𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 1: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Yes! Finally, I'm allowed to go to a pool party this weekend. I can't wait to swim in the warm pool & have fun with my best friend, Aaliyah. Drink some fruit punch, eat some party food, & dance the night away. I've worked so hard all week & its time to treat myself. When Aaliyah told me about this party, i knew i had to go. Besides, i've never been to a pool party before. There's just one small problem. I can't wear my swimming suit/bikini to the pool party. Its something that my dad calls "slut clothes" or "hoochie mama apparel". Maybe I can wear a jacket over it with a long t-shirt or a pair of gray sweatpants with a long sleeve t-shirt. No, that will never work. Nothing can get past him. He's like a hawk & a black panther all in one. He pays attention to everything, i mean everything. He knows when something is wrong from a mile away. I got to find a way to sneak this suit past him. Ah, I got an idea!

I folded my suit up as small as possible & rolled it up tightly. I grabbed my empty water bottle & stuffed it inside. I shoved it underneath the inside of my backpack, praying & hoping that it doesn't give me away. I grabbed all of my stuff & headed downstairs. I took a deep breath. I opened the front door getting ready to leave.

"Where do you think your going?" The soft-tone voice asked.

My heart started racing. My breathing got heavy. I'm fucked! Okay calm down. I put on a straight face & acted normal. He won't notice a thing if i just act normal. Right?

I closed the door & cleared my throat, "To the pool party, Aaliyah is waiting on me in the car."

"Come here." He said, motioning his finger towards me. I placed my backpack by the door & dropped my other things on the floor as well. I walked towards his favorite recliner chair that he's sitting in. I stood in front of him. He was sipping on some Brandy while reading a book. He looked up from his book & stared at me with those icy blue eyes. He knows something's up.

"Are you hiding something from me?" He asked nicely.

I shook my head, "No, of course not."

He raised an eyebrow at me not satisfied with my answer, "Are you sure?"

"No, sir."

"Are you lying to me?" He asked, putting down his book & straighten himself in the chair.

"No, sir. I would never lie to you."

He hummed & drank the rest of the liquor that was in his glass. He sat the glass down on the table. His facial expression changed once he took a look at my attire.

"What are you wearing?"

"A black top with jeans & tennis shoes. Is something wrong with it?"

"Its showing your stomach." He furrow his eyebrows together. I gulped hoping he doesn't get mad. He looks pissed already.

"I have a jacket in my bag. Its pretty hot outside, I didn't want to have a heat stroke. Besides, there will be AC at the party." My poor choice of words made him angrier then he already is.

"But I'll put on a jacket."

He calmed down a bit. He poured a small amount of liquor into his glass.

"How many people are going to be at this party?"

"10."

"How many adults are going to be around?" He sipped on his liquor.

"At least five or more."

He stared at me for a hot minute making me extremely nervous. My hands started to shake a bit. I kept my eye contact with him. If anything seems off, I'll be punished.

"Give me one good reason why I should trust you to go to this pool party with your friend." He said.

"Because i'm a responsible teenager-".

"Besides that." He cut me off quickly.

"I've been working really hard this week & I think I deserve a break. From your satisfied reaction, i say I did a terrific job."

He shook his head approving my answer. Finally, he's satisfied.

"Fine, I trust you." I smiled with joy but soon that smile disappeared. He grabbed my arm pulled me closer to him. Our foreheads were touching each other. Those beautiful icy blue eyes were glowing with pissitivity. He wrapped his big hand around my neck forcing me to look at him. Small whimper sounds came from my mouth hoping he doesn't hurt me before I go. I don't want anybody to see any bruises.

"But if I find out you've done something that I don't approve of, you can say bye-bye to your little ass. Do you understand?" He threatened.

I gulped, "Yes, sir."

He let go of me causing me to fall over on the ground. I quickly got up & straighten myself.

"Fix yourself & get out of here." He said picking up his book & going back to his marked page.

I hurriedly ran towards the door grabbing my stuff. I opened the front door smiling to myself.

"Before you go." I stopped dead in my tracks. "Let me find out that you put on that tiny swimming suit, your punishment is going to be way worse then before."

I thought my heart fell out of my mouth. How did he know? I hid it somewhere he wouldn't expect it to be. I'm lucky he hasn't stopped me from going. He's cutting me a little slack, thankfully. But I won't put it past him.

"I love you dad." I hope he doesn't change his mind.

"Love you too." He said waving me off.

I exited out of the house shaking with fear. I put my stuff in the backseat of my best friend's car. I take one last look at the house before I got in the car. Here's to a free day!