Back Together ~ pt 4

❤︎︎ Five ❤︎︎

The next day Liliana was meant to be back to school. She was definitely pissed off at us. We gave her phone back to her but we had added a screen time lock on basically every app but the basics like messages and phone so she could still text and call us.

"you can have it for the day so you can still text us if you really need to but I've put limits on basically every app so no Snapchat or instagram in the toilets at break and lunch, okay?" Lexi said. Liliana nodded and took her phone back before leaving to go to school.

"Liliana really does test your patience, doesn't she?" I said

"A bit too much..." she said. I picked her up after school and once again she looked miserable as hell. She always did after school. Year 8 she was always miserable and I guessed Year 9 wasn't gonna be any different. She got into my McLaren with literal sadness on her face

"Hey, princess, ready to head home?" I said. She nodded while looking out the window. I could tell she was holding tears in. "You okay, sweetheart? had a rough day at school?"

"when is it ever not a rough day at school...?"

"I guess you have a point there. But seriously, what happened today? Did someone pick on you again?"

"Mhm..."

"It's going to be okay, Liliana. We'll figure something out. Maybe we can talk to your teachers or the principal about it. Or..."

"there's not point... they won't do anything..."

"Oh, they will if I have anything to say about it. I won't let anyone hurt you like that. Besides, I have an idea that might just turn things around for you at school"

"I doubt that..."

"Challenge accepted. But enough about that for now. Let's get you home, where you can relax and forget about the bad day you had today. Okay?"

"Yeah..."

"Hang in there, sweetheart" I said as I took her hand and squeezed it. She literally was holding her tears in... I could hear her tiny sniffles. "Hey, listen to me. You are beautiful, smart, kind, and strong. Anyone who doesn't see that is missing out on the chance to know someone truly amazing. And you know what?"

"What...?"

"I'll show them"

"Show them what...?"

"That's a secret, sweetheart. You'll just have to wait and see"

"Oh god, dad... I'm scared now..."

"Don't be scared, baby girl. I've got you covered. Trust me"

"okay..."

"Let's get you inside, okay? I'm sure you just want to relax and unwind after today" I said as I parked up on our drive

"yeah... I just want cuddles with you and mum... or is that weird now that I'm 13 and I'm a teenager...?"

"No, not weird at all. In fact, it's exactly what I was hoping for. Besides, mum and I could use some cuddles too. Let's go inside and make it a family night"

"thanks, dad..."

"We're in this together, Liliana. Remember that"

"yeah..." she said. We went in and I took off my jacket and hung up my keys

"Go on ahead, sweetheart. I just need to make a quick call" I said. She nodded and went upstairs to change out of her school uniform and she came down in some sweats and a long sleeved crop top. She went to cuddle into Lexi. My heart melted at the sight of my daughter and my wife cuddling up. I tried so hard to sort it out over the phone with her school but I knew deep down that they weren't going to do anything even though they said they would. I went to cuddle up with Lexi & Liliana. I held my girls so close...

"Lils, at least you don't have to go to school tomorrow. You're getting your braces tomorrow" Lexi said. I completely forgot about that. Liliana had a little tooth gap that was bigger than my little one but was smaller than what Lexi's was before I got her braces all those years ago. I stroked Liliana's hair and kissed her forehead

"You're going to look even prettier with those on, sweetheart" I said

"I'm really not. I'm only getting them because of my tooth gap. it's both your faults really. you both had tooth gaps when you were kids and then yours closed up and you had to get mum braces when she was like 24" Liliana said

"Oh, come on, Liliana. Your tooth gap is cute as hell" I said

"it's literally one of the reasons I get picked on at school, dad..." she said. My heart broke. She didn't deserve that...

"No one has the right to make you feel bad about yourself, sweetheart. Remember that"

"but... dad..."

"I know it's hard, baby girl. But you are beautiful just the way you are. And when those braces come off, you'll have the most dazzling smile in the world"

"really...?"

"Absolutely. You're my little princess, and I could never think anything less of you. Now how about we watch a movie or something to take your mind off things?" I said. We ordered pizza and all cuddled up together. Liliana was definitely still grounded but we could reduce it to a couple of weeks, surely...?