Out of the Blue

Chapter 3

It was the day of Courtney's 18th birthday party. "DAD!" Courtney shrieked. Happy came running into her room, gun drawn. She stood at her cupboard confused. "Why the gun? Why do you always need the gun?" Courtney asked. Happy shook his head as he put the gun at the back of his jeans. "What's up?" he sighed. "What am I supposed to wear tonight! I have nothing to wear!" She exclaimed. "What do you mean you have nothing to wear?" he asked, more lost than ever. "I'm not going in jeans! Are you crazy?" "Why are you telling me? Can't you tell Tara or Gemma or Venus?" he wondered. "Well, sorry dad. Maybe you're gonna have to go into a female store for something other than things I'd rather not mention," she teased. Happy was about to respond when he fully twigged on to what his daughter was saying. "Hang on, excuse me young lady. You might be 18 but you do not have a right to talk to your father like that!" "Not my fault people tell me about your rep," Courtney replied. "Where do we go?" he asked- knowing it was better off for everyone. Courtney smiled, knowing she got him once again.

"Why don't you get this one?" Happy joked as the pair walked into one of the dress stores. He copped a lot of stares because he was wearing the cut. He glanced back awkwardly at them. "Dad, lighten up. You look like Edward Scissorhands the way you're walking," Courtney commented. "I do no.... Alright, yeah sorry. What about this dress?" he pointed out. "Dad do I look like a powerpuff girl to you?" she asked. "I was kidding!" "Sometimes I like to question." "Ha! I noticed." "Oooh, I like this one!' She exclaims. "How much?" She looked at the price and dropped the dress back down, walking off to the next rack. Happy looked at her oddly, then curiously picking up the dress for the price tag. "Holy shit! What do they want? A fricken bank?" Happy muttered to himself, subtly putting the dress down. He looked up to find Courtney running into the change room. A young girl stared up at him curiously. "Hi," he smiled. "MOMMY!" she shrieked, running off to her mother. "Really dad? I leave you for two seconds and you scare a kid?" Courtney wondered, walking out of the change room in a black long sleeve dress. Happy returned no comment. "I don't like this. I feel like a slut," she stated. "Whatever you want. Yeah, I agree. I don't want guys going after you." "Really? Who?' "Someone with a particular name Juan Carlos Ortiz." "Oh come on dadt. Juice and I are buddies!" "Buddies. Yeah. Buddies with benefits." "I'm gonna change this dress while you change your attitude."

Courtney glanced around the store in desperate need of a dress. She walks over to the back rack of the store when a dress finally caught her eye. It was white with a halter neck. The neckline was a thin black strip and there was a thin, black studded belt around the waist. The skirt part had a sheer asymmetrical overlay down one side. It was love at first sight. "Dad! I'm gonna try this on!" she exclaims, sprinting to the changerooms. Happy couldn't even reply. "Ok then," he mutters to himself, noticing he was still getting stares from the other customers because of the cut. He noticed two of the San Joaquin sheriff department's finest taking their time towards the store. What the hell do they want now? He thought. He anxiously stares at the change room entrance, waiting for Courtney to walk out.

"Dad!" Courtney whispered sharply. It brought Happy back to reality. "Yeah?" "What do you think?" Courtney wondered, stepping out from behind the curtain. Happy's eyes widened. She actually looked like a real lady- not just that girl that wears tanks and jeans and fights everyone. He was speechless. "It's too over the top isn't it?" Courtney decided. "N-n-n-n-n-n-n-no. Get it. You should get it! Please get it. It looks nice. Really nice," he commented, not exactly knowing what else to say. "Alright. Cool. Awesome. Thanks," Courtney smiled. Happy smiled in return, contentiously glancing back at the two officers casually standing at the front. Courtney peeked over Happy's shoulder, realising the cops. "Putas," she mutters, running back into the change room to quickly get changed.

When she came back out, they were still standing there. "What's the deal with them?" Courtney asked Happy. "Don't know," he shrugged, exchanging glances with them. "Here's the dress. I'll be back," Courtney insisted, handing Happy the dress. He looked at her confused, hoping she saw an old friend but knowing she would talk to them. "Courtney! Don't even think about doing what I think you're going to do," Happy called out. Courtney ignored him and strutted over to the cops. He walked up to the cashier and payed for the dress. The shop assistant looked at him suspiciously. "It's for my daughter's birthday party tonight before you comment on anything," he mentioned to her. "Oh. Ok. Sorry. Oh my God. I feel really bad now. I'm so sorry. I'll give this half price," she replied. "No. No. Don't worry about it." "No. It's $50." Happy was too infatuated with what Courtney was saying to the two officers to argue.