Aris's POV

Rap music blasted through the speakers as Braydon and some other guys and I prattled about cars and other topics. Our voices were strained from shouting at the top of our lungs in order to be heard over the music. The night seemed to be everlasting, and I was having a blast. Suddenly, my phone rang. I slid my hand into my pocket and patted around for my phone. I pulled it out and excused myself.

     "Hey?"

     "It's Mikayla," Mikayla sighed, "I have a bit of a dilemma."

     I let out a heavy sigh and rubbed my temples. The tone of her voice frightened me and I was convinced that something bad happened to one of the kids. I closed my eyes and exhaled once more before replying.

      "What's up?" I answered, attempting to keep my cool.

      "Someone showed up today at the door," She began.

        "Oh God, was it Reese? Shit, I know I said I won't be talking to her now or for a long time, but I gave her my address a few months back to see each other during breaks. I had no idea she would actually come over."

      "Aris," She muttered, "Reese isn't who came over."

        "Then who was it?" I asked, my heart pounding with each breath I took. Knowing it could be anyone from my past caused me to feel sick to my stomach.

      "Your father."

      My eyes widened and I nearly dropped my phone out of my hand. I stepped backwards onto the curb and scurried to the bench. Despite the smokers beside me who were giving me dirty looks, I sat down, a sense of incapability to walk or speak anymore.

     "You're kidding," I spat, "there is no way in hell that he would show up at my doorstep now if he hasn't shown his face in over a decade."

      "Aris, I'm not joking," Mikayla replied in monotone, indicating that she in fact was serious.

     I was still dumbfounded that my very own father would show up on my doorstep. Although I was not sure of the reasons, I knew that he still came to my house. I laughed sarcastically to myself for a moment as I thought back to my childhood....

The door is shut like it always should be. Ever since mom found out about the whole me-and-my-siblings-being-awake incident, the door was locked. My sister Lizzie and I were being forced to urinate and defecate in a bucket. I was embarrassed to have to "do my business" in front of my sister, but Dad made it clear that there was no way I could escape my room.

      "Don't look at me Lizzie," I urged as I unbuttoned my pants, "I'm serious!"

      "Aris, I'm not going to look at you! Now stop being a wuss and go," She replied, covering her face with her bed sheets.

      I went, but it was uncomfortable. Knowing I would have to live with this until I moved out of this stupid house was making me frustrated. The minute one of us placed a foot in the room, we were obligated to stay in it with no food for hours. Mom brought us water an hour ago, so I still had water to drink from. On the downside, I had to ration the water in order to have some throughout the night. Even if my parents heard the floorboards creak, they would sprint to the room. Because Lizzie and I are the youngest, we have to stay in this ridiculous locked up room.

     "I hate this!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, hoping Mom and Dad could hear me.

      "Aris! Do you know what you just did? You're so stupid! Dad's going to beat us!" Lizzie cries, her eyebrows scrunch together and her eyes glisten with tears.

    Suddenly, I hear a door open and I jump a bit. Dad's footsteps echo through the house. If my older brothers were asleep before, they definitely are not now.

      "What the hell did you just say?" Dad asks, beginning to unlock the door.

     Lizzie shoots a glance at me. Her big blue eyes are wider than ever and her eyes speak entirely for her. She begs me to not say another word. I lock eyes with her, but then turn away.

     "We don't deserve this," I mutter to her.

      Lizzie bites her lip and glances down at her trembling hands.

       "I said, this is stupid and I hate it!" I shout back.

        "Oh, you little...." He began, muttering the rest under his breath.
   
     He preys the door open and stomps over to my bed. He hovers over me, his beady eyes keeping firm contact with me. He grabs my wrist and yanks me out of my bed. Before exiting the room, he releases his grip and turns toward Lizzie and walks over to her.

     "You're lucky you didn't open your mouth or you'd be in the same position as your dumb brother." He states with a shake of his head.

     "Don't hurt him." Lizzie mumbles, anger written across her forehead.

     "I would shut your mouth." He scolds, pointing a finger at her.

      Lizzie shrivels up into a ball and hides under the covers. Dad stifles a laugh and makes his way back over to me.

     "You're coming outside with me." He demands as he drags me to the kitchen, despite my reluctance.
     
~

     "Momma!" I wail, cradling my injured arm, "Momma!"

     "Crying for your mom isn't going to do squat. I'd shut up." He offers, taking a long sip of some sort of alcoholic beverage.

      "Where is she? Momma wouldn't hurt me." I state, trying to ignore the pain in my legs, arms and ribs.

      "She's sleeping." Dad chuckles, "You've got to deal with me."

       I manage to stand up and when dad looks away for a split second, I run through the open screen door. I sprint to their room despite the piercing pain.

     "Momma!" I shout once more, "Momma!"

     I pounce forcefully onto the bed and shake my mom in hopes of her waking up.

      "You get your ass back out here right now!" Dad screams in pure anger.

      Mom slowly wakes up and notices the blood and bruises on my body. Tears form in her eyes as she realizes who did it and what happened. I begin to cry and my mother holds me in her arms. She whispers in my ear and tells me I'll be okay. Unexpectedly, dad walks in with his hands folded over his chest.

      "That stupid son of ours is a complete idiot. He thinks having to take a piss in a bucket and having a lock on the door is a such a disaster. You kids are such slobs and honestly, Corrina, you're a worthless woman. I'm getting out of this hell hole." He proclaimed as he scavenged through his drawers. He pulls out each drawer individually, miscellaneous items begin to fly everywhere.

     I snuggle closer to my mom as I watch my dad chuck his items carelessly onto the floor. I can practically feel his anger inside me.

      "You all are never gonna see my fucking face again!" He bellowed into the night as he slammed the car door shut and drove off in the distance.

     I was pulled out of my trance after hearing Mikayla's voice once more.

    "I'm on my way," I stated absentmindedly, not even knowing what Mikayla said to me on the phone.
       
~

"Where is he?" I asked with desperation ringing in my voice.

"He passed out on the couch ten minutes ago," Mikayla replied, her voice trailing off.

I stood stick straight and slid my hands into my pockets. I inhaled and exhaled and scanned my home. Everything appeared to be in its designated spot and the kitchen was spotless. It appeared as if no one had been here in ages, even though there were two young kids living in the home. If one were to walk in the house at that moment, they would have been convinced that nothing was occurring. They would not have believed me if I leaned over and whispered, my drunk father is on that couch right now; the man who once abused me and demeaned my family is right here. All of this seemed like a dream and it was a hard to grasp on the fact that it was most definitely real.

"Are you letting him stay the night?" I spat, my hands crossed over my chest.

"Well," Mikayla started, "what was I supposed to do? He came to the door drunk and stumbling over every word he spoke. We even had a very in depth conversation," Mikayla informed me as a misty haze formed in her eyes.

"What the hell are we going to do when the kids wake up?" I offered, "Dad's back home and look, there's our seemingly sick grandpa lying on the couch. I mean, Mikayla, do you realize what precautions we are going to need to take? He was abusive, Mikayla. For all I know, he will wake up and start throwing punches at me, you, or even one of the kids. Would you want that? No, of course you wouldn't. Think about yourself for a minute and just stop caring for every single person who appears in your life. You can't always let people in like this. That man is dangerous and you. . . you don't know what you just did," I scolded, stomping off into my room, leaving Mikayla standing in the doorway completely speechless.

"Look," Mikayla spoke, interjecting the silence between us, "if this matters to you so much that the kids don't see him, I will wake them up right now. They've only been asleep for a good hour and a half. They will be okay. I will take the kids to a nearby hotel if that is what it takes."

Mikayla slowly stepped closer towards me; at this point, she was standing only inches away from me. I could make out the small freckles on her cheeks and the stripes of golden lingering in her eyes. Her eyes followed mine as we shared a moment. We both leaned in, our hearts beating to the same rhythm, and kissed. A thousand fireworks exploded beside us and we came in contact. Mikayla released herself from me for a moment and gazed into my eyes.

      "I don't know why this always happens, but whenever I see you, I instantly fall in love."

~

      "Momma why are we up this early?" Cameron groaned as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.

      Mikayla frantically raced around the room grabbing an extra pair of underwear, pants, and socks.

      "We just need to get out of the house for one night that's all." Mikayla replied as she stuffed the clothes into a duffle bag.

     Mikayla sighed once she heard Rose's soft cry from the other room. She placed the duffle bag on the ground and ordered Cameron to get on his shoes.

     "Someone's a bit cranky," I noted, rocking Rose in my arms as she cried, "I hate waking people up like this."

    "I can tell," Mikayla answered.

     Mikayla's eyes were filled with worry and pain for her crying daughter. She never wanted to wake them up, but she knew it was the right choice. As she did earlier, she rummaged through the drawers and pulled out necessary items for the hotel stay. She picked up Rose from me and placed her in her car seat.

       "We will be back," She whispered gently, "Now, hurry before Cameron sees you. Go get some sleep."

      I nodded and jogged into my room which had been embellished with Mikayla's items All which seemed to lay on the ground in sporadic patterns. I smirked to myself and slipped into my bed. Mikayla's perfume seemed to be permanently stuck to the pillows and sheets. The smell was comforting and made it seem as if she was right beside me. I wanted to see her beautiful face, but I had lost the kids and her for the night because of my father. Falling asleep that night was one of the hardest obstacles I had to face. I tossed and turned for hours thinking of what my father might do or say when he would wake up in the morning. All of the unknown was driving me crazy. All I wanted was to hug Mikayla and my kids. I didn't give a damn about my dad. I wanted my family, my true, loyal family.

~

"Aris?" Dad muttered, his eyes squinting in result of the sunlight beaming in through the windows.

"What now, Dad?" I answered snidely.

"Why the hell are you talking to me like that? I'm your dad, Aristotle, show some damn respect."

Oh the memories of his potty mouth. That man can't say one sentence without swearing.

"Why do you expect me to show you respect if you haven't been in my life since I was a kid?" I retorted, folding my arms over my chest.

He glared at me and sat up slowly in his chair. His nearly-gray hair was disheveled in result of sleeping on a couch. He had a pot belly and jeans that were dirty and worn down. He looked nearly identical to what he did when I was a kid. Honestly, his similar appearance was frightening, but because I had much more confidence, I was able to stand up to him.

"What the hell do you mean 'because'," He grunted as he adjusted himself, "because I'm your father, that's why."

"That's no excuse. You know, dad, why are you here?" I questioned, changing the subject.

Knowing my father, he would have continued to circle around the question. He never came to close to the answer or to far away. He replied in a certain way that would keep you guessing whether he would give more or not. He was very reluctant like an uncertain moth debating if it should go to towards the light or not.

"I was taking a stroll and some dumb ass walked up to me and informed me that my own damn son has two children. TWO," He shouted, emphasizing the last part of his statement.

"Why do you care? You told me the day you walked away that you didn't care about us. You didn't want to involve yourself in our lives. I can't believe thought you were actually going to apologize to me. Instead you blame me for starting my own life without you. What about Josh? He has a daughter and you're not finding his address and bombarding him with questions. Just get out of my house." I replied, my voice heightening.

My father remained seated on the couch, his gaze focused on the play pen in the corner of the room.

"How old are they?" He asked, his voice now soft.

"Get out of my house," My teeth were clenched as I spoke.

"JUST TELL ME HOW OLD YOUR DAMN KIDS ARE!" He yelled, causing me to take a step back.

"My oldest is four. Youngest is one. Now get out of my house. Clearly you have no interest in making amends with me, so I'd get out of the house if I were you."

"You know what, Aris? Fuck you, fuck you," He pointed a finger at my chest and stomped towards the door, "and this time, for sure, you're never seeing my face again.

I watched as he unlocked the front door. He didn't even look back at me, but simply made his way swiftly out of the house. I stood there feeling completely dumbfounded by what had just happened. I inhaled heavily and closed my eyes, testing myself to see if this was really all just a dream.