Driven to Distraction

When I woke up, I noticed two things: first, John wasn’t anywhere in sight, and as much as that hurt and fucking pissed me off, I couldn’t help but to turn my attention to the vase of purple and white orchids sitting on my nightstand; they were my favorite flowers.

I grabbed the small, white envelope laying next to the vase, and quickly opened it, reading the barely legible writing.

’I’ll be waiting downstairs with breakfast. We need to talk, Ketely. Love, Dad.’

I furrowed brows and pushed the blankets off of my body before running my hands over my face. My dad and I hadn’t actually sat down and talked for what seemed like months, and the fact that he suddenly had an urge to, gave me a bad feeling. I brushed it off, though, and made my way down into the kitchen, seeing my father sitting with a cup of coffee at the table. He seemed to be deep in thought as he stared out of the window.

“Dad?” I called, looking at him.

He turned my way and a small smile crept onto his lips. “Good morning, babygirl. Are you hungry?”

I nodded my head slowly. “Yeah, I could eat.”

As I sat down, he got up and grabbed two plates from the microwave, setting one down before me before sitting down with his own. My mouth immediately watered at the sight of French toast, eggs and bacon.

“I know that French toast is your favorite,” he commented.

I smiled gratefully and looked at him. “Thanks, dad.”

“You’re welcome,” he said before eating a forkful of eggs.

We ate in silence and every once in awhile, I’d glance at him, wondering if he was going to open his mouth and say something. But when he didn’t, I gave up and went back to eating. When we were done, we both continued sitting, staring at our plates.

“So … you wanted to talk?” I asked, hoping to get whatever it was he wanted to talk about out of the way so I could find the piece of shit that was John O’Callaghan.

“Ketely, I don’t know how to say this,” he sighed, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. “I know that I haven’t been around much since – since your mother died, and I’m sorry for that. I didn’t realize how much I was leaving you to depend on yourself, until I got home last night, and really thought about everything. I haven’t been there for you nearly as much as I should have, and I’m sorry.” His brown eyes looked at me, and I could see how sorry he truly was. “I abandoned you when you needed me the most.”

I laughed, trying to keep myself from crying. “Dad, you didn’t abandon me. You had work.”

“But it still doesn’t make what I did right, Ketely. I even missed your sixteenth birthday, and I’ve never missed a single birthday of yours. Not once. I’m so sorry honey, can you forgive me?” he asked, placing his large hand over my own.

I gave a teary-eyed smile and nodded my head. “Of course. You’re my dad,” I stated.

He laughed and suddenly, he didn’t look so hurt. “I have a present for you.”

“What is it?”

He reached into the pockets of his black slacks and held his fist closed, looking at me. “Before I give this to you, I just want to say that I know you don’t have your license yet, but I figured this might be some incentive for you to go and get it.” He opened his hand and my eyes widened at the sight of what lay in his palm.

It was a single silver key, attached to a small remote with four buttons.

“Oh my, God! Dad, you got me a car!?” I exclaimed, jumping up from my seat.

He laughed. “It’s sitting in the garage at Aunt Marilyn’s house. We can go and get it whenever you want,” he said, pressing the key into my hand.

“I – I – I can’t believe this! Thank you so much, dad!” I shouted happily, pulling him into a big hug.

He smiled and I swore I saw tears in his eyes. “I’m just glad I can make you happy, pumpkin.”

He hadn’t called me that in what felt like forever, and it made the tears in my eyes fall. “Can – can we go get it today?”

“Of course, honey. Go get dressed and we’ll head over there.”

I squealed and ran upstairs, all thoughts of John fleeing my mind. I took the quickest shower I had ever taken in my life, and without even bothering to dry my hair, I threw it up into a sloppy bun. I slipped on an old black The Strokes tee shirt that Garrett had let me borrow awhile back, along with a pair of denim shorts. I slid my feet into a pair of black and white Vans, and ran back downstairs.

“Let’s go!”

My father laughed before opening the door for me. We both stepped outside and got into his car, cranking up the AC as it was burning hot outside. Although I asked him repeatedly what kind of car it was, what color it was, what year it was, he wouldn’t budge on giving me any answers. And after awhile, he turned the volume of the radio up, making me laugh.

“Dad!” I whined.

“You’ll see soon enough, pumpkin,” he chuckled.

I sighed dissatisfied and crossed my arms over my chest. When we finally arrived at my Aunt Marilyn’s house, I wasted time in running out of the car. My father ran behind me and I knocked on the door.

“Oh, Ketely, baby! I haven’t you seen in ages!” my aunt cried, pulling me into a hug.

I smiled and hugged her back. “I know! I heard you had my car in your garage!”

“Oh, is that the only reason you decided to stop by?” she asked, faking a hurt expression. I blushed and she laughed. “I’m only joking, baby. Let me open the garage.”

“Thank you, Aunty Marilyn!” I yelled before running back outside.

My father and I watched as the garage door rose, and when it was finally up, I couldn’t help but to let out a dreamy sigh. It was a brand new, black 2004 Toyota Camry – my dream car.

“Well don’t just stand there, Ketely, go check it out! See if you like it!” my father urged, pushing me towards the car.

“I’m just taking this all in! I mean – this is my car! My car! Oh my God!” I squealed, causing both my father and aunt to laugh.

I ran to the car and unlocked the doors with the remote in my hands. I slipped into the driver’s seat and began messing with all of the buttons. I checked out the backseat, and the trunk, and God, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I ran back to my dad, giving him a bone-crushing hug.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

“You deserve it, pumpkin. You’re the best daughter any father could ask for,” he smiled, and that caused me to tear up again.

“Can – can I drive it home?”

“You don’t have your license,” he stated.

I pouted. “But, dad, I have my permit!”

“Ketely, if something happens-“

“Oh, Scott, stop being such a killjoy! Let my niece drive her car home. Y’all only live ten minutes away,” my aunt Marilyn argued, defending me.

We both pouted, giving my dad our best puppy dog faces. After a moment, he let out a long sigh. “Alright, alright. You can drive the car home, Ketely. No funny business, okay?”

“Drive the car home! Got it!” I smiled, clapping my hands.

He laughed and gave me a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll see you home then, sweetheart.”

I smiled and turned to my aunt. “Thank you for helping me convince him!”

She laughed. “You’re welcome, sweetie. Enjoy that car, and don’t wait another year before coming to visit me again, Ketely Jewel,” she said, her voice turning stern at the end.

I laughed. “I won’t, Aunty Maril! I love you!” I gave her one last hug before she walked back into her house.

As I went to walk to my car, a familiar laugh rang through my ears, and suddenly, I remembered that a certain boy lived two houses down from my aunt; a boy who the mere thought of made my stomach turn at the moment.

I hastily turned around and ran straight to his house, seeing him sitting on his front porch with his younger brother, Shane. I stood in front of his steps, my arms crossed over my chest. When he looked up and saw me, his face paled and his eyes filled with worry. He turned to Shane.

“Hey, go inside for a minute, okay?” he asked.

Shane pouted. “We were supposed to race our cars!”

“We will in a few minutes, Shane. Just go inside.” With a frown on his face, Shane got up and went inside, and John turned back around, looking at me. “Uh … hi, Ketely,” he said nervously.

He had every fucking right to be nervous.

“How could you fucking do that to me!?” I asked, trying to keep my voice low.

“Ketely-“

I shook my head, not giving him a chance to talk. “Don’t fucking give me excuses, because I don’t want to hear them. God, John, I thought last night changed things! I thought you kissing me and me telling you my secrets meant something! But it was just bullshit to you, wasn’t it!?” I seethed.

He rubbed the back of his neck, and looked at me. “I – I made sure you were asleep before I left, K.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, and I guess that just fixes everything, doesn’t it?”

He walked down the three steps, standing toe to toe with me. “Please don’t make a scene – not here,” he pleaded.

I laughed sarcastically. “I’m not making a fucking scene.”

He grabbed my wrists and looked me in the eyes. “Ketely, I can’t give you what you want, and deep down, you know that.”

I gave up being angry and instead, let tears prick my eyes. “That’s not true,” I whispered.

He pressed his forehead against mine and sighed. “Then why are you standing outside of my house yelling at me?”

I bit down on my bottom lip. “Can’t we just – can’t we just try, John?” I stared into his green orbs, feeling butterflies in my tummy. “When we kiss – I know you have to feel what I feel, O’Callaghan.”

His lips tugged into a small smile and he nodded his head. “I feel it, and that’s what scares me.”

“Then let’s be scared together,” I stated.

“We fight all the time,” he argued.

“So?”

“And we hate each other’s guts,” he added.

I laughed. “I thought you didn’t hate me?”

He smirked. “I don’t.”

“Then can’t we just try, John?”

He gave a long sigh and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I might hurt you …”

I swallowed back the lump in my throat and shrugged my shoulders. “You might not …”

He gave me a sad smile and placed a kiss on my forehead. “You drive me insane, Morrison.”

“And you drive me mad, O’Callaghan,” I smiled.

He chuckled. “I can’t believe I’m about to ask you this … I’ve never asked any girl this before …”

“Ask me what?” I questioned, furrowing my brows.

A look of nervousness flickered in his eyes and I watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Will you be my girlfriend, Morrison?”

I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips, my heart racing. “Yes,” I answered shyly before John laughed and gave me a peck on the lips.

“By the way, your new car is pretty badass.”

I laughed. “Thanks. I still need to get my license before I can really drive it anywhere, though.”

He smirked. “It doesn’t beat my truck, though.”

I scoffed, playfully rolling my eyes. “That ancient thing sitting in your driveway?”

“Hey now, you better respect Lucille if we’re going to be together.”

I smiled and saw Shane peering out of the window, obviously waiting for his older brother. “Shane’s waiting for you. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

He nodded his head. “Yep. I’ll see you tomorrow, girlfriend. God, I’m going to have to get used to that.”

I laughed. “See you tomorrow, boyfriend.”

John O’Callaghan was my first boyfriend.

Who would have ever guessed?

_________________________________________________

“ … But we’re going out now, Kelsi! I don’t want to look … plain, when I see him today!” I babbled, holding my cell phone between my shoulder and chin as I fingered through the clothes hanging in my closet.

“Oh my, God, Ketely! He’s just John!” she laughed, very amused at the fact that John and I were a couple now and at the fact that I was freaking out over what I was going to wear to school – something that had never happened before.

“But – but he’s not just John, anymore. He’s my boyfriend!” I argued.

She laughed again before sighing. “Just wear a cute tank top and shorts. I heard through the grapevine that John loves those legs of yours.”

I felt my cheeks warm. “He does?” I asked, shocked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Alright, I guess I’ll work on trying to find something! I’ll see you in a few, Kels!”

“See ya, K!” she chimed before hanging up.

I settled on a black and white tank top with a pair of light blue jean shorts. After slipping both on, I slid my feet into my pair of white Vans and grabbed my backpack, skipping down the stairs. I nearly jump ten feet in the air when I saw my father sitting at the table, sipping a cup of coffee.

“Dad?”

He looked up at me, smiling. “Good morning, pumpkin.”

“Good morning,” I said nervously as I laid my bag on the counter. “Uh, aren’t you going to be late for work?”

He shook his head, lacing his fingers in his lap. “I decided it was time I took a day off. I haven’t been feeling so well.”

Immediately, I began to panic. I walked over and placed the back of my hand against his forehead. “You feel warm. Have you taken any medicine?”

He nodded his head. “I took some as soon as I woke up. I just wanted to see you off to school, since it’s been so long …”

I smiled sadly and pulled him into a hug just as Kelsi’s horn sounded outside. “I’ll come home straight after school. Just – just lay in bed and take your medicine, okay?”

He laughed softly. “Oh, Ketely, I’ll be fine. It’s just a cold coming on. Have a good day at school, okay?”

“I will. I love you.”

“I love you, too, K,” he sighed.

I grabbed my bag and walked outside, getting into Kelsi’s car.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked as she backed out of my driveway.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I smiled, pushing my dad to the back of my mind.

“Just making sure. You look great, by the way. John will be proud to show you off.”

I laughed, feeling butterflies form in my stomach as John’s name left her lips. “I’m so nervous to see him.”

“Ketely!” she laughed, shaking her head, “you’ve known this boy since you were six years old!”

“I know, but we’ve never gotten along before! You, more than anyone else I know, should know that!”

“Oh, believe me, I’ve witnessed it all with my own eyes, but we’re getting older now, and of course things are going to change. I always knew O’Callaghan had his eyes on you,” she smirked.

“I guess,” I sighed, listening to the music playing over the speakers.

When we arrived at school, I took a good give minutes before getting out of the car, trying to calm my nerves.

“Come on, K, don’t be nervous. Just act like this is any other day,” Kelsi encouraged, giving my shoulder a slight nudge.

I inhaled a deep breath of air before following her into the school. All five boys were standing by my locker, and when I caught eyes with John, I felt nauseous. I felt my cheeks warm as he pulled me into a hug once I had reached him.

“You look beautiful, Morrison,” he smiled.

I blushed and looked to my feet. “Thanks, O’Callaghan.”

“God, this is going to be so hard to get used to. Usually, you’re ripping each other apart by now,” Jared laughed.

“I know. It’s almost – it’s almost like watching a cat and a dog get along,” Garrett shuddered.

We all laughed at his joke and when the first bell rang, John intertwined our fingers, and I suddenly realized that this was real – John and I were really a couple.

“You ready to get to class?” he asked, looking down at me.

I nodded my head. “Let me just put my bag in my locker.” I placed my bag inside once I had the door open and grabbed out the materials I would need for my first period. Once I shut it closed, John grabbed my hand again and we began making our way to our class.

Curious looks were thrown our way, and when I looked to John to see his reaction, he seemed to not be phased by it. It was like this was normal for him, and for some reason, that helped to relax my nerves, because it let me know that he wasn’t embarrassed to finally be known as a boyfriend – he was embracing it.