The Hothead and The Ice Queen

Seventeen

"Tell me everything!" Light laughter shook my body as Dad hopped on the couch next to me. Originally, he wasn't supposed to be home, but he was able to get off of work early to be here for my healing session. And I knew Warren would be here soon before he had to go to work. 

I rolled my eyes playfully as I marked my book and set it on the coffee table. Apparently, I wasn't going fast enough because he swatted my bent legs with both his hands like an impatient child. "Come on! Maya called and said that Warren was acting strange, and then you came home with a dopey grin. Something's up, Cassidy Anne."

Despite my best attempts to bite back my smile, my face and lips betrayed me. A bright red blush coated my cheeks, and I broke out in a mile-wide grin. "See?! Spill it, child!"

"Okay, okay." I giggled, shaking my head. The smile didn't vanish from my lips, and I bowed my head to hide it and my burning cheeks. I focused on my fingers rubbing the blanket that was draped over my legs as I mumbled, "Warren asked me to be his girlfriend."

"I'm sorry, what? What was that?" Ever the drama king, Dad cupped his hand behind his ear and leaned closer to me.

I bit my lip as more color coated my cheeks. Taking a deep breath, my smile only widened as I said, "We're in a relationship. He asked me today."

"When? How? Where?"

There was no erasing my smile as I told Dad everything leading up to the magical moment, the magical moment itself, and everything after.

Now, Will already didn't have the best standing in Dad's eyes after he hurt me and didn't apologize that night. But he didn't help his case with the whole lunch fiasco. Then Dad gushed and made my face glow scarlet over the fact that Warren was staring at me all throughout lunch. He called me crazy for thinking our eyes were just meeting out of coincidence to which I shoved his shoulder.

He was on the edge of his seat during the 'Save the Citizen' section, cheering on Warren and booing Will. Man, he really doesn't like that kid. And while he agreed with the basic skills of being able to save a hostage in a dangerous, life-threatening situation, he felt that since it was still a high school and they were liable for our well-being, Boomer should have stopped the game when Speed caught Warren in the vortex. This presented another opportunity for him to boo Will because he almost didn't help Warren. And the fact that I was the only one who cared about Warren's well-being, and the fact that Will got all the credit and attention for their win boiled his blood.

When I finally got to the magical moment, he swooned like a teenage girl. Then he switched to his protective side and promised that if Warren hurt me, he'd go into Papa-Bear mode. It was both heart-warming and a little annoying because while I appreciated my dad, I didn't want to believe Warren would ever hurt me.

We finished off story time with Dad being proud of me for dragging Warren to the Nurse's office. It wasn't a major inconvenience because he was better after the first round.

Dad was the first person I told, and I supposed Warren would tell his mom. But on the bus ride home, my friends were too excited about Will's win, so I didn't get the chance to say anything, not that Will would be happy for me. They all praised and gushed over him. "Warren was there too, guys. And he could have died," I had told them. None of them knew how to respond, so Will brought the attention back to him, basking in his new-found glory.

A chime suddenly pierced the air. As Dad rose from the couch to let Ms. Andrews in, he said, "You know, I really don't like this Will kid."

"He's just oblivious."

"No, he's more than that. He's self-centered, and he's not treating you or your friends right." He opened the front door and welcomed Ms. Andrews into our home before leading her towards me. "This behavior's only gonna get worse before it gets better, when he finally realizes what he has in all of you."