Memoirs Of a survivor

13. Reconciliation

When I went downstairs the next morning, my father was already up, and he had breakfast waiting for me. "here you go sweetie "I looked up at him surprised that he was being so much like a real father, "oh, I'm giving you a lift to school, so that will give you more time to get ready" gazing at him I suddenly felt apprehension as I saw his face drop from the smile he was wearing to something more... angry, I quickly mumbled
"yes sir" as I went to sit in front of the plate he had pushed in front of me, as I looked down my stomach started growling, so I wolfed it down before he could change his mind about feeding me. I could feel his eyes on me, so I glanced up to find him looking at my hood, he reached his and out and I held my breath as he pushed it down to reveal my new hairstyle. Looking analytically, he hummed
"I heard you doing that yesterday, but I thought you would just shave it all off," he said quietly, almost as though he was sorry. He put his hand out and grasped my chin gently, turning my head left and right, to look at my handy work before nodding his approval and ruffling my hair and going back to packing something into a bag. He turned and went upstairs returning with the clippers and looked directly at me "hold still," he commanded, before moving them to my head and smoothing out what I had done yesterday, he looked down at me, nodding and putting away the clippers as I released a the breath I was holding, and went to look at my reflection in the mirror. Deciding it was okay; I pulled my hood back up, and turned to find my dad stood with his car keys in his hand and a rucksack in his other hand. "Come on its time to go" he smiled as he opened the door and stepped out.

Shrugging I followed him, looking down as I walked to the car I ran into something. When I looked up all the blood ran away from my face, and I began to step back, my eyes widened and I began to step backwards
"hey sugar," Freddy said smiling down at me, looking genuinely pleased to see me. As I began to hyperventilate, that night began flashing before my eyes. 'I can do this' I thought as I calmed myself and took deep breaths, the blood returning to my head, as my senses came back I heard Freddy say "are you okay sugar, you look like you've seen a ghost," stepping around him Freddy reached out and grabbed my arm, just hard enough to stop me walking away "you never called me" hurt flashed in his eyes as he looked at me.
"Freddy let go of her, she's got to go to school" my dad shouted over the car. Tearing his gaze away from me he eyed my father and huffed a breath
"fine, but I'm taking her on a date later" looking back to me he stated "ill puck you up after school, and we will go out, sound good?" I shrugged my arm from his grip, and turned to him "I train after school," I walked away, he shouted
"that's okay ill drop you off" not telling him about my plan to run to the gym, I got into the car and pretended that he wasn't there. My father got in shortly after and started the car saying
"you should be nice to him, it's not like you have many other men beating down your door" I pretended I hadn't hear his comment as I thought to myself 'oh so you can sell me for more next time, I don't think so'

We pulled up to school with 20 minutes to spare and my father handed me the rucksack he was holding earlier, looking at me with what could be mistaken for pride he said "you did well in your fights the other day, so I bought you some stuff," as I unzipped the bag, I found three containers of food, and some workout clothes with a note that said 'well done kiddo', and had a small drawing of a fist on it, I smiled remembering the notes he used to leave in my lunchbox when I was younger. As I looked further into the bag, I found new trainers to work out in "you had big odds against you, so when you won, you got me a lot of money" he explained pulling a plastic bag from the back seat which held a strappy back sports bra, patterned yoga pants, and a pink Floyd shirt. Looking up confused he smiled down at me, and patted me on the head, before leaning over me to open the door, kissing me on the cheek on the way back, and shooing me out. Slightly dazed I clambered out of the car and went to close the door "Scarlett, make sure you eat all of those before you come home tonight," he nodded at the bag and leant back in his seat
"umm, why" he looked at me and simply said
"new diet" before pretending I was no longer there. I shut the door and walked up the steps into school.

I must have spent a while gaping at the niceness of my father because when I got to my locker to switch the gym gear for my books, I only had five minutes until lessons began. Trudging to maths class I could feel a burning gaze boring into the back of my head, which did not leave once I was seated in class. Turning to find who was looking at me, I found the blue eyes that belonged to Aron pointed in my direction, while his friends tried to get his attention. Pulling my head further into my hood I sunk down into my seat in an attempt to disappear.