It Can Only Get Better

Fuck, another detention, yep, Mike's gonna kill me. Well, the first one's nearly over now. Joey's sitting in the seat behind me, he's been trying to get my attention the whole time, but I can't even look at him. I know it's not really his fault, he was bound to try it sometime, it's all around him, it's just a shock. I mean, my boyfriend is a smoker, the most disgusting habit there is.

"Okay, you two, you can go." Well, may as well get it over with. I collected my stuff and stood up, put my bag over my shoulder and walked out of the door.
"Soph, wait." Joey grabbed my elbow when we were clear of the classroom, I turned around slowly and looked at Joey,
"What?" I said, little emotion in my voice, his face fell.
"Soph, I'm sorry. It has nothing to do with you. I've been around it so much, I see the effect it has on dad, how it calms him down, I just wanted something to calm me down, to take my mind off the possibility of losing you." He kept trying to get eye contact, but I know if that happens, I'll cave. I've lost too much through smoking I'm not going to sit around and watch the same thing happen to the guy that I love. A look of shock swept over my face,

"What is it Soph? Are you okay?" I looked up at him,

"I... I have to go." I whispered quickly and ran out of the school. Mike was sitting waiting on me, I jumped into the car beside him.

"What no Joey today?" he asked, slightly confused,
"Dad, can we just go home." I asked but he had already seen Joey and waited for him to get into the car. He kept asking if I was alright, if there was something I wasn't telling him, but I couldn't say anything. We dropped him off at his house and made the short journey home in silence.

I got out of the car and made my way inside, hoping to dodge a lecture, but no such luck. "Sophie Ella Pritchard, in here now?" Mike yelled from the kitchen just as my foot hit the first stair. Middle names suck, I put down my stuff and walked slowly to the kitchen.

"Sit." He said as I entered, so I did. "Well, what happened?" I looked up at him, but his stare was so intense I had to look away.
"Which part?" I asked quietly, he sat down beside me at the table,
"All of it, you can talk to me you know." I smiled,
"Well, I had detention today, cause I didn't have my geography homework done, and then I skipped class with Joey, so I have a detention for that tomorrow, and I found out a few things today about Joey, some that I don't like and some that I don't know how to act." Mike was silent. He cleared his throat,

"Well, what is it? What did you find out? Maybe I can help." I waited a few minutes, contemplating whether or not I should tell Mike, but everyone's going to find out sooner or later,
"Joey started smoking, he says he started cause he needed a distraction from me being ill." I could feel the tears welling up,

"Is that all?" Mike asked laughing a little, "Yeah I'll admit that he is too young, and that it isn't good for you, but he has to learn that for himself. Every kid goes through a phase where they do things they're not meant to. Don't get too worked up about it kiddo." He said smiling, I looked up at him,
"Mike, two of my grandparents died from cancer, which could have been prevented if they didn't smoke. His own grandfather died from cancer, smoking cause's cancer. Can he not see that? He's already at risk, and he still chooses to smoke." The tears started to fall.

"Well, what's the other thing you found out about him? We'll try and sort that out." Mike said putting his arm around me, I looked up into his eyes,
"I think I'm in love with him dad." I said, Mike froze. I smiled, he was shocked.
"Yeah, that's why I ran out of the school today. We were talking in the hallway, and it hit me and, I don't know how to act cause we were arguing, and then... I don't know." Then Mike smiled,
"Oh Soph, its okay. Everyone fights and argues, especially with those you love. It's not the fighting that matters, it's the making up. Explain to Joey how you feel, maybe he'll understand, just talk. It'll only get worse if you don't talk it out, believe me, I of all people know that." He smiled up at me, and I smiled back and nodded.

*Joey's pov*
*At the Armstrong's*
"... okay Mike, yeah thanks for letting me know, you did the right thing, yeah, I'm fine, bye." Anger built up inside of Billie. Adie could see this happening as he hung up the phone, "Billie baby, what is it? What did Mike say?" Billie looked at her, then turned around, "JOSEPH MARCIANO ARMSTRONG, GET DOWN HERE NOW!" he shouted, with a loud voice which could be heard throughout the large house.

Oh shit, he middle named me. I sat up on the bed, pulled on a pair of pants and ran out of the room, I know when your middle named, it ain't good. I ran down the stairs and stopped outside the kitchen, and walked in slowly. Mom was trying to calm dad down but it didn't look like it was working, he turned and saw me. "Sit." He commanded, I knew better than to argue, his face said it all. I looked up at him but didn't say anything,
"Since when do you fucking smoke?" he asked with anger in his voice,
"Since a few months ago." I replied looking at the floor, "I'm sorry dad, it's just... I don't know. I needed to take my mind off things, I thought I was going to lose Sophie." I said quietly, he started pacing.

"I don't want to be some fucking hypocrite but you're going to stop fucking smoking right fucking now. I'm gonna make you if I have to. It's ruined my life, and it's not gonna ruin yours." I looked up at him, I hated to see dad this angry, especially when it was me that caused it. I smiled a little, without meaning to,

"What? You think all this is funny?" he shouted at me, I looked up at him, straight into his eyes,
"I don't think its funny dad, I want to quit. I've wanted to quit since I found out I've become addicted. I just think it's funny, that after this lecture, you're going to go light up." I said, standing up and walking away.
"You get back in here, you little... " Adie stood up,
"Billie, no." she said firmly, "listen, just calm down. Talk to him, don't yell at him. Okay?" she said to him. I heard him sigh, turned around and went back into the kitchen.
"I'm sorry dad." I said, still a little frightened that he might swing for me, not that he has before but it was just the mood he was in.
"Its okay kid." He said walking over and hugging me, it was a real hug, one that I've missed. It isn't easy him not always being here.
"Now we have to sort out this habit, how about I make you a deal?" I looked up at him with a look of confusion, "well, how about... I do it with you?" he looked over at mom and nudged his head, telling her to leave us to it,
"What do you mean dad?" he looked back at me,
"Don't tell your mom, but what if I quit with you? We'd be able to help each other, support each other, what do you say?" I smiled at him,
"Dad, it's not like I'm on crack or need a support group or anything, but yeah, okay." I said giving him another hug.

"Just promise me one thing son, talk to Soph. Mike said she was really upset with you." I nodded and thought, what will I say to her?