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Open Eyes

The next morning I wake up alone, I hear the sound of movement downstairs, so I get up and head toward the kitchen. Dad stands at the stove cooking.

"Are you cooking for me," I ask

"Good morning," he says instead of answering

"Morning when you get in."

"At one this morning."

I set down on one of the stools in front of the island.

"Daddy"

"Hum"

"If I ever make a wrong choice would you be mad at me?

"No, maybe disappointed in you but never mad."

"Say that I slept with this guy for all the wrong reasons, not once but twice."

He turns looking at me.

"Did you want too?" he asks

"At the time I did."

"And now you're regretting it?"

"Not so much as regretting it, but I think I should have waited."

He smiles

"This guy doesn't happen to be the guy you babysit for."

"Yeah," I bite my lip

"Do you like him."

"Kind of"

"Andi"

"Ok he's got a girlfriend daddy, and I don't.....it's just....."

"What," he asks putting a plate on the table.

"He doesn't want to be more than friends."

"And you do."

"I'm not sure what I want; I know I don't want to get hurt."

"Are you afraid he'll hurt you."

"Emotionally, yes."

He nods

"Dose he knows how you feel."

"I think so" I let out a breath then looked away "It was supposed to be a one-time thing."

"Oh Andi" Daddy scolded me

"I know I shouldn't have agreed to it, but I did."

"What does he say."

"He tells me that we should try to stay away from each other. Because he doesn't want to get emotionally involved with me."

"Is that what he told you."

"The first half yes."

"It sounds to me like this guy likes you."

"I don't know about that."

He leans over the table

"That's what I would say to a girl that I liked if I didn't want to hurt her."

"You going to be home today," I ask him

"No duty calls" he gives me a smile

I lean up kissing his cheek

"Love you daddy."

"Love you too."

We eat our breakfast then I head up to my room to get ready for the day and daddy leaves for work.

I didn't even look at Jacob this morning when I got to school. I came in went straight to my locker then to my first class. I set in there and listened to Mrs. Kirk lecture about some new author that she just happened to come across. It was days like this one when I wish I didn't have to be in school, but then again I am happy to be here at the same time. After my second class, I head to the lunch room, Bea following behind me.