The Game

Chapter 57

Serena

God, do I knock or just go inside?? Maybe everyone's sleeping. It's pretty late. Why is my heart beating like this. I am not ready to face my dad yet. Maybe I can call Neal and ask if I can go and sleep at his place. No, get your shit together man. You're standing right outside your house. Go in. Okay, I won't knock.

I pull down the door handle and hesitate to open the door, but after 5 seconds I agree with myself that I am an idiot who just needs to open the damn door. So I do. I thought it would be locked but it isn't. My dad always locks the door. I open it a little more and quietly walk in. It's so weird being here. The house is awfully quiet. I think my dad is sleeping. I take off my shoes and walk in the living room. It's all clean and everything seems intact. But again, everything seems wrong too. The house is way too clean. And way too quiet. Maybe it's just me. I walk over to the stairs and with tired legs walk up the stairs. I have gotten pretty lazy this week. I have not been doing any sort of sport whatsoever. Eating, sleeping and watching tv and that's basically it. I must have gained a lot of weight.These stairs seem like a lot of work. After climbing Mount Everest I finally reach my room, I push the door open and step in. Again, everything is how it's supposed to be. It feels like forever since I have been here. I go over to my bed. God I have missed it. I take of my jacket and jump on it. Nothing is better than this piece of heaven. I lay there for a while, caressing the blanket and pillows.

"I missed you guys." I say to my pillows and put my head on them.

"Serena?" I hear my dad say from the door. I get up from the bed and sit upright before standing up.

"Dad.." This feels so awkward. He doesn't say anything, but stands there and looks at me. Then he starts walking closer to me.

"You came back." He says sounding surprised.

"Yeah.." He comes closer and wrap his arms around me.

"I missed you so much, welcome back." He says and runs his hand through my hair.

"Thanks.." I say and he lets me go. He smiles broadly and then he starts calling out for Carrie.

"Carrie, she's back!" He yells and then I hear someone running outside my room. Then Carrie runs in the room and stops at the door. She smiles even brighter than my dad and walks over to me and gives me a tight and long hug.

"That was about time." She says and pats me on the back. I hug her just as tight. I really missed Carrie and her food. I can't help but smile too.

"Welcome back, sweety." She says and lets go of me. "Are you hungry?" She asks. Typical Carrie, that's the first thing she always asks me. "No, I'm fine- thank you." I say. I look at my dad and he caresses my arm.

"How about you get some sleep, then we can talk tomorrow." He says. I think it pretty clear that I am tired as hell.

"Sounds good." I say and he kisses my forehead as he use to.

"Goodnight." He says.

"Goodnight."

"Sleep tight." Carrie says and then they both leave the room. I thought it would be worse than this. My dad was pretty calm about this, but I really look forward to get out of this clothes and jump in that big comfy bed.

.....

"Here's your eggs." Carrie hands over my plate. I have seriously missed Carrie's breakfast. Dean's breakfast was great, but nothing can beat Carrie's.

"Thank you." I say and give her a big smile. My dad comes down and sit at his usual seat. It's just us three. Neal said Angelina and Tori moved in with David. This feels like the old times. When it was just my dad, Carrie and me. But it seems a little empty without Angelina. I don't mind Tori not being here, but Angelina made it feel good too. But I am not complaining. It feels nice just being like old times. I want to ask him about it, but talking to him now seems so uncomfortable. He's trying to act normal, but I know him. He's still thinking about it. What his "little girl" has done. It doesn't feel right to talk to him anymore. I get reminded of that day when I look at him.