⋮ ⌗ ┆ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ & ᴛʜᴇ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ-ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ˎˊ˗
ʚᯓ ᴀʙʙᴏᴛ'ꜱ ꜱᴏɴ x ʀᴏʙʙʏ'ꜱ ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴇʀ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ who absolutely can't stand each other, but are forced into close proximity because their fathers are best friends. – WC; 1.1k
tw; adoption mention, annoying teenage boy, alcohol mention, bullying (over adoption), slightly stubborn reader, 10+ year grudge, author-insert oc (ik it's cringe, sue me)
cred; @cannedibal on tiktok (and here!!)
pt. ii
read previous part here
"Because you like me."
June 27.
It was a hot, sticky summer day, and you were practically melting after beating all the other kids in a game of tag. Everyone else had gotten into the pool for a swim, but your father had just gotten back from a twelve hour shift the night before and had completely forgotten to pack your swimsuit for the day.
You were upset, as any seven-year-old girl would be at her best friend's birthday party, and it showed in the way you sulked in one of the Abbots' porch swings.
"What's wrong, sweet girl? Why aren't you in the pool with everyone else?"
The voice was warm, motherly, even.
You looked up to see Ben's stepmother, a woman named Ziyana. She had a concerned pinch in her dark brow and a small frown curving her lips downward.
"My dad forgot my suit.." you mumbled, straightening up– almost embarrassed to admit it.
"Oh," Ziyana hummed before chuckling and ruffling your hair. "Come with me, I'm sure we have extra from my niece being over," she offered, holding out her hand.
You looked up at her in shock before sliding off the bench and taking her hand, the coolness of her palm a reprieve from the sweltering inferno you were surrounded by.
After a bit of rummaging around in the cozy guest bedroom, Ziyana eventually found a swimsuit the both of you could agree on– a tankini with lemons printed on the top and blue straps with matching blue bottoms.
You were more than ecstatic at the opportunity to just jump in the water with everyone else and continue your games, so you dressed quickly and thanked the older woman profusely.
"Don't worry about it, silly, now go back outside," she chuckled, giving you a guiding touch at the top of your back.
You ran down the stairs and out to the backyard, ready to get into the pool when you heard Ben talking with one of his other friends over a Caprisun.
"Why doesn't she look like her dad?" The other boy asked, looking over at your father as he did.
The words make you stop in your tracks and you could hear your pulse in your ears. It had always been a sensitive subject for you ever since you asked your father where your mother was and he explained how you weren't biologically his child.
Ben just shrugged at his friend's question. "I dunno, probably the same reason I don't look like my mom," he replied nonchalantly, sending relief flooding through your bones.
His friend seemed content enough with his response and went back to sipping his drink. You sighed and walked over to the pool, sitting on the edge to slide yourself in, until–
"What if she's adopted?"
Your heart sank to your stomach and your head whipped over your shoulder just to catch Ben looking at you too.
Ben laughed then. "No way, she's too cool for that– that's my best friend!" He shot back, shoving the boy lightly.
"I bet you won't ask your dad then!" The boy replied, shoving Ben back.
You began to panic, knowing if Mr. Jack was anything, it was honest and he would tell his son the answer. You scrambled out of the pool as the boys raced to Mr. Jack and ran to your own father.
"Hey, hey, slow your roll, kid. What's the matter?" Your dad asked as you barreled into his leg, setting his beer down and lifting you in his arms.
"They're gonna ask Mr. Jack if I'm adopted–" you breathed, feeling your body begin to tremble and your nerves light on fire.
Your father's brows pinched and he adjusted you in his arms. "What's so wrong with being adopted?" He asked gently.
You felt your little eyes well with tears. He didn't understand, of course he wouldn't– he hadn't been seven in a long time. "They're gonna make fun of me–" you tried to explain before the boys came running back.
"No, they won't, just go keep playing," your dad sighed, setting you back down on the concrete. You sniffled and tried to pull yourself together so you could go back to the party, but the task proved more difficult than expected.
You'd finally settled back on the edge of the pool when Ben and his friend came up behind you, their reflections staring up at you from the pool.
"Is it true your real parents didn't want you?" The friend asked, a stupid grin on his mouth.
You whipped around, bottom lip already trembling. "No! That's not true!" You shot back defensively, scrambling to stand up again.
"No, it is! You're adopted!" The boy yelled back.
"And we're gonna go tell!" Ben added in a sing-song tone. The boys ran off together, going to tell everyone else at the party.
"No! Stop!" You yelled, running after them, but it was no use. You were faster than them, but they yelled louder and soon everyone knew the ugly secret.
Everyone laughed and to the adults it looked like just a game, but you knew what it was. For the rest of the party, no one talked to you or asked to play, thinking your adoption status was contagious and their parents wouldn't want them either if they talked with you.
You ended up going inside and sitting at the dining room table with Ben's grandmother until your dad and Ben's parents came in, looking for you.
"Why weren't you out there playing with everyone else, kid?" Your dad asked as he came up to you at the table, turning your chair out so you faced him.
Your eyes welled up again and you could feel your teeth chattering in your mouth as you tried to speak. "They were making fun of me.." you finally managed, voice hoarse.
You could see Jack over his shoulder pinching his brows together in anger. He hated bullies, you knew firsthand after he yelled at a kid's parent because they bit Ben at the park.
Your father paused at your words and picked you up. "We're going home," he told you quietly. He turned and looked to Jack and Ziyana with a nod before leaving out the door with you in his arms.
On the drive home, his eyes kept flicking to you in the rear view mirror– the way you stared out of the window at the passing views and the Pittsburgh city lights.
"You know.. being adopted just means you were wanted way more than those other kids," he finally spoke, making your head lift from the window.
"Really?" You asked, almost silently.
"Yeah, really. I wanted you so much, I tracked you down and went through a really long process just so I could get my perfect girl," he replied with a small smile.
You sat in silence for a moment before smiling back.
"Because I like you?" You scoffed, shocked at the sheer audacity of his words.
You watched his face fall as he realized his assumption was completely wrong. "Well– I mean, yeah– you were kinda, like, checking me out–" he stammered, trying to explain his thinking.
You blinked once, then twice before laughing in his face. "Yeah, I checked you out. You're a guy! I check every guy out!" You shot back. "That doesn't mean I like you."
Ben's face scrunched in this ugly shape, like he was trying to figure out how someone like you– a girl, to be exact– could just check guys out without having feelings. "That's not–"
"–how that works?" You hummed. "No, it is. I have no interest in you," you told him seriously. "Don't think I forgot."
"Forgot what–?"
You slammed the door in his face, again.
You could almost cry because for a second there, the banter felt good, natural, and you almost let your guard down.
You grabbed your things from the cabinet and redressed before slinging your purse over your shoulder and opening the bathroom door, half-expecting him to still be there. He wasn't.
You walked down the staircase, seeing Ziyana and a few other moms chatting over the birthday cake as she finished adding the candles on it.
"Oh, hi sweet girl," she beamed as soon as she caught sight of you. "You're staying for cake, right?" She hummed excitedly.
Your heart clenched and you forced a small smile onto your mouth. You hated to disappoint, but you couldn't stay any longer– you already made your attempt for your father.
"No, I'm sorry, Mrs. Ziyana. I'm gonna just head home, stomachache," you replied to which she nodded.
"No, I understand, sweetheart. Go home and get some rest," she replied. "And limit your sun exposure tomorrow! You've had a lot today!" She called after you, like a true doctor.
You walked out of the house and found your dad still with Jack, talking over a beer, as always. You looked around for any sight of Ben, but couldn't find him. It gave you a weird feeling in your chest, like you wanted to find him again, but you pushed him away. You couldn't stand him.
"Dad," you called, making both the men turn.
"Yeah, what's up, kid?" Your father replied once he registered it was you calling for him.
"Let's go," you sighed. "I tried."
A small frown tugged at his lips before he caved and nodded. "Okay, let's go," he replied, tossing the beer into the nearby trash, making Jack shoot him a look. He noticed his friend's look and went over to put it into the recycling bin instead.
"Later, Rabbit," your dad sighed, patting his friend on the back.
"Later, Gator," Jack shot back before looking to you with a softer look. "Don't let them get to you, kiddo," he said as if he knew.
During the drive home, your father turned to look at you with a sigh. "What was it this time? Silly string in your hair? Crumbs in your swimsuit?" He asked, trying to lighten the tense mood.
You shot him a look before looking back out the window. "He said I liked him," you murmured.
He raised a brow at that. "And do you?"
You whipped your head to look at him. "Dad! You cannot–" you groaned. He laughed then.
"Hey, just asking the important questions here," he simply replied.
"No, I do not like him. I can't stand that idiot!" You retorted.
"Can't stand him, or can't stand that you still like him?" He hummed curiously.
"Okay, now you're pushing it."
"Okay, okay, sorry."
That night you sat in your room, picking at the exposed threads on your comforter as you thought about everything that happened through the day.
Ben's bold assumption, Jack's warning, Ziyana's look, and of course.. your father's words.
You knew you couldn't stand him– especially not after he made fun of you with his friends and never apologized or made up for it.
But at one point in time he had been your best friend and the sweetest guy you knew. Even from his reputation at school, he was still a massive sweetheart which only made you more conflicted. Then there was also the confusion he had at your words. Had he truly forgotten what happened at that party? The real reason you stopped being friends?
You sighed and flopped back against the mountain of pillows pressed against your headboard, unsure of what to think.
He was all grown up now– officially too– and maybe he had grown and changed. He sure looked it, and damn if that wasn't attractive enough–
You shook the thought entirely from your head and sighed before burying your face into the pillows.
You had no clue what the hell you were going to do.
a/n: holy hell, thank you so much for all the support, i really was not expecting this influx of people 😭. i love every bit of support though and you, my wonderful lovebugs, are so amazing! if the support for this stays this way, i might just have to post on my ao3 which has been sitting barren for almost a year now since ik aus are also loved there. but yeahhh, tell me what you guys would like to see more of and don't be shy to say what you'd like to see less of!
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