Anger Management (A Hunter Hayes Fanfiction)

Chapter Thirty-One:

A/N:
It's short, I'm sorry.

Tessa ❤️🎶

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I sigh when Ella doesn't answer her phone for the third time.

"She went. That little liar! She is so grounded," I say frustratedly.

"Hunter, it's not your fault. It's not like you totally should've seen it coming or anything," Sam says sarcastically.

"Shut up! She's probably at that party and some guy is getting handsy and-"

"Hunter you do realize that it's completely normal for most girls her age to go to parties? Calm down, she's smart enough to use protection. I had a talk with her a couple weeks ago," Steve says comfortingly.

"That's not helping!" I exclaim.

"Sorry," Steve mumbles

"Hunter, look at it this way. If she goes to that party and gets drunk or does something stupid, she's totally going to regret it. We both know that she knows the difference between wrong and right. So if she does something stupid, she's going to feel guilty enough to make up for whatever punishment you would've given. And if she goes and doesn't do anything, you won't need to punish her and she won't need to feel guilty," Sam says comfortingly.

"I will have to punish her because I specifically told her not to go. I told her she couldn't."

"Alright whatever, have a couple drinks and you won't even remember," Steve scoffs.

I sigh, knowing that I need to just chill out. Maybe Ella is just at home watching TV, and she fell asleep and that's why she's not answering her phone. Or she went to the party and is grinding against some sex starved teenage boy.

Unfortunately, although the first option is much more pleasing, the second is more likely.

I don't think this New Year's Eve is going to be all that enjoyable.

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It's almost midnight, and Ella still hasn't answered my texts or calls. Something is wrong.

I almost jump out of my skin when my phone starts ringing. I walk into a quieter part of Andy's house, seeing Ella's name on the screen.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I ask after accepting the call.

"Dad can you come and get me?" Ella's shaky voice asks.

"Where are you?" I ask, suddenly worried.

"I'm at the party. The Bensons house, I can text you the address. Just come get me ok?" She begs.

"Yeah, I'll be there soon. You realize you're in trouble, right?" I warn her.

"Dad just come get me," she huffs before ending the call.

I sigh and tell the guys that I'm going to get her before leaving, typing the address she sent me into my phone. When I arrive at the house, it's evident that no adults are in attendance. Or if they are, they're not doing anything about the drinking going on. There are drunk teenagers all over the front lawn, and I can feel the bass pumping from the driveway. There are couples making out against trees, and on the lawn. It's disgusting. I start to get out, but then I see Ella walking quickly toward the car.

"Ella what-"

"Dad, just drive," she snaps, turning her face away from me.

"What's going on Ella?" I ask angrily.

"Dad, please just go," she whispers.

I sigh frustratedly and start driving.

"Do you want to go home?" I ask.

"Where else would we go?"

"I was at Andy's," I tell her.

"Let's just go there," she sighs.

"Ella what is wrong? You went to that party even though I told you not to, and then you begged me to come get you. I don't understand-"

"I had sex with Jason," she blurts out suddenly.

I'm going to puke.

"Oh. Really?" Is all I can say.

"Yeah," she whispers, tears obvious in her voice.

"I'm guessing it wasn't all that great?" I say.

"He broke up with me after," she tells me weakly.

"Oh god," I sigh, turning into Andy's driveway.

"I'm sorry dad," she apologizes.

I sigh. "Yeah. I know. It's alright."

"No it's not," she sighs before getting out and walking up the sidewalk.

Maybe some time around her uncles will do her good. And give me time to think about all this.

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"Do you know where Ella went?" I ask Matt as midnight looms closer and closer.

"I think she went out on the patio. Don't know why, it's freezing," Matt replies with a shrug.

I nod. "Thanks."

"Hey, is something wrong with her?" He asks concernedly.

"Yeah... I... She went to that party and something happened," I explain, trying to be vague.

"Oh. Is there anything we can do?"

"I don't know. I'm gonna go see if she's alright," I say.

He nods and I walk through the living room and out to the patio. Ella is standing with her back to me, facing the yard.

"What are you doing out here? It's freezing El," I say with a chuckle, attempting to lighten things.

I walk toward her when she doesn't answer, standing next to her and looking down and her face.

"Why did mom have to go?" She whispers as tears stream down her face.

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close.

"I don't know sweetheart. I don't know."

She buries her face in my shirt, letting out a sob.

"I'm sorry dad. I'm so sorry," she whispers through her tears.

"Hey, it's alright Ella. It's alright," I assure her, rubbing her back gently.

"No it's not! I let you down dad. You were right, I shouldn't have gone to that party. I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking and now I've ruined everything. It's my fault that he broke up with me and-"

"Ella stop," I say firmly. "It's not your fault that he broke up with you. It's his fault. You two made a mistake tonight, but he chose to make another. He let you go, El. And trust me, you'll find someone better. Someone who will give you all the respect and love that you deserve. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but things will get better. It's gonna be a new year in ten minutes, Ella. A fresh start. A clean slate. You'll be ok. I promise."

She looks up at me. "You really think so?"

I smile. "Yeah. I do."

"I love you so much dad," she whispers shyly.

"I love you too Ella," I tell her, kissing the top of her head.