Tasmine’s POV
I watched as Noah walked into the room past my dad and sat down in the spot he was just in, he looked upset. Why does he look upset? “Tasmine I am sorry, for what they had done.” He whispered, I sniffled, whipping my nose, “Don’t be sorry for what other people have done.” I whispered back.
“I’m also sorry about your mum.” He whispered, I put my hand up to stop him, “Please... don’t.” I said softly, he gave me a sad smile, “Ok, I won’t.” He agreed, I motioned for him to join me on the bed. He was a bit nervous to join me, I grabbed his hand pulling him up onto the bed towards me. We both sat up, I wrapped one of his arms around me as I lay my head onto his chest crying more than I thought I would, he held onto me tighter while rubbing circles on my back.
I am normally not the girl to be this close with someone I just met but I feel like I have no choice in that matter as I know no one in this town well enough, and I need comfort right now. “I’m just going to say this, you have every right to punch me ok?” Noah said, breaking the silence, I tried not to laugh, “Ok.” I whispered, he brushes my hair off my face as he looks me in the eyes, “Your mum has only just passed away?” He asked so softly.
I look back at him with a look thinking he’s stupid, but then realising I really hadn’t told him anything. “Yes, only a few days ago,” I mumbled, “Oh, Tassie I am truly sorry.” He whispered, he held onto me tighter, I think I heard him whisper ‘This makes sense’ . I like Jackson because he is easy to be around. I don't mind Mason, but I don’t trust him or Jamie, I also really do not like her. She hated me from the get-go. Maybe she used to date Noah and is pissed off that he is friends with me, which is odd as we have only just met and I find him to be a friend.
“Are they going to be nice to me next time I see them?” I asked, sounding scared, which I didn’t want to. “Don’t worry I will make sure they will be.” He whispered, I don’t want to repeat what I had just said, it’s too hard, it's too raw right now. “You can tell them about what happened,” I whispered, and he looked back at me in shock, “Are you sure?” He asked softly, I nodded my head, “I’m only going to tell you what happened, and I don’t feel like doing it again.” I said.
He nods his head to let me know to continue on, “She died of breast cancer, my dad Lee showed up at the funeral after receiving a letter from my mum asking him to take care of me.” He just whispered a wow, as I continued. “My dad didn’t say when he left?” I asked him, “Nope, he just said he had a personal matter to go to. He'll be back in a few days to weeks depending on time and what might happen.” He replies.
It was my turn to be shocked, “Oh, he never mentioned me or my mum?” I asked quietly, he shook his head, “Probably to the adults around him that needed to know, one thing you should know is that Lee is a very quiet man and keeps to himself, he doesn’t share much about himself.” Noah said, well, I didn’t know that about him, but then again, I don’t know much about my own father thanks to mum.
“Oh, ok...” I mumbled, he smiled at me, “Do you want to watch a movie?” He asked me, we headed out to the lounge room, dad was in the kitchen. “Is that you kiddo?” he called out. “Yeah!” I yelled back, “Is Noah still here?” He asked. “Yes, Lee,” Noah yelled back. “Good, cause your mum is calling you.” My dad said, I saw fear cross over his eyes fast, then it was gone, “Oh man really? That time already? I gotta go Tassie see you tomorrow?” He sounded so scared something was up with him.
I smiled at him, I can see us being good friends. “Sure, bye Noah!” I yelled out, but Dad yelled out, “That is a maybe Noah!” Noah just laughed, “Ok, bye Lee.” He leaves and I head into the kitchen, looking at Lee making dinner. “You ok?” He asked softly. “Unsure, thank you for letting him stay a little longer,” I said to Dad.
Dad smiled, “You are welcome, also do not expect it next time. That was the first and last time you cuddled a boy in your bed.” He snapped at me, I looked at him in shock, “I wouldn’t call it cuddling dad, more like comforting an upset friend.” I replied, sounding like a brat in my opinion.
Dad continues working away, “Call it whatever you like, it won’t be happening again.” He snapped. “Really?” I was shocked. “Yes really, I remember what teenage boys are like Tasmine.” He growled out. I huffed and stormed into the lounge room, like really why is he being so damned harsh on me. “Jump into the shower before dinner is ready.” He yelled out.
I looked at him in shock, “Really? It's Thursday night so I don't have to be ready for bed at six.” I snapped back at him. Dad stormed out of the kitchen looking at me in shock, “In this household you do!” He yelled at me. I looked back at him stunned, “Really?” I asked, sounding like a broken record. “Yes, dinner is done by six, you're bathed and ready for bed before dinner, you go to bed on school nights at eight-thirty and weekends nine-thirty unless we are hanging out with family.” He snapped at me.
I throw my hands up in the air, “Wow! Not even mum was this nut!” I yelled at him. “Not my problem, my house, my rules Miss. Also only hanging out with kids that I know are well-behaved ones, Noah and Jackson are on this list but only on weekends you can hang with them and not after school either, you start school on Monday, tomorrow morning we will go to the uniform shop and get your uniforms and school supplies, hopefully before we go the rest of your bedroom arrives. Also once a week your phone, tablet, and the computer will be checked randomly for anything and everything, also if you think of deleting anything I do know how to find it, only doing it to keep you safe.” He sounded pissed off.
I looked at him in shock, “What are you kidding me!” I screamed. “I am deadly serious Tasmine! Chop chop!” He yelled at me, I rolled my eyes, “Right! I am going!” I yelled back at him, I heard him say good from the kitchen. Ten minutes later we are sitting at the dinner table eating dinner, steak, and gravy with vegetables, I am in my PJs and Lee is still in his work gear, I huffed.
“If I have all these rules, I believe you should have some too.” I snapped at him. He looked at me shocked. “You think I need rules?” He asked, shocked, he is trying not to laugh at me, “Yes.” I said calmly, he put his knife and fork down, “Ok, let me have it.” He said, sounding like he is enjoying this.
I chuckle. I like this. “No matter what time it is you cannot eat dinner in those greasy work clothes and clean up before cooking and eating,” I said, sounding like my mum, he looked shocked, “What this is clean.” He said shocked. Looking down at himself, clothes covered in car grease, at least his hands and arms are clean, “All car parts and tools stay downstairs.” I snapped.
“Really? It’s my house.” He snapped at me, I smiled at him, like I don’t care who owns this house, “Don’t care I’m living here with you right now I don’t want to deal with it.”
“Fine, next.” He scoffed, “If you’re planning on going out for dates let me have sleepovers at a friend’s house so I don’t have to hear or see them until you are ready to introduce them to me.” He tilts his head to the side as he squints his eyes at me, “Ok, oh my what the hell did your mother expose you to?!” He snapped, “Let’s just say having a constant string of strange men in my kitchen hitting my bum telling me they are my new daddy and wishing I was older so they could have a tap too”
He didn’t let me finish as he screamed at me, “WHAT! YOUR FUCKING MOTHER ALLOWED THIS! IF I SEE THOSE MEN, I AM KILLING THEM!” He roared, I chuckled, “Now I wished I had known you for those mornings!” I said laughing, he glares, I know he is not angry at me. “I would have had full custody in that bloody case! No way will that happen here.” He snapped, I smiled, “Would you let me go to school functions?” I asked softly.
“What type are we talking about?” He asked softly, I looked down at my food, “Unsure if Tully has them but blue light discos, mocktail ball, deb ball, and the senior dance?” I asked, he smiled, “I have no idea if they do but sounds ok, as long as I am your driver.” He said, I smiled, “Ok deal thank you, also I want a little say in the shopping.” I whispered the last part.
“What do you mean?” He asked, “Are we going to have meat and three vegetables for the rest of my life?” I asked hoping he knows how to cook more food items, he chuckles, “Most likely as that is all I know how to cook. If you want something else, I’ll get grandma to pop in to help teach you some cooking.” He replied, I smiled, “I know how to cook some things but am happy to learn what she knows.” I smiled. I have a grandma that can cook.
“Good, I'll call her tonight and let her know.” He said, sounding happy, we went back to eating and talking, “When do I get to meet everyone?” I asked softly, he had the biggest smile on his face, “Hoping to have a big BBQ tomorrow night with everyone. How does that sound?” He asked me, I liked that he asked me if it was ok, “Sounds good.” I said smiling, “The shop will be okay tomorrow. My second in charge has been looking after it while I have been away.” He said, I looked at him in wonder, never realising I had not asked what he does for a living, “What shop? Was I asleep when you told me?” I asked lost.
He chuckles, “It seems so. I am a jack of all trades, I have opened up Kelly’s Mechanical, we can do just about anything from farming trucks to grandma’s car, we do restorations, and repairs from crashes the only thing we cannot do is the big massive mining trucks as our place isn’t big enough.” He said, sounding like he loves what he does, I smiled. That sounds so cool I am keen to get my hands dirty and help out and learn. “All the cars in the side of your yard are for what?” I asked.
“Oh, they are my projects, I do up cars from the police station and sell them at auction. That is what Noah and Oliver help me with when they aren’t at the shop. The money we make on them we split it. When they are not doing their apprenticeships at the workshop. All though lately Oliver hasn’t been helping out as much as he has taken up more hours at the shop instead.” Dad said, I smiled, “Cool, can I join in?” I asked, this sounds like fun.
His face went from shock then proud then joyful, “Hell yes! I would love that!” He just about yells out. I smiled, I like the sound of this I will get to know him more this way and learn how to fix cars at the same time, I can see mum rolling around in her grave by him agreeing to do this, she was dead set against me in learning this but I have always wanted to do it now I know why.
We finished up and I helped him clean up the kitchen. Once he went back downstairs, I went and started watching Home and Away then a movie, which I had fallen asleep during the movie as always.
Lee’s POV
It’s been a while since I heard Tassie moving around upstairs, I should go check up on her, I have done enough on this car for one night. I quickly go clean up then start locking up downstairs then heading upstairs, locking the front door, and turning off the lights I see Tassie is sound asleep on the couch with the TV still on, oh poor kid it has been a big week for her, hopefully, she will make some good friends here that can help her out too.
I am doing my best sweetie. Hopefully it is enough for you. Picking her up off the couch and taking her into her room, putting a sheet over her, and turning on her fan I leave her be. The home phone starts ringing, as I leave her room who the hell is calling at this time of night.
**PHONE CALL**
**Lee** Hello?
**James** Brother! Why did I have to hear my ex-sister-in-law has died and my niece is living with you from mum?
**Lee** I did tell you?
He starts laughing, how is that funny?
**James** Just pulling your leg. So, when do you want me and the girl’s over tomorrow?
**Lee** Well I need to enrol Tassie into school and get all her stuff for it, then hit the shops for food and drinks for the BBQ. The afternoon any time after four should be fine.
**James** Shit what the fuck you didn’t enroll her today? Are you forgetting no one is at the school tomorrow as it’s a student-free day?
**Lee** Only doing what they said to do. Something is on for all the office staff tomorrow morning.
**James** Ok, well just calling to let you know that Tasmine was hanging out with Jamie today she told Amanda some horrible stuff about your girl. I am incredibly angry at what Jamie is doing because I don’t believe it to be true.
**Lee** What? Noah had only told me it was just him and Jackson, was Oliver with them? No wait he never said did he, no he just said friends.
**Jamie** No mention of Oliver, just Noah, Jackson, Mason, and Jamie.
**Lee** Noah would have known I would have said no if I knew Jamie was going to be with them. Now, what was said?
**James** She told Amanda that Tasmine was playing around very sluty with Noah and Jackson to the point she ran away crying because one of the boys had taken it too far with her.
**Lee** What the hell? I know that is not what happened. Yes, she did come home running and crying but both she and Noah said the same thing the others pushed her too far in asking why she is living here. She cries at a drop of the hat at the moment, poor thing it hasn’t been that long for her. Did Amanda put her in her place?
**James** Oh poor kid, my girls will be able to help her out more than others too. Oh, she sure did, Jamie had the nerve to involve her mother with some sob story she fell for.
**Lee** Oh no, well let’s hope we can nip this in the bud.
**James** Really, you’re forgetting what Liz is like, aren’t you?
I start laughing.
**Lee** Well she makes my late wife look normal.
**James** Well she’s your ex for a reason. Scrap that they both are your exes for a reason.
**Lee** A high school dance date and one kiss doesn’t make her my ex James.
**James** Tell her that, she loves telling people she’s the one that got away. That’s why your wife left... blah! Some small-town crap she pulls.*
*Lee** You know she still didn’t give us a good reason why she left. That is what’s messing Tasmine up the most with all the why questions and I got nothing. How can I help her when I, myself, have no idea why she bloody took off?
**James** Well Jane is a piece of work to do that to the pair of you. No normal person would do what she had done.
**Lee** I know...
**James** You know my views on this subject.
**Lee** I know, Tasmine told me some information about her life that if I’ve known about it, she would be living with me sooner.
**James** Oh shit no bro did she have a stepdad that did some horrible shit to her? We need her to spill names and addresses so we can kill them!
**Lee** As far as I know no stepdad’s, she said she had a constant string of strange men in her kitchen hitting her bum telling her they are her new daddy, and wishing she was older so they could have a tap too.
**James** Jesus Fucking Christ! Jane was ok with a man like that around her daughter?!
**Lee** Clearly, why be with someone like me, let’s bring in all the horrible scary people around a young child!
**James** Well she is now much safer with you and her Uncle’s being close by, does Jimmy know yet?
**Lee** He knows his sister has died and his niece is living with me now but doesn’t yet know about the other information. He couldn’t leave until tomorrow morning.
**James** Cool so he’ll be at the barbie?
**Lee** Yes.
**James** How did he become so normal and his sister a crackpot?
**Lee** I don’t bloody know man, she wasn’t like this when I married her nor before I had fallen in love with her. Something had happened to her after she had Tasmine that was when she started to change.
**James** We will never know now. Alright Brother I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. Love you.
**Lee** Ok, love you too.
Man, Tasmine doesn’t need this teenage drama on top of everything, will let Noah know what is happening, I am not impressed at all. Shit look at the time I better get into the shower and clean up or I won’t get any sleep.
Tasmine’s POVIt’s one of those mornings where you want to sleep in but no one lets you, Lee was very keen for us to leave the house before seven-thirty in the morning, he is lucky I am even up this early on a weekend, which I know it’s not the weekend just yet but it sure feels it to me right now.I got dressed in one of my mother’s favourite outfits for me, a white dressy singlet, that I had teamed up with my high waisted pastel pink short shorts, with my mum’s colourful sheer chiffon retro floral batwing shawl baggy kimono, with the matching necklace that my mum bought me when she found the pants, I know I am angry at her right now but she did have a good sense in fashion.Walking out of my room towards where dad was waiting for me he looked up from his phone and right away I knew I was in trouble. “Oh, you are not wearing that today!” He snapped at me, I glared at him, “Nothing wrong with this! My mum bought me it and this is hers!” I snapped at him, I glared at him as I swished t
Tasmine’s PovAs we girls headed towards a private area under the house I spotted Noah flying down the front steps, racing towards his house, I called out to him, “Oi! Noah!” He didn’t even stop to look at me, I know he heard me. Why is he ignoring me?What am I to him?What we just did meant so little to him?Nope, I need answers from him, holding my hand up to my cousins. Am I this needy because of what just happened to my mother? I think so…“Hold up girls, I will be right back,” I said, as I raced off from under the house heading towards Noah’s house, knocking on the front door, his older sister opened the front door and smiled at me. “Oh, you're Lee’s little girl Tasmine, nice to see you again. Here let me show you to Noah’s room.” She had a big grin on her face. She showed me where his room was, as she headed back to the lounge room to watch whatever it was, she was watching before I had knocked on their front door.I knocked softly on his bedroom door. “For the love of god Hann
Tasmine’s POVThe younger three Emma, Henry, and Liam run around playing, screaming, and laughing while Theo and Ava are chasing them, Amanda, Elijah, and I are in one of the cubby houses, watching them running around. “So, Amanda, are you single?” Elijah asked if I wanted to vomit right now. “Yes, and no we are not doing anything.” She snapped at him.“Ok, you only have to tell me once, so cousin what is it like living with Uncle Lee?” Elijah asked, with a smirk on his face. “So far ok, I guess,” I said. I don’t get a good feeling from him, it's creeping me out a little. “How are you doing after meeting your whole family?” he asks me, I let out a loud sigh, “Amazing, wished my mother had not taken off with me, wishing she left and left me here, would have loved growing up with you all, and in this house.” I said with a bitter tone to my voice.Amanda smiled at me, “Yes, I know, hey you know Uncle Lee has an outdoor cinema.” Amanda said with a big smile on her face, both I and Elijah
Tasmine’s POVI make my way upstairs into the lounge waiting for Dad to join me, how am I going to keep this from him? He seems to know everything, how far do I want to push it with him? He walks into the house, locking the door behind him. He walks towards me, it’s like he’s trying to keep his face clear of any emotions which are scary.“Right, now do you remember what I said about boys?” He asked, “Ok, you had said no boys,” I replied quietly, trying to work out where he was going with this, doing my best not to be scared. “You broke the rules Tasmine, Noah has been punished for his part, I am angrier than a cut snake!” He snapped.But I am too stunned by what he just said, “A what?” I was confused, “Angrier than a cut snake!” He snapped, “Right?” I said, still confused, that this is a new one, must be a fair North Queensland thing, “Major rule breaking the punishment is the removal of your comfort in your room.” He said calmly. “What? The hell does that mean?” I snapped at him. “Ex
Tasmine’s POV“What the hell Noah are you insane?!” I whispered to him, he is laughing, he has a cute laugh. “Just watching your beautiful ass trying to garden, it’s very cute you know.” He whispered, I looked at him stunned, “What? Yooou thinkkk Imm beautiful?” I stutter, why the hell am I stuttering? “Yes, I find you are very beautiful, even when you stumble on words.” He said with a smirk on his face.“That’s not funny, shoo I don’t want my dad to see you! I’ll text you ok.” I said, trying to hurry him off, with an eyebrow up in surprise, “You do not have my number.” He said, oh right dumbass, I quickly looked around to see what dad was doing, I couldn’t see him. I quickly found a dirt patch and wrote my number on the ground taking off back to the house as nothing had happened, halfway up the stairs my phone buzzed, a text from him. I smiled. “Food’s ready, why are you smiling like that?” Dad asked me.“uh like, what?” Play stupid Tasmine, “What you are doing right now.” He stated,
Tasmine’s POVOh, crap Uncle James is here! Shit he's going to tell my dad now. “This is not what it looks like Uncle James,” I said trying to think on the fly and I think I failed big time. I am normally a smart girl but right now nothing. “Tasmine, you think I was born yesterday? It is exactly what it looks like.” He said, shaking his head, “Oh, please don’t tell Dad!” I whispered. “No, I’ll be telling my brother, you can deal with the fallout as you clearly know what you're doing is against what he has told you.” He said as he looked into my trolley confused.“How are you planning on getting all that home?” He asked, “It’s the list my dad gave me,” I said, he started to laugh, “He knew what you were up to kiddo,” My uncle said laughing, he couldn’t stop laughing, as we looked on in confusion. “What now?” I asked, he finally stopped laughing, “It’s what he used to do, and that’s the same list mum would give him.” Oh, fuck I am in trouble, bigger than I thought.“Oh, man...” I groane
Lee’s POVMy twin brother walks out of his car towards me, but I noticed that the girls are still in the car. “Now Lee before you lose your shit just hear me out please.” My brother said calmly, he stated but I cut him off before he could finish, “Why? I know what she just went and done!” I snapped, “Come on man calm down just a little.” He’s using that voice he used to use on me when we were kids.“Really?” I asked as he let out a loud sigh, “Yes, she is your sixteen-year-old daughter who has just lost her mother Lee. Cut her some slack, you've punished her enough, you know you have if I’m pointing this out to you.” He said, I looked at him shocked, “What do you mean by that?” I asked.He holds his hand up doing the counting, “You’ve removed her door, all of her comfortable items, and made her do yard work. Man, those punishments are enough, don't add more of them, losing a parent is hard enough. Do you want her to really hate you? You brought her here to have a father-daughter relat
Tasmine’s POVI woke up to hear my dad yelling at me again. “Why aren’t you awake and dressed and ready for school yet? And is that my swag?” He asked as I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake up. “oghh mmm uh?” I mumbled out. “You're awake yet it’s seven-thirty in the morning, get up.” He snapped, I shot up looking around, fuck I cannot be late for my first day at school, I was going to do my hair, I won’t have time now! “Shit really!” I snapped at him, I jumped up and raced up to my cupboard pulling out my uniform, and raced past him into the bathroom.“Why didn’t you get me up earlier?!” I yelled out at him, “Thought you had an alarm?” He asked surprised, god he sounds old! Rolling my eyes through the door at him. “You took that when you took my phone!” I yelled from the bathroom, lucky for myself my hair is good it can last another day, I quickly had a shower and got dressed. Racing back into my room to put my hair up in a high ponytail for today and put my shoes on.Heading into the ki