Break the Distance

Chapter 5

Saturday, August 20th 2016

Wellington, New Zealand

Richelle Smith's pov

"Hi Richelle," my dad says as I walk into the living room, "where are you coming from?" Crap, my dad is not supposed to be home yet! What is he doing home? He can't know I was dancing! I was supposed to study all day!

"Oh I was just outside to get some fresh air," I say lying the best I can. I hope I don't have one of those things at which people can see I'm lying, but I honestly don't know since I don't lie that often.

My dad looks on the clock. "1,5 hour?" he says and raises his eyebrows. So that's how long he's already home. "Y-Yea," I say and smile slightly, "the weather was beautiful and I totally forgot the time." He sighs. "You should've been learning," he says. "I know," I say, glad he's buying it, "I was almost finished and though I deserved a little break."

My dad thinks for a while and then nods. "I want the best for you," he says, "you know that. We have those rules for a reason." I nod. "I know," I say, "it won't happen again." "Good," he says and gestures me to give him a hug which I do.

"Why're you so early?" I ask him. "I wasn't feeling well," he says, "I decided to take the afternoon off." I nod slowly. I'm worried about him, this isn't the first time he comes home early because he isn't feeling well. I really hope he isn't going to get a burn out.

"Shall I cook supper?" I offer him, "you can rest in the meanwhile." He smiles at me. "You're too good for this world sweetie," he says, "thank you." "You're my dad," I say, "it's my duty." He gives me another hug before he stands up and walks upstairs.

I sigh in relieve when I hear the door of his bedroom close. That was too close, this can't happen again. Thankfully I left my dance bag in the hallway! Maybe I should quit dance for a while, just until the year is over which will be in 3 months anyway. I grab something to drink and sit down on the couch with my phone instantly going to i********:.

It's 7 pm so , I do some quick math in my head, it's 12 Am in Canada. Stupid time difference. I sigh and throw my phone besides me. Sometimes I get so frustrated by myself, is this really where I'm looking forward to everyday? To some random dude literally living on the other side of the world. He'll never know of my existence let alone will I ever meet him. I'm hopeless.

Still telling myself I have to get over him, I walk to the kitchen. Hopefully it isn't too hard what my dad was planning to make for today. I look in the fridge. Empty. I look in the cupboards. Empty. No way, this is not true. My blood start to boiling and I walk angry back to my phone. I dial my brothers number, but he doesn't pick up.

"Brandon!" I yell when his voicemail comes, "where are you?! Haven't you forgot something, mainly GROCERY SHOPPING?!" I hang up and throw my phone back on the couch.

I can't believe Brandon and I are related. He's just a little year older than me, but thinks that he can boss me around. Other than me he isn't doing great at school, all he has to do is do grocery shopping once a week and a lot of times he doesn't even do that, he's always somewhere else, eats most days at friends and just isn't helpful. While I study hard and help my dad whenever I can. I'm pretty sure my dad gave up on him, that's why my dad isn't so strict on learning on him.

The best part about this all, is that shops are closed by now and we literally don't have food, not even some bread. I try to come up with something, but I just can't. Think I've to call Katie again. I don't like asking for help, but honestly I don't have another choice right now.

"Hi," I say as she picks up her phone, gladly I calmed down a little. "Hi Ri," Katie says. "I'm sorry," I say, "Brandon didn't get groceries and we literally don't have any food right now." "No need to worry," Katie says, "you know my mom always says that you're welcome to join our diner whenever you want." "Thank you," I say, "but my dad isn't feeling well so it probably will be only me." "Fine," Katie says, "I'll tell my mom, oh ... wait she's asking about it, wait a second."

I hear Katie tell it her mother. I feel embarrassed. Asking for is something I only do when I've literally no other options. "It's fine," Katie says in the phone, "Thank you, and thank your mom," I say. "You're welcome," Katie says, "and my mom asks if your dad needs something." "No," I say, "you know not asking for help runs in the family." I hear Katie laugh slightly. "So see you in a bit then?" I ask her. "Yea," she says, "see ya."

I don't want to wake my dad up, so I just leave him a note and walk to Katie. She lives around 10 minutes walking from me, so it isn't that bad.

"Hii," Katie's mom greets me happily when she opens the door. "Hi," I say and smile, "thank you so much." "Your welcome," she says, "and now please just act like you're home, you basically are." "Thank you," I say again and walk in. It's true, this is basically my second home. Back when I was younger I used to be here a lot. I was here pretty much every day, but when I grew up I realized I wanted to be independent so I came here every week a little less until it was just once in a while.

Katie and her family are way too good and always offer to help since they know how hard my dad has to work to pay the bills. I used to never understand why since my dad wasn't stupid and his job was a good one, but a few months ago I found out. My mom left my dad with a lot of debts. Still, 17 years later, he's not done with paying it all. I just hope one day everything will be alright.

"Everything alright?" Katie asks when she walks into the hallway where I still stand. "Yea of course," I say and look up to her, "why wouldn't I be." "You literally stared into nothing for several minutes," Katie says and she smiles slightly. "Oops," I say and let out a nervous laughs. I don't know why, there's no need to be nervous, I just am.

Katie has 2 little sister. Bella, she's 14, and Lizzy, she's 12. They're a big part of the reason why I always feel so welcome here, they just treat me like their sister, are not afraid to say something to me even though I'm 3 years older. And they're literally always happy and cheerful, but their whole family is, it's ridiculous.

During dinner I listen to Bella and Lizzy talking happily and telling all about their day. I think the biggest reason why they're always taking about an hour for dinner, is because they all talk so much. It's like the only moment in the day when they really are all together and talk about anything they want. Even though Katie regularly complains at school about how much her sisters talk, I still wish I had siblings like hers. I barely talk to my brother, and all I talk about with my dad is school.

After dinner I stay for a while longer, basically catching up with the whole family. To be honest I really missed them like they're my own family

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