I stared after Kel. I never thought I'd feel the way I did. His kiss was one thing I never expected. He was the only boy I knew that actually cared. I finally walked into the house, and looked around.
The living room was finally intact, and the holes in the walls were patched, and looked like they had never even been there. The couch was new one, not the floral one that we had when I was younger, and the school pictures of Wesley and I that we would send were framed and on the walls. I half smiled at myself in the picture frames, and almost bumped into Sperm Donor.
He stared at me, and I smiled slightly. I wasn't sure what to think of the look he was giving me. All I knew was it brought back horrible memories.
“Joanna, I wish to talk to you.” he said, looking at my confused face. “Sit down, sweet heart.” he said as he gestured at the couch.
I sat down and looked at him. “Alright. Whatcha wanna talk about?” I said, looking at him, watching his every move.
He smiled, and sat next to me. I looked at him, sort of confused, still and he laughed. “Don't look so scared. We won't hurt you. It's safe here now. I promise you.”
I tried to change my expression to one of which was hard to read. “So, what is it you wanted to talk about?” I asked, looking at him in his recliner.
“Well, I know you and I have a bad history.” he started, and my eyes narrowed. “And I'm really sorry for that. I never meant to hurt you or Wesley. I just didn't know what to do. I was always drunk, or something, and I never could stop drinking, it was my escape. Everything was so tense. I know that's no excuse, and I know I can't bring back all the lost time, but I can try to renew our relationship. I want to take you shopping tomorrow. I know you and Kel have this thing going on.”
“Dad!” I exclaimed, feeling myself turn bright red. “Kel and I don't have anything going on.” I retorted, still redder than a tomato.
“Oh, don't even.” he replied, smiling at me. “You two have always had a thing for each other, since we moved here and y'all met. You thought I didn't notice, but I did.” he added as he flipped through the TV channels.
I was still beet red when Wesley walked in, beaming like a newlywed. “Kel and Joe sittin' in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.” he teased, and I threw a couch pillow at him.
“That's so elementary school, Wes!” I exclaimed, turning a brighter shade of red as he fell over laughing at me.
“Well, I made it arranged to where you have all the same classes Kel does.” Sperm Donor said, looking at me from his recliner. “So you can get used to the high school. You'll graduate this year anyways.” he added, looking at me.
I was already beginning to hatch a new plan. I was always good at doing so.
I was going to bring shame to Sperm Donor's name. I was going to make sure that everyone knew who I was. I was going to be so smart, and yet, so stupid. Maybe embarrassing him now that I'm back will be enough payback for what he did to Wesley and me in our younger years. Maybe it wouldn't be so short termed. Maybe it would actually work. Maybe.
“So, Joe, what is it your heart desires?” I heard him ask me, but I was too lost in thought to answer. Wesley was watching me and I knew that he knew what I was doing. I was attempting to block out the past emotions again.
“Dad, she's working through something.” he said, looking down at the floor.
That's when Sperm Donor realized that I was attempting to not relive my past years of sitting in this living room and watching my parents' brutal beatings of each other. I knew it was because he automatically stopped trying to catch my attention and fell silent.
Incubator had walked in by that time and abruptly left, Wesley following her, and I knew in my heart that she was in the back of the house sobbing her heart out.
But I didn't care.
