His baby girl

17.

I was sitting alone at lunch today because Daire had lunch detention. I told him not to skip his class but he did anyway and got lunch detention. 

Just as I finish my turkey sandwich both Amber and Lonnie came over to my table. Amber sits in front of me with a sinister smile on her face. "Hey Willow, long time not seen," She said placing her long acrylic nails on her table. "We missed you." She looks back at Lonnie with a smile. "Yes indeed we do miss you," Lonnie said with a robotic voice.

"Um," I said not knowing what really to say. 

"We also heard you and Daire were dating," Lonnie said. I notice her bald her fists behind her back. 

I quickly shake my head and denied it. "No no no, we're just good friends nothing more," I said biting my lip nervously. Lonnie frowns at me. "So you don't mind me asking him out do you?" She asked folding her arms over her chest. I shake my head again. "No, I don't mind." 

Lonnie smirks and looks at Amber. 

"Good we want to invite you to a party tomorrow," She said. "And we'll like you'll to convince Daire to come with you," Amber said looking around the cafeteria. 

"Okay," I mumble looking down at my table. 

"Good," Amber stands up grabs Lonnie's hands. "Let's go before Daire does come back." She pulls her away to the opposite side of the room. 

I sigh and clear my table after losing my appetite. 

It was now the end of the day and I was standing alone outside. I clutch my backpack as I look up at the sky and notice it was gonna rain at any time. I look around at the crowd of teenagers looking for Daire. But I don't see him anywhere. 

Someone places their hand on my shoulder and I jump. I turn around and sigh in relief when I see Daire. "Bud, are you okay you seem scared." He said grabbing my wrist. I look up to the sky and back at Daire. "I just don't like storms."

He grins and pushes some strings of hair away from my eyes. "Don't worry, Bud, I'm here," He said. 

I smile at him and look down at his hand. "Do you wanna go to a party after Levi's competition?" I asked him biting my lip. Daire chuckles and frowns at me. "I didn't take you as the party type," He said. I shrug my shoulders. "If you don't want to go we don't have to," I said. He shakes his head. "No no, we can go if you want." I grin and look down at my shoes.

"Willow, Daire hey," I look up and see Carter. 

He smiles and gestures for us to come over. I smile and pull Daire towards Carter's car. "Hey Carter," I said and hug him. "Hey we have to stop by the vet, Betty not feeling well," Carter said opening the door for me. 

"Oh no is she fine?" I asked. 

"I don't know she hasn't been eating lately," He said as he started up the car. "I tried feeding her three times today yet she hasn't touched her food once." 

I look down at my skirt with tears in my eyes. I knew it almost Betty time and daddy has prepared me for the death of Betty. But I still wasn't ready for her death. I love that dog, she has been with me since I was 3. I just didn't feel like it was her time.

We drove for 16 minutes before arriving home. Carter unbuckled his seatbelt and turns to me. "Wanna stay here or," He asked. I wipe my tears and decide I didn't want to go. "Imma stay," I said getting out of the car and both boys follow behind.

"Okay, I'll be back in an hour or two," He runs inside the house. He walks back out carrying Betty ad his arms. I scratch the dog behind her ear and kiss the top of her head. Carter then walks to his car and places her in the backseat. He gets in and starts up the car. He waves goodbye as he drives off.

"Come on babe," Daire said wrapping his arms around my shoulder. 

We walk inside my bedroom and I take out my books to get started on my homework. I sit on my bed and open the books. "Darry?" I asked after looking over a math equation. "Hmm," He hums as he does his own homework on the floor. "What are your grades in math?" I asked biting my lip. "80s and 90s why?" He asked looking up from his history book. "I need your help with this problem," I said. 

He chuckles and closes his book. He walks up to me and sits down. He takes my book and looks over the problem. He raises his eyebrow and looks at me. "Bud, this is an easy problem." I frown at him and bite harder on my lip. "It's not," I said and run a hand through my hair. He writes something down on a piece of paper. He hands me the paper which looks like the steps the solve the problem. "Is this Latin?" I asked. Daire smiles and shakes his head.

After a long time of doing homework, we hear the front door open and Levi calls my name. "We're in here," I yell back. 

Levi pokes his head through my door and smiles at me. I smile back but it falters when I see Justina. She pokes her head in as well and her eyes widen when she sees Daire laying on my bed on his phone. "Daire Frost? What the hell are you doing in Willow's room?" She asked. "That's none of your business." He said not sparing her a glance. 

Justina glares at him and looks back at me. "Are you guys dating?" She asked. Before I could respond Daire beat me to it. "Even if we are it's still none of your business, McMiller," He said sitting up and glaring at her. 

"Daire," Levi warned. 

"Whatever," Daire said going back to his phone.

Levi grabs Justina's arm and pulls her away from my room. I was thankful for him closing the door behind him as he left. 

"Why are you so mean?" I asked Daire grinning slightly. Daire sits up from my bed. "I'm not mean, I'm honest." He stands up and opens the door. "I'll be back bud," He said walking out the room and closing the door behind him.

For a good 19 minutes, I sit on the floor drawing in my notebook with my colorful pens. I was so invested in my drawings I didn't notice the person standing over me. "Do you play?" Daire asked looking down at me. "What?" I asked looking up at him. "Do you play?" He said as he held out my black violin that had my name written in gold cursive on the back. "Yeah but I haven't played in a while," I said biting my lip. 

"Is that why it's in the sports box in your storage room?" He asked.

I shrug my shoulders. "I gave it to daddy one day and haven't seen it since."

"My mom used to play before she went nuts and whatever," Daire said. "Before my grandma died she thought me a few things," He puts the violin down on my bed and turns to look at me. "If nana never died I swear I wouldn't be in this situation with my mom now." 

I weakly smile at him. 

"Wanna help me make cookies?" I blush shyly. 

Daire chuckles and grabs my wrist and pulls me to my feet. "Yeah let's go."