Chapter 51 - Meeting Me Half Way.

Lance. 

The day before the wedding. 

''I really don't want to move in with John,'' this is my cry, plea. Desperation to her but she isn't even listening to me. this is my supposed last day in the only home I have ever known and here I am trying to convince her. I have been trying to convince her all day. The more things we get out fo this apartment, the closer I am to failing.

I don't want this new life that she is trying to rope me into. 

I am seventeen, I can spend the rest of my high school here and then go off to college. She doesn't have to drag me into her new life. I don't want any part of it. 

She rolls her eyes as I watch her put all the glass plates in the kitchen into boxes. I knew it was a long shot but I at least hopes she would listen to me. it wouldn't be a big deal If I stay alone. Jack practically spends his whole life at home alone. His dad is never around—except to wreak havoc. He is turning out fine, it is not like anything would happen to me. 

''You can't be serious.'' She mutters like I am being unreasonable. 

''Think about it mom, john doesn't know me. I am practically a stranger moving into his house. We don't have to pretend and playhouse. I am fine staying here. I promise I won't feel abandoned.'' 

She laughs and stops the arrangement she was so focused on until I interrupted her ''No one is playing house. We are actually going to become a real family.'' 

''You know that is bullshit right. I become the stepchild. Let us not forget about Cinderella.'' 

She glares at me ''Language,'' she warns. 

I raise my hands in surrender ''Sorry, but mom please don't make me go into that family and act as I belong there.'' 

This doesn't have anything to do with starting a new life. this has everything to do with Ford and the fact that moving into his house will make this whole thing official. From a distance, we can ignore or turn a blind eye to everything that is happening but the moment I move into his house, everyone will see it. I will become his new brother. 

I don't want to be his brother. 

''You belong with me and now I belong with John. So, you belong in that house.'' She stresses her words. 

I don't belong in that family. 

I won't be the brother to him. 

''I will run away.'' Okay, that is far-fetched but this usually works with her. I find ways to convince her by blackmailing her. She wouldn't want me to run away and I know she knows that it is something I can do. 

''Stop this Lance. tomorrow is my wedding day; can you not be your usual bratty self today. at least until after my honeymoon?'' 

I roll my eyes, there is no going back now. ''I swear to god mom. Do this for me and rebellious Lance will be gone from your life. I will never do anything again.'' 

She scoffs. 

Rebellious Lance is hard to get rid of and here I am telling her I would. I actually mean it. I will control myself and try to be better if she does this for me. this will be the last favour I ask from her. 

''I swear on my fucking—'' she glares at me and with a nervous cough I continue ''I swear on my life, I will be better. Just grant me this last request.'' 

She looks at me and then away from me, I follow her eyes to our almost empty house. The only things left are the furniture and that is because they came with the apartment. All our personal items are gone, slowly our whole life is being erased in the span of a week. I don't want to live my life; I don't want to start a new life with her. I want to start a new life with Ford. My phone beeps on the counter table in the kitchen and I look at it but don't grab it. This is a defining moment. I can see the uncertainty in her eyes. If she is going to let me do this, it would be now. 

Fingers crossed. 

''You really don't want to do this with me?''

I nod my head incessantly ''I don't.''

That is my pure honesty right there. I don't like John—okay, I have no problems with him but the fact that Ford is so terrified of him makes me think there is more to him than meets the eye and somehow mom can't see it. She always attracted bad guys. Dad was a bad person; I know I shouldn't say that about my father but he was. The things he did before he died, I don't want to say he deserved death and more but he did. Now she is with John and I can't help but sense that there is more to him. 

It's not in my place to say anything and I won't know until Ford opens up to me completely. Right now, I am still in his first layer. I have to peel them off slowly. There is no rush—we have the rest of our lives. 

''Why do you always succeed in convincing me, why am I so weak to you my son?'' 

I see it in her eyes. She is wavering. 

Fuck yeah. 

''Is this you saying yes?'' I give her my hopeful eyes. 

She shakes her head ''This is not a yes, this is a meet in the middle situation. I will agree to this slowly. You can stay here on the weekends. I will renew the lease. For six months. You stay here Fridays to Sunday and then you stay with me and John the rest of the week.'' 

Three times a week.

I didn't win this but I came close. I won't push my luck; I won't try to be greedy and ask for more because I know better than that. She just did something that no mother would agree to easily. 

Does that make her a bad mother?

I say, fuck no. 

She is the best mother I could've asked for. I run into her arms at her words because I am excited, grateful and completely in shock at her actions. With this, I can still be close to Jack and Patrick and I can even be closer to Ford. Being here will give us more privacy, even though I wouldn���t be living with him. 

''Thank you so much for this. you have no idea how much this means to me. I will forever be indebted to you.''

She rolls her eyes as we pull apart ''As usual, dramatic Lance is out.'' She informs me with a chuckle etched with sarcasm. ''I guess taking all our things isn't the best thing anymore.'' 

I laugh ''I don't need many things here. Just my clothes and a bed. ''

I grab my phone from the counter because I want to share the news with Ford. I don't know how he will feel about this. I don't even know if he is excited about the move. I just know that I don't want to move in with him—at least not in this circumstance. 

I see two messages from him and that brings a smile to my face. I take backwards steps to the direction of my room and mom raises a brow in suspicion. 

''I need to make a phone call,'' I wave my phone in the air. 

''Hmm…seems like there is something you're not telling me. who are you going to call that you need to do it in private?'

''Nothing and no one mother,'' I run out of her grip and shut my door gently. I read his messages and a blush creeps up to my face. 

*Hi boyfriend. 

*Do you miss me as much as I miss you? School was a bummer without your pretty face. Sad emoji. 

He called me pretty and I know it is not really a compliment, at least most guys don't like being identified as pretty or cute but I know why he said it. He calls me pretty because and I quote 'He has never seen anyone with soul-sucking eyes, that makes him want to melt into mush.'

I dial his number and he answers on the first ring. ''Baby,'' he breathes into the phone and my heart thuds in my chest at the depth of his voice. 

''I have some news,'' I manage already getting hot and bothered from just a tiny thing as calling me baby. 

''Do tell boyfriend.'' 

I take a deep breath because I need to put this in the best possible way. I can't just blurt it out at once. I still don't know how he will feel about this. ''Can I see you right now?'' 

''Are you okay?''

''Yes, I just want to see you. This is better done in person.'' 

''I'll come to you.''