Apple Doesn't Fall Far (Duskwood Fanfiction)

Chapter 4

Jake's P.O.V.

It's been almost two weeks that I've been in East View and I'm not any closer to figuring out what happened to MC. I've revisited all the places she used to go. I keep hoping I will run into her on the street or in a restaurant or even on campus but it's as if she never existed. Honestly, if I hadn't met her and spent that night with her I would question whether or not she was even real.

The first week of my new job is almost over. It is my first actual teaching job and I've enjoyed it. I've met so many bright young kids. The most surprising of those kids being one of the youngest in the program, Grace Carter. She's incredibly smart. I'll admit on her first day when she got a perfect score on the computer knowledge test I was convinced she had cheated but after speaking with some of the other teachers I believe she really is that smart. Suddenly there's a knock on my office door pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Come in," I call out and the door opens revealing Gracie standing there with her laptop.
"Mr. McKnight, can you help me with writing this program? I keep getting errors in the coding." She says.
"Sure. Let's see what you got." I say motioning for her to come in. I'm surprised she needs help considering she's usually ahead on everything.
"I'm doing the assignment where you have to write the program in python to calculate how many months it will take to save enough money to buy a house." She says sitting down and putting her laptop on my desk.
"Gracie we haven't even gotten to this assignment yet. You're working really far ahead."
"I finished everything from this week already and I just want to learn as much as I can while I'm here." She says
I lean forward and push her laptop closed causing her to give me a horrified look. "When's the last time you ever just acted like a kid?" I ask her.
"Umm, I don't know." She shrugs her shoulders.
"Well, this can wait. There are no classes today so today you get to act like a kid." I tell her.
"Why?"
"Because I spent years of my life doing nothing but sitting behind a computer. It's not a fun life especially for a kid. Come on," I get up walking towards the door. "There's an ice cream shop on campus and I'm taking you there." I'm not sure why but I felt instantly drawn to Grace the first time I met her. For some reason, I feel like we were destined to meet each other. Maybe it's because she just needs a positive role model in her life like many of the kids I mentor.

We get to the ice cream shop on the other side of campus. Gracie walks up to the counter looking at all of the flavors.
"You can get anything you want." I tell her.
"Really?" She says with wide eyes.
"What can I get for you." The lady behind the counter asks and I nod at Gracie to order.
"Two scoops of cookies and cream with hot fudge and strawberries." She says and I can't help but give her a shocked look. "I know everyone thinks I'm weird for eating strawberries with cookies and cream but it's my favorite."
"And for you sir?" The lady asks me.
"I'll have the same," I say. This time it's Gracie's turn to look shocked. "I wasn't giving you that look because I thought it was weird. I was giving you that look because that's my favorite too."
We get our order and sit down at a table in the corner.

"What got you interested in programming?" I ask curiously.
"Well, it's something I've been interested in as long as I can remember. I've always been interested in both the hardware and software of computers. My mom even let me build my own computer but it took a while to persuade her. She says I get all this from my dad but I wouldn't know I've never met him." She says with a hint of sadness in her voice.
"I'm sorry, Gracie. I've never met my father either so I know how it feels to always wonder about that part of you."
"Does he know you exist?" She asks
"He does. He was engaged when him and my mother got together. When my mother found out she was having me he decided he didn't want anything else to do with her or me. He refused to acknowledge me and he even refused to let me have his last name. Once I became an adult I decided I didn't want to know him. I do have two younger sisters by him and we have become pretty close over the years." I'm not sure why I am telling this kid my life story but it just felt right.
"My dad was apparently some wanted criminal. My mom refused to tell him about me and she refuses to tell me who he is. She's afraid I'll look for him and she's right I definitely would. I know I am named after his sister but I don't really know anything else." She sighs and I can tell she's trying hard not to cry. "I often wonder what he would think if he did meet me. Would he like me? Would he be happy I'm following in his footsteps or would he try to talk me out of it like my mom does? I hope he would like me and be proud to have a kid like me. "
"Gracie, you're an amazing kid. I don't think there's anyone on this planet who wouldn't be proud to call you their daughter. If I'm ever lucky enough to have a daughter I hope she's like you." I try to reassure her. Hearing her talk about the father she never met breaks my heart.
"Are you from here Mr. McKnight?" She says obviously wanting to change the subject.
"You can call me Jay and no I'm from a town in Germany named Colville. What about you?"
"I live about three hours away in Bellview."
"Oh wow. You're pretty far away from home. I bet your mom is worried about you being so far away at your age." I say.
"Yeah she almost didn't let me come but my aunt helped me talk her into it."
"Is she going to be able to come to parent day Saturday?" I ask hopeful that I get to meet one of the people responsible for creating this brilliant child.
"Yeah if she can get off work in time she will."
"Alright, we should probably head back." I grab our trash and walk over to the can to throw it away.
"Now will you help me with the assignment?" She pleads.
"Do you really want to spend your day off coding?" I ask raising my eyebrow at her.
"Yes!"
"Ok fine. I'll help you."

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Marabella's P.O.V.

The house is so quiet and I don't know what to do with myself without Gracie here. I've been sitting here on the couch flipping through the channels for what feels like hours.
"Oh come on you have to stop moping around." Anna says throwing herself on the couch beside me.
"That's easy for you to say. I've never been away from Grace for more than a few hours." I say grabbing a throw pillow and hugging it to my chest.
"It's just a few weeks it's not like she's actually gone off to college." She laughs.
"Ugh, I don't even want to think about that." I groan.
"You know, you could take this opportunity to start dating again. I haven't heard you even talk about a guy in years."
"And you won't hear me talk about any."
"You can't possibly still be hung up on Grace's dad." She says with a disgusted tone.
"I'm not hung up on him." I roll my eyes. "I just don't want to be with anyone else."
"Seriously Mara?"
"So anyways parent day is Saturday." I say needing to change the subject.
"Are you going to be able to get off work to go?" She asks.
"I hope so. I have to work but I am going to try to leave early. The first few hours there's a meet and greet with the teachers. I really want to be there to meet this Jay McKnight guy Gracie hasn't stopped talking about."
"Oh, does she have a crush on the teacher?" Anna asks.
"I don't know if that's what it is or if she just idolizes him. He took her out for ice cream. I'm not sure how I feel about this. He told her she needed to stop spending so much time behind her computer and needed to enjoy being a kid. In a way, I'm thankful for that because you know how she is with that damn computer. You just hear all these horror stories and I'm trying not to be creeped out by the guy before I have a chance to meet him." I say trying not to sound too overprotective.
"Maybe he's just trying to be a good role model? She doesn't have a father so I think it's good that she has some sort of male figure in her life."
"Yeah but he's also encouraging her to do all the things I try to keep her from doing." I groan
"We've been over this you have to let her live her own life." She says taking the pillow I've been hugging and smacking me with it.
"In case I can't get off work in time will you drive down there and I can just meet you when I get off? I would feel better knowing at least one of us could meet him and see what kind of person he is." I ask
"Sure I can do that. Who knows I might meet my next husband while I'm there." She laughs.