Pretty Boy

Chapter Nine

   When I wake up, I am laying in his bed alone. I look down and all I am wearing is one of his sweatshirts with nothing underneath it. What the hell happened here? I sit up and grab my phone off of the nightstand. It is 6:30 pm. I have three messages from my dad and 8 missed calls from dad, and my friends. I call my dad back quickly.

   "Okay, what the hell, Allison?" Jesus Christ, he's mad. He usually never calls me "Allison."

   "I'm sorry dad, I'm just at my friend's house and we fell asleep, and I lost track of time." I fumble over my words trying to not slip up and reveal something I really shouldn't.

   "I thought we said you had to always be home by 5:30 unless we talked otherwise, so you could at least eat dinner! Then you could go back out. We agreed, Allison! You promised me you would!"

   "I know, I know. It's just... I'm sorry, it won't happen again, I promise. I'm coming home right now." I get out of his bed and put on my clothes leaving his hoodie on the floor. I get all my stuff together.

   "You better be here in less than 20 minutes." He hangs up.

   Shit.

   "Lucas! Lucas! Where are you?" I shout for him. He comes out from the bathroom, brushing his teeth.

   "Yeah, what's up?"

   "I'm heading home, uh... I had fun, thanks. I'll see you later," I start to turn when he speaks again.

   "Wait, do you need a ride home? I can give you one if you want." He spits in the sink leaving the toothbrush there.

   "Oh, no, it's all good I'll just get an Uber."

   "Okay, see ya."

   I practically ran down his stairs, out the front door. I get on the app and get an Uber. He shows up in about five minutes.

   "Allison?" I nod getting in the back of the car. He drops me off, and I leave a fair tip. "Thanks." He drives off. I walk into the apartment building, pressing the elevator button rapidly. It finally arrives and I get in. I ran to the apartment door, unlocking it. I see my dad sitting in his chair staring at the TV.

   "You're late. I mean you go there in less than 20 minutes, but you are still more than an hour and a half late, Allison." he stands up, crossing his arms, and stares daggers into my soul.

   "I know, Dad. I'm sorry. I just lost track of time, and I thought it was earlier than it was." I drop my keys in the bowl.

   "What the hell am I going to do with you, Ali?" He rubs his face with his hands.

   Tears start to form in my eyes. "Please just listen to me, and I promise I won't let it happen again. I will always come home at 5:30, or maybe before that. I will try to do whatever you want me to do. I just-"

   He cuts me off. "It's not just this time thing. You're hiding something from me, I can tell. I raise you, kid. You're gone at all times of the day and night, and when I ask what you're doing you can't look me in my eyes and you fumble over your words... Allison, I want to know what's going on in your life and you make it severely difficult!"

   I have a million things I'd like to say, but a frog forms in my throat. I try to speak but no words come out. "Oh. Okay. Nothing to say, then? Fine. Here's my solution." He sighs. "You are grounded for, I don't know... until I say you're not, whether it be a day or a month."

   "Okay, dad," I say, starting to walk to my room.

   "And don't think we're dropping the topic of whatever you're hiding from me. I will find out. Alright, go to your room. I'll bring you your COLD dinner in a second." He uncrosses his arms and walks over to the fridge.