𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝟮𝟰/𝟳

Chapter 24

We talked for a while, about everything. He was sorry, Dad said, he had acted like a child, and he wanted to start over. He thought I'd been dead, missing for weeks while I'd been at the island. And I also apologized, for running away.

"Honey ... if we're gonna try things again, things can't be like it was before," he said. "We need to set some ground rules." And just as I was about to open my mouth, he held up a hand. "This has to be mutual, okay? You can't just go running off with your friends, I need to know where your going, if it's going to be safe. I want you to be safe."

"So what, am I grounded again? Because if so, you can take that all back—"

"What I meant," he said meaningfully, "was that we need to both come up with an agreement that we're both okay with. I'm not going to lock you up in the house, that's ridiculous. But I need to know where you're going, what you're going to do, for your safety. And my own sanity," he said with a chuckle.

"But I'm still allowed to go, um, hangout, with everyone?" I asked.

"Of course."

In the end, dad bought me a new phone (because my old one from like, a million years ago I'd crashed it on the side of the road), insisted that I turn my location on at all times, and that I would call him if I ever was in immediate danger. I would still be allowed to "run around with you're palls" but I was to be careful. Also, if I even got a scratch on myself I wouldn't be allowed out for a week. I was also to attend school—the chances of me evening showing up were slim, but he was insistent that I get my GPA high school diploma. Though, he added, right now I could have a bit of a break off, but he wanted me to complete school. In the end, we decided to put the subject of school for later, and I went upstairs to relax.

I took a shower—for the first time in weeks, changed into my most comfortable clothing, and slept the rest of the day. Dad took the day off too from work, insisting that he needed to take care of me. I was secretly glad with all of his fussing though, it showed that he'd missed me. And I'd also sort of missed him too.

↬——✾——↫

When I awoke, I checked my clock on my night side table. I had slept for over 24 hours, which was insane. I got up, threw a hoodie on, brushed my teeth and put deodorant on, and went downstairs like it was a normal day in the OBX.

When I entered the kitchen, I nearly fell over with surprise when seeing JJ at our kitchen island, my father glowering at him from behind.

"JJ?" I asked.

"Mer," he said, relief filling his voice. He made a move to get up and go over to me, but when my dad made a not—so–subtle move of a threat, JJ sat right back down in his seat.

"What're you doing here?" I asked, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl as my breakfast.

"Uh—we'll, it's about John B," JJ stuttered over the "John B" part. John B had been in a bit of an iffy with my own father, with the whole arresting him than just kidding your free sort of situation.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, and um, Sarah has a bit of news so ..."

"Pogue meeting," I finished.

"Yeah, Pogue meeting," he agreed.

"Hold on one minute," my dad stepped in, "honey, you're not going anywhere without this," he basically shoved the iphone in my face. "And what time will you be back?" He asked, as JJ and I walked towards the door.

"Huh?" I asked, the concept was so foreign.

"What time will you be back?" He said, patiently this time.