This is me BOOK 3

Chapter 18 playing the game

Emily's POV

I didn't get much sleep last night, I was still bothered by Dave trying to control my relationship with Anissa. He didn't even know Anissa existed until I sent her looking for him, then he takes her from me and then stops my visitations. I'm not going to let that go, just because he is famous, and rich, he thinks he can control my life. News flash for him, that is not going to happen.

After Dave took Anissa from my hotel room, he refused to let her come back at all yesterday. I tried calling him all day, but he didn't answer his phone. Once I finally got ahold of him yesterday evening, he asked me what game I was trying to play? He wanted to know why I told Anissa that I payed to come to Australia? Why I told her that Steve lost his job to come here? I told him that I can tell my daughter about my business whenever I wanted. He accused me of lying to Anissa. I told him until he knew the facts he needed to mind his own damn business. He was pissed because he paid for this trip, but doesn't he realize that there were more expenses then just the flight and hotel?

I am so tired of him calling the shots. I thought when Anissa left here yesterday, I would be getting a phone call from her asking me to go get her, but instead I get drilled for talking to my kid. Anissa went from being pissed at her father for keeping her from me, to thinking her father is the greatest again. I have to limit her time with Dave or I am never going to get her back.

It seems whenever I have her convinced that being with me is much better then being with Dave, he changes her mind. Whenever I get Anissa acting up and showing her true colors, Dave gets her to act like a perfect child again. I got to get them apart for a few days to really work on Anissa. Dave will never allow Anissa to stay with me at the hotel because of Steve(which is a lame excuse). I guess I need to stop only trying to convince Anissa to come back to Ohio with me. I need to also get her to piss off Dave until he has had enough. If I can get Dave to need a break from our daughter, so she can stay with me for even a few days, I could definitely convince Anissa that she would be happier with me.

My POV

Dad and I had a long talk yesterday. We talked about everything that has happened in the last few months. I always feel better after talking to my father, but sometimes I still have a hard time opening up. I guess I spent so many years being told that how I felt was foolish or ridiculous, that I started hiding my feelings. My father constantly encourages me to express how I am feeling, and I need to do it more often.

We even discussed Laura's party and why I felt that I had to be there. I understand what I did was wrong, but it also helped that dad understood why it was so important to me. My father explained that even if things are extremely important to me, it doesn't alway mean they are what's right for me. He told me that I only see what's in front of me and not the big picture. It is his job to look at the whole picture and decide if it's right or wrong. He also told me that we may not always agree what is best for me, but he would never do anything that he didn't feel was in my best interest. 

After our talk I asked dad if there was anyway he could rethink my punishment. I still wanted to go to the competition, but I also didn't want to be grounded all summer. He said he would think about it and talk to me tomorrow(which is today). He also laughed and said "you really haven't been grounded with all these special trips you have been taking with your mother". I did remind him that being with my mother wasn't the same as hanging out with kids my own age.

I got up this morning to hearing my father on the phone. I am assuming it was with my mother because the only time my father starts raising his voice, is when he talks with my mom(unless I am in severe trouble). I get up and go to the bathroom to brush my teeth and shower.