Chapter Text
After five years studying art history and the Master of Arts in Teaching in LA — at UCLA, it’s time to go back home. It’s been five long years far away from your loved ones, who you left behind in your hometown, Austin, Texas.
You’ve visited them every time you could during those years; for summer, Christmas… Basically all the breaks you had. But this time you're going back to Austin with all your belongings, and finally not a single text book.
You will also miss California. After living your whole life in a small town it’s been so exciting to discover a big city like Los Angeles.
Tomorrow you have a flight back to Texas, and as you pack your whole dorm you notice the frame in your bookshelf. It’s a photo of Joel, Sarah, your father and you. You guys took it on your going-away party, a day before leaving to California. You all cried and laughed and made reunion plans even though you were still there.
Your eyes get a little glassy as you remember the scene, knowing you’ll be back with your father and friends without worrying about leaving again makes all this process less tedious.
A weird feeling crosses your mind. Now you realize you will also see Joel Miller again, Sarah’s father. Your across-the-street neighbors. Joel and your father are best friends. They bonded over being single parents when you moved into the neighborhood after your mother’s death. He kinda watched you grow up, as you were ten years old when you met them — by that time Sarah was three years old, so he has been present in every step of your life. High school, first heartbreak, prom, leaving for college… It’s not like he was interested a lot in your life events, but your father would tell him everything, just like Joel did about Sarah.
It took time for you and Sarah to bond. You have a seven years age gap so you didn’t have a lot in common. That changed when Sarah grew up. The fact that you started babysitting her when you were fifteen also helped much. Now you can’t imagine a life without a life saver Sarah to have your back. She’s the closest you’ve ever had of a sister.
Now, why would you be weird about seeing Joel again?
Easy. The last time you saw him was this Christmas, (it’s also the last time you visited Texas since your father came to visit this spring, you needed to study for your finals and you weren't able to lose time traveling) you were half naked in the bathroom body checking in the mirror when the door swung wide open, exposing your bare chest to a too-drunk-to-notice-right-away Joel, who just stared at you trying to cover as you yelled can’t you knock!?
At first you thought it was Sarah so you didn’t panic when the door opened, it wouldn’t be the first time, you have shared a bathroom lots of times. But when you saw Joel? Your heart skipped a beat. You were almost full naked in front of him, for God’s sake.
Joel started to excuse himself. His ears turned red the moment he realized the mistake he made, but he didn’t back off, he just stared repeating some sorry I shouldn't have… I didn’t mean to… With his thick southern accent. You cut him off closing the door on his face, pressing your palms against it, processing what just happened.
You hid in the bathroom until they left, you had said your goodbyes earlier so there was no reason to see them again. Whereas there was a very good one to stay hidden in there.
Suddenly your phone buzzes. you struggle to find it since your dorm is a mess, full with unorganized stuff to pack. Once you catch it, under a shirt in your bed, you see Dad on the screen.
"What’s up?" you ask him as you make space to sit.
"Hey, darling. Are you sure you don’t mind taking a taxi at the airport? I wish I could pick you up but you know, work stuff."
"Dad, it’s fine, don’t worry about it. But I hope you give me back what I spend on the taxi fare," you joke.
"What a cheapskate!" he says laughing "I asked Joel, but he’ll be busy too around that time."
The mention of Joel makes your stomach squirm. Tough days are coming.
You land in Austin after a two-hour flight, you can’t avoid missing California a little. you’d be lying if you said you’re not tired. you're actually exhausted. The flight wasn’t especially long, but waking up super early, — so you don't have to be running late around the airport, the farewell cry with your college friends and the uncomfortable plane seats destroyed you. Right now you just want to lay on your bed for days.
You text your dad, letting him know you didn't die in a plane crash or something he could worry about.
There’s a long distance between Austin’s airport and your house, so that gives you time to close your eyes a little. Once your suitcases are inside the trunk you give the taxi driver your address. you already miss California, you hope you can visit soon.
The taxi ride lasts at least forty minutes, thank God you had your headphones with you and tired eyelids, you don't even remember falling asleep. Zero survival instincts, I know.
A voice wakes you up. "Well, we've finally arrived," he says, stopping the car.
"Where?" you ask, still half asleep.
"Your house," he says holding a laugh "you drifted off as soon as you got in, you must be very tired."
Okay, you made a fool of yourself. This man may think you're dumb as fuck.
Once you have your suitcases with you, you pay and thank him for the ride. You step foot on your front yard, admiring how your father has taken care of it, keeping it beautiful and fresh. Standing in front of the threshold you look for your keys and open the door, knowing you’ll be alone until your father ends his workday.
The moment you open the door a cozy warmth wafts to your face, followed by the air freshener scent. Everything is dark, why would your father close all the curtains? you get inside, closing the door behind you and as you reach for the light switch a big fuss starts.
"Surprise!"
Your eyes adapt to the sudden light and you can see clearly now. Your father, Sarah and Joel, grinning from ear to ear and confetti poppers At first you're in shock, but quickly you start laughing. "What’s all this?" you ask with a big smile that ends up hurting your cheeks.
"Your welcome home party!" Sarah yelps jumping. Then she grabs confetti and puts it all over your head.
You part confetti away from your mouth and approach your father. "Busy working, huh?" you laugh pushing him. He shrugs and then you hug as he whispers welcome home, sweetheart.
Sarah breaks the silence. "You really thought we wouldn’t be here for you?"
"How could I…" you say as you hug her.
Joel is standing beside Sarah, observing you as reserved as always. you can feel his stare even though your face is buried in Sarah’s hair. When you get off of her Joel leans on your way, opening his arms to give you a hug. "Hey, kid."
It’s not as awkward as it could be. Maybe he forgot? I mean, he was really drunk when the bathroom accident happened, and it took place five months ago. Definitely he must have forgotten it all.
You smile at him, not being sure about what you should say right now, so you make a joke. "You look older, like a senior citizen, how long have I been away?"
Joel laughs sarcastically. Eyes deep on yours. "You’ve been here for like five minutes and you’re already a pain in the ass." He moves a hand over your head, getting rid of leftover confetti poured by Sarah "I’m glad you’re back," He whispers, making your cheeks burn.
And with that he backs off, announcing they should get the barbecue started. They all go to the backyard and you take your luggage upstairs to your room. You can’t wait to properly rest now that you're home.
You climb on your bed and stretch every muscle in your body, taking deep breaths as you unintentionally start to fall asleep. It doesn't last long. you open your eyes to someone knocking on your door.
"Can I come in?"
It’s Joel.
"Yes, go ahead," you say as you sit up straight.
He opens the door and leans on the door frame, hands on his pockets, as usual. He silently stares at you and you start to get a little nervous. "Is everything alright?" you subtly ask.
"Oh, yeah yeah, don’t worry." he shifts his gaze to the floor "your dad wants you to know that if you don’t come outside now you won’t have anything to eat later."
You sigh and lay again on the bed, closing your eyes. "I'll be right down, just give me a sec. Don’t eat all the food, I need a real meal after all this time eating shitty college food."
He doesn't respond. In fact, you think he’s gone when you open your eyes, but he’s still there. He clears his throat. "Listen, kid," He says lowering his tone "About last Christmas… I don’t know if you remember but, I walked in on you. I didn’t mean to, I promise I didn't see anything. Your dad and I were two sheets to the wind and I needed to use the bathroom, I had no idea you were inside."
Shit. He remembers.
Your heart skips a beat and suddenly you're out of words. "I," stuttering "don’t know what you’re talking about."
He lets out a slight, sarcastic laugh. Your body shivers. "Sure. That’s why you can’t even look me in the eye?" he comes closer to you.
"What are you talking about? Of course I can look at you." you respond, highly offended.
"Without getting all flushed I meant."
And then, just as if your body wanted to prove him right, you start to feel your whole face go red. You open your mouth to say something but you simply cannot. Joel looks satisfied over you.
A life-saving action from the universe comes to save you, as Sarah yells downstairs food’s gonna get cold!
He offers you a hand to get out of bed and you take it. As soon as you step foot on the floor you outrun Joel, avoiding the most shameful talk you’ve ever had in your whole life.
You get welcomed in the backyard by the scent of homemade barbecue, your father in his apron, the one you got him in California, decorated with the state’s outline and Sarah texting someone on her phone.
You sit next to her, You sneak a peek on her phone and you see the name Alex on it, it seems like you have something to gossip about later.
Your father and Sarah talk the most while you eat, Joel and you have always been more quiet, listeners we could say, and that’s how it’s done almost the whole lunch. Suddenly Sarah starts looking at you with a funny face. "Sooo…" she starts, still looking at you "Don’t you have anything to tell us?"
"Me? Uh…"
"I don’t know, something about some Ethan boy" a smirk forms on her face.
Your eyes shift to Joel’s out of reflex, he stopped looking at his plate to look at you. Your ears start to get red. "I think I can ask something similar, Sarah," you say as you adjust in your seat "Something about some Alex boy?" you counterattack.
She didn’t expect that, it’s noticeable how her face completely changes from amusement to embarrassment. Your fathers look at each other in disbelief. That look fathers give when they discover their daughters aren’t little girls anymore. Joel is holding a beer against his lips but isn’t drinking, he’s staring at you both with a death stare. Your father is doing almost the same thing, holding a fork with meat on it close to his mouth but frozen in time. He breaks the silence first. "What’s going on?" he asks "You two have boyfriends now or something?"
Sarah and you look at each other, bursting out laughing.
"Answer." Joel orders.
"It’s nothing," you say with a laugh "no need to explain it cause it’s nothing."
Joel keeps looking at you with a serious gaze, but at least now he has taken a sip from his beer. Your father is taking it more friendly.
"You and I will talk later at home, smartass," says Joel to Sarah.
She looks at you, asking for help. you shrug.
"I can’t do anything," you whisper to her as you hand her a plate with meat "eat now that you can, you’re probably going to be grounded in your room until you turn twenty-five."
"Keep an eye on your daughter, Miller" your father teases "I fear we’ll have to put two more seats this Christmas."
Joel answers with a growl and gets up to clear the table. He then disappears into the kitchen.
"I think he didn’t find it funny" your father tells you with a laugh.
It’s later now. you're finally in your bed and Joel and Sarah are back home. you pick up your phone to text Sarah.
You feel bad for snitching on her, but it was a better option than speaking about Ethan.
It is real that there’s nothing going on with Ethan. He’s from college, English lit. And you’ve hooked up a couple of times. Nothing serious, you don’t even like him that much, but he’s a great companion. He’s fun, smart, and has a firm grasp on things. You're not gonna lie, he’s hot as fuck too.
Sarah texts back quickly.
You can’t hold back a laugh at the thought of Joel Miller teaching Sarah how to use a condom. you're going to remember that moment for the rest of her life.
Joel Miller asking his daughter about your love life. For some reason, the simple thought of him being jealous causes a reaction in you. One you shouldn’t be having.
Maybe it’s all made up in your head, but the way he was looking at you in this same room… It’s not the way you look at your best friend’s daughter, that’s for sure.