Underrated Intelligence || Toby McDonough

The Bad Guy

Me: Hi –

I replied seeing my family smile sadly at me.

Me: I don't mean to interrupt, but could we like talk about something?

I asked seeing them all nod. I ushered them into the living room, sitting on the couch with my father next to me knowing that I was going to say something about the visits we've been receiving the past fourteen years of my life.

Me: I'm sick of you coming over here and pretending that my mother died yesterday.

I said, hearing my aunt gasp. She had a right to be offended, she was my mother's sister. But I was more offended that they thought we constantly needed the help. Yes, I miss my mother and I love her, but I've realized that I don't necessarily need to remember her to move on with my life. She's here everyday, in my heart and in my father's, and that's not going to change. The constant remembrance of her makes it harder on me, because I can't have conversations about boys to my dad without him wanting to shoot the guy.

Claire: How dare you say such a thing!

Me: I'm eighteen years old! It's been fourteen years since she died, and you're pretending she died last night. I understand that we all love her and cherish her, but coming over here and crying about her makes it harder on me to even be a teenaged girl. Naturally, a young girl would talk to their mom about boy troubles, and I can't do that, I have to tell my dad. Is it such a problem that all I want to not be reminded that she's gone? These visits make me wish that I wasn't in the family, because it's all too much for me.

Claire: And you don't think it's hard on us? She was my sister.

Me: Yeah? And she's my mother – What takes precedent here?

I asked seeing her drop her head.

Me: I love you all, but can't you see what it's doing to us?

I asked, moving my hands in between my father and I. He looked over at me before looking down and keeping quiet. My dad was always the introvert unless you knew him really well, which I did. He didn't like confrontation, wishing he could just disappear.

Me: It takes weeks for my dad to come out of a funk that you guys put him in once you're here; I had to go somewhere else today, blaming it on school, just so I wasn't here to see my father cry. He never cries, and to see him cry makes me cry. We like to remember her in this household, how she liked everyone to be happy and how she wanted everyone to be included; we shouldn't be remembering her death, we should be cherishing her life before death.

Claire: You're right –

Me: Great, now get out.

I replied rather harshly, hearing my dad suppress a laugh. I ushered everyone out of the front door, closing the door and looking at my dad with my back against the wall.

Dad: Am I really that embarrassing to talk to about guys?

I started laughing, covering my face while shaking my head.

Me: No – It's just hard to handle sometimes.

Dad: Why?

Me: Can we not hash this out right now?

Dad: So what happened out there?

He asked while looking at me, accepting that I didn't want to talk about the previous problem and changing the subject.

Me: Toby asked me out and I derailed the conversation.

Dad: Why did you do that? I thought you wanted to date the boy.

Me: I do, but I just started thinking about how much he's done and if it would happen again. And then after that his brother's started teasing him about some pretty girl at his school and God, I'm so stupid –

I said while covering my face and sliding against the door to the ground. I sighed looking towards my father to see him sitting on the ground as well, opposite of me.

Dad: I'm not going to tell you that everything's going to be the same as it would be, because I would be lying.

Me: That was harsh –

Dad: It's the truth.

Me: Unfortunately, the truth does hurt, huh?

Dad: I'm also not going to tell you that should give up on the boy, because that would be a waste of whatever you built up until now. I'm going to tell you to go with your heart.

Me: That's exactly what I wanted to hear –

I replied with a sarcastic laugh, seeing my dad shrug.

Dad: Your brain and your heart don't always agree with each other. You need to go with your heart and your gut, because you're going to regret it if you don't.

Me: How do you know so much about this?

Dad: I did, what Toby did you to, to your mother.

Me: You did?

Dad: I was stupid and did some stupid things.

Me: What happened?

Dad: I don't want it to happen to you, so I'll spare you the details and tell you everything worked out and we were happy.

I smiled before seeing him shake his head.

Dad: I know the kid's a little punk, right now, but he'll turn out to be a really well adjusted guy. Hell, you may end up with his children.

Me: Why is that a topic to bring up?

I asked slowly, laughing when I heard him.

Dad: I'm just saying –

Me: Usually when your daughter brings up having some guy's children, the dad is supposed to get upset and ground them.

Dad: Are you telling me you want to be grounded?

Me: No, but you're just so calm about this.

Dad: I think it's pretty inevitable between you two, let's be real.

He said while looking up at me an putting his hands together. I laughed and shook my head, crawling across the floor and putting my head on his shoulder.

Me: I love you –

Dad: I love you, too.

He replied sweetly.

Dad: And maybe you should tell Toby that.

Me: Why should I tell him anything?

Dad: The kid has been in love with you since puberty, you can see it in his eyes. Not to mention he's told his dad, and father's talk.

Me: Oh god, he told you?

Dad: He's kind of got a big mouth.

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[A/N]: Hey all you people! I just wanted to thank each and every one of you for reading my story. The last time I checked I had 30 reads away from 200 and when I logged on seconds ago I had 30 over 200 reads. That's crazy!

I shall update you all soon, and thanks again.

xx Caroline

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