Midnight

12

It was more than refreshing to skip an entire day of school. But every time I did things like this with my dad when he visited, it just reminded me of how much happier I would be if I could live with him. When all else failed, he was my best friend.

Today, he took me to a neighboring town. We walked around a lot, starting with breakfast at a pancake house. Then we toured about, skipping from bookstores, to the movies, a jewelry booth, an antique shop, anything you could think of.

I was thankful for my dad's childishness, his immaturity. Though it was the pure source that shattered his marriage, it made me feel like a kid when I was around him.

We ate sushi after watching a rerun of Juno, then he took me to an old fashioned ice cream diner. I was on the verge of falling asleep as he drove us back, but my melting ice cream kept me awake.

"Do you really have to leave?" I pulled away from his hug with a big frown.

"I don't want to, but your mom can't stand me here," His grey eyes mirrored mine. "Or being around you, for that matter."

"When I'm older, can I visit you?" I pleaded.

"Of course," He pulled me back into a hug. "I'll see you again soon. Goodnight."

I slipped out of his grasp like soap in the shower, though I was fighting to stay in his arms. "I love you."

"Love you too," He pulled his keys from his pocket. "I'll see you soon, Celestine."

I watched him step out of the front door from the bottom step of the stairs with a frown.

I sighed, trudging up the stairs. I caught sight of my mom peeking around the corner at the top, before she slipped out of sight.

I scoffed loudly before turning into my room. Before I could register it, hot tears were slipping from my eyes, spilling over my cold cheeks.

Why did they have to separate? Didn't my mom know how hard it was for me? To only see my dad a few times a year? It stung my heart horribly.

I changed into an old t-shirt and shorts with a sob.

Was it hard for dad? To have no one around for him? To know the women he once loved so dearly would travel to the ends of the Earth just to keep her daughter away from him? All because she was scared I'd inherit his childish ways.

It was immature of her, not dad. It was immature the way she handled the conditions of my life. How she handled how many times I could see my dad, how I was expected to behave. I couldn't act like a child, because that was wrong. Because that would mean I'd be acting like my dad, and that would mean her and I couldn't get along.

She had single handedly sabotaged our relationship by trying to prevent this very outcome.

I wiped away a few never ending tears with the back of hand as I pulled back the covers.

A cry clawed its way from my mouth. I missed my dad.

A loud banging caught my attention as I climbed into bed. I stilled, waiting. Then I heard it again, then again, and once more. I followed the sound, realizing rocks were ricocheting off of my window. What?

I pulled my curtains back as I peaked down at our side yard. My jaw physically dropped.

Everett Forest was standing in my yard with a handful of rocks.

I fought my window with shaking hands until it slid open.

"What are you doing?"  I whisper-shouted, leaning out the window frame.