When We Meet Again

Alexandra's POV
“I-I can't do this anymore, Terry. You have to go,” my mom's voice drifted into my bedroom from the lounge. This was why I wished we lived in an actual house instead of a tiny apartment – then maybe I wouldn't be forced to listen to the constant arguing.
“I have nowhere to go!” Dad retaliated, and I heard a door slam, or perhaps it was his fist smashing into the wall. Wouldn't be the first time.
“Move in with her!” Mom screamed, and I sighed, flopping back against the pillows. This was the thirty-fourth time they'd had this particular fight, and I wasn't in the mood to hear it all again.
“I've told you, her place is too small! As soon as we can afford a freakin' house, Miranda, we'll be out of here, I promise you! We won't be in your hair any longer,”
I could almost feel Mom's heated frustration from inside my bedroom. I reached under the bed for my headphones and groaned when I realised that, once again, my iPod battery was dead. I really needed to charge it up – when I had the time.
“Listen, Terry, this is my home. I'm not having you cluttering up the place with your grotty suitcases anymore – the divorce will come through next month, and I want you to be miles away from here by then. So get out,” Mom hissed, “Now. Or I'm calling the police,”
“Where the hell am I supposed to go, Miranda? You want me to live on the streets?”
“There are plenty of motels open at this time of night. You'd better go, Terry. I'm serious this time.”
Dad's voice was a hushed whisper when he replied, “At least give me a few minutes to say goodbye to Alex.”
“She doesn't need your goodbyes. She's sixteen now, Terry, in case you forgot. Anyway, you can call her later. When you've calmed down.”
“I am bloody calm! You can't keep me from seeing my own daughter-”
“You can see her at the weekend – unless you'll be too busy with her,”
I heard Dad rummaging around in the hall, and then my bedroom door opened, no knock. I guess I wasn't really expecting one.
“I'm leaving, honey.” he said, the fury leaking out of his voice. I nodded slightly, discarding my Physics book on the bed beside me. I glanced quickly out of the window – darkness was closing in on us.
“Okay,” I murmured, not really knowing what else to tell him. Dad held something out to me – an envelope. I took it with trembling fingers, knowing this would be the last time I'd ever see my father – despite his desperate promises to pick me up every weekend. I got up off the bed and slipped my arms around his waist, hugging him close to me like a favoured stuffed animal.
“I love you, baby,” he told me, speaking softly into my ear. I nodded against his chest.
“You too, daddy,” I replied, my voice only just audible. I felt hot, stinging tears prick at my vision, and I buried my face deeper into his t-shirt so he wouldn't see.
“I'll call you tomorrow – as soon as I've settled down somewhere. I promise,”
Yeah. Promises meant nothing to me anymore – there had been too many broken already. I didn't say anything, just slowly released him from the embrace and watched him step back, his bulky, middle-aged frame filling the doorway.
“Bye, sweetheart,” his voice broke on the last word.
“Bye, Dad,”
And then he was gone.

I think I cried for a while – I can't really remember. All that was running through my mind was the fact that my father was gone – and he was never coming back, not this time. I'd known about the divorce for a long time – obviously. I wasn't young enough for Mom to keep things from me anymore, and I'd pried too deep into their affairs this time – and found information that I never, ever wanted to hear. I wished I'd kept my paranoia to myself – then maybe all of this wouldn't be happening. I'd triggered Mom's annoyance switch, and she had totally took it out on my father.
When I had collected myself enough to move, I tore open the envelope that he had given to me, expecting a long letter detailing how sorry he was. But all that slipped out was a business card and two tickets.
I picked up the business card first, inspecting it, turning it over and over in my hands until the words were spinning around in my mind, over and over. I felt sick, my vision blurring, the world turning grayscale. How could this be happening? Where the hell did he get the nerve to do this to me?

Moonlight Spa
Main Street
Firmington

Grace Wilson

Written on the back of the card was Meet tomorrow outside the spa, noon.
All that my father had left me was his new girlfriend's business card and a scribbled message to meet her tomorrow. Was this his idea of a joke? A sick, humiliating joke?
I only glanced at the tickets, but even that was enough to send my heart into dizzy palpitations. What the hell was wrong with me? No, more importantly, what was wrong with the world?
The tickets were for a cinema showing of a romantic comedy, something that I'd been pestering my parents to let me see for ages. One ticket had my name on. The other had Grace's.

“Alex? Baby, are you okay?” Mom asked, slightly alarmed by the tear stains on my cheeks. I managed a half-hearted nod, making my way through to the kitchenette to make myself a sandwich. I felt my mother's hand on my shoulder while I was taking the cheese and pickle from the fridge.
“I'm sorry, honey. You knew this was coming, didn't you? I couldn't take it anymore, Alex...”
“I know, Mom. It's just... nothing. I'm just gonna miss him, that's all,” Well, it was only a half lie. I would miss my dad. But the tears over that particular problem had ended long ago.
“D'you want to watch a DVD or something?” Mom suggested, forcing a plastic smile. I shook my head, biting into my sandwich.
“That's okay. I think I'm going to call Will, see if he wants to meet up or something. I need to... take my mind off of things.”
“Of course, honey. Just don't be out too late – it's pitch black out there,”
“Right. Yeah. We might catch a movie or something.” I carried my sandwich into the lounge and flopped on the couch, wishing my best friend was there with me. He was better at dealing with these things than me – when his father had passed away four years ago he'd been nothing but practical.
“It'll get easier, Alex. When he's out of our lives for good... I promise you that.” I hadn't realised until Mom had spoken that she had entered the room after me. I wanted to snap at her, tell her that all this was her fault – but that was the problem. It wasn't. Goddammit, it was Dad's.
“I know,” I admitted, switching the TV on to drown out her voice and my thoughts.

It turned out that I didn't have to call Will – my cell phone buzzed before I had chance to. I flipped it open and his cheery voice came out of the receiver.
“Hey, Will. How's it going?” I asked brightly. There was a pause on the other end of the line.
“It's going fine. What about you?”
“Oh, same ol', same ol'. You wanna go somewhere?”
“Like...?” he prompted warily, and I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to muster up patience from somewhere deep inside.
“The movies? The park? We can go to goddamn Antarctica, for all I care,” I gabbled, finally losing it. I heard Will's intake of breath before he replied.
“Sure. What movie d'you want to see?”
“Well, I have free tickets to that rom-com...” I said, smiling to myself. I'd scribble out the name – the guy at the box office probably wouldn't even notice.
“Yeah. Whatever. You know, totally not my thing, but hey. I don't say no to a bargain.” I could imagine his grin. I said a quick goodbye and ran into my room to change out of my battered jeans and shirt, into something a little classier. The evening was looking up.

Will honked his horn half an hour later, and I kissed Mom on the cheek before grabbing my purse from the couch and heading outside. Our apartment was on the bottom floor of our building – so there was no need to complain about the broken elevator.
“Hey,” I sighed, slipping into the passenger seat. Will's gaze flickered over my face, then down to my outfit – black jeans with an embroidered rose pattern running down the leg, and a purple silk blouse. Only when he was finished scrutinizing me did he eventually speak.
“I didn't know this was an occasion. I would've worn something more...” he trailed off, apparently lost for words. I frowned. What the hell was wrong with everyone today? First my father went crazy, then Will? Seriously, I mean, people-
I glanced at Will's wardrobe – he looked pretty awesome, actually. Faded blue jeans and a checkered shirt, buttoned only halfway up, revealing a triangle of tanned chest. I smiled to myself.
“You look... great,” he told me, and I blushed. Why was he being so embarrassing?
“Thanks, I guess. Can we, er, get going? Please? I really need to get away from... this,” I admitted, gesturing back to the apartments. He nodded knowingly, and revved the engine.
“So, what's wrong, anyway? Something happen at home?” Will asked once we were headed down the freeway. I stared into my lap, fiddling with the strap on my purse.
“Dad... h-he left. For good, I assume.” I told him. He frowned at me, reaching over with his free hand to pat my knee. I bit my lip before continuing, not sure which parts to cut out and which to include. In the end I just spilled the whole can of beans instead of just a few.
“And he left me Grace's business card. He wants me to meet with her... tomorrow. And he... he gave me the cinema tickets, but they were intended for us... I mean, her and me. I can't... I don't think I can go through with it, Will. And Mom has no idea... I can't find the right words, you know? To tell her, I mean. He's broken her heart one time too many. I don't really expect you to understand, you know, girl stuff? But... it hurts.”
His expression clouded over with concentration, and I knew it wasn't for the road. After a few moments' awkward silence, he turned to me in his seat.
“I get it. You don't want to meet with her, right?” at first I thought he truly did understand, but then, “Then don't go. Stay home or something,”
I felt the little bubble of hope burst inside of me. He didn't get it – as I said, girl stuff!
“But... I need to know he's okay! Dad, I mean. This might be the last opportunity I get to meet with him, before... well, you know. Before it happens. And if she's there... well, it's just part of the bargain. I can't see my father without seeing her, so maybe I should just get it over with, right?”
“Uh, right?” Will guessed, and I smiled slightly, shaking my head at him. He totally didn't understand. But, what did I expect, really? Although he was my best friend, and he put up with me through... well, through everything, I guess, he was still a guy. And guys weren't exactly in touch with their inner emotions.
“Then I should go, right?” I pushed, and he finally nodded, then changed his mind and shook his head.
“Oh... I don't know, Alex. Do what you want to do.”
“Right.”
I wasn't surprised that the remainder of the drive to the movie theatre was in silence.