Chapter 4: Life Is Too Raw Sometimes…

Tasmine’s POV

I watched as Noah walked into the room past my dad and sat down in the spot he was just in, he looked upset. Why does he look upset? “Tasmine I am sorry, for what they had done.” He whispered, I sniffled, whipping my nose, “Don’t be sorry for what other people have done.” I whispered back.

“I’m also sorry about your mum.” He whispered, I put my hand up to stop him, “Please... don’t.” I said softly, he gave me a sad smile, “Ok, I won’t.” He agreed, I motioned for him to join me on the bed. He was a bit nervous to join me, I grabbed his hand pulling him up onto the bed towards me. We both sat up, I wrapped one of his arms around me as I lay my head onto his chest crying more than I thought I would, he held onto me tighter while rubbing circles on my back.

I am normally not the girl to be this close with someone I just met but I feel like I have no choice in that matter as I know no one in this town well enough, and I need comfort right now. “I’m just going to say this, you have every right to punch me ok?” Noah said, breaking the silence, I tried not to laugh, “Ok.” I whispered, he brushes my hair off my face as he looks me in the eyes, “Your mum has only just passed away?” He asked so softly.

I look back at him with a look thinking he’s stupid, but then realising I really hadn’t told him anything. “Yes, only a few days ago,” I mumbled, “Oh, Tassie I am truly sorry.” He whispered, he held onto me tighter, I think I heard him whisper ‘This makes sense’ . I like Jackson because he is easy to be around. I don't mind Mason, but I don’t trust him or Jamie, I also really do not like her. She hated me from the get-go. Maybe she used to date Noah and is pissed off that he is friends with me, which is odd as we have only just met and I find him to be a friend.

“Are they going to be nice to me next time I see them?” I asked, sounding scared, which I didn’t want to. “Don’t worry I will make sure they will be.” He whispered, I don’t want to repeat what I had just said, it’s too hard, it's too raw right now. “You can tell them about what happened,” I whispered, and he looked back at me in shock, “Are you sure?” He asked softly, I nodded my head, “I’m only going to tell you what happened, and I don’t feel like doing it again.” I said.

He nods his head to let me know to continue on, “She died of breast cancer, my dad Lee showed up at the funeral after receiving a letter from my mum asking him to take care of me.” He just whispered a wow, as I continued. “My dad didn’t say when he left?” I asked him, “Nope, he just said he had a personal matter to go to. He'll be back in a few days to weeks depending on time and what might happen.” He replies.

It was my turn to be shocked, “Oh, he never mentioned me or my mum?” I asked quietly, he shook his head, “Probably to the adults around him that needed to know, one thing you should know is that Lee is a very quiet man and keeps to himself, he doesn’t share much about himself.” Noah said, well, I didn’t know that about him, but then again, I don’t know much about my own father thanks to mum.

“Oh, ok...” I mumbled, he smiled at me, “Do you want to watch a movie?” He asked me, we headed out to the lounge room, dad was in the kitchen. “Is that you kiddo?” he called out. “Yeah!” I yelled back, “Is Noah still here?” He asked. “Yes, Lee,” Noah yelled back. “Good, cause your mum is calling you.” My dad said, I saw fear cross over his eyes fast, then it was gone, “Oh man really? That time already? I gotta go Tassie see you tomorrow?” He sounded so scared something was up with him.

I smiled at him, I can see us being good friends. “Sure, bye Noah!” I yelled out, but Dad yelled out, “That is a maybe Noah!” Noah just laughed, “Ok, bye Lee.” He leaves and I head into the kitchen, looking at Lee making dinner. “You ok?” He asked softly. “Unsure, thank you for letting him stay a little longer,” I said to Dad.

Dad smiled, “You are welcome, also do not expect it next time. That was the first and last time you cuddled a boy in your bed.” He snapped at me, I looked at him in shock, “I wouldn’t call it cuddling dad, more like comforting an upset friend.” I replied, sounding like a brat in my opinion.

Dad continues working away, “Call it whatever you like, it won’t be happening again.” He snapped. “Really?” I was shocked. “Yes really, I remember what teenage boys are like Tasmine.” He growled out. I huffed and stormed into the lounge room, like really why is he being so damned harsh on me. “Jump into the shower before dinner is ready.” He yelled out.

I looked at him in shock, “Really? It's Thursday night so I don't have to be ready for bed at six.” I snapped back at him. Dad stormed out of the kitchen looking at me in shock, “In this household you do!” He yelled at me. I looked back at him stunned, “Really?” I asked, sounding like a broken record. “Yes, dinner is done by six, you're bathed and ready for bed before dinner, you go to bed on school nights at eight-thirty and weekends nine-thirty unless we are hanging out with family.” He snapped at me.

I throw my hands up in the air, “Wow! Not even mum was this nut!” I yelled at him. “Not my problem, my house, my rules Miss. Also only hanging out with kids that I know are well-behaved ones, Noah and Jackson are on this list but only on weekends you can hang with them and not after school either, you start school on Monday, tomorrow morning we will go to the uniform shop and get your uniforms and school supplies, hopefully before we go the rest of your bedroom arrives. Also once a week your phone, tablet, and the computer will be checked randomly for anything and everything, also if you think of deleting anything I do know how to find it, only doing it to keep you safe.” He sounded pissed off.

I looked at him in shock, “What are you kidding me!” I screamed. “I am deadly serious Tasmine! Chop chop!” He yelled at me, I rolled my eyes, “Right! I am going!” I yelled back at him, I heard him say good from the kitchen. Ten minutes later we are sitting at the dinner table eating dinner, steak, and gravy with vegetables, I am in my PJs and Lee is still in his work gear, I huffed.

“If I have all these rules, I believe you should have some too.” I snapped at him. He looked at me shocked. “You think I need rules?” He asked, shocked, he is trying not to laugh at me, “Yes.” I said calmly, he put his knife and fork down, “Ok, let me have it.” He said, sounding like he is enjoying this.

I chuckle. I like this. “No matter what time it is you cannot eat dinner in those greasy work clothes and clean up before cooking and eating,” I said, sounding like my mum, he looked shocked, “What this is clean.” He said shocked. Looking down at himself, clothes covered in car grease, at least his hands and arms are clean, “All car parts and tools stay downstairs.” I snapped.

“Really? It’s my house.” He snapped at me, I smiled at him, like I don’t care who owns this house, “Don’t care I’m living here with you right now I don’t want to deal with it.”

“Fine, next.” He scoffed, “If you’re planning on going out for dates let me have sleepovers at a friend’s house so I don’t have to hear or see them until you are ready to introduce them to me.” He tilts his head to the side as he squints his eyes at me, “Ok, oh my what the hell did your mother expose you to?!” He snapped, “Let’s just say having a constant string of strange men in my kitchen hitting my bum telling me they are my new daddy and wishing I was older so they could have a tap too”

He didn’t let me finish as he screamed at me, “WHAT! YOUR FUCKING MOTHER ALLOWED THIS! IF I SEE THOSE MEN, I AM KILLING THEM!” He roared, I chuckled, “Now I wished I had known you for those mornings!” I said laughing, he glares, I know he is not angry at me. “I would have had full custody in that bloody case! No way will that happen here.” He snapped, I smiled, “Would you let me go to school functions?” I asked softly.

“What type are we talking about?” He asked softly, I looked down at my food, “Unsure if Tully has them but blue light discos, mocktail ball, deb ball, and the senior dance?” I asked, he smiled, “I have no idea if they do but sounds ok, as long as I am your driver.” He said, I smiled, “Ok deal thank you, also I want a little say in the shopping.” I whispered the last part.

“What do you mean?” He asked, “Are we going to have meat and three vegetables for the rest of my life?” I asked hoping he knows how to cook more food items, he chuckles, “Most likely as that is all I know how to cook. If you want something else, I’ll get grandma to pop in to help teach you some cooking.” He replied, I smiled, “I know how to cook some things but am happy to learn what she knows.” I smiled. I have a grandma that can cook.

“Good, I'll call her tonight and let her know.” He said, sounding happy, we went back to eating and talking, “When do I get to meet everyone?” I asked softly, he had the biggest smile on his face, “Hoping to have a big BBQ tomorrow night with everyone. How does that sound?” He asked me, I liked that he asked me if it was ok, “Sounds good.” I said smiling, “The shop will be okay tomorrow. My second in charge has been looking after it while I have been away.” He said, I looked at him in wonder, never realising I had not asked what he does for a living, “What shop? Was I asleep when you told me?” I asked lost.

He chuckles, “It seems so. I am a jack of all trades, I have opened up Kelly’s Mechanical, we can do just about anything from farming trucks to grandma’s car, we do restorations, and repairs from crashes the only thing we cannot do is the big massive mining trucks as our place isn’t big enough.” He said, sounding like he loves what he does, I smiled. That sounds so cool I am keen to get my hands dirty and help out and learn. “All the cars in the side of your yard are for what?” I asked.

“Oh, they are my projects, I do up cars from the police station and sell them at auction. That is what Noah and Oliver help me with when they aren’t at the shop. The money we make on them we split it. When they are not doing their apprenticeships at the workshop. All though lately Oliver hasn’t been helping out as much as he has taken up more hours at the shop instead.” Dad said, I smiled, “Cool, can I join in?” I asked, this sounds like fun.

His face went from shock then proud then joyful, “Hell yes! I would love that!” He just about yells out. I smiled, I like the sound of this I will get to know him more this way and learn how to fix cars at the same time, I can see mum rolling around in her grave by him agreeing to do this, she was dead set against me in learning this but I have always wanted to do it now I know why.

We finished up and I helped him clean up the kitchen. Once he went back downstairs, I went and started watching Home and Away then a movie, which I had fallen asleep during the movie as always.

Lee’s POV

It’s been a while since I heard Tassie moving around upstairs, I should go check up on her, I have done enough on this car for one night. I quickly go clean up then start locking up downstairs then heading upstairs, locking the front door, and turning off the lights I see Tassie is sound asleep on the couch with the TV still on, oh poor kid it has been a big week for her, hopefully, she will make some good friends here that can help her out too.

I am doing my best sweetie. Hopefully it is enough for you. Picking her up off the couch and taking her into her room, putting a sheet over her, and turning on her fan I leave her be. The home phone starts ringing, as I leave her room who the hell is calling at this time of night.

**PHONE CALL**

**Lee** Hello?

**James** Brother! Why did I have to hear my ex-sister-in-law has died and my niece is living with you from mum?

**Lee** I did tell you?

He starts laughing, how is that funny?

**James** Just pulling your leg. So, when do you want me and the girl’s over tomorrow?

**Lee** Well I need to enrol Tassie into school and get all her stuff for it, then hit the shops for food and drinks for the BBQ. The afternoon any time after four should be fine.

**James** Shit what the fuck you didn’t enroll her today? Are you forgetting no one is at the school tomorrow as it’s a student-free day?

**Lee** Only doing what they said to do. Something is on for all the office staff tomorrow morning.

**James** Ok, well just calling to let you know that Tasmine was hanging out with Jamie today she told Amanda some horrible stuff about your girl. I am incredibly angry at what Jamie is doing because I don’t believe it to be true.

**Lee** What? Noah had only told me it was just him and Jackson, was Oliver with them? No wait he never said did he, no he just said friends.

**Jamie** No mention of Oliver, just Noah, Jackson, Mason, and Jamie.

**Lee** Noah would have known I would have said no if I knew Jamie was going to be with them. Now, what was said?

**James** She told Amanda that Tasmine was playing around very sluty with Noah and Jackson to the point she ran away crying because one of the boys had taken it too far with her.

**Lee** What the hell? I know that is not what happened. Yes, she did come home running and crying but both she and Noah said the same thing the others pushed her too far in asking why she is living here. She cries at a drop of the hat at the moment, poor thing it hasn’t been that long for her. Did Amanda put her in her place?

**James** Oh poor kid, my girls will be able to help her out more than others too. Oh, she sure did, Jamie had the nerve to involve her mother with some sob story she fell for.

**Lee** Oh no, well let’s hope we can nip this in the bud.

**James** Really, you’re forgetting what Liz is like, aren’t you?

I start laughing.

**Lee** Well she makes my late wife look normal.

**James** Well she’s your ex for a reason. Scrap that they both are your exes for a reason.

**Lee** A high school dance date and one kiss doesn’t make her my ex James.

**James** Tell her that, she loves telling people she’s the one that got away. That’s why your wife left... blah! Some small-town crap she pulls.*

*Lee** You know she still didn’t give us a good reason why she left. That is what’s messing Tasmine up the most with all the why questions and I got nothing. How can I help her when I, myself, have no idea why she bloody took off?

**James** Well Jane is a piece of work to do that to the pair of you. No normal person would do what she had done.

**Lee** I know...

**James** You know my views on this subject.

**Lee** I know, Tasmine told me some information about her life that if I’ve known about it, she would be living with me sooner.

**James** Oh shit no bro did she have a stepdad that did some horrible shit to her? We need her to spill names and addresses so we can kill them!

**Lee** As far as I know no stepdad’s, she said she had a constant string of strange men in her kitchen hitting her bum telling her they are her new daddy, and wishing she was older so they could have a tap too.

**James** Jesus Fucking Christ! Jane was ok with a man like that around her daughter?!

**Lee** Clearly, why be with someone like me, let’s bring in all the horrible scary people around a young child!

**James** Well she is now much safer with you and her Uncle’s being close by, does Jimmy know yet?

**Lee** He knows his sister has died and his niece is living with me now but doesn’t yet know about the other information. He couldn’t leave until tomorrow morning.

**James** Cool so he’ll be at the barbie?

**Lee** Yes.

**James** How did he become so normal and his sister a crackpot?

**Lee** I don’t bloody know man, she wasn’t like this when I married her nor before I had fallen in love with her. Something had happened to her after she had Tasmine that was when she started to change.

**James** We will never know now. Alright Brother I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. Love you.

**Lee** Ok, love you too.

Man, Tasmine doesn’t need this teenage drama on top of everything, will let Noah know what is happening, I am not impressed at all. Shit look at the time I better get into the shower and clean up or I won’t get any sleep.