Deception

The Truth

Jake and I, since he got home have been inseparable which caused my parents to get a little curious on what we were doing. I of course didn't tell them the truth since I didn't want them to know about my research on my father.
I was sitting in my room doing a little more research on my laptop and I had the book out. It was the Saturday right before school started on Monday.
"Hello. I stole some chips and dip by the way." Jake said as he came and sat beside me. Jake has been at my house since first thing this morning and my mom went out for groceries. "Find anything else?" Jake asked as I bit my lip stealing a chip from him. I swallowed the chip.
"No not yet. Same thing as before. Just an address on the agency." I said as I began to look some more. I heard a slight knock on my door.
"Jersey?" I heard it was my dad. I didn't have time to hide anything before my dad stuck his head into the room. His eyes went wide as he snuck into the room shutting the door behind him.
"What are you doing with that box? Your mom has been looking for that box for a few days now." He said as he came over to me. He looked at the laptop screen. Jake and I watched his every move. "I'm guessing you know?" He said which sounded more like a question. Jake and I both nodded my head. He sighed as he sat down on the bed with his head in his hands.
"Why did you keep it from me?" I asked as I leaned forward on my knees. My dad took his hands away from his face. He sighed.
"I wanted to tell you but your mom said no. When your father, James was classified as a criminal when you were around 2 months old he was known to be dangerous. The agency put your mom and you under witness protection." He explained as Jake was leaning forward as well. I stared at my dad as he explained the story. "I met your mother 4 years after that. She told me after I asked her to marry me. She was never going to tell you but I guess your old enough to know the truth now." He said as I nodded my head at him. "You have questions don't you?" He asked as I nodded my head again.
"If we were in witness protection, why did I keep his name?" I asked as my dad looked at me.
"Your mom fought for that. She knew you were a Marine, not a Peters or a Jackson. Every time she looked at you, she would see your real dad. She didn't want to take the name away from you because it was who you are." She said as I leaned back in my chair.
"You aren't going to tell mom are you?" I asked raising an eyebrow at him and then at Jake who was copying my face.
"No I won't. Just be careful with whatever you do okay?" My dad said as I nodded my head. "Got any more questions?" He asked as I nodded my head. "Ask away." He said.
"Do you know if he committed the crime?" I asked as he shook his head.
"Your mom didn't think he did. She testified that he would never do that." He said as I nodded my head.
"If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Just not around your mother, she doesn't like talking about it because she still loves your dad but she loves you a lot more." My dad said as I turned my rolling chair around to face my desk. He got up and began to walk towards my door.
"I have another question." I said as he reached the door. I turned to ace him. He turned around.
"What is it?" He asked.
"If you knew the truth, why did you still love me like I was your own?" I asked him. He walked over to me and kissed my head. He kept his lips staying on my head.
"Because in my mind you were still mine." He whispered as I felt a teardrop fall from his eye to my head. I looked up at him.
"Were?" I whispered.
"You still are." He whispered as his voice cracked kissing my forehead before he walked out the door shutting it behind him. I looked at my desk. Jake rested his head on my shoulder.
"Jersey, everything will be okay. Your mom won't find out and now you know answers." Jake said as I nodded my head.
"Go home." I said as I got up out of the chair. He looked at me confused.
"Why? Are you mad at me?" He asked sounding worried. I shook my head.
"Pack your clothes. Sunday night we are leaving to go find my dad." I said as he nodded his head. He walked out my door and downstairs outside. He went home as I sat in my room alone.

I heard a knock on my door.
"Jersey, can we talk?" My dad said as I nodded my head. He sat down on my bed as I sat down beside him. "I just want you to know that whatever you decide to do I'll be by your side. I don't want to know what your plan is because the less I know the less I can tell. But just be safe." He said as I nodded my head.
"Thanks dad." I said as he smiled slightly. "Why are you smiling?" I asked raising my eyebrow at him.
"Because even though you know the truth you still call me dad." He said as I smiled slightly.
"Yeah well even though I knew the truth, you are the one who raised me and you will always be my dad." I said as he smiled hugging me. I hugged him back. We heard the door open and close.
"I'm home!" My mom called out. We pulled away.
"You be careful please. I love you." He said as I nodded my head. He walked out the door and went down the stairs. I stayed in my room all night texting Jake. I began to pack a backpack as I placed it in my closet. I folded all the papers I needed to find my dad in the backpack so I knew I had them. I ended up passing out before dinner so eventually Sunday came faster.