SWEET, SWEET, NIGHTMARE.

CHAPTER THREE

       DANIELLE'S P.O.V

      30, 31, 32, 33,...

    I count from the car window as the trees pass by in a blur. It always baffles me, the way the trees seem to be the ones moving instead of the car.  I'm no physicist so I'll register it as one of the numerous wonders of the world; although the internet records only seven wonders, I believe the world has more mind-blowing and inexplicable events and sites that should also be considered wonders of the world.

    I'm sited in the back seat of my dad's SUV. He sits across from me, typing away on his tablet while making and receiving seemingly endless phone calls, as usual.

   Work, work, work; all my dad ever does is work. It's so frustrating, sometimes I want to scream in his face; I want to tell him to just take a goddamned break, but he'll just remind me that he works so exhaustively because he wants to secure the funding of my baby girl lifestyle. I believe there is a thin line between the doting and loving man that is my father and Jack Dawson, his workaholic alter ego.

  After the shock of seeing him in my hotel room had subsided, I had become angry. My mood changed from shock, to fear, and from fear to anger very fast. I honestly had not expected less from him. I know he would have caught me eventually, but I did not expect him to show up so soon.

     I look at him now, watching as his hands fly across the tablet's screen. Jack Dawson is definitely at surface at the moment and as usual, his work takes all his attention,not leaving any space for me. I sigh and turn back to the window, deciding to continue the activity I had engaged myself in to alleviate the boredom and ignore the stifling silence; counting trees.

    Where did I stop counting from? 
    I do not remember so I have to start counting all over again.

   57, 58, 59, 60....

   "Do you have nothing to say to me?" , dad's question disrupts the silence.
  Apparently, he finally has some time away from his busy schedule to engage me in a conversation.

   "Am I supposed to say something?" I ask in confusion.

   "That is a question you should answer yourself" he says.

  He looks at me with that stern expression he uses whenever he scolds me.

  "I don't know what you expect me to say"

I'm even more confused now. What exactly does he want me to say?

   "Why did you run away?"

   "Why do you think I did?"

    "I asked a question. Stop answering my questions with questions"

    I roll my eyes at him and turn back towards the window.

   "Do you plan on running away everytime you're faced with a challenge?" he asks

   "You call this a challenge, dad?" I ask in disbelief.

   "Don't be such a drama queen, Danielle" he says. it's his turn to roll his eyes.

  "I'm not being dramatic,dad. It's absolutely normal to react the way I did. Any lady would run away from home if they're being forced to get  married" I say angrily.

  "Any lady in her right senses would not pass up the opportunity of getting herself married into a prestigious family"

  "Then we'll both have to agree that I am not in my right senses.I don't even know this man. I don't love him"

  "Grow up, Danielle."

  "I want to marry for love,dad. I want to commit to someone I have strong feelings of affection for. Someone I know!"