Chapter Text
The morning sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon as Bingo stirred awake. Her alarm clock flashed 6:00 AM, a reminder that she had to get ready for her part-time job at the doctor’s office. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and got out of bed, stretching her limbs. The house was still, the quiet only broken by the faint hum of the refrigerator and the ticking of the wall clock.
As she made her way downstairs, Bingo was met with a familiar sight: Bandit, asleep on the couch, an empty vodka bottle on the coffee table next to him. Her heart ached at the sight. Bandit’s alcohol addiction had only worsened over the years, a coping mechanism for the grief and guilt that had consumed him since Bluey’s disappearance.
Bingo sighed deeply. She knew this routine all too well. Silently, she picked up the empty bottle and took it to the kitchen, where she disposed of it. She then returned to the living room, straightening up the scattered pillows and folding the blanket that Bandit had kicked to the floor in his sleep. Her movements were gentle, not wanting to disturb her father just yet.
She went back to the kitchen and prepared a glass of water and set out Bandit’s medications, adding a couple of hangover pills to the mix. She knew he would need them. With everything in place, she walked back to the living room and gently shook Bandit’s shoulder.
“Dad,” she whispered softly, “it’s time to wake up.”
Bandit groaned, his eyes fluttering open. He looked disoriented for a moment, then recognition settled in as he saw Bingo standing over him.
“Bingo,” he mumbled, trying to sit up. “What time is it?”
“It’s six,” Bingo replied. “You need to get up. You have a meeting today, remember?”
Bandit rubbed his temples, wincing as the hangover set in. “Yeah, I remember. Thanks, sweetheart.”
Bingo helped him to his feet, supporting his weight as they made their way to the kitchen. Bandit took the glass of water and his pills, downing them in one go. He sat at the kitchen table, resting his head in his hands.
“You should go back to bed for a bit,” Bingo suggested. “You look like you didn’t sleep well.”
Bandit nodded wearily. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
Bingo guided him to his bedroom and helped him lie down. “Get some rest, Dad. I’ll be leaving for work soon and after that I have class then I have to take care of mum, but I’ll check on you when I get back.”
“Thanks, Bingo,” Bandit said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll be okay, Dad,” Bingo said reassuringly.
She closed the door quietly and headed back to her room to get ready for work. As she showered and dressed, her mind wandered to Bluey. Despite everything, she still missed her sister. But the anger and betrayal were too much to ignore. Every day was a struggle, trying to balance her own life while taking care of her parents.
Bingo grabbed her bag and keys, taking one last look around the house before she left. She paused in the living room, her eyes lingering on the spot where Bandit had been sleeping. She hoped that one day, things would get better, that they could find some semblance of normalcy again.
She stepped outside, locking the door behind her. The cool morning air was refreshing, a stark contrast to the heaviness she felt inside. She got into her car and drove to the doctor’s office, her mind racing with thoughts of her family and the challenges they faced.
Back at home, Bandit sat in the living room, nursing a glass of vodka. He had a gut feeling that the meeting he’s going to have was going to be a grueling one, and he felt the familiar urge to numb his feelings. He poured another glass, the liquid shimmering in the morning light, and took a deep drink.
Upstairs, Bluey slowly stirred awake. She glanced at the clock and realized she had overslept. The house was eerily quiet, save for the faint sound of the TV from downstairs. She got dressed and made her way to the kitchen, finding Bandit sitting there, drink in hand.
“Good morning, Dad,” Bluey said cautiously, trying to gauge his mood.
Bandit looked up at her, his expression hard. “Morning,” he replied curtly, the warmth that once characterized their interactions long gone.
“I see you have a meeting soon,” Bluey ventured, noticing the papers strewn across the table.
“Yeah,” Bandit grunted. “I’ll be in my study. And don’t try anything funny. I’ve locked the doors to my room and Bingo’s room.”
Bluey’s heart sank at the continued distrust. “I won’t, Dad,” she said softly, feeling the weight of her mistakes bearing down on her.
Bandit nodded, finishing his drink and heading to his study. Bluey made her way to the living room, settling on the couch. She turned on the TV, trying to distract herself, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the strained atmosphere in the house.
An hour later, Bandit emerged from his study, the tension still evident in his posture. He joined Bluey in the living room, carrying the vodka bottle and a fresh glass. He changed the channel to the cricket game, sinking into his chair with a weary sigh.
“Dad,” Bluey began hesitantly, “if I get a job, how will I get there? You and Mum gave my car to Bingo.”
Bandit didn’t look away from the TV, pouring himself another drink. “Figure it out,” he said coldly. “If you could go travel the world for five years, getting to a job should be no problem.”
Bluey flinched at his words, the sting of his disdain cutting deep. She fell silent, her eyes fixed on the TV, though she wasn’t really watching. The room was thick with unspoken tension, the air heavy with the weight of their unresolved issues.
Suddenly, the sound of the door unlocking broke the silence. Bandit didn’t bother to look up, knowing it wasn’t Bingo, as she had classes after work. Bluey, however, turned towards the door, confusion and curiosity in her eyes.
Mackenzie walked in, his gaze focused downward as he fumbled with his keys. “Hey, Bandit, I’m here to check up on you. Sorry I haven’t been able to as of lately, tending to my family’s farm is….” His voice trailed off as he looked up, his eyes meeting Bluey’s.
For a moment, Mackenzie froze, his expression one of shock and disbelief. “Nope,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I’m not doing this today.”
He turned on his heel and headed back towards the door. Bluey jumped up, panic in her voice. “Mackenzie, wait!”
Mackenzie stopped, his hand on the doorknob, but he didn’t turn around. “Why should I, Bluey? Why should I give you the time of day after what you did? Especially the moment we had right before you went home that night”
Bluey’s heart pounded in her chest. “Please, just hear me out. I know I messed up, but I’m trying to make things right.”
Mackenzie finally turned, his face a mask of anger and hurt. “Make things right? You think just showing up after five years is enough? Do you have any idea what you put your friends through? What you put me through?”
Bluey felt tears welling up in her eyes. “I know, and I’m sorry. I was selfish, and I made a lot of mistakes. But I’m here now, and I’m trying to fix things.”
Mackenzie scoffed. “Fix things? You can’t just fix what you broke, Bluey. It’s not that simple. Do you know what it was like for us? For all your friends? You were the one who wanted us all to stay in touch, and yet you were the first to disappear completely.”
Bluey nodded, the weight of his words pressing down on her. “I know it won’t be easy,” she said quietly. “But I have to try.”
Mackenzie’s gaze softened slightly, but his anger didn’t dissipate. “You can’t just come back and expect everything to be okay. It’s going to take a lot more than words to make things right.”
“I know,” Bluey whispered, tears streaming down her face. “But I have to start somewhere.”
Mackenzie sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I don’t know if I can forgive you, Bluey. Not yet. Maybe not ever.”
Bluey nodded, understanding the depth of his hurt.
Mackenzie glanced at Bandit, who finally turned to look at them, his expression still hard. “I guess we’ll see,” Mackenzie said, his voice weary. “But for now, I need some time.”
He turned and walked out the door, leaving Bluey standing there, her heart heavy with regret and a longing for reconciliation. She knew it would be a long road, but she was determined to walk it, no matter how difficult it might be.
As she sat back down on the couch, the weight of her actions pressing down on her, Bandit spoke, his voice low and filled with a mix of anger and sadness. “You’ve hurt a lot of people, Bluey. It’s going to take more than showing up to make things right.”
“I know, Dad,” Bluey said softly. “I know. I’m reminded of it every time I see someone I knew”
And with that, they returned to the cricket game, the silence between them filled with unspoken words and a shared pain that only time and effort could hope to heal.
Bingo drove to her college campus, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She tried to focus on the road, but the events of the morning weighed heavily on her. The image of Bandit passed out on the couch, the empty vodka bottle, and the tension with Bluey replayed in her mind like a broken record.
As she parked her car and walked towards the main building, she spotted Dougie sitting on a bench near the entrance. He was hunched over, his shoulders slumped, and he looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Bingo felt a pang of guilt, wondering if her harsh words from the previous night had anything to do with his current state.
She approached him slowly, her steps tentative. “Hey, Dougie,” she said softly, trying to catch his attention.
Dougie looked up, his eyes reflecting a deep sadness. “Oh, hey, Bingo,” he replied, forcing a weak smile.
Bingo sat down beside him, the bench creaking slightly under their weight. “You look like you have a lot on your mind,” she said, trying to keep her tone gentle.
Dougie sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, it’s been a rough day.”
Bingo hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Listen, about last night… I’m sorry if I was too harsh. I’m just dealing with a lot, and sometimes I don’t handle things the best way.”
Dougie shook his head. “It’s okay, Bingo. I understand. You’re going through a lot, and it’s not easy. I shouldn’t have pushed you to talk to Bluey.”
Bingo felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. “It’s not just that, Dougie. It’s everything. I feel like I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. Dad’s a mess, Mum’s… well, you know, and Bluey’s back, and it’s like everything is falling apart again.”
Dougie reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You’re doing the best you can, Bingo. And that’s all anyone can ask of you. You’re strong, and you’re holding everything together, even when it feels like it’s all falling apart.”
Bingo wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. “I just wish things could go back to the way they were. Before everything went so wrong.”
Dougie nodded, his expression understanding. “I know. We all wish for that sometimes. But we can’t change the past. We can only try to move forward, one step at a time.”
Bingo looked down at her hands, her mind racing. “I don’t know if I can ever forgive Bluey for what she did. It’s like… she took everything from us. And now she’s back, and I don’t know how to deal with it.”
“You don’t have to forgive her right away,” Dougie said gently. “Or ever, if you don’t want to. But maybe, just maybe, you can find a way to coexist. For your sake and your family’s.”
Bingo shook her head. “I don’t know if I can. Every time I see her, I’m reminded of everything we’ve lost.”
Dougie sighed, his expression pained. “I get it, Bingo. I really do. But holding onto all that anger… it’s going to eat you up inside. And I don’t want that for you.”
Bingo looked up, meeting Dougie’s gaze. “I just don’t know how to let it go.”
“You don’t have to figure it all out right now,” Dougie said. “Take it one day at a time. And remember, you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here for you, no matter what.”
Bingo felt a small flicker of hope in her chest. “Thanks, Dougie. That means a lot.”
He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Anytime, Bingo. Anytime.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air. Finally, Bingo stood up, taking a deep breath. “I should get to class. But I’ll see you later?”
Dougie nodded, a genuine smile finally breaking through his somber expression. “Yeah, I’ll see you later.”
Bingo gave him a small wave, and they shared a brief, comforting hug before she headed towards her classroom. Her heart feeling a little lighter after their conversation.
After her classes, Bingo felt the exhaustion of the day catching up with her. She made her way to her car, her thoughts drifting back to her family. She knew she had to check on her mum, to make sure she was okay. The drive to her mum’s flat was familiar, the route ingrained in her memory from countless visits.
As she drove, the setting sun cast a warm glow over the city, but Bingo’s mind was a storm of emotions. She thought about Dougie’s words, about finding a way to coexist with Bluey, and the possibility of healing. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for that, but she knew she had to try, for her own sake.
Halfway through her drive, her phone rang. She saw Bandit’s name on the screen and answered it through the car’s hands-free system. “Hey, Dad,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Hey, Bingo,” Bandit replied, his voice sounding strained. “I know you’re on your way to your mum’s. I just wanted to ask you something.”
“Sure, Dad. What is it?” Bingo asked, her curiosity piqued.
Bandit hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Please don’t mention Bluey returning home to your mum. I don’t know how it will affect her, and I don’t want to risk it.”
Bingo’s heart ached at the thought of her mum, fragile and broken. “Okay, Dad. I won’t say anything.”
“Thank you, Bingo,” Bandit said, his voice filled with relief. “I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Dad. I’ll check on Mum and make sure she’s okay.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. Be safe.”
“I will. Love you, Dad.”
“Love you too, Bingo.”
Bingo ended the call, her heart heavy with the burden of keeping yet another secret. She knew it was for the best, but it didn’t make it any easier. As she continued her drive to her mum’s flat, she took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions.
