It's Not All Roses

C-11

Levi

"I didn't think you'd ever do that with me, Bee, really. I thought you hated me enough to never come near me," I said, dropping Betty's food in her little pink bowl. Really, I could never imagine Bee being all...touchy with me. I couldn't stop myself today. She looked like the fucking grand prismatic spring; colorful and alluring. The second I saw her walking down stairs in her red overcoat and teal short skirt, all I could think was of removing that thing off and never giving it back.

Yeah, I know. It's not like me to think like that of her but she's a fucking sunflower man.

"Bee?" I called, not hearing a response for whatever I said before. I turned my neck to the dining area to find it empty. She was nowhere to be found but her red overcoat still lays on the chair, now slightly wrinkled. Panorama of her clutching onto it as I kissed her neck popped up in my head. An amusing smiled appeared on my mouth at the thought. But then the thought of Halloween night came to my mind, haunting me. I still remember her blaming me for trying to kiss her. My smile faded at the thought.

I just hope she don't regret what we did.

I came to reality when I heard Betty's bell jingling. I picked up her, filled bowl and propped it down. She didn't wait a heartbeat before shoving her mouth in. I chuckled, rubbing the top of her head.

"If you're here then who is she—OH," I hear Dad's voice from behind me. I stood up and spinned to find Dad's mouth formed into 'O' as he stood there frozen at something he witnessed.

"Dad, are you okay?" I asked, genuinely concerned about my Dad. He's getting old. But the lady who works at Bill's still asks about him. I mean, I don't blame her. My Dad is very very handsome. Lesser than me, though.

He exhaled deeply, shyly smiling to himself. "God, kids these day," He said, shaking his head as he walked deep inside out kitchen.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused. "Is something wrong? Where's Bee?"

"Do you want to have ice cream with me?" He stated, completely ignoring my question and already moving towards the fridge. "Bea's—uh—in your room. She might be tired," He shrugged his shoulder, grabbing the chocolate fudge ice cream. When he turns to face me, there is still a faint smile on his face.

What that hell?

"Dad, are you hiding something from me?" I asked, reaching for the spoons.

"No, why would I do that to my son? He knows everything," He jumped and sat on the black marbled counter, patting next to him, motioning me to sit next to him. I looked at him for a moment before jump-sitting myself on the counter.

I passed an spoon to him just as he opened the lid. I thought about his statement once again before asking the question I've longed the answer for. "Okay, then what's Mom's name?"

"We've been over this, Levi," He said my name as a warning.

Something inside me ignited. "Come on, Dad, I'm eighteen now. Don't you—"

"Don't mess up my good face, baby." He said, cutting me off.

I went silent for a moment, taking in a spoon full of ice cream into my mouth. "At least tell me something—anything about her. How she was, how you both met? Anything?" I asked, then.

"Listen, Levi—"

"Dad, please. Just give me a reason to like her in the least," I pushed, looking down and sighing. I internally yelled at myself for bringing up such an intense topic to him. I know it will hurt him but it hurts me not knowing a word about her. I don't even know if she's alive.