Living (RedRibbon13) **Complete**

22. Daddy's Little Girl

Chapter 22

Daddy's Little Girl

Jake opened his mouth ready to pour out his heart, but a sudden banging sound resonated in the silent room, making them spring apart in shock. Before they could even blink properly, Matt was barging in yelling profanities and headed straight for Jake. Her friends rushed in after him, and the door close behind them.

Mandy tried moving forward to stop her father but before she could even move a muscle, Matt grabbed her hand, pushing her behind him and glared at Jake, looking murderous.

Jake prepared himself for the inevitable and held up his hands as he opened his mouth, but Matt's fist talked first. The sound of his fist crashing on Jake's bone mingled with Mandy's scream of horror and it felt like hell was breaking lose in the classroom.

Jake staggered and fell backward from the strong blow, landing on his back. Blood started pouring out of his mouth almost immediately, but to Mandy's horror he started sitting up with a small smile on his face. She knew too well it would only provoke her father more.

"I deserved that, sir." Jake managed to gurgle out through the blood filling his mouth and Matt lost it. With a growl, he grabbed Jake by the collar and pulled him up to a standing position.

Jake was still smiling.

With another horrifying scream, Mandy stepped between them, covering as much of Jake as she could, and looked up at her father pleadingly. She didn't realize she was crying till she tried to speak and all that.

"Daddy, please..." she managed to say through the hiccups, and swiped at her eyes. She held her father's tense arms, before noticing that her friends were already holding him on each side, pleading him to back down.

She watched as the anger dissipated from her father's face and changed to one of shock. He seemed to be frozen in place and his hand left Jake's collar, falling on his sides. He was staring at Amanda like she had grown two heads.

Jake straightened, and put a hand on her shoulder, "It's okay, Amy. You go out with your friends. I need to talk to your dad alone."

Matt growled and Amanda held her dad's arms tighter before turning her head to glare at the stupid health teacher, "Have you lost it? I'm going to talk to my dad and you are going to the nurse's. Now get out."

Jake looked at her incredulously for a few moments and Amanda had to push him away physically.

"Get out, Jake." She said calmly and looked at her friends for help. Jake backed down, and let Alex lead him out. The stubborn look in her eyes told him she would never back down. The door closed after them, leaving her with her dad.

They insisted he go see the nurse but Jake didn't budge. He just asked for some cotton and started pacing the hallway outside his own classroom.

Inside, Matthew Ramsey was doing the same, still unable to form a word.

"Dad, please sit down. I need to talk to you." Mandy said calmly.

Her father looked at her and started yelling, "Sit down? Sit down? How can I do that? Do you even know....Oh my god, my little girl is being harassed. Baby, you don't have to be scared, you just tell the police what happened alright? I can't believe I thanked the guy earlier. I f*cking thanked him for god's sake. What a bastard!" Matt said, a wild look in his eyes. His shoulders slacked and he slumped down on Jake's chair. He was shaking.

Amanda smiled down at her father, unable to hold back her tears. She was soon kneeling before him, his hands tightly clasped in hers.

"Daddy, I need you to calm down, alright? For me? Just breathe slowly, in and out. Please..." she said softly and rubbed his palms. Matt closed his eyes and obliged, trying to relax through the confusion and panic.