As Always (drafts; on hold)

CHAPTER SIX ♥ The Promise to Dad

"You look beautiful." My dad says sincerely, standing in my door arch and holding the doorknob.

"Thanks, Dad." I smile, fixing my hair.

He hesitates for a second and say, "You- you look just like your mom..."

I look at him. I close my eyes; I know he is doing the same. Then, I open them and hug him. He is a great man. Not just because he is my father, but he is tall and handsome, he is muscular and gentleman. My mom is a beautiful woman. They often say she really looks like me. But I do not know if they're being sarcastic or what. But here... My father says it.

To be honest, I do not exactly know how she looks like. The images in my mind are fading. Even though I have lots of pics with her. She, being alive, moving, is different.

"No crying. My makeup will be ruined." I look up at dad. He is smiling. This is a great thing about him. He can make things way lot easier even he, himself, is close to giving up. Being close to giving up isn't really giving up. You might be close to giving up, but you are still not going to.

I try to laugh. "I'm not gonna cry. Big girls do not cry." I love being a child around him. A child with no worries, problem, and careless.

"Go. Someone's waiting downstairs."

I am surprised.

"What? Who?"

My dad smiles. And he becomes serious and holds my hand. "I trust you, Annie and I know you are too old for this... but, I'll keep on reminding you to not do anything you'll regret later on."

"I won't do anything stupid, dad. I swear. And he is just my friend."

"Okay." He kisses my forehead.

"I love you..." I whisper.

"I love you too, and you'll always be my little girl."

I laugh.

He goes out and I return fixing my hair. The time is just 6:40. Jillian is so early.

I text him: Y so early?

I put on lip gloss and he replies: Any prob? Sorry, just so excited

I finish my make up (I hate using these so just a few touches) and I organize my pouch with my usual things: face powder, lip gloss, my purse, phone, alcohol, facial tissue, candies and more little things.

My phone rings.

"Annie!" Cindy says.

"Hey."

"So what's up? How's your date?" She says, teasingly.

"I'm still at home. But, girl!!! We almost kissed." I say, lowering my voice.

"For real?! Where? When?" She says, excitedly.

I tell her the story earlier: the storm, when my dad can't pick me up, the almost kiss and how my dad's phone call interrupted us.

"Oh. My. God. You really are in love right now! So how about Xander?"

"Shut up. I was over him since like forever!"

"Here we go again." She laughs. "Okay. Have a great night! Love you."

"Kay, Byeee."

And I hang up.

I go downstairs. I see Jillian and my dad talking to each other in the living room. They are laughing.

"Annie! There you are." My dad exclaims.

Jillian looks up. I'm feeling so shy. He might think I'm ugly with what I look right now. I am wearing a pink glittered dress and black light jacket, protection from the cold night.

"Wow." Jillian says.

My dad looks at him. "You better take care of my girl!"

"Like I can't handle myself." I roll my eyes. I sit on the sofa and grab the chips on the table.

My dad stands, "Go on. You might get late."

"Yes, sir." He stands and reaches for my hand. I take it and cling my arms into his. Like walking formally.

"Goodbye." I hug dad and again he kisses me on the forehead.

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Proofread (Chapters 6 to 10) : WriteTheLove, 3/23/14 

Hello, Kate! Thank you so much. xoxo