Romance in Handcuffs

Weird Dads and Awkward Dinners

Chapter 3:

My father looked at both of us and then turned around and left the room. One minute later he came back.

"Cut them." My mouth went agape at that. "I'll sew them back together."

"You sew?" I was so shocked that my dad just claimed that he knew how to do something other than read, grade, or lecture people.

"Yes. Son, don't ever let just any woman take over your life. Choose one that you'd do anything for." I wish that woman would be me.

"Of course, sir. I haven't exactly found the right one yet, but when I do I'll test her first."

"Well I should leave you two to it then. You know where to find me. And since you seem like a nice guy, when those handcuffs come off, you just come to me when you need to talk."

"Thanks for the offer. I'll definitely take you up on it." He left the room and we both started cutting up our clothes. "Your dad is an interesting person."

"You don't have to humor him. He only has daughters, he doesn't have any brothers, and he rarely has time to hang out with other guys, and so he's probably wondering what it's like to give advice to a boy. I never ask for for advice anyway, so I guess he just wants to have somebody to act fatherly towards."

"You really love him. My dad is more of the awkwardly, quiet dad, so he never really feels right when he talks like a father towards me. I do know that he cares about me though."

"I can't believe that the reason we're starting to really talk to each other is because of a pair of handcuffs."

"We did talk but it was only really because we had to."

"Yeah." I sighed. It's a good thing that today is Friday, we won't have to deal with school until Monday. That'll be pretty hectic.

I threw a blanket over my shoulders since I didn't really have a shirt on and then handed Mark one. I got a small glance of his muscles before he covered up. I felt a blush slowly take over my face.

"Dinner is ready, kiddos!" We walked down the stairs. I dreaded the talk we would probably have. 

"Alfredo noodles."

"We aren't even in the kitchen yet, how do you know that's what it is?"

"My mom cooks it every week. It's my favorite meal."

"Oh. Your mom seemed crazy at first but she really loves you. Both of your parents do."

"I know they do. Sometimes I think they need to stop loving me so much, it becomes to crazy, it causes stress." I think of all the things they put me through because of their love for me. Therapy, hospitals, and homeschooling.

"I hope you like dinner tonight," Dad told Mark then whispered the next part,"Stella won't stop making it for a month just for you. She's too scared to stop." I thought he would ask why my mother is scared but he didn't.

"I love Alfredo, it's really good." I smiled but immediately stopped when I saw Mom walk into the room. Its not that I hate my mom it's just she treats me like a fragile doll one moment and then like she doesn't care about me the next.

"That's a good thing, Mark. I'm sorry if I scared you earlier," Mom announced. When we were all sitting at the table she spoke again,"I hope you take good care of Fawn."

"I will ma'am. As long as we're in these cuffs I won't let any harm come to her."

"I should tell you something Mark."

"Don't you dare Mother," I said while the tears gathered up in my eyes.

"The boy deserves to know. That's the only way to know if he can truly be your friend. Only after will we know if he's worthy enough. She was bullied, one day the bullies went to far and she went crazy. She put one of them in a coma."

"I don't get what's wrong about that, it was an act of self defense." My jaw dropped.

"Usually people think I'll go crazy again and put them in a coma, so they leave after that story. After my freshman year I stopped bringing friends home. The rumor was forgotten just like any other rumor that was spread."

"I think it's great that you stood up for yourself. You became a part of the student council even after that. I like a girl with confidence." I died inside after he said that. "So does Marley not know?"

"She knows."

The rest of dinner went by in silence after my dad told us to not let hormones take control while we're in my bed.

"So how does Marley know?"

"She was my only friend during the period of me being homeschooled. I met her one day when I was leaving therapy."

"I'm not going to leave you just because of that. You can't get rid of me that easily. I will stick to you like a leech."

"Thanks."

"I don't get why you had to go through all of that. You don't seem like the type to get bullied."

"Back then I was your typical geek. And I mean like the geeks from movies from the nineties but without the huge retainer."

"You should have seen what I was like in seventh grade." I do want to know more about him. "Can I see pictures?"

"Only if I get to see pictures and hear a story."

"Deal." We walked over to my dresser and I grabbed the photo book. I flipped through the pages letting him take it all in. Once we were at the last page I was getting myself ready for the laughter and teasing. All I got was silence.

"All of those smiles were fake."

"I wasn't faking."

"I saw the sadness in your eyes. It's the same face I saw when we were looking through those photos."

"Doesn't everybody fake a smile at some point in their life."

"Yes. It was in every single picture though. Why?"

"My parents didn't know what was happening until the night it happened."

"Why didn't you tell an adult?"

"I was scared."

"Scared of what?"

"I was scared that nobody would believe me. I was scared that whoever I told would think I'm just trying to get attention."

"You can tell me anything. I will always believe you."

"It only gets worse after you tell somebody."

"Sometimes it gets better. All I'm saying is that it's better to have somebody that is there for you and I'm here for you."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

"Lets just stop being sad tonight and have fun instead. Does that sound good?" I looked into his eyes and then hugged him.

I wish I knew then how much he would hurt me after the month was over.

Sorry about all of the dramatic things that have happened in the chapter but I just wanted to address the whole bullying issue. I have been bullied so I know what it's like and I'm sure some of you also know what it's like. None of my characters have really had something this bad happen to them so I wanted to have at least one character that relates to girls and boys that feel as if everybody is out to get them. There are people that love you and you shouldn't feel like you can't tell them about things that happen to you. That's all for now. I hope you're enjoying the story so far.