Unwanted Visitor

6. The Art of Teasing (and of Being Teased)

Chapter Six: The Art of Teasing (and of Being Teased)

I stared at my phone with apprehension. I'd resolved to apologize to my father and maybe try meeting him again, but...I just kept putting it off and now it was already seven and I still hadn't bothered trying to call.

I sighed, figuring that I'd better just get it over with and opened the phone. Maybe if I was lucky he wouldn't answer and I could just leave a message.

I went to my contacts...and then realized I didn't actually have his number.

I sighed. Well, at least now I didn't have to worry about it anymore. It wasn't my fault I didn't have his contact information. If anything, it was his fault for being a no-show. In fact, I should be glad that I didn't have to force myself through an awkward phone call.

I laid down in my bed in relief and gazed at the ceiling. Now that I thought about it more...there was only one motel in this town. And so there'd only be one place that he could stay...

I sighed and rolled over on my side. There was no guarantee that he was staying in town though, I told myself...But then again it was a pretty long drive to get to any other town. But he might also be staying at an acquaintance's house.

I got up and sighed again. I might as well just go, I figured.

It wasn't a long jog to get to the motel, so I got there in about ten minutes. I stopped in at the main office. "Excuse me?" I said to get the clerk's attention.

"Yes, ma'am?" She turned around and asked, and I inwardly groaned when I realized who it was. Kerry. "Oh...Kali. What are you doing here?" she said, hardly even bothering to mask the distaste in her tone.

"I'm just looking for somebody," I said also not bothering to hide my distaste. "Is Theodosius Cyrus staying here?"

Her eyes narrowed as a smirk spread across her face. "I'm not exactly allowed to reveal that information. Privacy, and all," she said slyly, and shrugged her shoulders.

I gritted my teeth and suppressed an annoyed sigh. "I don't think he'd mind, I'm his daughter after all. Or did you not realize we share the same last name?" I said with as much civility that I could muster.

"Well, I was thinking that maybe you were related somehow. But I just can't give out that information, even to 'family members'. You never know if they could be abusive or not," she shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry, but we wouldn't want any broken bones, you know," she said sarcastically with a cruel grin.

I clenched my fists. Kerry was the older sister of the kid whose knee I broke, and she holds more of a grudge against me than her brother. It's been nine years, and she still tries to give me as much trouble as possible every time she sees me. She was definitely a bitch to me, but I guess she had a pretty good reason to be. Although she didn't have that reason to excuse her bitchiness to other people... Honestly, I think she just likes to hate, maybe it's the only thing she can do for fun in this town.

I forced a smile. "If you don't just answer me real quick, then there really will be broken bones," I dropped the smile and leaned in threateningly, "in your face."

She frowned and tried to look tough, but I noticed her moving back a bit. "Are you threatening me, freak?"

I smirked, and leaned back again. "Ah, take that stick out of your ass, Kerry. It was just a little joke."

She narrowed her eyes and raised an eyebrow, "You're not very funny, dear," she said condescendingly. "I hope you weren't planning to be a comedian."