Matt's POVToday is Saturday. It's one of these days that I get to sit back, relax and spend the day with my daughter, except she isn't here right now, she's at her "real" father's place. I'm not mad about it. Really! I'm not......much. Okay so maybe I'm a little upset that Fran made plans to be at her dad's, she's just been spending a lot of time there, she tries to make me go with her to make me feel included a lot of the time, but I feel like she's kind of slipping away from my fingers, maybe I'm just not used to sharing her. I just miss her, is that so wrong? And because I miss her I call her, when she doesn't pick up, I take a deep breath and try to call....her dad. I really don't want to do that. Don't get me wrong, Zachary is a nice guy, a great guy even. I just feel a bit awkward talking to him. But I want to check up on my girl so I suck it up and call his phone number. He picks up after the third ring. "Hello?" I hear at the other end of the line. I clear my throat
I stare at him wide eyed. And he looks just about horrified.I clear my throat, again, for the hundredth time. "Please forget I asked that, that was really weird" he says, palming his forehead.I let out a small chuckle. "It's fine" I say. "I can understand where your question is coming from, but I assure you, we are not just tolerating you for Fran's sake, I want to keep getting to know the man who raised my daughter in the years I was absent, the man she is currently living with, so does Dan". I say. "Right" I hear him mumble. "Dan? Really? I didn't exactly get that impression, I mean we barley really talk when we see each other." He says. I nod in acknowledgment. "True, but I've talked to him recently and he's open to have a good relationship with you". I say.I see a ghost of a smile creeping on Matthew's face at my words. It's makes me glad. We reach the living room area and sit on the couch."We agreed on Matt by the way". He suddenly says."Hmm?" I look at him confused.H
Dan's POVDad, Matt and I are sitting in the living room just talking. It's mainly me and Matt talking actually, it is out chance to get to know each other. It's a little weird, and a little awkward not gonna lie, but he's the person my sister loves enough to live with and not us. Don't let that bother you Dan. So, anyways, the point is. Matt is a good guy from what I've seen from him, getting to know him won't do me any harm. Sigh, if only Ivan could be with me. But he'd need to figure things out with Fran before any of that even has a possibility of happening.So, Matt and I talk and talk and talk just about random stuff, about mom, about memories with Fran. Some make me sad thinking I missed it all but I'm a glass half full kind of guy. I'm just happy she's here now. Just then I- well we hear footsteps coming down the stairs. Two footsteps.Uh oh, I think to myself.Could Fran and Ivan be fighting again and whatever she did upstairs hadn't worked?I mentally prepare myself for
Francisca's POV Life is great! Have I said that before? Life is great? Whatever, I'm saying it again if so. Life is freaking great! And I'm going to shout it from the rooftops! Things seem to be so perfect these days, there is a routine to my life now. I have a relationship with my father, with my brothers, and I got to maintain my relationship with Matt. I have Violet as a friend, and I talk with Lori and Jenny frequently. So when I say life is looking better than before, when I say life is great. I freaking mean it!I am at school right now with Violet about to find our seats in the cafeteria when I hear a whistle. I look towards where it came from to find Dan waving at me from his table that has his friends plus Ivan and urging me to go to him. I tell violet to come with me and she does after some hesitation."Hi" I say a bit awkwardly after I reach the table. And I was strutting over there confidently too. But suddenly I just wasn't as confident as I was 5 seconds ago. I g
Matt's POV I come back home from a long day at work, And surprise surprise Francesca isn't home.It is to be expected at this point I guess, I try to not let myself get too upset by her going to their house straight from school every single day, but if this keeps going then I'm going to lose my damn freaking mind. I sigh, it would be just easier if she went ahead and lived with them. I think dejectedly. I know Zach and the boys, or at least Dan, are trying to make me feel a part of the family and to not exclude me from things and don't want me to feel left out because I am an important part of Francesca's life. All the talk last time we had dinner at their house made me feel a little better about this whole situation but that doesn't take from the fact that I still barely see my daughter. Just when I had decided that I was going to call Zach to check up on her or....I don't know....demand that she comes home right away? I hear and see the front door of the apartment open.Francisc
Zach's POV What was that?!? Did I snap at him? It sounded like I snapped at him. Ugh I have no idea how our conversation led to this abrupt end to the phone call. It's the Saturday when I see Matt after the......interesting phone call that we had. I am sitting on my couch drinking coffee when I see him come towards me, it takes me off guard. "What are you doing here?" He winces when I finish asking the question, and I immediately regret how it sounded. I didn't have to sound so rude. But seriously why is he here? Is this about the phone call? He clears his throat "Um I'm here for Dan" he says and I look at him confused, "he and I are supposed to hang out today" he says when he sees the confusion on my face. "Oh" I say "right" i mutter, I completely forgot. Of course this isn't about the phone call. "I guess I'm going to call him for you" I say and begin to get up to head over to Dan's room but Matt stops me. "The maid that opened the door already said that she'll do that"
Dan's POVToday is the day I "bond" with Matt, Francisca's guardian, Francisca's step father, and I guess my step father too, or ex....I don't know how we will come out of today, but I doubt we will become besties, considering we barley spoke a word to each other on the ride here. We are at the park now, just waking and eating hotdogs that we bought earlier. I have anticipated that this was going to be awkward, but I didn't know it was going to be this awkward. We haven't spoken a word to each other, well other than when Matt asked if I wanted a hotdog. Other than that, not a word. As much as I want the silence and the awkwardness to stop, I have no idea what we are supposed to be talking about.We end up sitting on a park bench, still not taking, still not making eye contact, still nothing. But I do see Matt out of the corner of my eye glance at me a few times. I'm guessing he's as much of a fan of the awkwardness as I am."So....how is school?" Matt finally asks. "Good good"
Francisca's POV Things have been going great between Matt and Dan and dad.It's been awesome! I just wish Ivan was more open to take that next step with Matt too. Join the bandwagon! But he's stubborn. We already know that. It'll take some time and Matt says that he's totally fine with it. Anyways, I sort of have a routine now. I go to school, spend time at dad's house, and go back to my house with Matt. Matt actually started spending most of his time at dad's house too. We practically live there and only go back to sleep in our own beds. So now that school is over. Violet and I are going out of the front door when we hear a honk almost immediately.Once we spot that car that is honking at us, a smile spreads on Violet's face. There is a woman in the car wearing sunglasses and her light brown hair is in a tight bun. I look at the car confused before Violet says, "that's my mom". My mouth forms an 'O'."Do you wanna meet her?" Violet asks. And I nod my head yes. Violet le