Experience Tumblr Like Never Before
TW: alcohol consumption, daddy issues
read it on ao3
Twelve.
“What did you think of our set?” Sebastian asks me as we’re hanging at the bar. He’s nursing the same beer he had on stage. I’ve noticed that he’s not much of a drinker but will have one or two at the saloon on Friday nights.
“That shit was so cool! I’m mad you guys wouldn’t let me sit in on band practice,” I say. Sebastian shrugs.
“Sam wanted the last song to be a surprise. He said he got inspiration from a conversation with you but didn’t know how to execute it without a little help. So Abby and I also threw our daddy issues into the mix,” he says.
“Your piano playing is amazing by the way,” I say as I sip on my coke back. I had just taken another Jameson shot.
“Thanks!” Sebastian beams, “I’ve been playing since I was four. I kept up with it because it kept my hands busy. I picked up bass when Sam started to learn guitar and he said he wanted to start a band. I learned that stuff all on JoTube though.” His long fingers wrap around the neck of his beer bottle as he presses the opening to his lips to take a swig. Shivers run down my back. “Shane told me you had tears in your eyes during the last song,” Sebastian says. I feel my cheeks go hot and I look past him at Sam who was chatting with Penny on the other side of the bar.
“Yea well… daddy issues, what can I say?” I try to play it off but I have a feeling he sees right through me. Sebastian gives me a nudge on my shoulder.
“You deserve better.” I smile up at him and I see his face drop. “Farmer… is that…” I turned around and followed his gaze to the front of the bar where a girl was arguing with the bouncer.
“Brynne?” I whisper to myself and my legs start moving towards her. I have no idea what I’m going to say, what I’m going to do.
“Please,” she begs the bouncer, “the band from Stardew Valley is playing here, right? I just need to talk to my sister and I’ll leave, I swear. I know she’s here.” The bouncer shakes his head.
“The show is over. Nobody under twenty-one is allowed in.” I take a deep breath.
“Hey, I’m here. Let’s go outside,” I say and usher my sister out of the bar. When we’re outside I feel my eyes get glossy but I don’t dare let myself cry. “What the hell are you doing here?” I asked.
“You haven’t been answering your phone!” she exclaimed, “I heard a band from the valley was playing here and… I hoped you’d be here.” I sigh and run my hands down my face, not caring about my makeup anymore.
“Brynne, go home. Dad’s probably worried sick,” I say.
“It’s about Dad,” she says, “I-I can’t be alone with him.” Tears start spilling out of her eyes and down her rosy cheeks.
“What’s wrong? Is he hitting you?” I ask and grab her wrist. I shove her long sleeves up and check her arms for bruises. None, thank Yoba.
“No. He’s… too much,” she sobs into her hand and I pull her into a hug. I pet the back of her head as she cries into my shoulder. She doesn’t have to say much for me to realize she was starting to get the same looks I did. The same distraught and ugliness in his eyes that are burned into my brain. The shortness in his words, the harsh click of his tongue. I know it all too well and it wasn’t fair that now I was out of the picture, he turned it onto his littlest and favorite daughter. I always thought that Brynne was Dad’s favorite because she looked more like Mom, acted like her too and I was the female version of a man he hated. It’s possible that when one ghost leaves, another comes to haunt. Brynne pulls away from me, her cheeks still stained with tears and her nose a little runny. “Can I please come live with you on the farm? I know we’ve had our differences in the past… I didn’t know you were protecting me this entire time.”
“Brynne… I can’t. You’re seventeen and in your last year of high school-”
“Eighteen.”
“Eighteen… You need to finish school, go to college,” I say.
“Please, Sissy,” she says, tugging at my heartstrings by using a nickname she hasn’t called me in ten years. I look back into the bar and see Sebastian, Sam, and Abby watching us. The tears I’m holding back finally spill.
“I want to. You know I do but you need to finish high school,” I say, “there’s not much of an education system in the valley. At least not for older kids.”
“I don’t know if I can make it another day in that apartment,” she says softly.
“Apartment? What happened to the townhouse?” I ask.
“Dad said that if you got to start over then we should too. I hate the apartment. Yea, it’s closer to school but it’s cramped. Dad sleeps on the couch, I can’t have friends over, I can’t escape him,” she sobs again. I take a deep breath and stop my own tears.
“Can you finish a semester early?” I ask, “I know you have good grades. You’d be leaving your friends but it’s the only thing I can think of.”
“F-finish this semester?” I nod. “I think I can do that.” I kiss her forehead as Sebastian comes out of the bar.
“Hey, Farmer, did you have a tab open? We’re gonna leave soon,” he says. I shake my head.
“Nah, I’ve been paying in cash all night. I’m gonna take my sister back home, I’ll find a ride elsewhere,” I say. Sebastian shakes his head.
“I rode my motorcycle here. I can take you home,” he says, “you hail a cab and I’ll follow behind. Just text me the address.” He then walks back into the bar. Brynne gives me a toothy smile and nudges me with her elbow. Blush spreads across my cheeks and I mumble, “shut up”. Brynne tells me their new address and I text it to Sebastian. I quickly hail a cab and we’re off to my Dad’s new apartment. It felt weird being on a side of Zuzu I’ve never seen. I’m sure Alex would know exactly where we are. Besides Brynne wanting to go to school on the north side, why would Dad want to move out here? We pulled up in front of a dingy apartment complex, a sight that made my stomach churn.
“Here?” I ask, “you and Dad live here?” Brynne nods and sniffles.
“I miss our old house,” she says softly. Sebastian pulls up on his motorcycle and turns it off. I look up at the tall building and a wave of chills is sent up and down my spine.
“I can’t go in,” I say to Brynne, “I’m not ready.” She nods and embraces me.
“I understand. Thank you, Sissy. For everything.” We spend a few seconds lost in the hug before she pulls away and goes inside. I straddle the motorcycle seat behind Sebastian and wrap my arms around his torso and lean my head against his back.
“You okay?”
“I will be.”