What The Heart Desires

3.

(TENBY IRWIN 5;30PM, FEBRUARY 17)

We finally just got home, and I immediately went upstairs to change into something more comfy. I had been wearing my school's PE kit for the last few hours, as I had PE last today. I changed into some grey sweatpants and a light pink hoodie, then found some white fuzzy socks and slipped them over my feet to keep warm. I honestly just wanted to go to bed now, but I just decided to pull my hoodie up over my head and go back downstairs to the kitchen.

"What are you feeling like for dinner, Ten?" Dad asks me, looking through the cupboards.

I walk over to the fridge and pull it open. We didn't have much in there, just some condiments, a bit of milk, and lots of leftover takeout food that was most likely going to go bad if it hasn't already. We hadn't really had a whole lot of time to go grocery shopping, as I have school all day and my dad works usually into the nighttime, and sometimes doesn't get home until I'm already in bed.

"I'll just order in. I really don't feel like cooking tonight. Why don't you go and find a movie for us to watch?" Dad says, picking up his phone.

I went ahead into the living room, finding a blanket to cuddle up with.

I scrolled through Disney plus for a while, before finally deciding on Alvin and the Chipmunks. Dad joined me on the couch, after telling me that pizza was on the way. I wasn't really feeling pizza, but I knew it would make my dad happy, so I just went with it and allowed dad to wrap his arm around my shoulder as he pressed play on the remote with his other hand. Just as the movie started, my stomach rumbled really loudly.

"Geez, Tenby, Was that your stomach?" Dad asked me.

"Yeah.." I let out a small laugh, rubbing my tummy a bit.

"What all did you pack for lunch?" Dad asks me, getting back on his phone.

"Uhhhh.." I trail off, trying to remember what I ate.

"Some grapes, A few carrots with ranch, and the other half of my muffin from breakfast.. oh and Crivvy gave me one of her Oreos." I say

"Is that all?" Dad asks, looking at me.

I nodded.

"Honey, you know you've gotta eat more than that. We don't want you losing any more weight before your surgery. It could greatly affect your recovery."

"Yeah I know dad, you've told me every time." I groan out, eyes never leaving the TV screen.

"We just want what's best for you, love." Dad says, giving me a kiss on the head.

"I know dad, I just.. wasn't that hungry." I admit to him.

"Is everything.. alright at school?" Dad asks, going to pause the movie so that we aren't distracted while having this talk.

"Yes dad.. everything's fine. I still sit next to Crivvy in Maths, and I see Marnie all the time, but I guess not as much now that she's dating Darby Quinten."

"I always knew Marnie and Darby would end up together." Dad says, making me chuckle a bit.

We focus back on the movie for a little bit, and then we hear the doorbell ring. Dad gets up to deal with the pizza guy, and I go over to the kitchen to grab two plates and two glasses of water.

We come back into the living room and dad dishes out two slices each. I could only eat one and a half, but dad grabbed another slice for himself.

"Is that all you want, Ten?" Dad asks, taking another bite.

I nodded and headed upstairs to get ready for bed.

I decided to start working on my homework assignments from today, and thank goodness it was Friday, so I had all weekend to work too. Dad had to work tomorrow, and I would usually see what my friends were doing so I could hang out with them so that I didn't have to be alone at home.

So once I finished a bit of reading for my reading log, I texted Crivvy Hallden, one of my best friends, to see if she could hang out.

Just as I sent the text, there was a knock at the door.

"Hey baby, its getting late now, I'm gonna head up to bed. Have you figured out what you want to do tomorrow?" My dad asks as he peeks his head through my bedroom door.

I look at my phone, seeing if Crivvy had texted me back. She hadn't yet, but I also checked the time. It was almost 10pm, and I bet Crivvy was already asleep. Crivvy does a lot of sports, and is in all AP and Honors classes, and is set to graduate a year early, So my dad really likes that I have a good influence like Crivvy in my life. Marnie on the other hand, is very much the opposite of Crivvy. She used to get in trouble a lot, and she still tends to talk back to teachers sometimes, but she's my friend, mostly because we like the same music, and we listen to it in class sometimes when we're allowed.

"Uh, I texted Crivvy a bit ago, but I guess she's already asleep now, since she had soccer practice tonight, and extra homework." I tell dad.

He nods and comes in, tucking me into bed.

"Well, just let me know what the plans are, I'll probably be gone to work by the time you're awake so I'll leave you some food in the fridge, or you can have the leftover pizza whenever, just give me a text if you end up going with Crivvy." Dad says, giving me one more kiss on the head, and allowing me to close my eyes, and finally drift off to sleep after this long day.