nothing lasts forever{wlw, teacherxstudent}

𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦

I run into the back of the grocery store for work, not even an hour after detention, I change into my black jeans and black collar shirt that I need to wear for work. I quickly call Charlie.

"Hello, how was detention?" Charlie asks and he starts crunching on something but I ignore it and start buttoning up my shirt as I put my phone between my ear and shoulder.

"Charlie, I have a big problem." I struggle to button my shirt. The big problem isn't this damn button.

"Oh no, come over." He talks with his mouth full making it hard to understand him, but I'm used to it now so I've basically nailed Charlie's talking with his mouth full language.

"I can't! I have work and I can't stop thinking about her, Charlie, am I obsessed?" I drop my hands from the button and stare at the wall while waiting for his response. Please say no.

"Di, Melody is a total asshole but-"

"Charlie, this isn't about—"

"My Mom's calling me, just text me after you've finished work. Stay over at my place tonight so we can talk." He says before hanging up and my shoulders slump, I'm going to murder him. My phone starts ringing again and it's Bella, I quickly answer.

"Hello?" I say.

"Hey, I've called and texted you a few times. You didn't respond so I started to get worried, you weren't back straight after school." Bella answers and I finally finish buttoning my shirt.

"Oh...I had detention, I'm at work now. I'm probably staying at my friend Charlie's place for the night so you guys have a break from me." I laugh and Bella does too.

"Alright, I might check in with you later, just to make sure everything's okay, I'm very much a worrier. I'll see you tomorrow, Diana." She says and I say my goodbyes before she hangs up.

I feel bad for how long I've been staying at Floyd and Arabella's, I keep reminding them that I'm trying to get out of their way and they just keep telling me that I'm welcome there and I don't need to leave anytime soon.

I open the door and walk across the store to one of the tills before I sit down. This is going to be a long evening..

✺ 

Fifteen minutes left...I sit back, moving the chair side to side, I'm bored. I don't talk to any of the other workers here. I get okayish money so I guess it's fine.

Most of the time, the store isn't too busy, so I just play games on my phone or I put my earphones in so I can watch something on my phone, my current obsession is definitely adventure time—Charlie nagged me about it, telling me that I would love it...I do.

I look over to the entrance only to see Jane and my Dad walk in, hand in hand. I roll my eyes and look away. What a great way to end my shift.

I still love Jane, I do. I am so grateful for everything she has done for me but her relationship with my Dad is just something that I can't really accept that easily. He isn't a good man and I can't be sure that he's changed.

I take out my phone to text Charlie.

Diana
I'll be over soon and I'm going to murder you.

Charlie
RUDE I'm literally letting you stay in my house since your technology homeless?

Diana
And you technically* cannot spell. It's also you're...

Charlie
Shut up.

I hear stuff being put up on the till so I look up from my phone to see Jane with my Dad. There is three other open tills and of course, they come to mine.

"Do you remember these when you were younger? You love them." My Dad holds up a box of Swedish fish. I shake my head, looking away as I begin scanning their things.

"I loved them. Remember when you used to buy them to apologise for hitting me?" I look away, I'm being really mean, but he deserves it.
The new Diana can stick up for herself.

"Diana, I'm trying." He speaks quietly and puts the box of candy down.

"You could have tried years ago, but instead, you decided to leave without me. I mean, I was happy that you started to get sober, but then you pack up and leave when Mom started going downhill? You don't know the stuff that I went through when you left."

"How about we go out to dinner? Just once, please." Jane speaks up. What does she see in him? All I can see is the angry look that I used to be so afraid of. Part of me still is, part of me is afraid to look at him at all.

"Is my Mom going to magically show up there too? Will we all sit down like a happy family, will I get a bruise if I knock a glass?" I ask, I stop scanning her things then look at her before raising my eyebrows.

"How is she by the way? Or do either of you know? Jane, you cut off my Mom because she put me through hell but he did the exact same, worse even." I snap at her, the few people in the store looking my way while Jane looks down at the floor, an ashamed look taking over her face.

"She's in New York." My Dad says, me and Jane both look at him. He knows about Mom, does he still speak to her? Do they speak to each other while never once trying to reach out to me?

"She's not any better than before, she got locked up a couple of months ago but she's out. She's a drug addict and an alcoholic." He adds and I quickly scan the rest of the things and put them in the bag. Never mind, I don't want to hear from either of them anyway.

"Forty seven ninety five." I sit back and Jane hands me money, I get out her change and hand it to her along with her receipt.

"So, the dinner?" Jane waits and I stare at her for a second, resting my hands on the metal register, she has got to be joking.

"I can't, I won't." I stand up and Jane looks at me.

"I love you, Diana, I really hope you forgive me soon." Jane says before picking up the bag and my Dad takes out the box of Swedish fish, putting them down in front of me. I love Jane, I really do and it's not that I'm mad but I'm just hurt. I want to hug her and go back home but I don't want to see my Dad anymore than I already do. It's too painful. This whole thing just brings up too much pain, too much pain from when I was a child, pain that was never dealt with.

"I know you'll never forgive me but I hope one day we can have an actual conversation." He says before they both walk out of the store.

I feel guilty. I shouldn't feel guilty when this isn't my fault. But if it's not my fault, why do I feel like everything is this way because of me?