213 days till graduation. 213 days till my life begins.

It's been 3 days since I've gone to school. I did go to work the day before though. I was worried I'd be given a pink slip if I take a day off on my third day. I met Michael's dad. Kyle Hamish.
He is a nice man. Extremely nice when you compare him to Mr. Darcy. But then, I guess even Satan is nice when you compare him to Mr. Darcy.

Oh and Michael didn't show up for work. Again. When your parents are the owners I guess its ok? Or does it have something to do with me?

Other than the 3 hours I spent working at the café, I haven't really left my room.

Hiding from the world and my problems is exactly what I shouldn't be doing but is exactly what I'm doing.

My mum did pop in a couple of times to remind me to eat. I even told her what happened at Travis's house and she said everything she's already said numerous times before. How dad loved me, it was never my fault, it never had anything to do with me etc etc etc. But after the way Mr. Darcy said those things, I didn't really believe what my mum had to say.

Today marks one month since Travis and I started dating. I wonder if he knows.
After I ran out of his house the other day I just ran to a bus stop and got the first bus home. I didn't give Travis a chance to say anything, I just needed to get away from there as far as I could.
My mum says he did come over to my house a couple of times since but she didn't let him in saying that I needed some space.
This is why I love my mum.
He's also called me about 20 times and sent around 50 messages. I haven't replied to any of the messages, neither have I called him back.

I just can't do it. Not right now anyway.

Today is Friday and I have to be at the café in about an hour so I start making my way there.

I spot Jordan and Finn with some other guy on my way to the café. As I see them, I pretend to be staring at some bags in a shop and I hope they didn't see me.

A conversation with Travis's best friends is not something I look forward to.

A few seconds later I hear Jordan screaming my name.

Bloody hell.
It's like nothing wants to go my way these days.

I turn towards the voice and see them crossing the road and walking towards me.

"Oh hey guys, fancy seeing you here!" I say, giving them my best fake smile.

"This is Eric. He's a new student at our school. Our new nigga." Jordon then introduces me to the person they're with and we exchange pleasantries.

"Where have you been these past few days? Trav has been going out of his mind." Finn then speaks.

"Well, um, I haven't been keeping very well that's all." I say, hoping they'd believe me.

"Then why haven't you responded to any of his calls or texts? He has been so worried. He just hasn't been himself these past three days. The way he turned up to school on Wednesday was just, just, I don't even now. He's never looked that way the ten years we've known him." Jordan then says.

"It wasn't hard to figure out what or rather whom the reason for his state is. He searched frantically for you at lunch. We had to speak to your friends and everything. They didn't reveal much though." Finn adds. I'm pretty sure he was happy about that considering he got must have gotten a chance to talk to Anne.

"He kept going on about how today is your one month anniversary. I mean who even remembers stuff like that? Anyways, he went on and on about how he just needs to see you today." Finn further adds.

He remembered.

It now seems like they're blaming me for the unhappiness of their best mate. I mean, I guess it is my fault but I just feel bombarded now. I don't even know what to reply to them.
Also, if their purpose of telling me all this is to make me feel guilty then they have succeeded. It wasn't really Travis's fault was it?

Damn.

"I'm sorry guys but I just needed some time alone. I'll call Travis as soon as I can. I promise. I got to go now. I work in a café down in The Lanes and I'm getting late. I'll catch you guys later." I say even thought I have 45 minutes until my shift begins. I just don't have anything else to say to them and neither do I know how to justify myself.

I finally make my way to the café very slowly and when I enter the café, I see that Michael has finally decided to show up.

"Well hello there Louisa Edwards!" He says rather cheerfully. Too cheerfully for my liking.

"Well hello there Michael Hamish!" I say with equal fake enthusiasm.

"I've missed you too Lou." He then says giving me an adorable smile. "I'm extremely sorry for the way I acted last Sunday. It's just that, I know Travis and I'm not a massive fan of his. Or his father for that matter and so I just snapped and took it out on you. I'm sorry." He adds.

The way he said 'father' spiked my curiosity. When he said it, his voice was definitely lined with hate.
I wouldn't blame him.

"Oh. It's all right. How do you know him anyways?" I ask.

I never really got around to asking Travis after that night.

"Well, he's kind of like a person who is unfortunately like 50% biologically related to me. I have no idea how biology and the splitting of DNA works but like I guess you can say that he's half related to me." He rambles.

What. I didn't really understand what he just said and my look of utter confusion probably says it all.

"This is not something I'm proud of ok? Something I hate actually but unfortunately Travis Darcy is my half-brother. You see, I was born Michael Noel Darcy. When my mum married Kyle about 10 years ago, I took up his name. Travis's fuckface father is unfortunately my sperm donor. The dickhead cheated on my mum and hence you have Travis from the bimbo he cheated on her with." He says finally explaining it all.

Woah.

Ok. This is kind of weird.

How does a man like Mr. Darcy or 'fuckface' as Michael nicely put it, have two sons who look like angels and are the nicest people you'll ever meet?

"Travis is a really lovely person ok? Why do you hate him?" I ask.

"Well I guess he is kind of nice. But he got the better end of the deal. He got a dad, got the money and was pampered all his life and all that. My mum struggled for nine years. Having even three meals a day was difficult. Did fuckface even try to help her? No. Left her for the bimbo, the moment he found out that the bimbo was pregnant. But then my mum met Kyle and that guy is a saint. He's more of a dad to me than fuckface ever was and ever will be." He further explains.

I guess he has the right to kind of hate Travis doesn't he? As I'm trying to process it all I hear the bell ring at the door, signaling the arrival of a customer.

"Welcome to 'The Little..." Michael starts off, like his mum and dad greet the customers but he stops abruptly. I stop contemplating what he told me seconds earlier and look up at him. His face now holds a deep frown.

I then look at the customer.

"Hello there brother." Travis says.

Michael does not say anything but I see him clenching his hands at his sides.

Travis then looks at me and comes, no, rushes over to the side of the counter where I'm standing and hugs me tight. He then kisses me and the kiss lasts a couple of seconds longer than a kiss in public should. I'm guess Michael and not the fact that he hasn't seen me in three days is the cause of that.

And I'm guessing I have Jordon and Finn to thank for. They are most probably the ones who told him I'd be here.

"Lou, I'm so sorry about the other night. I truly am." He says frantically, still holding on to me.

"Umm, Travis, I'm working. I just need some more time to think about it all ok I just..."

He doesn't let me finish.

"I Love You Lou." He says. "The three days without you made me realize it. I've been going absolutely mental without you. It's been hell Lou. I don't care what my father says. If he doesn't approve of me dating you, then so be it, because I'm utterly, hopelessly, truly, madly, deeply in love with you Louisa Edwards."

Wait.

What?