Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Watching my dad and Malcolm have a heated stare was like watching Batman and Superman square off. In reality, we all knew who was going to win but by the stance, they stood they both had the idea they could easily win the fight. I on the other hand was frustrated by their testosterone taking over, thinking only with their fists.

"Would you please calm down?" I practically begged my throat sore and not to mention the splitting headache didn't help my mood either. They turned their anger-filled eyes in my direction only to show me pity and shame looking at me like I was a damsel in distress. I hated getting that look. It made me feel worthless and pathetic like I couldn't fend for myself and the truth of it was that I couldn't, I was weak and that hurt more than any pity looks I could ever get.

"I'm so sorry Belle," my dad cried as if this was his fault, don't mind me I was still mad at him and no crocodile tears was going to change that.

"It's not your fault," I said through gritted teeth trying not to show my frustration towards him but he seemed to notice it as he took a step back letting go of my hand. He looked hurt, good.

"I'll be outside if you need me." He sadly said, his shoulders slammed like a sulking kid before he turned around and left the room.

"You didn't need to be that harsh with him," Malcolm said as if feeling bad for my dad.

"Trust me that wasn't me being harsh and for the record he deserved it," I grumbled like a child, I suppose now I knew where I got my childishness from; my dad.

"Ok it's none of my business but at least he's trying, that's more than you can say for other parents you know," he said with a raised brow.

"You're right it's none of your business so let's keep it that way," I said looking anywhere but his direction.

"Come on don't be mad at me I'm just trying to help you out here," he said with a pout.

"Don't look at me like that," I tried to act mad but a slight twitch of my lip failed my act.

"There's that smile." He chuckled, bopping my nose with his index finger, I twitched my nose, chuckling lightly then regretting it when my stomach curled in agony.

"Ow," I cried tears dancing in my eyes.

"Sorry," Malcolm said looking lost, not sure how to comfort me.

"I'm ok," I groaned through gritted teeth.

"Clearly your body says otherwise," he said with a raised brow.

"I said I'm fine Mal ok so let's drop it," I said with a small tired sigh.

"If you say so madam," he smiled looking at me fondly like I was his long lost lover or in this case gay best friend.

We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about anything and everything just to keep me company and no matter how many times I told him he could go home he declined saying home is where the heart is and currently his heart was with me. He was cheesy. I wondered how he couldn't keep one girl. He was charming, overprotective and always looking out for your best interest. His future wife is going to be one lucky woman.

By the late evening, Malcolm left to go eat something and my dad decided to come to visit me once more. He strolled into the room with his head hanging low in shame.

"Hey pumpkin," he greeted with a small smile, sitting where Malcolm was. He sat with his hands locked tightly in frustration with his back hunched. Maybe he was frustrated with me or something else but I didn't feel safe in his presence and the rise of the heart monitor as my heart skipped a beat portrayed that. He looked up at the mission, his eyes shining with tears.

"What did I do to you?" He asked with a broken voice that would've pulled at my heartstring had it not been for the question he asked. I couldn't help scoff out loud with a roll of my eyes, what didn't he do? Is the true question at hand. I looked at him with cold calculating eyes judging him with my eyes before he looked down with a sigh not able to hold my gaze.

"Ok I get it I fucked up but I'm trying here and all you're giving me is attitude after attitude not giving me a moment to apologize." He said frustrated looking at me with raised brows.

"Do you know why?" I asked with a scowl holding back the urge to strangle him on the spot, the nerve of the man spitting shit up when he knew damn well why all of this was happening. Just because for one month he has been acting like a saint doesn't pay off for the rest of the four years he's been a complete and utter dick to me, if he thought that just a month of his nice act was going to solve everything then he had another thing coming.

"Why?" He asked, catching my eye as a tear rolled down his cheek before he quickly wiped it away.

"Cause you're a fucking dick," I said loud and clear putting all my anger and frustration in that one sentence as I gripped the sheets restraining myself from punching him. The heart monitor sped up the angrier I got and my dad took notice of that as he looked from the machine to lock eyes with me.

"Now Belle there's no need for name-calling, remember who you're talking to," he said firmly, putting that father down like I was going to suddenly shut up and listen to him.

"Oh please cut the bullshit, the sooner you accept the fact the better because you and I both know it, you're a big one at that. You can beat the shit out of me and probably do more damage than the man who attacked me but that won't change the fact that you've been a terrible father since mom died and the things you said and did I will never forget ever," I bitterly said, with angry tears streaming down my cheeks as I remembered all the horrible things he said and use to call me. I remembered all the hits and slaps he gave me for disobeying him even if it was a little thing. I could understand that some parents discipline differently but as I grew up I began to resent my dad more for doing it. His breath laboured as tears finally escaped his eyes, slowly rolling down his cheeks and falling on his clenched hands.

"Is that how you feel?" He asked with a trembling voice.

"Oh you don't wanna know how I feel," I said with a bitter laugh ignoring the pain that came with it.

"I do," he said with a serious look as if curious as to how I felt.

"Why don't you come closer and find out," I said through gritted teeth, not losing eye contact. He reluctantly sat closer towards me as I noticed him shaking which explains why he linked his hands to stop them from shaking. I nearly felt bad for what I was about to do, key word nearly. I clenched my right fist tightly ignoring the pain all over my body as I put it to the back of my mind letting my anger drive me. With renewed strength I swung my right hand as far back as I could and punched my dad square on the nose, he groaned loudly holding his bleeding nose with crunched eyes.

"I HATE YOU!" I angrily yelled, grinding my teeth painfully. Non-stop tears ran down my cheeks as I clenched my sore hand finally feeling all the pain I was holding back hit me tenfold. Somehow I felt so much lighter after expressing all my emotions and letting out the anger I had towards my dad and how he made me feel.

"Feeling better?" He asked, wiping blood off his nose and top lip with the back of his hand.

"Much," I said with a glare in his direction.

"Now can I tell you how I feel?" He asked rationally.

"That depends, are you going to throw me out the window after what I just did?" I mumbled like a little kid.

"No I'm not going to punish you for expressing your feelings but you are grounded for punching me." He said, wiggling his nose in pain. I couldn't help but chuckle at my handiwork even if my hand was screaming in agony feeling like I just punched a wall.

"Fair enough," I smiled giving him my full attention.

"Well now that we got the elephant out of the room I want to apologise yes again and I Will continue to apologise until the day I die because I am sorry for the way I treated you, it was uncalled for. I guess I took out my anger on you for the world taking away your mother, I was angry, hurt and scared because your mother was my whole life and you know that. I just lost myself and for that, I will never forgive myself because I caused you so much pain and that's something I never wanted to. I'm sorry Bellenthu for everything, you know I love you more than anything in this world right?" He asked with raised brow taking my small hand in his begging me with his eyes to forgive him but we both knew that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

"Ya I know and I didn't mean what I said I was just angry," I ashamedly said feeling bad for saying it. Truth be told, I didn't hate him but I did dislike the things he did which stuck in my head for years and probably will for the rest of my life.

"That's ok I'm just glad you told me how you felt even if it hurt." He chuckled, moving in to give me a gentle hug. For the first time in days, I welcomed it not afraid of his massive body but rather felt safe like I was hugging my very own protective teddy bear.

"Sorry about that," I chuckled, gently wrapping my sore arms around his broad back.

"That's ok I deserved it but you have one strong right hook," he proudly said, making me smile wide, relaxing in his embrace as a wave of sleepiness surrounded me.

"Tired?" He asked, pulling back as I yawned, laying my back on the tilted bed with half-closed eyes feeling like I could drop dead any second.

"Just a bit." I said yawning again making my dad smile as he pinched my cheek playfully, " Stop." I chuckled weakly, slapping his arm away.

"Alright, I'll let you be, get some rest." He kissed me on the forehead before he left the room with a little pep to his walk making a smile appear on my face as I finally let my eyes drop.

Luckily I didn't have any nightmares or dreams at all but rather a peaceful sleep. When I woke up I felt so much lighter and better, my wounds weren't burning as much anymore and my splitting headache was no more but what was concerning was how I slept through the entire evening to the next morning no wonder I slept soundlessly, I needed to fix my sleep patterns.

"Welcome to the living," Malcolm said when I woke up shoving a McDonald's bag in my face. I gasped aloud looking back and forth from the back to him.

"You didn't?" I asked in disbelief.

"Oh yes I did," he smiled cheekily.

"Did I tell you how much I love you?" I happily shrieked, grabbing the bag from him and opening it.

"You could stand to say it more often," he smirked.

"Ya ya." I smiled taking in the delicious smell of burgers and French fries. I took out my burger and fries not wasting time devouring them like I was starved for days.

"Take it easy, the food isn't going anywhere." My dad said sitting on the side of the bed as he watched me stuff my face with a fond look.

"Mhm." I hummed stuffing more fries in my mouth and drank my Fanta in like it was water," Marry me." I said to Malcolm once I finished my drink and felt so alive.

"Let's go then," Malcolm smiled.

"No one's getting married anytime soon," my dad said, giving Malcolm the stink eye, clearly they weren't going to get along.

"Calm down dad it was just a joke," I said shaking my head not believing he still didn't like Malcolm when he did nothing wrong.

"Right, Lila and grandma came here to visit you so let me go fetch them now that you're fed up and ready to handle grandma's nonsense." He sighed as if already fed up with grandma.

"Ok," I said watching him leave the room to fetch my sweet little old grandma minus the sweet part.

"Is she that bad?" Malcolm asked with a raised brow.

"No my dad is just exaggerating grandma can be a handful mind you but she's sweet when she wants to which is never," I chuckled remembering every mischief thing she's ever done.

"That's nice though, my grandma hates me for no reason at all." He shrugged his shoulders playing with his phone in his hand.

"Ya that's old people for you but they are still family you know," I said.

"Ya, can't change that," he sighed, not a moment later did the rest of my family barge into the room. Grandma had her cane in hand supporting her weight as she waddled over to me with a worried Lila behind her just in case Grandma fell, on the other side of grandma was Devontae looking fresh as ever and less bony than the last time I saw him I might even go as far as saying he was glowing.

"Hi guys," I greeted them watching as they found a spot to sit.

"Move over you handsome devil," grandma smiled at Malcolm who got up to give her the seat. He looked a bit weirded out but he laughed it off and stood beside me.

"Hey Belle, how are you feeling?" Lila asked with a worried face.

"Much better thank you," I smiled kindly.

"What the hell happened to you, Bella?" Grandma asked eying all the machines in the room.

"Just an incident," I said hoping she wouldn't ask any more questions but by now I shouldn't have expected any less with grandma.

"What kind of incident?" Grandma asked with a raised brow.

"Alice let her be, if she doesn't want to talk about it let her be," Lila kindly said making me thankful she was so reasonable and kind.

"Oh bollocks, we deserve to know what happened." Grandma angrily scoffed pinching my arm.

"Ow!" I cried moving my hand away from her.

"Alice!" My dad angrily yelled.

"Oh relax it's not like I stabbed her," grandma scoffed.

"Hey Dev, how are you?" I asked him ignoring my family's bickering.

"I'm really good thanks and u?" He asked with a toothy grin.

"I'm glad to hear that, well I'm alive but sore," I chuckled.

"Sorry," he apologised.

"That's ok it's not your fault," I reassured him, just happy that he was doing so much better than before.

"Do they always fight like that?" Malcolm asked me noticing the heated argument my father and grandma were having.

"Ya but don't worry it's their way of showing each other they love each other," I smiled.

"We can hear you, you walking std," grandma angrily said turning her icy glare at me.

"Grandma I'm a virgin," I said shaking my head.

"A virgin? At your age, I had slept with half my school. What's taking you so long?" She asked in disbelief.

"Oh god." Dad groaned, slapping his forehead as if not believing what he was hearing.

"I love your grandma," Malcolm whispered next to me.

"Don't let her hear that or it'll go straight to her ego," I whispered back with a small smile. Watching my family bigger over god knows what made my heart sour as my heart beat for every single person in the room.