"Hey you all right Lani? You've been crying for a while now since Caesar left," Brian drew his hand up and caressed her shoulders. "Yeah, I'm fine, it's nothing to worry about," She replied sniffling. "Then are you going to answer that?" Brian questioned.
Milani stared at her phone which had been on its twentieth ring, picking up her phone she declined the call then laid back on Brian's lap. "No, I can't," Brian could see the stress the girl laying on him was going through. "Maybe you should call him back, I've never seen Caesar so heated over a girl."
The idea of dealing with her best friend after she'd just admitted that they had sex was nerve-wrenching for her. But she couldn't just ignore him for the rest of her life. Sighing, she got off of Brian's lap and picked up the call. "I don't have the strength to argue right now Caesar please just quit calling me." She could hear sirens in the background but Milani discarded it as a tv show. "Listen Lani, I know you don't want to talk right now but it's your dad he's gonna get himself arrested." Caesar replied. "Wait what!?" Milani jumped off the couch and asked where they were. "He's outside this pub on hay street," Caesar responded.
"I'm sorry Brian but I've got to run," The guy stood up and picked up his chip bag. "It's no problem let me walk you out," Milani thought about it for a second and decided it wouldn't hurt if he came along with. "How about you come with me and when it's over we can come back and have a proper movie night?" She asked. "That's a good idea." The two stepped out the apartment and walked to hay street in silence.
The walk wasn't far and from a distance you could see the pub and what looked like a fight was going down. Milani ran to the scene and saw her father on the ground with a man on top of him. "Hey what are you doing?! Can't you see you're hurting him." Milani's father lifted his head and saw his daughter arguing with the guy who had just slammed him to the ground. Milani took in the scene surrounding her, there was a broken glass bottle right next to her father and a broken car window. The embarrassment of his daughter seeing him in this state caused him to lower his head in shame. "Dad are you freaking crazy? How could you get yourself into a fight?" The girl yelled and scolded at her father as he didn't say one word. "I cannot believe you got yourself into more trouble," Milani turned to the guy and pulled her dusty wallet out. "How much does the car window cost? I'll pay and add interest, just please don't press charges."
It was noticeable that the guy was checking Milani out instead of listening to her talk and that fact made her want to barf. She didn't have enough time to put a coat on so she left wearing a black tank top with gym shorts. "The cost is $1,500 for the tires and the window." Milani's eyes bulged as she cursed at herself for offering to pay. "Is it okay if I go to that ATM over there and give you the rest?" She said handing him three hundred dollars. The guy nodded and watched her every move.
Staring at the ATM Milani pressed her pin number in and looked at her balance. She only had two thousand five hundred fifty-eight dollars saved up in her bank account for the bills. Not to mention rent and her college expenses. Tears gushed down her face, "I won't even be able to afford a months rent and food with the amount left." Milani said walking back to the guy and handing him the rest of the money. "Here take it, now please let us go," She pleaded. The man rolled his eyes and got inside his car, driving off.
"Home, now!" She yelled at her dad as she stomped all the way home, leaving Brian and Caesar at the scene of the fight. Milani jerked the front door open and stormed inside, slamming it behind her and her father.
"Are you freaking kidding me dad? No, seriously do you not think about the dumbass decisions you make? I had to pay one thousand five hundred dollars to save your ass from going to jail," Milani yelled. "You know what I'm sick and tired of cleaning up your fucking mess," Milani yelled as she texted Caesar thanking him for telling her before things got ugly. They continued to texting until Caesar brought up her father having a severe alcohol problem which he needed help fixing.
The thought of help with her father relieved the stress she was carrying. Milani pulled out her phone and searched on her phone for the nearest rehabilitation center. "I've been here for you throughout my whole life I can't take it anymore." Mike sat on the couch with his head in his hands.
"There's a rehabilitation center five hundred miles from here that'll take you in by next week if I reserve you a spot." Silence spread across the two as she filled out the online application. "Honey, I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble, I can stop just don't send me to a rehab center please." Tear drops fell from both of their eyes, the bitter tension between the two flourished. "I'm sorry dad but you went too far this time, you need help whether you like it or not." Milani set up an appointment with the center and walked back to her room, slamming her door.
Two weeks later
"I honestly don't know how I'm going to pay for the rehab center. It's beyond expensive and I haven't even got my paycheck yet." Brian and Milani walked through the schools empty hallway as they came from after school tutoring. "I could help pay," Brian offered. "No, no I will not burden you with my father and his alcohol issue," She assured him. "It's not a bother, I hate spending my parents money, and it'd be perfect if I spent it for a good purpose." The boy next to her shrugged. "Thank you so much," Milani hugged Brian tightly while hiding her tears. "It's no problem," Brian replied.
"Here I'll drive you home," he commented, his tone reassuring Milani that it was his pleasure. They climbed into his car and drove away to Milani's small apartment. "So I was wondering if you wanted to go to the movies with me this Saturday if you can't it's okay," Brian asked, wanting her to say yes. "Um sure," She hesitated, turning to the window. Milani picked at her top, looked out the window. "You look distracted, are you okay?" Brain wondered whether he was boring Milani about their date on Saturday. "Hmm? No, I'm just tired that's all," Milani reassured him, her voice soft as Brain caught her eye, showing a smile. "Oh, okay."
Today was the day that her father would move into the rehab center and she couldn't be anymore regretful. Maybe I shouldn't have listened to Caesar, Milani thought as she chewed her nails. "Thanks for the ride," said Milani, feeling grateful that Brian drove her home. After saying goodbye to her new found friend Milani walked up to her apartment.
Opening the door she came face to face with her father sitting on the couch with his luggage packed. "Hey daddy... ready to go?" she said in a saddened voice. "Yup," Mike replied in a dull tone. "I love you dad and it's going to be miserable without you, but you have to go for your own good." Tears were flowing from his eyes; but Mike tried to look brave and unaffected. "I know, just bring me to the airport."
Milani drove them to the airport in her fathers beat up truck and walked with her dad until they reached the gates. "I'm sorry daddy, I'll miss you so much," She sat down, sobbing her heart out, while her father stood next to her. "I've got to go goodbye Milani," the girl watched as the only man she truly loved walked away and disappeared into the departing gate. People passing by could hear and see as she wept.
Finally Milani stood up and walked out of the airport driving back home to her beat down apartment.