Song: You Are The Reason by Calum Scott

Chapter Twelve: No need to go all angry wolfy on me

It all happened so fast.

You're a dolt.

I know.

I was behind him when my phone started ringing, and now I had a different reason to spill my drink on him.

To distract him from you?

Exactly.

You're still a dolt.

I know.

He was turning around, when I 'tripped' and 'accidentally' spilled my drink on him.

"What the hell?!" He exclaimed as he stood up immediately.

Should I run?

That wasn't part of the plan.

But he seems so angry.

You should have thought of that before you decided to be a dolt.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to." 

At least, you didn't swear.

"You are so going to pay for this."

Stop yelling! You're causing a scene.

No, you are. You caused him to cause a scene.

"Avery?" Leyla seemed to finally notice I was the cause of her soaked date.

How was this idea supposed to work again?

Dolt.

Improve your vocabulary.

It's your vocabulary.

Oh.

Halfwit.

I grabbed a paper towel and began patting his back to soak the drink from his shirt. He just glared at me.

At least now, he won't notice the phone ringing in your back pocket.

Told you it was a solid plan.

I'm not supporting it.

"That's not helping." He said through gritted teeth.

"I'm actually going to work now, so you know...." I lifted his hand and used it to hold the paper towel I had just put on his shirt.

I started backing away slowly.

"You work here, right? Let's see what your manager has to say about this."

"Come on Axel." Leyla touched his shoulder. "She's my friend. She said it was an accident. It's not like she'd do it on purpose, right?" She turned to me and smiled.

"Of course not. I'm not a monster." I laughed awkwardly.

Monster.

Not helping.

"Is she going to pay for the dry cleaning of the shirt? Can she even afford that?" He scoffed.

"I can so afford it. But I'm not going to pay for it. It was an accident. I know you're angry at me, but there's no need to throw my money conditions in my face. It's not nice. You don't even know if I'm rich and I just love waitressing. And don't bother complaining to my boss because right now," I gestured to my outfit. I hadn't worn the uniform shirt yet. "I'm a customer."

He glared at me.

"Axel, she said she's sorry. Don't overreact."

"Yeah. Listen to your girlfriend."

Keep your mouth shut.

You're supposed to do that for me.

I am, am I?

I just said so.

"She's not my girlfriend." He said through gritted teeth.

"Ok. Ok. I'm sorry. I didn't know. No need to go all angry wolfy on me. Thanks."

"You're not helping." Leyla jeered at me.

"You're right. I should just leave."

"Yes. Please go." Axel reprimanded as he tried to prevent the shirt from sticking to his chest.

"I could show you the bathroom if you want."

"I can do that just fine."

"Ok." I said backing away.

I went to the backroom and quickly pulled the uniform shirt over mine and tied my apron around my waist. I was going to end up waitressing anyways. I decided I'd spend my remaining 3 minutes in peace. At least, nothing and no one can disturb me here.

My phone rang.

Why do you always jinx it?

I don't know!

Axel.

Don't pick it.

What if it's important?

You just saw him. What could be so important?

I'm gonna pick it.

No.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Ok, so yes. I should pick it.

Without any more thoughts, I picked up the phone.

"Where are you?" He growled over the phone.

"Woah woah! Slow your roll. Is that how to thank your tutor for all her help?"

"Thank you? You want me to thank you?"

"Exactly."

"You missed our lesson on Friday. You ran out of the one on Saturday. You ignored all my texts and calls. You avoided me throughout today. And just when I thought I should come to your house and demand for answers, I hear you went on a date with Zane freaking Rivers. And you want me to thank you?" He literally yelled over the phone. I wonder if he's still in the restaurant. I peeped out, but he seemed to have gone already.

"Well, when you put it like that....." I trailed off.

"Charvi." He growled.

"All right. All right. I'm sorry. No need to go all angry wolfy on me."

"What did you just say?"

Oops.

Oops indeed.

"I'm sorry?"

"No, no. After that."

"No need to go all angry wolfy on me?"

Why would you repeat it?

I don't know. I panicked.

"That sounds strangely familiar. I've heard it today."

"Uhh.... Of course you have. Have you been living under a rock? Didn't you watch that funny meme where Jay Z growled angrily and Beyoncé was like 'Sheesh! No need to go all wolfy on me'? Everyone's watching it."

"Jay Z did that?"

"Yup."

"And Beyoncé said that?"

"Exactly."

"I'll go search for it."

No. No. Don't do that.

"You do that."

"I'm on my way to your house."

"Why don't you just stop a block away instead? Cos you sure won't find me in mine."

"You're still on that date." He bit out.

"I was never on a date."

"Did you or did you not leave the school premises with him?"

I snorted. "Is this an interrogation? I'm not doing this. I don't owe you anything."

He ignored my previous statement. "Where are you?"

"I don't have to tell you."

"Yes. You do."

"No. I don't. You're not my father. You're not my boyfriend. You're not my brother. We're not even friends, so I don't have or want to tell you anything."

He didn't reply.

"Are you still there?"

After another few moments of silence. "You're right. I'm nothing to you so you don't have to tell me anything."

"Exactly. Now, I just want to apologize for ignoring your calls and messages about the lesson. I just wasn't ready to deal with that."

"No need to apologize."

Something's up. There's something wrong with his tone.

"Really? That's great. So how's your part of the deal coming up?"

"Since we're on that topic, have you ever noticed how Leyla's eyes sparkle?"

"Leyla? My Leyla?"

"Yes. My Leyla."

His Leyla?

"Is she with you?"

"I was just with her then I told her to go home, but I think I'm gonna go meet her now and give her an early birthday present."

"Oh my God! That's great! What is it?"

"Me." And that was all he said before he cut the call.

Him?

I know right. What does that even mean? Someone's had a little too much to drink.

I told you not to pick that call.

Well, I wouldn't be human if I didn't make mistakes every now and then, now would I?

*******************************

I always knew happiness was short-lived. I just didn't know it was this short. Walking into my house to meet a smiling Anastasia wasn't helping the uneasy feeling in my stomach from seeing my dad this morning. Because if she was here, he was too.

I should have guessed as much seeing an unfamiliar car out front. Why does the world hate me?

"Hello Nova."

"What happened to Charity?"

"She died." 

I gave her a look of disbelief and she nudged my shoulder.

She actually just touched you.

I know right.

"Just teasing. Just teasing. So, how was your date with Zane?"

Please pull her legs.

Fine.

"Not that it's any of your business, but we had so much fun."

"Stay away from my boyfriend!" She exclaimed.

"That'll be easy." I shrugged. "I mean how hard can it be to stay away from someone that doesn't exist?"

She seemed like she needed a little more time to think on that so I cut her thoughts short.

"What are you doing here?"

Take a guess.

"Well, I was in that tiny living space of yours and I heard the front door open so I decided to come and welcome you."

"I didn't mean my entryway, I meant what are you doing in my house?"

"Didn't your mum tell you? The Brooks family is having dinner together."

Hello.

At your service, Madame.

Please, can I order a main meal of peace? No-Anastasia, please.

Of course, Madame. Anything else?

Oh yeah. How about a side meal of uh, I dunno, a different surname?!!!

Of course, Madame.

Perfect. When is it going to get here?

Let me calculate.

*A moment of silence.*

In about, uh, a million years.

Perfect. Just perfect.

Fingers snapped in front of my face, bringing me back to reality.

"Hello? Could you get any weirder? Who just stares off into the distance like that?"

"Some of us do. The rest, people like you, can't."

"Why not?"

"You can't understand. The part of your body that is supposed to help with that particular function got clouded with too many irrelevant poppycock and has now burst and sublimed."

"Huh?"

"Exactly." I said as I patted her shoulder and walked passed her, leaving her in utter confusion.

This is going to be a long night.

I walked into the living room where a small boy was sitting staring intently at the iPad he was holding. 

He has a stepson too.

I hope he didn't inherit his sister's lack of common sense.

I hope he didn't inherit any of her qualities in fact.

Except her irritating beauty. Her infuriating glowing black hair and her annoying flawless skin.

The oxymorons are a little over the top, don't you think?

It looked like he was watching Power Rangers.

"The movie or the series?"

He paused it and his head snapped up to look at me. He had full black curly hair and big circular black glasses. The glasses slipped on his nose and he used a finger to push it up.

"Hi." He waved shyly. "I'm Aaron. I'm 8. You must be Nova."

"In the flesh."

He just stared at me.

"I prefer Charvi, by the way."

He just nodded.

"Am I supposed to tell you my age too? Is that like a greeting thing where you come from?"

He giggled. "I come from America. Just another state. I just felt like saying my age since people usually guess it wrongly."

"Older or younger?"

"Younger."

"So the movie or series?"

"It's the 2017 movie."

"Tell me what was going on before I came."

He gave me an incredulous look. "You watch Power Rangers?" 

"No. But I'm curious." I sat down on the couch. 

Stop stalling.

I'm not stalling.

You so are.

I'm not.

Then go into that kitchen and face your dad and his new wife.

I need to find Reveka first and apologize to her that she found out about his new family this way. Where's she anyways?

How should I know? I see with your eyes. Now off to the kitchen you go.

"You know what, Aaron? I'm going to the kitchen or dining room or whatever to greet your mum and dad, then you'll be able to tell me all about the Power Rangers movie you're watching."

"Okay." He nodded, seeming a little disappointed.

I stood up from the couch and headed towards the kitchen, just to be stopped by an annoyingly familiar voice.

"I see you've met Aaron." I met my dad's unsettling smile. "He's quite the chatterbox."

I smiled widely at him. "I wonder where he gets it from."

He laughed. "Hello Nova."

Hello? Don't you hello me! Especially after the uncovered truth I just found out about your reckless days. I haven't spoken to you in two years. And I remember vividly, the last time we spoke, you were showering Reveka and me with gifts and chocolate because you felt bad mum was sending us to summer camp even though it wasn't as bad as you suspected, but you never got to hear about it because you weren't there when we returned. So how about we start this conversation with an apology? DON'T YOU AGREE?

But I didn't say all that no matter how badly I wanted to yell it in his face.

"Hello father. Am I even allowed to call you that?"

His smile dropped. 

Good. 

"Just because I'm not your mother's husband anymore doesn't mean I'm not your father."

"Since she's the one that stuck around, that's exactly what it means."

"I'm assuming that's why you called me Nicholas this morning."

"You assume correctly."

Reveka's voice cut us short. "You're finally here. Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?"

She came from down the stairs and joined us in the corridor.

"Nora. You've finally come down."

She smiled. "One of my family members was too occupied entertaining unfamiliar guests and the only other one I have around is finally here. I was bound to come down."

"Come on girls. There's no reason to be upset. Divorces happens all the time."

He's joking, right? Right?!!!

It seems you only want to hear one answer to the question.

"This wasn't a divorce because you didn't only cut ties with your wife. This was the complete abandonment of your children." Reveka butted in icily.

A wave of sadness washed over his features, but I didn't care about that. "We can work this out, girls."

"We'll see about that." Reveka commented softly and dragged me down the corridor and into the kitchen.

More like the battlefield.

I prefer warzone. It has a nice ring to it.

**************************

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