CHAPTER 12
"Is she okay?"
I slump heavily down onto the kitchen stool and place my face into my hands. "Mnnn yeah, I think she is now." I look up at my dad and he scratches the back of his head. "Do you know what happened?"
"She didn't tell you?"
"No."
"Well I'm not sure neither." I watch my dad take a seat beside me and light up a cigarette. Usually when he does this we make a joke about him getting lung cancer or emphysema, but I stay quiet and so does he for a moment. "Darren was standing over her…real close like…"
I grit my teeth and look away from my dad…it's three in the morning. Most have gone home…Apart from the few who were sleeping in either spare rooms or on couches.
I hear the familiar sound or my dad scratching his short trimmed beard. And hear him shuffle forward on his seat.
"And then?"
"…I dunno, I called out to Darren and then all of a sudden the girl was flying past me and running up to you…"
"Hmn,"
There is a pause and I turn my head and face my dad again. "Is Darren in trouble?"
My dad shrugs. "He didn't do anything…I guess I stopped anything from going to far…He was drunk out of his mind the dickhead."
I let out a sound of disbelief and I know my eyes must be wide, "what?!"
"Now Isabelle-"
I cut my dads words, "Since when is being drunk an excuse for th-that…well….that's just un--!!!"
"Isabelle." My dad lets loose the 'father' voice and I snap my mouth shut and look away. "You didn't let me finish,"
"Huh?" I look back at my dad, his eyes are sincere and he smiles at me.
"Don't you worry me and Robbo will have a good ol' banter at that boy tomorrow when he wakes up. He wont get away without a good telling off don't you worry my girl."
"hm, good." I get off of the stool and stretch.
"Isabelle…"
"Yeah dad?"
"Delilah needs to be talked to as well…"
I frown so slightly, "what do you mean? It wasn't her fault."
My dad gets up and puts a hand on either of my shoulders looking me straight into my eyes. "I know that, but I think that what happened tonight and what happened last weekend are linked…"
I stay silent and try to avoid my fathers grey eyes. They are so concerned…He's concerned.
"Izzy, you need to help your friend, you need to talk to her, support her….and if the time comes…you must report her to the right authorities…" My father takes my chin between his finger and thumb forcing eye contact. "If you love this girl you'll do what ever is necessary." My dad smiles and leans forward kissing my forehead.
"Yeah I know…But with tests for school and all of that I've had trouble finding time for me to be alone with her…" I need to get her alone. So that we can talk…somewhere where she won't try to run away from me. My eyes widen. "Hey dad?" I interrupt whatever my dad was saying, pulling back as my mind races forward with my newly proposed plan.
"Hnm?"
"What if I were to take Delilah out camping?"
"Camping?"
"Yeah, yeah…It would give me the perfect opportunity to talk to her alone. No distractions."
"hmnnn," My dad crosses his arms and ponders for a moment. "Has she ever gone camping before?"
"I dunno, probably not…But what's it matter? Me, you and mum used to go camping all the time!"
"In august?"
I grin at my dad. "C'mon I'll take a couple swags and then me and Lil can go bush for a couple days."
Dad shakes his head. "You can go…but there's only one swag…remember?"
"Oh, right. Oh well we have the tent…And I'll have the swag."
My dad lets out a sigh and I know that I have won. "Okay you two can go."
"Yes!" I give my dad a hug and kiss his cheek. "Thanks dad!"
"Yeah, yeah I know aren't I the greatest." My dad butts out a forgotten cigarette while saying to me, "Okay you go and get the swag and I'll go get the tent and a sleeping bag for Lil."
"Right on, I'll pack some food too."
"No, don't you worry about that Izzy, I'll get everything prepared for you. Just bring the swag downstairs and put it on the bench. I'll do the rest"
I want to argue but my dad gives me a look and I raise my hands in mock defense. "Alright I'll get the swag."
"Good. You'll need your rest."
"Cool."
I turn from my dad and take long strides to the stair case and make my way up the stares and eventually find my way to our house attic. I climb the old ladder up to the roof and after some determined rummaging I found the old swag which, my mum, my dad and I used to take out on holidays. I smile and again begin to make my way back to the kitchen. I put the brown old swag down beside the bench and let out a yawn. "Aww man I'm so tired." I glance around the quiet kitchen and a sigh passes my lips breaking the silence. I check my watch and cringe at what the time is. Quarter to five. I shake my head slowly and rub my eye sleepily. Maybe dads right to send me off to bed. I walk up the stairs one last time for the night and go into my room. I enter as quietly as I can and tip toe to my bed. Where Delilah is sleeping. Pulling he sheets back slowly as I watch Delilah's sleeping face I eventually get into bed and pull the covers over us adjusting them so as to be sure Delilah has enough. My heart warms at the sight of her peaceful sleeping face. I don't think that she knows how unbelievably beautiful she is. I smile and think this to myself as I turn over and lay my head on the pillow. Sleeping blissfully with the knowledge that Delilah was beside me, in my room, in my bed…safe and sound.
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