"
"3, 2, 1," I counted.
"I have a girlfriend,"
"I have a girlfriend,"
"Okay,"
"You have a what?" she shrieked, standing up.
"A girlfriend,"
"Who?"
"She is called Sierra, she's a surgeon at the hospital... she really wants to meet you, I was thinking,"-
"I can't believe you,"
"I was thinking,"-
"How could you get a girlfriend?"
Her face was going the brightest red I had ever seen it go, and she was shaking her head, pacing up and down.
"I was thinking we could go out for a meal together so you can meet her,"
"No!"
"Gabi, come on now. If you can have a girlfriend then why can't I?"
"Because I am 17,"
"I'm too old to have a girlfriend?"
"No but you have bad taste,"
"Ouch,"
"Are they actually nice?"
"They're,"-
"I don't even care. I am not meeting them,"
"We are going out for a meal later whether you want to or not,"
"I hate you!"
"I honestly think this is a disproportionate reaction, Gabi," I said, standing up, "I understand that it's a big change and I want to help you process that, but hating me for finding someone who makes me happy? I don't get it,"
She left the kitchen and stormed upstairs, slamming the door which sent chills down my spine.
Honestly, I wasn't ready for the conversation to be over.
"Gabi,"
"Go away!"
"Why don't we talk about what you said?"
"I don't want to. Go away,"
"Fine. Be ready by 5, we are going out, and it's your choice whether you look nice or not,"