Not So Perfect

Daughter

Angela quickly spots Tony and she runs to him. She wraps her arms tightly around his torso. She hides her face in his chest. She can feel herself panic as he massages her back.

“Are you okay?” Tony asks.

"Angela who is this?" Her father asks.

"I'm Anthony." Tony introduces himself.

“Anthony Diaz?” Her father asks.

    Angela exits the comfort of Tony’s comfort. Her eyes quickly travel to her father’s face. He has a serious expression on his face.

“Yes sir,” Tony says, “We used to be neighbours when I was young.”

    Fire ignites in her as a wrinkle appears on her father’s forehead. She faces Tony in an attempt to control herself. It been years since then and her father still held a grudge.

“Anthony thank you for coming. But I need to talk to my dad. Can you pick me up tomorrow?”

“Are you sure?” He asks.

“I need to talk with my dad right now. I'll explain tomorrow,” she says.

“If anything just call me okay,” Tony says.

“I will.”

“Angela?” Her father asks as Tony leaves the station.

“Can we go home dad? I don’t want to be here anymore.”

    The drive home is awkward and tense. Angela ran things in her head over and over. Trying different scenarios and their outcomes. There was no easy way out of this whole mess. Her father was not going to buy her weak excuses any longer.  There is only two options. Pretend or just rip the bandage right off. Get it over with all together. Getting into her house Angela quickly moves to go to her room.

“Angela can we please talk?” Her father calls after her.

    Angela lets out a long sigh. Well there went the pretending nothing was wrong. She turns and walks to the living room. On her phone she quickly texts Tony but doesn’t send it leaving it as a draft. A back up plan was always a good idea. Angela takes a seat on the couch and stares at her father.

“What is going on honey?” Her father asks.

“Nothing daddy.”

“What is going on with that boy?” Her father asks.

    Angela wrinkles her forehead. Was he really getting onto Tony now? Hell no.

“Is that the only thing that worries you?” She asks furious.

“No honey,” he retracts.

“He’s a friend. He has helped me with some problems at school.”

“Problems?” Her father asks.

“He is the top student. He has helped me some projects and homework.”

“He’s top student?” Her father asks.

    Angela quickly unlocks her phone and sends the message to Tony. Hopefully he was not far.

“What you doing?” Her father asks.

“I love you dad. But you got no right to judge Anthony. It was never his fault and never will!”

“Honey…”

“No dad! Hear me clearly. I will not turn my back on him. He has been there for me more than you have ever been!”

“That’s not true,” Her father says.

“You separated us for something that wasn’t his fault! In some way I understand you but in another I will never forgive you. We needed each other more than ever!”

“If we stayed you never would have gotten as far as you are now honey.” Her father states.

“Where am I dad! Tell me! Because reality dad is all of this is all a lie!”

“What are you talking about?” Her father asks.

“Tell me dad that you have never lied to me.”

“I have never….”

“Liar! Liar! Stop lying to my face!”

"What you talking about honey?"

"Did you really not recognize her or you playing dumb?!"

A smile comes over her face. He was stunned  by her attitude and persistence. She hears the car engine outside.

"Anthony is here for me. I’ll be staying with him."

“Honey.” Her father says taking her arm lightly.

    Angela pulls away and opens the door. She turns back towards her father and gives him a smile.

“When you remember Carol Willis, as she is called now, and her daughter you’ll understand.”

Angela smiles as she sees tears appear in her father's eyes. He takes a step back and lets himself fall onto the couch.

“I see that you do remember them you liar.”

    With that Angela closes the door letting streams of tears flow down her cheeks. No more sweet old daughter.