Glowing Cigars

Part 2: Daddy's Little Girl

(Keep voting guys)

You couldn't handle me if I came with instructions.

Five part Prologue

Part II: Daddy's Little Girl-

"Elizabeth," my dad scowled, his face twisted like the gnarled roots of a tree. "She knows that you know."

I stared at my father's wide eyes, unable to form a word. Weight was surprisingly lifted from my shoulders, I suppose it was because the burden of acting innocent was too great.

"And now you've ruined everything." He stated, raking his hands through his brown hair. He walked menicingly closer, continuing with a scolding voice. "Lisa feels guilty, She wont even talk to me. I hope you're happy."

"Dad, I-"

"We had a future together. We had everything. It was perfect. You just had to sneak around and find out. We could've carried on as a perfectly normal family. You, your mother, Ezra and I. Do you remember the weekly movies we used to have? Or the annual trips we used to take out of the country? Its all over now. Thanks to you not keeping your fucking mouth shut." he interrupted.

I softened my stare, wrapped up in the memories of our family sharing a giant bowl of popcorn. Or at least I thought it was giant. I was way too small too see anything but a flea as smaller than me. Our trip to Puerto Rico had been fun last year. We were so happy. Every piece of drifting seaweed seemed to be a new adventure for us.

And then I processed the bullshit he was saying.

I looked up, enraged. How dare he blame me for the mistakes he made? How dare he make up excuses for his affair? How dare he just assume that he's the victim in all this?

"What a load of bullshit."

Holy shit. Did I just say that out loud?

Dad's shocked expression confirmed my suspicions. It probably mirrored mine.

"Excuse me?" dad questioned, still more shocked than mad. He'd never heard me swear in my life. As I've been saying a lot these days, fuck it.

"I said, what a load of bullshit. You and I both know that wouldn't have happened." I scowled. "And I'm pretty sure I didn't open my mouth to anyone. Dad, I know more than you think. And I won't take your endless bullshit."

Dad's confusion turned into fury. "Elizabeth, you'd better-"

"I'd better what? What are you gonna do? Tell mom? I know I wouldn't hesitate to tell her about your little situation" It was my turn to interrupt, as my dad's mood ring-like emotions continually changed from rage, to shock, to confusion, and back to rage. Moms keys jingled in the door as if on cue. "Oh look, mom's home." I continued with a smirk. I got up and walked downstairs to greet my mom.

Dad sulked behind me, following me down the steps. He gave a half-hearted hello then walked with wide green eyes into the kitchen.

I don't know about you, but I think I did a pretty darn good job standing up for myself.

~~~

Over the course of a week, dad's been pretty distant. I'd felt proud of myself for a few days, but now I was getting sick of it. I'd hear him shuffling at night, driving off to god knows where. I don't even want to know. Every time I'd walk into a room he was in, he'd awkwardly pass his hand through his dark hair and exit through the other way. One night, I heard my dad's quick shuffling again. I chose to sleepily walk towards the sound, finding a surprisingly happy father filling a garbage bag.

"What are you doing" I asked, still really tired. I sounded so drunk.

"Oh, just giving away some un-needed things to the poor. No big deal." He said, grunting as he hauled the bag down the stairs.

"Oh, that's nice. Need some help?" I asked, guilt laced in my voice.

"Nah, I'm good." He said, walking out to his car. My sponge-bob pajamas blew in the summer breeze as I followed him out. "I'll see you later, princess. He sighed, kissing my forehead. Well that's strange. "I love you. Now go back to bed." He said sitting in Sandra. That's what he called the car, she was everything to him, even more than me and Mom.

"Okay Dad, love you too."

~~~

He said he'd come back.

But he's gone.

I'd walked into mom's room the next morning to find all of his things gone. It's as if everything that was once his had disappeared. All that was left were the outlines countless memories stinging my eyes, slowly fading. Maybe he'd taken them all with him, too.

Mom sat on the bed crying when suddenly she looked up at me. Her doughy brown eyes were wet with tears and her auburn hair was pulled into a tangled bun, not cascading down her back in the usual neat curls. I hadn't expected him to react like this. Mom gestured for me to sit next to her on the large bed.

I shouldn't have confronted him about the affair.

"Baby," mom managed to croak.

I should have ignored it.

"I know, I know mommy." I whispered, rubbing circles into her back. Her sobbing receded as I shushed her quietly.

"Where's dad?" I looked up at the voice that had just made my mother cry harder

"Gone." I reply blandly, meeting Ezra's eyes.

"Oh." Ezra responded, rage evident in his eyes. Instead of blowing up like I had expected him to, he began walking off. I was sick of his bullshit. I was sick of my bullshit, too. My whole life was just one heaping pile of bullshit. Truth is, I long to just have fun and escape the bindings I'd put myself in.

Isn't her dad such a jerk?

Sorry for the short ass chapter guys! Don't kill me. I did this in English class haha, can you imagine all the un-natural ways my arms had to bent in order to keep the teacher from seeing me? Daaayum, I need to drop all plans and join a circus.......

Daaayum.

If at first you don't succeed, destroy the evidence....

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~Ariah