My Bestfriend's Father (Spooky)

Chapter 33

Hermonie

Today is the big one. It's my 18th birthday and Halloween! I was so excited. "So what are you thinking? Costume party? Regular party?" Cortez asked as we sat at lunch. "Maybe a costume party. I've been waiting to have one since I was like ten!" I said doing a little happy dance. Tez nodded tapping away on his phone. "Anna?" I asked looking at him. He nodded continuing on his phone. "She said happy birthday." He smiled up at me. After I ate my lunch we went to our next class. I sat down looking through my textbook, people were telling me happy birthday all day and I was happy about it. "Hermione to the principles office. Hermione to the principles office." I heard over the intercom and I started to get nervous.

Walking into the office I started to sweat. "Hermione?" The woman at the front desks asked. I nodded and she walked me into the office. I sat down in front of the large deck as she shut the door. The principle turned in his chair and put his arms on the deck. "I wanted to thank you personally for what you did for this school. You put your life at risk for the safety of this whole school. I asked the teachers around the school and they told me you went around the whole school along with Cortez Díaz letting everyone know about the shooting that was going to happen. Yes people still died but if it wasn't for you and that young man a lot of deaths would have happened." He spoke with gratitude in his voice. "It was nothing. I just couldn't leave without letting people know. I couldn't imagine what parents would feel like loosing their children over a gang war that had nothing to do with them." I told him honestly.

He nodded looking out the window of the large office. "Well Hermione, thank you very much for what you did for this school. As a reminder of your bravery and of course Cortez's I'd like to dedicate a page in every year book with the story and a picture of the both of you. It would be an honor if you would allow us to do so." He spoke with pride. "I will ask my Abuelita about it. I don't want to make her angry. And I'll ask Mr. Díaz for Cortez as well." He nodded before handing me a box. "For your birthday and a thank you for saving so many lives." He smiled as I opened the box to see my high school ring. "The teachers and I raised the money to pay for yours and Mr. Díaz's class rings. You both deserve it." I smiled sliding it on my finger. "Thank you." I smiled. He nodded then told me I was free to go.

After school I made my way outside to find Tez tongue deep in Anna's throat. I cleared my throat and they separated. "I'll see you later babe. And happy birthday Mione!" Anna yelled running off down the lot. "Did you get called to the office too?" I asked as we walked to Oscar's Impala. "Yeah. They paid for my class ring! You gonna ask your Abuelita about the year book page?" He asked after showing me his ring. I showed him mine and nodded. "Yeah I'm gonna ask her when she calls me. I haven't heard from her in a while." He nodded. "Speaking of heard from someone in a while. Have you gotten a letter from your dad?" He asked as we got to the car. "I been waiting but haven't gotten anything yet. Maybe he just didn't care enough to write back." I looked down before sliding into the car.

As we rode down the street I realized we were on my side of the block and not Oscar's. "What are we doing?" I asked as we parked in front of my house. "Go check the mail." He smiled at me. I got out and ran to the mailbox. Opening it I pulled out tons of papers and then I seen it. In the very back, in large letters my name. I threw the rest of the mail on my couch then ran back to the car with a big smile. "HE WROTE ME!" I screamed as I got in front of the car jumping around. Oscar smiled and Tez laughed. I got in the car bouncing on the seat. We pulled off, I kept the biggest smile on my face as we pulled into the drive of Oscar's house. Tito and a bunch of other Santos sat out front looking at me like I was crazy.

I had finally opened up to all of them about my family situation and they were very nice about it. "What's with the smile Mione?" Tito asked and everyone else nodded looking at me as I jumped out of Oscar's car. "HE WROTE BACK!" I yelled jumping around and everyone smiled as well saying cheers or giving me a high five. I ran in the house and into Oscar's room and kicked my shoes off. Oscar walked in closing the door and sitting in front of me. "Minoe listen to me for a second okay?" He asked and I nodded. He grabbed my hands and held them tightly looking me in the eyes.

"Before you read this I need you to remember something for me." I nodded for him to continue. "No matter what is on that paper, you are still an amazing person with or without him. You are beautiful, smart, kind, selfless, and happy. Don't let negative words hurt you. You don't need him if he doesn't want to be in your life. If he doesn't want to be in your life, so be it. You will push on and keep smiling knowing you tried and it's okay if it doesn't work. You still have Los Santos, Me, Tez, Tito, and your Abuelita and that's all you'll ever need. Do you understand?" I nodded before slowly opening the envelope.

Dear Hermione,

My sweet baby girl. I love you more than you will ever know. I am so sorry for leaving you the way I did. I want you to know I did what I did for you. I was trying to make extra money for you and your mother. You didn't deserve the life we were giving you at the time. I was trying to save up the money to put in your college account when everything went down. I never meant for any of that to ever happen. I want you to know you are the best thing that ever happened to me, my beautiful daughter. I am so sorry I left you like that. You didn't deserve that at all. I want you to know I think about you every day and say a prayer for you every time I lay my head down. I love you my little girl. I'm sorry to tell you this this way but I don't want you to write to me anymore. I don't deserve your letters or your love. I want the letters but I don't want you to hurt knowing I won't write back. I love you my daughter. Happy birthday.

Your father
Ricardo

Tears filled my eyes in not only anger but sadness. I understood though. Oscar was right, he was ashamed of what he did and that's why he didn't want the letters.

Edited October 6th, 2021