A New Direction
Aftermath
Roski's POV
"You guys were amazing, Rox. I'm glad you all seem to be picking up where you left off... being best friends, you know." The next day, Dad was still hype about our performance.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks, Dad." I walked out the door and threw my suitcase in the back seat before climbing in.
"Yeah... well, when you get back from Perrie's, Madison is coming for dinner." He said, referring to his girlfriend. I hated her and I have no clue what she has that my mom doesn't.
"Please don't tell me I have to sit through a whole meal with that troll?" I looked at him, incredulously. There's no way I could handle it.
"Roksi, be nice. She's always been nice to you and you have no reason to disrespect her that way."
"Dad, she's five years older than me!"
"I-..." He started but was cut off by my phone.
Mama told me not to waste my life.
She said spread your wings my little butterfly!
Don't let what they say ke- "Will you answer it, already?" He snapped at me. I glared at him for a moment before answering.
"Hello?"
"Rox? Is that you? You sound so much older!"
"Aunt Jesy! What's going on?" I saw my dad glance at me sideways, wondering what Jesy was calling for but he kept his eyes on the road for the most part.
"Is your dad near you?" My mood died, a little.
"Yeah... we're on our way to Mom's."
"Can I talk to him a minute?" I covered the receiver.
"Dad, she wants to talk to you."
"Put it on speaker... I don't need a ticket."
"You're on speaker, Aunt Jesy." I murmured, fingering the pack of cigarettes in the pocket of my hoodie. You said you'd stop, Roksi.
Not with my parentals getting divorced, I won't. "Pez got caught up at the airport so I'm waiting at her house for Roksi, so she isn't alone. How are you two doing?" She asked and I knew she was trying to see if the rumors about Zerrie's divorce were true. There were lots of those... but no confirmation because whenever a reporter tried to ask me about I simply told them to fuck off... or tried to put them in the Emergency Room.
"We're... finalizing everything. It's been hard, I guess... Especially with the paparazzi. I don't know why we ever thought breaking up the band would get us out of the spotlight. Lou just went back in after he noticed it was pointless."
"So the divorce is true?" After that, I stopped listening. I pulled out my iPod and put in my headphones. The first song that popped on was Little Things... hell no. I skipped the song but then Wings came on. Really? The world hates me today. I skipped that song, too.
I never meant to get us in this deep
I never meant for this to mean a thing
Oh, I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away...
Ironically enough, The One That Got Away by The Civil Wars came on. I left it on and gazed out the window.I don't know how we got here... my parents getting a divorce... my dad dating some 24 year old... I just don't know how the Fates expected me to handle all of this. I looked down at my wrist. The infinity loop so clearly said: Zayn, Perrie, Roksi.
Now, it was Perrie and Roksi and then, Zayn and Roksi... no more Perrie and Zayn. My eyes started to burn and I just knew the tears were coming. I won't cry...
You're too strong to cry.
"Rox!" I sharply turned to my dad.
"Yeah?" I put The Civil Wars on pause.
"Your phone keeps beeping." I picked it up and stared at the screen.
Roman: You wanna make another drop? Big bucks, no long term.
Me: When?
Roman: When are you free?
Me: I'm at my mom's for the next three days but after that, I'm good.
Roman: Meet me at the Clubhouse then and I'll get you the supplies. Remember, you only keep 50%.
Me: I don't need to cheat you, Roman. I ain't poor. See you when I get back.
I locked my phone and stuck it in my pocket. I was gonna turn my music back on until my dad started to sing softly. The song he used to sing me when I was little.
"Well, open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love, love, love, love."
"Daddy, what happened to us?" I murmured, softly, half hoping he wouldn't hear me.
"What do you mean?" He bunched his brows together.
"Nothing... just keep singing."
"Okay, then...
Listen to the music of the moment people, dance and sing
We're just one big family
And it's our God-forsaken right to be loved, loved, love, love."
He stopped as we pulled up to my mom's beach house.
"Oh, hey, who texted you?" I found myself mad, again. It happens alot when I think about the divorce.
"Roman."
"I thought I asked you to stay away from him."
"I thought I asked you not to break up my family and date some 24 year old bimbo." I fingered the pack again as I climbed out, grabbing my suitcase.
"Roksi."
"I'll see you in three days." I looked at him through the window and then turned away.
"Hey, Rox! I haven't seen you in forever!" Aunt Jesy came over and locked me in her death grip hug. I watched Dad pull away before I said anything.
"That's cause you and Mom are always in Paris working on your Mix It Up stuff." My aunt's Leigh-Anne, Jade, and Jesy worked with my mom on their fashion label for Little Mix, even though they no longer sang together. They lasted a few years after the boys.
"Well, Jade and Leigh-Anne are flying in tomorrow. We heard you girls put on a show at the 1D Startout Anniversary."
"Yeah. It was fun, I guess." She wrapped her arm around my waist and we walked into the house.
"Really? So, are you gonna get serious with it?" I thought for a moment.
"No. Probably not."
"Why?" We stopped in front of the stairs that led to my room.
"Because... something's going on with Dani. She only agreed to do it that one time so, I guess that means we're done after this. I don't know why she seems like our old best friend one moment and then it's like she can't stand us." I shook my head while relaying this to my aunt, trying to figure it out, as well.
"Well, she is older. I know how that feels." I remembered that Aunt Jesy was the oldest girl in Little Mix.
"Yeah, but I'm only about 11 months behind her. I just wish she'd talk to me. Like old times, I mean. We used to be really close."
"Yeah, well. Who are you talking to about the divorce?" I sat down on the stairs and played with my hands.
"Well... no one, I guess."
"Exactly. Give her time. Whatever is on her mind, she'll talk about when she's ready. Just like you." I thought about Cecily telling me she knew about my mom and dad. I mean... she's a good friend... a best friend... but I don't like people knowing my business. Especially since I won't let my parents divorce. I'll get them back together... whatever it takes.
"Okay, I guess." She leaned down and smiled at me.
"There's a surprise waiting for you upstairs." My face brightened and I already knew what it was. I ran up the stairs, dragging my suitcase along with me.
"Zavier!" I screamed as I kicked open doors, looking for him.
"Rox! You're so big!" Zavier, my brother, just turned 20 a few days ago. He moved away two years ago and I haven't seen him since. But we're usually close.
"Not that big. How's life?" I asked, setting down my bag and squeezing him in a hug.
"Pretty good. I was missing one thing on the road, though." I stepped back and looked at him.
"What was that?" I asked, collapsing on the bed and finally lighting up a cigarette.
"A pretty girl." I knew he wasn't talking about me. I'm his sister... but one person came to mind.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. I thought you were quitting?" He asked, looking at the swirling smoke. I blew out in his direction.
"I thought you were done getting tattoos. Who's the lucky girl you wish you had?"
"I hear the gang's back together. Liam, Niall, Harry, Lou, Dad. Heard they're all back together with their kids." He avoided my question.
"True." I let it slide. He'll break soon.
"So, you know what you should do?" He sat on the bed next to me.
"What should I do, Z?" I turned to him slowly, puffing out the smoke again.
"You should set me up with your friend." I arched my brow. If he says Kay, I'll smack him. But I already knew who he meant.
"Who? Dani? She's not interested." I said, nonchalantly.
"Just try and see for me, will ya?" He pushed me over a little.
"Fine. Sure." I got up and flicked the cigarette out the window, before falling back on my bed. I pulled out my headphones and play "Demons" by Imagine Dragons.
My phone vibrated hard.
Mom: Be ready in about an hour. I want to show you something. To make up for being late. Love you.
Roman: Call me. I may have another job lined up, too.
Dani: Hey... when do you get back? We need to talk about something.
The only one I messaged back was Dani.
Me: Three days. Guess what.
Dani: Okay. That works. What?
Me: Zavier just got back today. He wants to see you.
I tried to hold in my laugh at her response but it was exactly like I thought it'd be. Only three words.
Dani: Fuck my life.
"You guys were amazing, Rox. I'm glad you all seem to be picking up where you left off... being best friends, you know." The next day, Dad was still hype about our performance.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks, Dad." I walked out the door and threw my suitcase in the back seat before climbing in.
"Yeah... well, when you get back from Perrie's, Madison is coming for dinner." He said, referring to his girlfriend. I hated her and I have no clue what she has that my mom doesn't.
"Please don't tell me I have to sit through a whole meal with that troll?" I looked at him, incredulously. There's no way I could handle it.
"Roksi, be nice. She's always been nice to you and you have no reason to disrespect her that way."
"Dad, she's five years older than me!"
"I-..." He started but was cut off by my phone.
Mama told me not to waste my life.
She said spread your wings my little butterfly!
Don't let what they say ke- "Will you answer it, already?" He snapped at me. I glared at him for a moment before answering.
"Hello?"
"Rox? Is that you? You sound so much older!"
"Aunt Jesy! What's going on?" I saw my dad glance at me sideways, wondering what Jesy was calling for but he kept his eyes on the road for the most part.
"Is your dad near you?" My mood died, a little.
"Yeah... we're on our way to Mom's."
"Can I talk to him a minute?" I covered the receiver.
"Dad, she wants to talk to you."
"Put it on speaker... I don't need a ticket."
"You're on speaker, Aunt Jesy." I murmured, fingering the pack of cigarettes in the pocket of my hoodie. You said you'd stop, Roksi.
Not with my parentals getting divorced, I won't. "Pez got caught up at the airport so I'm waiting at her house for Roksi, so she isn't alone. How are you two doing?" She asked and I knew she was trying to see if the rumors about Zerrie's divorce were true. There were lots of those... but no confirmation because whenever a reporter tried to ask me about I simply told them to fuck off... or tried to put them in the Emergency Room.
"We're... finalizing everything. It's been hard, I guess... Especially with the paparazzi. I don't know why we ever thought breaking up the band would get us out of the spotlight. Lou just went back in after he noticed it was pointless."
"So the divorce is true?" After that, I stopped listening. I pulled out my iPod and put in my headphones. The first song that popped on was Little Things... hell no. I skipped the song but then Wings came on. Really? The world hates me today. I skipped that song, too.
I never meant to get us in this deep
I never meant for this to mean a thing
Oh, I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away...
Ironically enough, The One That Got Away by The Civil Wars came on. I left it on and gazed out the window.I don't know how we got here... my parents getting a divorce... my dad dating some 24 year old... I just don't know how the Fates expected me to handle all of this. I looked down at my wrist. The infinity loop so clearly said: Zayn, Perrie, Roksi.
Now, it was Perrie and Roksi and then, Zayn and Roksi... no more Perrie and Zayn. My eyes started to burn and I just knew the tears were coming. I won't cry...
You're too strong to cry.
"Rox!" I sharply turned to my dad.
"Yeah?" I put The Civil Wars on pause.
"Your phone keeps beeping." I picked it up and stared at the screen.
Roman: You wanna make another drop? Big bucks, no long term.
Me: When?
Roman: When are you free?
Me: I'm at my mom's for the next three days but after that, I'm good.
Roman: Meet me at the Clubhouse then and I'll get you the supplies. Remember, you only keep 50%.
Me: I don't need to cheat you, Roman. I ain't poor. See you when I get back.
I locked my phone and stuck it in my pocket. I was gonna turn my music back on until my dad started to sing softly. The song he used to sing me when I was little.
"Well, open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love, love, love, love."
"Daddy, what happened to us?" I murmured, softly, half hoping he wouldn't hear me.
"What do you mean?" He bunched his brows together.
"Nothing... just keep singing."
"Okay, then...
Listen to the music of the moment people, dance and sing
We're just one big family
And it's our God-forsaken right to be loved, loved, love, love."
He stopped as we pulled up to my mom's beach house.
"Oh, hey, who texted you?" I found myself mad, again. It happens alot when I think about the divorce.
"Roman."
"I thought I asked you to stay away from him."
"I thought I asked you not to break up my family and date some 24 year old bimbo." I fingered the pack again as I climbed out, grabbing my suitcase.
"Roksi."
"I'll see you in three days." I looked at him through the window and then turned away.
"Hey, Rox! I haven't seen you in forever!" Aunt Jesy came over and locked me in her death grip hug. I watched Dad pull away before I said anything.
"That's cause you and Mom are always in Paris working on your Mix It Up stuff." My aunt's Leigh-Anne, Jade, and Jesy worked with my mom on their fashion label for Little Mix, even though they no longer sang together. They lasted a few years after the boys.
"Well, Jade and Leigh-Anne are flying in tomorrow. We heard you girls put on a show at the 1D Startout Anniversary."
"Yeah. It was fun, I guess." She wrapped her arm around my waist and we walked into the house.
"Really? So, are you gonna get serious with it?" I thought for a moment.
"No. Probably not."
"Why?" We stopped in front of the stairs that led to my room.
"Because... something's going on with Dani. She only agreed to do it that one time so, I guess that means we're done after this. I don't know why she seems like our old best friend one moment and then it's like she can't stand us." I shook my head while relaying this to my aunt, trying to figure it out, as well.
"Well, she is older. I know how that feels." I remembered that Aunt Jesy was the oldest girl in Little Mix.
"Yeah, but I'm only about 11 months behind her. I just wish she'd talk to me. Like old times, I mean. We used to be really close."
"Yeah, well. Who are you talking to about the divorce?" I sat down on the stairs and played with my hands.
"Well... no one, I guess."
"Exactly. Give her time. Whatever is on her mind, she'll talk about when she's ready. Just like you." I thought about Cecily telling me she knew about my mom and dad. I mean... she's a good friend... a best friend... but I don't like people knowing my business. Especially since I won't let my parents divorce. I'll get them back together... whatever it takes.
"Okay, I guess." She leaned down and smiled at me.
"There's a surprise waiting for you upstairs." My face brightened and I already knew what it was. I ran up the stairs, dragging my suitcase along with me.
"Zavier!" I screamed as I kicked open doors, looking for him.
"Rox! You're so big!" Zavier, my brother, just turned 20 a few days ago. He moved away two years ago and I haven't seen him since. But we're usually close.
"Not that big. How's life?" I asked, setting down my bag and squeezing him in a hug.
"Pretty good. I was missing one thing on the road, though." I stepped back and looked at him.
"What was that?" I asked, collapsing on the bed and finally lighting up a cigarette.
"A pretty girl." I knew he wasn't talking about me. I'm his sister... but one person came to mind.
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. I thought you were quitting?" He asked, looking at the swirling smoke. I blew out in his direction.
"I thought you were done getting tattoos. Who's the lucky girl you wish you had?"
"I hear the gang's back together. Liam, Niall, Harry, Lou, Dad. Heard they're all back together with their kids." He avoided my question.
"True." I let it slide. He'll break soon.
"So, you know what you should do?" He sat on the bed next to me.
"What should I do, Z?" I turned to him slowly, puffing out the smoke again.
"You should set me up with your friend." I arched my brow. If he says Kay, I'll smack him. But I already knew who he meant.
"Who? Dani? She's not interested." I said, nonchalantly.
"Just try and see for me, will ya?" He pushed me over a little.
"Fine. Sure." I got up and flicked the cigarette out the window, before falling back on my bed. I pulled out my headphones and play "Demons" by Imagine Dragons.
My phone vibrated hard.
Mom: Be ready in about an hour. I want to show you something. To make up for being late. Love you.
Roman: Call me. I may have another job lined up, too.
Dani: Hey... when do you get back? We need to talk about something.
The only one I messaged back was Dani.
Me: Three days. Guess what.
Dani: Okay. That works. What?
Me: Zavier just got back today. He wants to see you.
I tried to hold in my laugh at her response but it was exactly like I thought it'd be. Only three words.
Dani: Fuck my life.
@Soldier_girl
Niall, he has 3 kids. David, Jared, and Kay.
Also, I am soon coming back to the story! Just need to do things in life.
7/4/14