Dirty Dancing

10

My dad just stands up and leave. I find him on the porch. I hesitate but I walk up to him. He won't even look at me.
"I told you I was telling the truth. I'm sorry I lied to you. But you lied too. You told me everyone was alike and deserved a fair break. But you meant everyone who is like you. You told me you wanted me to change
the world, to make it better. But you meant by becoming a lawyer or an economist and marrying someone from Harvard."

He hasn't said a word. Just given me a quick glance. I burst out crying.
"I'm not proud of myself. But I'm in this family too. You can't keep giving me the silent treatment. There are a lot of things about me that aren't what you thought. But if you love me, you have to love all the things about me. And I love you. I'm sorry I let you down. I'm so sorry, Daddy. But you let me down too."

He refuses to answer so I run off crying. I find my way to Louis' cabin. The door is open but he's not there. I lay down on the bed and cry myself to sleep. I wake up from Louis shaking me awake.
"I have been looking for you all over. They found the Schumacher's. Fingerprinted their water glasses. Found out they were wanted in Arizona and in Florida and they made a fortune here this summer."

"So then it's all right. I knew it would work out. I knew they'd have to apologize." I smile relieved.

"I'm out, Baby." Louis sighs. Jaw clenched.

I stare at him.
"They fired you anyway because of me."

"And if I leave quietly, I'll get my summer bonus." He snorts.

I get up and pace around. I'm upset.
"So I did it for nothing. I hurt my family, you lost your job anyway. I did it for nothing!" I yell.

He takes a step forward and hold my arms.
"No, not for nothing. Nobody has ever done anything like that for me before."

I sigh and hang my head.
"You were right. You can't win no matter what you do."

He puts his finger under my chin and raises my head so I look him in the eyes.
"Listen to me. I don't want to hear that from you. You can."

I feel defeated.
"I used to think so."

He comforts me and then he goes to try to talk to my dad. He knocks on our cabin door and my dad opens it. Louis removes his sunglasses.
"Dr. Styles, can l, uh... Look, I'm going anyway and I know what you must be thinking."

"You don't know anything at all about me. My father argues upset.

"I know you want Baby to be like you.
The kind of person people looks up to.
Baby is like that. If you could just see..." Louis tries.

My dad interrupts him visibly angry.
"Don't you tell me what to see. I see someone in front of me who got his partner in trouble and sent her off
to some butcher while he moved on to an innocent, young boy like my son."

Louis gives him a long look.
"Yeah, I guess that's what you would see."

He returns to the cabin and packs up his stuff. I follow him to the car.
"I can't imagine being here without you even one day." I say emotionally.

He takes both my hands.
"Just think, you have more time for horseshoes and croquet. Maybe they'll saw you in seven pieces now." He tries to joke.

We stay silent for a moment.
"I guess we surprised everybody." I giggle.

"I guess we did." He laughs with me.

My facade cracks. I lean my head against his stomach. Hold him. He kisses the top of my head and sighs.
"I'll never be sorry."

"Neither will l." I promise.

He cups my face and kisses me goodbye.
"I'll see ya."

He gets in the car and I watch him drive away. My heart is shattered into a million pieces. I return to our cabin. Nothing is fun anymore. I spend the day moping by myself but then I have to get ready for our last dinner before we return home. Gemma joins me in our bedroom. She sits beside me on the bed and I just look at her.

"I'll do your hair." She offers.

She runs her hand through my curls.
"It could look pretty if... You're prettier your way. This way."

I lay my head on her shoulder and she puts her arm around me. We just sit there, connecting through broken hearts.