We arrive at my dad's house and I see him standing on his porch. It wasn't until seeing him now that I realize how much I actually missed him since being in Sydney.

"Dad!" I exclaim as I run towards him.

"Hey kiddo!" He says as he engulfs me in a hug. "How's Sydney?"

"It's good. Really good." I tell him.

Michael and Luke walk over to us with our bags in their hands. Luke took mine, how sweet.

"Michael! Good to see you, son." My dad says as he gives Michael a hug.

"You too, dad."

"And you're not my kid." My dad laughs and says to Luke.

"No sir. I'm Luke. Michael's best friend." Luke introduces himself.

I'm a bit hurt that he introduced himself as Michael's friend and not my boyfriend, but it's not exactly like he had a choice.

"James." My father introduces himself and shakes Luke's hand.

"Nice to meet you, sir." Luke says respectfully.

"Sir? I'm not a grandpa, Luke. Just call me James." My father says.

"Michael and May's mom says the same thing when I call her ma'am. Well, she doesn't make me call her James obviously because that's your name. And she doesn't feel like a grandpa, she says she feels like a grandma because well, she's a girl. Not a girl, a woman. But not an old women-" Luke rambles but cuts himself off once he realizes how awkward it is now that he mentioned my mother to her ex-husband.

"S-sorry." He stutters.

What a dork. But he's my dork.

"Just come inside." I roll my eyes and chuckle slightly.

We all go inside and put our suitcases down in our rooms. I go to my regular room, and Luke and Michael go into Michael's old room.

"You still haven't changed my room?" Michael asks my dad.

"Well, I just figured if you ever wanted to come back, your room would still be waiting for you." My dad explains, seeming slightly embarrassed.

My dad had always talked to me about how he hoped one day Michael would move back to Melbourne to live with us, because he hates being away from him for such long periods of time. I have no idea how i'm going to tell him that I'm moving to Sydney too. He's probably going to feel like both of his kids are abandoning him.

"Well, I'm quite happy in Sydney." Michael says awkwardly.

"I figured. How's your mother?" My dad asks.

"She's uh- good." Michael lies.

"Good. I hope she's happy like I am." My dad says with a smile.

"Yeah, she is." He lies again.

"Why are you so smiley dad?" I ask.

"Oh, no reason." He says.

"Come on, tell me." I bug him.

"Not that it is any of your business but, I may or may not be seeing someone." He smiles the first genuine smile i've seen him have about a woman since my mother.

"For real? Who?" I ask.

"Judy Cavanaugh."

"Judy Cavanaugh? As in Taylor Cavanaugh's mother?" Michael asks.

"Yes." My father confirms.

"No shit!" Michael laughs.

"Who's Taylor Cavanaugh?" Luke asks.

"This guy May used to date. He was pretty cool." Michael explains.

I really wish he didn't mention my past boyfriend to my current one. But then again, it's not like he knows that.

"I thought you used to date Ian?" Luke asks me.

"It was before Ian." Michael answers for me.

"I thought Ian was your first boyfriend?" Luke asks, sounding quite jealous. And quite obvious.

"Are you kidding?" Michael laughs. "May's dated like the whole high school soccer team."

"I did not!" I squeal.

"Oh okay, maybe not the whole team. Just Taylor, Jason, Rick, Anthony, Jef-"

"Okay, that's enough Michael thanks." I cut him off before he can continue with the list.

I look over to Luke to see his face quite red, assuming it's from jealously and anger, not embarrassment.

"Sorry." Michael laughs.

"Hey dad, does Parker still live next door?" Michael asks.

"Yeah he does."

"I'm gonna go see him! I haven't seen that kid in years. Come on Luke." Michael says.

I look at Luke and shake my head slightly, in hopes that he understands I don't want him to go. I want to tell my dad about me moving to Sydney, and I want Luke to be there with me when I tell him.

"Nah man. I'm tired from the flight. I think i'm just gonna relax." Luke lies.

"Suit yourself. I'll be back later on tonight." Michael says as he walks out the door.

"Can I get you guys anything?" My father asks as he walks over to the fridge.

"Just some water, dad." I say.

My father brings two glasses to the kitchen table and pours water into both of them as Luke and I sit down.

"I know we just got here but I actually have to talk to you about something. A few things actually, but one thing at a time." I say.

"Oh no, what happened?" My dad asks, sitting down across from Luke and I.

"Nothing. I just have something I need to tell you, and I don't know how you're going to take it."

"Hit me." My dad says.

I take a deep breath. I decide to tell him about me moving to Sydney first. The mistake my mother was talking about can wait. Me moving to Sydney is far more important.

"I'm uh-I want to, uh- I want to move to Sydney." I say slowly.

My dad stares at me with a blank expression and I can't tell what emotions he's feeling. Is he angry?

"Why?" He asks, still with an unreadable expression.

"Well, Michael needs someone there with him in Sydney. Family wise, I mean." I explain.

"He has your mother."

I guess now was as good a time as ever to tell him about her.

"About that. Mum's sort of um-she's kind of-"

"She's a drunk." Luke finishes for me. "Sorry." He adds after he realizes he shouldn't have blurted that out.

"She's back to her old ways then I see." My dad sighs.

What does he mean her old ways? Did she drink before? Maybe that's what the mistake was that she was talking about last week.

"Her old ways? What do you mean?" I question.

"Your mother, she used to drink quite a bit when you and Michael were kids. She sobered up after I threatened to leave her. I thought she was clean ever since, but old habits die hard I guess." He explains, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

"When did she drink?" I ask.

"You were very young. Probably about three. Michael was about five at the time. She used to get drunk almost every night after you kids went to bed. At first she wasn't so bad, just a bit mean. But as time went on, she got worse. She used to hit me, and I would take it because I would never hit a woman." He says.

Hearing him say this instantly makes me think back to when Michael told me she hit him when she was drunk. My dad's right.

Old habits really do die hard.

"Well she's back to that. And I can't let Michael go through it alone. He got the short end of the stick for these past few years. I got to live here with you in this beautiful house, while he had to put up with a drunk mother in a shitty house that she failed to take care of. Michael told me stories about how he'd have to clean up her vomit after she would come home drunk at four in the morning. I can't let him go through that anymore, dad."

"I can't believe her! How could she put our son through that! After everything we went through, trying to raise you kids right, she goes and turns into that. And now you're around that too?" He asks.

"No, we moved in with Luke. We've been staying there for the past month. Mum tried to make us go back home, but we refused. We're doing really good at Luke's house." I explain.

"I see." My father nods his head slowly.

"I need to go for Michael. And because Ian and I broke up. And it was a bad break up. Things happened that I don't care to talk about but, I just know I can't go back to all those people. And honestly dad, I'm done hanging around those types of people. I want to do better. I don't want to turn into mum." I tell him honestly.

"So you want to go for your brother and because of your breakup with Ian?" My father asks.

I nod my head.

"And because of him right?" My dad gestures to Luke.

"What?" I ask with wide eyes.

"You want to be near him, correct?"

"What- what are you talking about?" I question.

"Please. I'm your father. You think I don't see the way you two look at each other. I knew you two were together within the first five minutes you got here. And when Michael brought up your past boyfriends, I saw the look on Luke's face." My dad explains.

How is it that my dad realized within the first five minutes of us getting here, and Michael still hasn't put it together yet?

"What did you brother say? I know how protective he is of you."

Luke and I look at each other as he bites his lip nervously.

"We haven't told him yet." I mumble ever so quietly.

"What?" My dad asks.

"We haven't told him yet." I say louder this time.

"Seriously? And he hasn't put it together yet?" He asks and I shake my head.

"Wow, for an overprotective brother he's pretty oblivious." My father laughs. He's taking this whole thing pretty well.

"Luke and I aren't that obvious, dad." I roll my eyes.

"Are you kidding?" You can't take your eyes off each other. It's almost as if you always want to know where the other one is. You could be across the room from each other and somehow end up beside one another within minutes. It's like you two gravitate towards each other."

I look at Luke and smile. My dad picked up on all this within less than an hour of us being here. It's nice to know other people notice our relationship, even if Michael can't.

"You're going to tell him soon though right?" He asks us.

"Yeah, we plan on telling him when we get back." I say.

"Why? Why not just tell him here? That way I can see his reaction when you tell him." My dad laughs.

"Dad!" I swat his arm.

"Well I'll also be here to make sure he doesn't kill your little boyfriend here." He says.

"He won't kill him, dad. Sometimes I feel like Michael's dating Luke more than I am." I giggle.

"You, you better treat my little girl right. Because if you don't, you won't only have to answer to me but you'll have to answer to her brother too. Best friend or not, I know my son. He won't hesitate to kick your ass." My father says.

"Okay dad, that's enough." I warn.

"Understood sir. But I have no intention of hurting May. She means the world to me." Luke says as he puts his hand over mine on the table.

"I know. I can tell. But still, you better treat her like the princess she is." My father says as he stands as walks over to the fridge to get a drink.

"Dad." I whine in embarrassment.

"I intend to, sir." Luke says.

"Luke what did I say about calling me sir."

"Sorry sir-I mean James." Luke says and my father laughs.

"You're a good kid, Luke. I can tell. You have my blessing, or whatever it's called." My father laughs as he extends his hand out to shake Luke's hand.

"Wait, so you're okay with me moving to Sydney then?" I ask.

"If that's what makes you happy then of course. And as long as you're not living with your mother, then i'm fine with it. Your brother needs you there. And I can manage just fine here. Besides, i'm not alone. I have Judy." My dad smiles.

"It's really good to see you happy dad." I smile.

"You too, kiddo." My dad says as he hugs me.

"But no funny business since you'll be living together." My dad tells Luke and I.

"Understood." Luke says.

"Alright, i'm going to go to the bathroom and then we'll go to that Chinese restaurant that you love so much." My dad says as he walks into the bathroom and shuts the door behind him.

"Well he took that well." Luke says.

I exhale in relief and put my head on his chest.

"Yeah. Much better than I expected him to. Thank god." I say.

Luke leans in to kiss me when someone grabs ahold of his shoulder and spins him around.

"Hey." The person says as they connect their fist to Luke's jaw, knocking him onto the ground.

Michael.

A/N OMGG WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK!! I'm so sorry I left it on a cliffhanger but i'll have another chapter out soon!

Please vote & comment your thoughts. It only takes a second and makes a world of difference. x