"Wait, what?" my dad asked, sounding confused.
"Don't make me repeat everything again," I groaned.
It was good to hear his voice again. With everything going on, I hadn't had a chance to ring and apologise. He had tried calling but I hadn't answered. It was never the right time and I still felt a bit worked up about the whole situation.
But now that was over as I had bigger things to worry about now. And I had missed him.
"Is he okay?" he asked with concern.
"Yeah, a bit shaken up and he has some injuries, but he'll live."
"Are you okay taking care of him? It sounds quite serious."
"Who else is going to do it?" I asked.
There was a bitter tone to my voice but it wasn't because I had to look after Xavier. He means a lot to me and I don't mind one bit looking out for him. I just wanted dad to realise that it was a big responsibility for me, considering I still had to worry about school and homework.
Sometimes I think he forgets I'm still actually young.
He was silent for a few moments. "Maybe I should come home."
My heart stuttered to a stop in my chest. I gripped the phone tightly.
"What?" I croaked.
Excitement and hope swelled inside my chest and a goofy grin spread across my face. It would make everything so much easier if he was here.
"Yeah, I might see if I can come down for the weekend and just check on you guys."
Those feelings shattered into a million pieces.
"Oh." My voice immediately became cold.
"How does that sound?"
"Yeah, great," I muttered, a sour expression on my face.
"What's wrong?"
"Just for a weekend?" I spat, again gripping the phone. "How about for good?"
"I'm on a contract, Faith, you know that."
Making a face, I rolled onto my stomach, before pressing my face into my pillow. I wanted to scream into it.
"Yeah, how could I forget?"
Maybe I haven't moved on as much as I thought I had.
He sighed. "Only a few more months."
"Come on, dad." I whined. "Just come home. We need you."
"I'll talk to my boss."
"Really?" I asked, unable to void the hope from my voice.
"Yeah, I'm sure a weekend wouldn't be too much of a stretch."
"Ugh," I groaned angrily. "Whatever. See ya."
I hung up and threw my phone aggressively onto the bed.
How dense can he be?
"Why does talking to your dad always end in you throwing your phone?" Xavier asked, shuffling towards me.
"Because he is being a moron."
I peered up at Xavier as he slowly entered my room. He was covered in scratches and bruises. His arm was wrapped in a brace. He hadn't been able to shower properly for the past two days, so he looked and smelled not the best.
But hey, he had been through a lot. So I had to cut him some slack.
"What now?"
"Can't right now," I said through gritted teeth. "I'm too angry."
He chuckled, before wincing as he sat at the end of my bed.
"You need to go to school." he said quietly, not looking at me.
"No I don't," I argued. "Who would look after you?"
"I can take care of myself."
"No you can't."
"You're going to get too behind," he pressed, finally looking into my eyes. He winced again as he moved to get comfy.
"I don't want to leave you alone. What if Andrew pays you a visit?"
"We just have to take that risk."
"That's not something I'm willing to do," I barked, folding my arms.
"Faith."
"Xavier."
He sighed as I challenged him back.
"I don't know what to do, then."
We sat in silence for a few moments. I glanced at my phone as dad began calling me again.
"I have an idea."
***
"Are you serious?" Xavier hissed.
"Yeah?" I said back, my eyes never leaving the main installing the security system on my front door.
"We don't need security."
"I think we do," I whispered back, finally dragging my eyes to meet his. "If anyone tries to force entry into the house, the alarm will go off. I will get a text sent straight to my phone and then I can just get here as quick as I can. Probably a baseball bat with me."
"I'm not that weak and defenseless!" he snapped back helplessly.
"I know you're not, but you also have a dislocated shoulder and a cracked rib. You can't put up a fight like you usually could, okay? And besides, this would just be good to have anyway, considering we don't have a guardian around."
My first original thought was to ask my aunty to come and babysit Xavier, but apparently she left for Italy yesterday. So much for having a parental figure "just around the corner", which was one of dad's arguments when he brought up the idea of leaving.
Xavier sighed, shaking his head at me. "Fine. But you have to go to school now, okay?"
"Yes sir," I saluted back.
He rolled his eyes, before grabbing a mint slice biscuit from the counter.
It didn't take all that long to set up the security system. Well, not as long as I thought it would, anyway. He also set up a few cameras around some of the other doors. Which makes me feel better.
"Your dad's going to think you're nuts when he gets his bank statements," Xavier said, popping another biscuit into his mouth.
I shrugged. "If he had bothered to stick around, we probably wouldn't need it."
"How much is this all costing anyway?"
"Let's just say, it's lucky dad left for a good job," I muttered, pinching the next biscuit straight out of Xavier's hand.
"Hey!"
"Hey yeah?" I smirked back, taking a bite.
"Okay, all done Miss," the guy said gruffly, stepping off his ladder. "Anything else I can do for you?"
"No thanks, that's all good." I smiled.
He just nodded and began packing up his equipment. Just as the door shut behind him, I jumped, not realising Xavier had moved.
His lips were pressed against my ear. His teeth grazed my earlobe and a shiver ran down my spine.
"I have something to ask you," he whispered, his tongue brushing my skin.
I closed my eyes as his hand that wasn't in a sling, ran down the side of my body. I titled my head back, my lips automatically parting.
What was he saying again?
Finally able to speak, I rested my head against his chest. "What's that?"
"I was wondering..." he murmured, trailing off. "If you'd like to be my girlfriend?"
Well, I wasn't expecting that.
***
"Have you been in the land of no mobile phones?" Brooklyn frowned at me, the second I walked into school.
She had her arms across her chest as she glared at me.
"Sorry, I've been kind of busy," I replied. "I should have called."
"Yeah, you should have," she said, rolling her eyes. "But I guess I can forgive you."
"Thanks, you're so kind."
She stuck her tongue out at me.
"So, I have something to tell you-"
"Oh my God," a new voice gushed, effectively cutting me off. "Have you seen him? Faith you never even told us! You're so selfish!"
"Huh?" I turned to look at Olivia, a girl that I hung out with a bit. It was mainly just Brooklyn and I, but we were still apart of a group. And Alex, if he decided to actually show up to school.
"You thought you could just have one and no one could have the other?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said flatly.
"Oh shit," Brooklyn cussed and I stared at her in surprise.
She hardly swore and if she did, she usually then apologised to everyone who had heard her. Obviously that's not the same for me.
"Okay, what am I missing?" I asked slowly, staring at the both of them.
"Don't overreact, okay?" Brooklyn suddenly said, gripping my hand. "Just breathe and do that counting to ten thing that you do."
"I'm confused."
"Oh shit he's coming over here."
"Who?" I hissed, leaning closer to her. "Jacob?"
"You wish," Brooklyn whispered and Olivia just looked at us like we had three heads.
"Why would I wish-"
"Faith!" a sort of familiar voice said.
I hadn't heard the voice much before, but I would know it from anyway.
My heart clenched inside my chest. I felt my legs turn to jelly.
No... This could not be happening.
Slowly, I turned and stared into the jade-green eyes of a boy I'd grown to despise, pretty quickly. Which is strange, because my initial reaction is to reach out and kiss him. Until I took a second look.
My throat felt dry. I grimaced, staring in horror as he had our school uniform on.
"Chase."