James/Carvelli Extras

my little girl (N+M)

TW: mental health and talks about self harm

Mateo

"Mr. James, Valencia is a great student. Just like her brother she was top of her classes."

"was?" I question

"She's failing. Badly. Her teachers said one day she just stopped handing in work or work was completed but done poorly. Mr. James you know your kids are smart, but if Valencia can't keep her grades up, she's not gonna have a spot at our school."

The kids go to a school designed for gifted and advanced children. They take a test to see if they're fit then we pay a $100,000 yearly tuition if they get in.

It's not like Valencia to start failing.

"Effective immediately she's benched. Until she can prove that her grades are at a steady place she'll be back on the field. I hate doing this because she's our best quarterback. But it has to be done."

"I understand. And the fashion program?"

The fashion program is an extra program for students. It's an added $25,000-50,000. The students go Abroad some weeks for their studies, and of course I'll give my daughter the best experience she can get.

Though she loves football, fashion design is her passion. And what my kids love, I'll love and support it too by all means.

"Her teacher sees real potential. But if she's not able to make up the assignments she's missed then she will be taken out and you will be refunded this months and last months payments." she explains

"ok. I'lll talk to her. It's definitely not like her to do this. I'll call if we have any concerns."

We bid goodbye and I set my phone down on the desk.

I get up with a sigh and head out of the room.

I'm not gonna hound her or lecture her. That's not my parenting style.

Somethings going on with my little girl and I need to know.

I walk to her room and stand outside the doorway. She's laying down on her bed, listening to music.

"Ms. Menace, may I enter?" I ask, knocking.

"Yeah" she sits up.

I sit on her couch and pat the spot beside me.

She gets up and comes over.

I look down at my 15 year old. She's got her Nyla's face, Nyla's freckles, Nyla's dimples, my eyes, my eyebrows, my hair, my potty mouth. but everything else is her own.

"Papa" she mumbles

"Are you ok?" I question with my whole heart.

Val looks at me before launching herself into my arms. sobs leaving her lips.

"Let it out. Papa's here, just let it out." I wrap my arm around her. One holding the back of her head.

"It's ok. It'll be ok, my beautiful girl." I kiss the top of her head.

"I'm tired, papa. I'm so tired." she holds me tighter and her body shakes with each sob.

"Take a break. Take a break from school, from social media, from football. I'll talk to Mama and the school... You just have to tell me." I say to her

"I wasn't sure. You know, with me being the closest to normal I guess I put this thought in my head that things would be different with me then with Apollo."

There's a dark humour joke between us that Val is least likely to go insane. She's fine with it and she's assured she's not offended or that anyone else is offended.