Thanks To You!

‘Melody, come on. Let’s go to our new house.’ I said as I was walking out the door. Melody come running out the door and jumped onto the grass.

‘What about grandma?’ She questioned looking back into the house.

‘Grandma is staying here babe. She will come over for dinner once a week and we’ll come see her on the weekends.’ I replied as I watched Mum walk outside. She looked at me and smiled with a tear falling.

‘You call me if you need anything okay.’ She said as she walked to me. She embraced me and held me in a tight long hug.

‘I am only 20 minutes away okay. Please, come say hello anytime you need. I love you.’ I replied leaving a kiss on her head.

‘I love you too Alex.’ She said as we moved apart from each other. I turned my head to see Melody playing with a ball on the grass before I saw a car pull up.

James offered to pick me up and drive us to our new apartment. Well, not mine and his of course but maybe in a matter of time, one can hope. He got out and walked over to my mother who embraced him also.

We packed the car before we all hopped in, waving goodbye once more. Melody was seated in the back while I sat in the front next to James. He started the car and I saw my mother cry for what seemed like the first time.

We drove off into the distance and her waving arm became distant before it disappeared. I shook my head before quickly wiping a slipping tear. James looked to me and grabbed my hand as offered a slight smile for confidence.

It was a very quiet drive to the apartment, the stereo quickly filling the silence.

‘Daddy, are we there yet?’ Melody asked.

‘Yes sweetie, we actually are.’ I replied turning my head to see her smiling to me.

James stopped the car before I got out. Melody was in the back waiting for me to get her out and once I did, she ran for the stairs.

I raced after her before I scooped her up into my arms. She squealed as I brought her in close and kissed her cheek.

‘Let’s go see our new home, baby girl.’ I said before we climbed the stairs to our door. I placed Melody on the ground next to me so I got get the key out of my pocket. Once I got it, I placed it into the door, turn it until it unlocked. I pushed the door open and melody ran inside. The house was full of furniture which wasn’t here when I looked at it before.

I walked to new couch that was in the living room, confused of how it got here. Melody ran up to me and handed me a note.

Alex,
I know this is so selfish of me to do but I want to show you how sorry I was for everything. The way we were in high school to the kiss that happened last night. Even the way Vic has been treating you.
I hope this doesn’t affect our friendship that we have got back, you are like my best friend again.
Call me when you get the chance,
Jack.

James pulled the note out of my hand and scrunched it up, throwing it to a part of the room.
‘Don’t trust him Alex. He’ll just hurt you again.’

‘I have hurt him too. He is just trying to be nice.’ I replied. I started walking to find Melody, who was in her room.

‘Look daddy, it is pink. PINK!’ She said excitedly.

‘You are going to have to thank Jack.’ I replied before I smiled.

‘Let’s go get your bags Alex.’ James said in a sour tone. I shook it off, thinking that he was jealous but it wasn’t.

After we unpacked the car of all our bags and little appliances, James looked at me and frowned.

‘I can’t date you Alex, I just can’t. You are still madly in love with Jack or something, you still like him at least. And with you like this, how am I meant to get your attention.’ James said.
I felt the tears fall down my cheeks, I couldn’t speak, because he was right, I did like jack still. James turned around and closed the door behind himself. I wiped the tears from my eyes and grabbed Melody’s bags with her clothes in it. She was still in her room, playing with a toy Jack had in the room for her.

‘Hey sweetie, I think we should go for a walk, look around the neighborhood. What do you say?’ I asked. She jumped with joy, nodding her head while she did.

*Jack’s P.O.V*

‘I cannot believe you brought them a couch!’ Vic yelled.

‘I was saying sorry for the kiss Vic. I felt so guilty.’ I replied in a calm voice.

‘Well he shouldn’t have kissed you.’ Vic said.

‘He didn’t kiss me! I kissed him Vic.’ I yelled, standing up and throwing my arms around.

‘He kissed you back though, didn’t he? I have every right to be mad.’ Vic said.

‘Goddamn it Vic. What do you hate so much about him?! He has a boyfriend; he is in a relationship! I can’t do this right now, I am going for a walk, and when I get home, you better be calm and capable of a civil talk.’

I grabbed my jacket and put it on as I walked out the door. As I closed the door behind me, I heard my phone ring. I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at the caller ID. This was one person I wasn’t expecting to call.

‘Hello?’ I said as I pulled the phone up to my ear.

‘Jack. Hey.’ Alex replied.

‘What’s up?’ I spoke walking along my driveway.

‘I wanted to thank you. For everything. The couch. The money to help Melody with school. You really helped me.’ He said.

‘You are welcome Alex. I mean it when I was sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.’ I stated.

‘Don’t. let’s just forget about it. I still want to be your friend. You are a good guy. I was just wondering if maybe you and Vic wanted to come over for dinner tonight?’ He asked.

‘I mean, Vic and I just had a fight so we aren’t in the best position to be doing couple things. Was James going to be there?’ I wondered.

‘Um, no. that’s the thing really. He broke it off. He said that I was still in love with you or something which I mean is wrong because I don’t and well, maybe I don’t know Jack. I really don’t. What have I done.’ I heard him choke on his words. He sniffed a bit before breathing into the phone.

‘Jack, can you please come over? I need to talk to someone about this. Please.’ He begged.

‘I’ll be over in 10. I’ll see you soon.’ I replied. Alex said a quick goodbye before the line went quiet. I put my phone in my pocket and walked to where I remember looking up Alex’s apartment is. I was meant to drive him there but after the kiss and awkwardness of it all, it was the best I didn’t.

I walked into the parking lot when I saw Alex and Melody walking from a car. I looked over the car and it was a very nice looking blue car, new and shiny as it sat in a spot.

‘Nice car.’ I said loud enough for them to hear me. Melody turned around and noticed that it was me so she began running for me. When she reached me, I picked her up into a big hug. I began walking to Alex who was smiling at me, he nodded his head before walking the way to his new apartment.

It was silent, even Melody was quiet, I think she was asleep in my arms. Alex unlocked the door and walked in, keeping the door open for me. I walked in and he closed the door behind me as I walked over to the couch. I placed Melody onto the couch and brought my attention to Alex who was stood in the kitchen away from his daughter in tears.

I approached him in a slow matter, afraid of how he will react. He was zoned out and breathing very heavily. I slowly put my arm around his shoulders and then quickly brought him into a hug. He was trying to stay quiet to keep Melody awake but it wasn’t working as his breaths became something to be worried about.

We stood in the kitchen in an embrace for a long time. I could feel my phone buzzing like mad in my pocket which Alex hadn’t picked up on until it started ringing. He removed himself away from me and sat himself on the floor under the sink. I pulled my phone from my pocket and saw that Vic was trying to reach me. I excused myself from Alex who wasn’t really paying attention and walked outside.

‘Hello?’ I answered.

‘Why haven’t you been replying to my texts?’ Vic demanded an answer for.

‘I was busy, sorry.’ I replied.

‘busy?’ he asked.

‘Yes, busy. I will be home soon. Please don’t worry. I love you.’ I replied and then hung up. I went to open the door to Alex’s apartment and the door was locked.

‘Alex, please open the door.’ I knocked. No answer. ‘Alex, please.’

There was a mumble of words which I couldn’t understand.

‘Alex, I can’t understand you.’ I mentioned.

‘Jack, go home. I will be okay. I will message you later. Thank you.’ Alex said.

I didn’t reply, I just turned around and walked out of the apartment blocks, through the car park and carried on home. I heard the crackles of thunder behind me and in a matter of seconds after that, it began to rain. I pulled my hoodie over my head and continued walking, hoping to not get to wet but I don’t think that was possible.

I made it home and I was very wet. I went to open the door and it was locked. I rang the doorbell and there was no answer. I didn’t have my keys but luckily, I put a spare key under one of the rocks outside. I retrieved the key and opened the door, walking in and closing the door behind me.

‘Vic?’ I called out. I heard the clinking of bottles from upstairs and that really means one thing.
I walked up the stairs dripping wet, leaving a trail behind me. I walked to our bedroom door and there was Vic, covered in bottles of beer and spirits. He looked at me through fallen eyelids every once and a while, pure evil in them.

‘Where were you?’ He questioned in a slurred, bitter tone. He tried moving off the bed but a bunch of bottles were pushed off in the process.

‘Vic, what have you done?’ I questioned. I walked over to him and started picking up bottles.

‘Don’t touch them. Answer my question.’ He yelled.

‘I was out, walking. Keeping away from you remember?’ I replied.

‘You are lying!’ He replied, determined. ‘You were with Alex. I know it. Jaime showed me a picture of you two walking into his apartment. You were holding the child.’

‘I was just seeing how he was settling in.’ I replied.

‘Lies!’ He yelled again, this time getting up off the bed. He stumbled towards me in an angry manner, a bottle of whiskey in his hands firmly.

‘I’m not lying!’ I defended. ‘Why were you with Jaime anyway?’

‘He came to see how I was doing.’ He replied as he stood in front of me. He swayed from side to side as he tried to keep himself up.

‘How is that any different to, huh... you know what. This isn’t even worth it. I am sleeping on the couch. Goodnight Vic.’ I replied before walking out the room, I heard Vic groan in frustration before the clinking of bottle proceeded again.

I walked to the down stairs bathroom and closed the door once I was in. I stripped off my clothes that were damp and jumped into the shower. I stood under the warm water as it hit my back and ran over my shoulders.

After getting out the shower, I walked out into the kitchen with a towel on. I realized the time and saw that it was only 3 o’clock in the afternoon and Vic was drinking the day away. I walked into the laundry room where clothes were sitting in the dryer. It turns out that Vic didn’t waste the day after all. I grabbed some clothes and put them on, putting the towel in the washing machine.

I walked to the lounge and took a seat on the couch. I looked outside and saw the rain coming down more than ever and it wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. I turned the television on and decided that Vic can stay up in the room while I sit on the couch and watch movies till I fall asleep.

Notes

I apologize for how late I am uploading chapters.