My Playboy Cowboy

15 [Father?]

I had to know the truth, even if it was going to hurt me. I had to know the truth since my mother never told me anything; what was she protecting me from? Did he want me? Did he even care about either of us? I just had to know why he never came around or if he even knew about me and didn't care.

I made my way to his office, taking in a breath before letting it out; I didn't know what kind of emotions I should be feeling right now. I didn't know if I wanted to even knock on the door I stood in front of. But I found myself knocking on his door, hearing a soft come in made me stomach turn in a nervous way.

Opening up the door I saw Shanks sitting at his desk looking over some papers for something, maybe for the graduation for brother and the other's. I was so nervous as I held the letter behind my back when I closed the door behind me gently.

"Ah, Lilly what can I help you with?" he looked up from his papers and smiled that bright warm smile. 

"Well, um I-I found something in the closest that looked important" I tried to stay calm and not be nervous about this but I was panicking inside.

"What was it?" he asked being curious to what I found, not knowing what I truly found.

I didn't know how to put it in words but; I just placed the letter down with the picture of me. His reaction was all I needed to see, his eyes widened in shock when he saw that letter and picture; my heart was pounding hard against my chest when I was waiting for any words.

"Can you say something" I finally spoke hating the silence that was building up in the room.

"Honestly, I don't know what to say or even start" Shanks sighed as he took the letter in his hand, looking over the handwriting of my mother; the look in his eyes looked like he missed looking at this letter but I didn't know for certain.

"So what? You were okay with not saying anything?! Just watching your OWN daughter live her high school life and do whatever next without a single word? Do you even understand how much I've wanted to know anything about my dad?" I shrugged before letting my words just fly out of my mouth trying to hold back any tears that were building up in my eyes.

Shanks sighed again, looking back down at his desk; not knowing what to say, anything would be fine, anything right now but nothing came out of his mouth. Shaking my head, I turned away and stormed out of the office ignoring the calls of my name from him; I didn't want to hear anything right now, I just wanted to vanish right now.

Throughout the whole school day I was hiding, away from everyone. I ignored the calls and texts from everyone; even Ace and he was blowing up my phone the most. I didn't want to worry him but, I didn't know what to say; I just wanted to be alone. So to make the phone stop binging with messages I just sent a group text to everyone saying I wanted to be left alone and left it at that. I didn't know what time it was but I know it was around sunset, I was outside hiding under the bleachers where the football field was. I was in my own world as I thought about everything that happened today, I didn't hear the footsteps walking towards me before the sight of heels were in front of me.

"Everyone is worried about you" the voice of miss Makino came to my ears which made me look up to see her, smiling warmly at me like always.

She sat next to me when I returned my gaze to my feet again, she didn't pressure me to speak and just sat with me. My mom use to do that, she would sit with me until I wanted to talk; Makino was one of my mom's friends maybe she learned it from her.

"Why didn't they tell me?" was all I whispered out loud enough for her to hear me.

"Maybe they thought it was for the best" she said trying to give me some small talk of some sort.

"Best for what? That's he didn't care? That he knew and didn't want anything to do with me?" I scrunched my brows being a bit angry again as I let my ideas fly out of my mouth trying to make sense of this.

"That is far beyond the truth, Shanks was excited when he learned about you; you know that he wouldn't think any other way" Makino placed a hand on my shoulder, she was right Shanks wasn't like someone who left his family easily but it still hurts.

"But what about you? Weren't you angry?" I turned my head towards her since she was his wife after all.

"Of course not, I wasn't even dating Shanks at the time she told me. Thing's were difficult back then and only your father can tell you, just please give him a chance. He is worried since you weren't in class today" Makino smiled warmly at me when she explained how she felt about the whole thing.

I sighed as she stood up, I soon joined her with standing. She even surprised me with a hug, I hugged her back knowing I needed one. She always felt like another mother to me, it was nice.

"Now, I'll go talk to Shanks and you go tell everyone you are alright" she said as we walked back towards the school again.

"Okay" I nodded my head with a small warm smile on my face.

After grabbing my backpack, I headed out to the parking lot. Not know who was waiting for me but I smiled when I saw Ace standing there worried all over his face. Once he saw me walking up to him; he was next to me in seconds wrapping me up in his arms as I hugged him back.

"Don't ever do that again, the text didn't help either" he said when he looked at me still being worried as hell.

"I promise, I'm sorry" I said looking down at the ground a bit as he hugged me again.

"It's okay, let's head home everyone is there waiting to see you" he said with a warm smile as we walked towards his motor bike.

I couldn't help but smile warmly again as I placed the helmet on my head, I really shouldn't make everyone worried. I'll make sure to be extra sorry to them all. I climbed on the bike as Ace started it up; I wrapped my arms around him holding tightly as he took off heading back to the Newgate mansion where everyone was waiting for us.