Its Not The Same Anymore

“I will always love him,” he said, leading him to chuckle. “I don’t even care how cheesy that sounds, as long as he’s okay and… happy.” Shrugging, he admired his glass, feeling like drinking it all up in one sip, but he couldn’t. Wouldn’t want to sink that low. “You’re right. Even if it’s too silent at home, I will… I mean, at least I have Zelda. That is my cat.”

She took a step in, giving him a soft smile, pulling in a big bag with her which had his present. It was always so alone in this house, she felt horrible that she wasn’t always there for him. “So,” she said, her natural attitude flowing back to her. “Anyone special come into your life yet?”

Erik let out a small laugh to her question as he returned to the kitchen where he was cooking, figuring she’d follow him. “Um- no. Definitely not” he said, finishing preparing his salmon before turning off his stove and turning back to her. “To be quite honest I’m not looking for anyone special. I don’t mind being alone in this house” he shrugged, not really one to get into detail about his love life- or current lack of one. “How’s Aiden?”

“Yeah,” she mused happily once she saw her familiar face. “I don’t know, it’s not going to be that big,” she huffed before giving him two tickets. “You can take who you want.. Even a date… if you want,” she said with a forced smile before taking his arm and leading him to a bar. 

“Oh nonsense, don’t belittle your accomplishment. I think it’s amazing that you’re playing a show.” he smiled, accepting the two tickets and looking down at them. “I don’t have a date I could bring, but I could ask my daughter if she wanted to come with me” he said, following her over to the bar

“Yeah, so I’m playing a show next week, you should come. Or don’t, fuck it –– I don’t really care,” she huffed before turning around. “Anyway… wanna get a drink? I’m fucking bored.” 

“You’re playing a show? That’s fantastic, I’d love to go. Why wouldn’t I?” he looked back at her, “I could use a drink”

Juliet had been avoiding her dad lately, it was always uncomfortable because the one thing he knows for sure in her life is that her boyfriend was substantially older than her. And while she loved it, her father… hated it. Knocking on his door, she stood and waited for the door to open while she gave him a small smile. “Hey dad, Merry Christmas.”

@erikrichards

Erik was preparing dinner while waiting for his daughter to arrive. He was happy she reached out to him, it had been a while since she did. She was always so busy with her boyfriend that she never had time for her dad anymore. Opening the door, he smiled as he saw his daughter, “Merry Christmas, Juliet” he said, stepping back from the door to let her in, “Please, come in, I’m almost done with dinner”

Juliet: I really did mean to call, I'm really sorry Dad

Juliet: But can I come over to your place? I just wanna talk, you know?

Erik: It's okay, I understand that you're busy

Juliet: hey merry late christmas

Juliet: i got you something

Juliet: to make up for.. me not being a good daughter.

Juliet: I'm sorry.

Erik: Merry late Christmas, sweetheart :)

Michael was raised to care more for others than himself, which was why he just kept his mouth shut not to appear annoying. He practically drank to forget about Tristan, but that was never going to work, he knew that fairly well. Nonetheless, he kept throwing strong shit down his throat. “I’m sorry too,” he huffed, raising his hand to place it on Erik’s shoulder. “You’re a good man, always been…”

“I didn’t think you were,” he muttered, knowing Erik enough to find him incredibly sympathetic and caring. Listening to him talk, he suddenly felt like the one who lacked issues. The one who sobbed over a simple breakup. “Well, fuck me then; maybe I’m the one who should buy you a drink?” he suggested, shrugging his shoulders. How Erik kept his mask on was a mystery. He sort of had to toughen up to tell him why he was here, though, cause the more he thought about it, the sadder he got. “I’m here because this is my first Christmas alone - alone and single. Happy holidays.” 

“Y-yeah,” he cleared his throat, “yeah, I’m fine,” he said, twitching his lips into a smile after noticing a familiar Aussie accent. Brushing fingers through his hear, he eventually turned his head, waving at his next offer. “Thank you,” he said, throwing in the shot with a face of disgust. “I thought you’d be celebrating with your daughter by now, why’re you here?”

Fingers danced around his fourth shot glass tapped with tequila. Far from something he used to drink, but enough to make him forget about everything that was going on. Never had he been this down and out during the holidays, which was the main reason he tried to rejoice, become happy… or at least feel some kind of sensation through his body. But no.

“No don’t, you’re just giving them the attention that they want. Let them sizzle and fade on their own. Their trash, we know this. I’m never going back there”

“You sure?” he said, lowering his phone. “If you change your mind, just say the word and I will destroy them, you know that I will” he nodded, “You never have to go back there again”

“I know,” she said before looking down… “Yeah, he tried to touch me under the table and in the kitchen.. Not a good mix. Aiden pulled me out real fast after that. Marine didn’t even believe me.” 

“That is-” he stopped, shaking his head, pulling out his phone, “That is completely unacceptable and I will not stand for it. Absolutely not. That mans head is going on my fireplace, the absolute fucking creep”

“It is. I got this job possibly as an assistant for a gallery in Manhattan…” She shook her head. “How do you think it went? She and her boyfriend practically went after me and Aiden. Not to mention Tom is a total fucking creep and kept trying to make passes.”

“Oh that sounds fantastic, I think you’d really like that. It’s good work” he smiled, his face turning serious again when she spoke. “He what?”

“Thanks,” she said, looking up to him. “I had dinner with Tom and Aiden last week,” she mumbled.

“As long as you’re sure it’s what you want to do” he nodded, looking back to his daughter, “You did?” he asked, “And how’d that go?”

“I’m only just thinking about dropping out of school. This shit seems pointless. I’ll even get a job. But anything is better than this.”

“If that’s what you want to do, I support you. But- I do ask that you finish off the whole year before you make that decision, or at least finish your first semester”

Of course, you do, Mr Richards. A glass of red, your favourite chair and a well-recommended crime novel in front of the fireplace?

I want to dispute that, but it’s actually extremely accurate so I can’t. How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you in a while