Arcade's Dungeon

Hunter Hero 20: No Remains

But that clunky car outside was desperate to interrupt us. I thought I recognized the noise of its engine and wheels, the faded red that must've come peeling around the curb, but I was so focused on that moment that I didn't hear it.

     Until there was a knock on the door, and it was frantic.

     And then Dad barely got up to check the door since it seemed, well, frantic.

     And then he was looking down at a frantic boy in a blank blue polo, with blue jeans on even in summer, and Ed was staring up at the frowning white man that opened the door with a brief moment of confusion. Dad and I really looked not much alike at all.

     "'Ed,' I take it?"

     "Yes. Yes," Ed blinked and nodded, taking a deep breath in and nodding. "Eduardo Velazquez, Cade's boyfriend. I was just wondering if she's alright, since she wasn't at lunch today even though her brother said he drove her to school, and she hasn't been picking up her phone after sending me a strange text today-"

     Dad really didn't like Ed. I could see it on his face, from what I could see from the couch, my head turned back.

      "E-"

     But Dad cut me off before I could speak. "She's fine. She caught a ride home and is here with me."

     And Ed's shoulders slumped. "Then...I'll go."

     But Dad took his hand off the handle and held it out. "Luca Bell. Cade's father."

     Ed gave his hand up for a good, firm, long shake. Dad was drawing it out to the point that I couldn't tell if he was genuinely displeased to see Ed or if he was trying to milk the moment of meeting his daughter's first boyfriend. He was probably grinning inside, actually, or would've been if we didn't have such a mellow father-daughter moment until then.

     "Dad," I eventually sighed and stood up, putting the photo album on the table and going around the couch to push beyond Dad's left hand leaning on the door frame and blocking Ed's sight into the darker interior of the living room. "Hi, Ed. I'm fine. Thank you for checking in on me. I'll be sure to look at my phone - I was asleep for the whole day, so if I did text you, I don't really remember it."

     "...okay," Ed said, trying not to swallow while Dad chose to linger behind me instead of leaving. "I'll tell Nita and Savannah...they were also calling you."

     "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."

     Ed's face twisted a little like he wasn't so sure about that, but I gave him an imploring look that said I was trying to do him a favor and I really wanted him to take it. I could go see him later or just text him if he wanted to argue about me going to school or not going to school. "Bye...Cade. Goodbye, Mr. Bell."

     Dad said nothing as I pulled out of the door, pushing him back with my back, and started to close it on the afternoon daytime trying to come into the lightless house. Ed took a few steps backward, tripping over the end of the walkway onto the grass, and I waved a little while closing the door. "Dad, really?"

     "What?" he asked. It was like we hadn't just had a serious conversation a minute prior. "I'm a father, remember? I do what I must."

     "Since when are failed attempts at intimidation part of that repertoire?"

     "Didn't look failed to me."

     Exasperation fell hard on me then. If only Ed didn't care so much and hadn't come to the door...and just believed in the power of texting, then we both could've been saved the trouble...