All Along

011

"D-daddy?"

The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them.

"Tessa? Oh my God, is that you?"

"Dad?"

"I'm here baby. I'm here," he speaks through the phone.

"Where- how...Um, How did you get my number?" I ask out of curiosity.

"It's um it's a long story. Can we meet somewhere? Um. Uh- Are you free tomorrow? Or tonight? Or next week? Maybe..."

"I'll meet you at 7:00 at your place, tomorrow. You can message me the adress. Oh, is it okay if I bring Jack?" I ask.

I do not want to meet my father for the very first time in my life alone. Plus, Jack loves dad. Loved. Jack loved dad. Before he left. It would be easier and less awkward with my brother there.

"Yes, please. Oh my God, I'm going to see my kids again. I'm gonna see my kids again. I love you so much, Tessa. Tell Jack that I love him and that I'll see him soon," he mutters and the line goes dead.

I put the phone on my bed, taking deep breaths, trying to take in everything that is happening. I'm going to meet my father. My real father for the first time in my life.

After about ten minutes, my phone buzzes and a message from my father pops up. I type in the address into my GPS and realize he gave me the address to an local diner I have never heard of.

I look it up quickly and it has excellent ratings. I'm both excited and nervous especially to see how dad will react to seeing Jack and I... Jack... Oh no!

I walk to Jack's room and up two steps to get to his door. I hesitate before knocking. I should have asked Jack before I told da- Michael that he would be coming too.

He answers the door and gives me a questioning look. I usually never knock, just barge in but this time was different. I wanted to procrastinate as much as I possibly could.

"I need to talk to you about something important."

He ushers me inside and I sit on his bed. The room is tiny, painted in a blue color so light, it is a shade away from being white. There is trash and dirty clothers scattered all over the floor and it smells like any other teenage boy's room; disgusting.

He finally sits down and I begin to tell him what I thought I would never have to say.

"Dad called," is all I can say.

"What?!"

"Dad; he called!"

"No, I heard you its just... Wow. How did he get your number?" he asks.

"I have no idea. And I told him I'd meet up with him tomorrow at seven o'clock," he nods his head before making a 'um' sound and I add, "and I accidentally told him I'd bring you!" I rush my words together.

"Tessa?!" He whines.

"What? Dad is dying to see us and-"

Here we go with another award-winning speech from jack.

"I don't care, Tessa! He left. He left without saying good bye. He never called, never wrote too us. Just because he's trying to be a dad after fifteen years doesn't mean that I want to deal with the mental struggle of trying to forgive him! I grew up without a father around just because he couldn't handle the challenge of another child! I'm not seeing him, Tessa! You can forget that, because it's not happening!" He yells, guiding me out of his room and slamming the door shut.

Well that worked out well.
I guess Jack isn't coming then; but I owe it to myself to meet my father. Even if he left and hasn't called, written or emailed me or Jack for fifteen years, I deserve to meet him. I need to know what's he's like. I've always wanted to meet him ever since he left and now that I have the chance, I'm taking it.

Closure; I need closure. I need to know why he left and why he couldn't handle taking care of two children. I don't care what Jack has to say about it.

A few minutes later, Jack walks into my room. His eyes blood-shot and his cheeks tear-stained. Was he crying?

"Tessa, listen. You can't see dad tomorrow," he sniffles. He's not seriously doing this. "I'm not letting you." he's seriously doing this.

"Jack, I'm fifteen and-"

"And im seventeen and I'm telling you that you cant go."

"You cant tell me what to do! If i want to see dad, Im going too... and im not letting you tell me i can't!"

"Tessa, I said you are not going and that's final!" he says sternley.

"Your not my father you ca-"

If he does not stop cutting me off when I'm trying to speak I swear im going to snap his neck.

"Yea well your father isn't here!"

"I'm going to see him, Jack! you cant tell me to do otherwise! I... I have never met dad. You got the chance to meet him when he was our father and for that you are so lucky..."

"Lucky? You think im lucky? Our father isnt who you think he is!"

"Then tell me jack. Tell me! You've kept everything from me since we were little! So do tell me! Enlighten me on how our father isn't the person i think he is!" i fire back.

"Because Tessa!" he snaps and grabs a hand full of hair from his head.

"No, tell me!" i fold my arms.

"You just cant, Tessa!"

"why? just tell me why!"

"Just trust me here, Tessa! It's best if you don't go," he softens his tone.

"I'm going, Jack; and unless you can give me a valid reason as to why I shouldn't, than I'm not going to change my mind. So either tell me, or I'm leaving!" I begin to walk away.

"Because he sold drugs behind our back for three years..." He yells back.