The end of the day comes quickly and I'm leaned against the hood of Ren's car, waiting for her to drive us home. I look down at my clothes, remembering that im running out of clothes to wear. Tesrs threaten my eyes as I recall the recent encounter with my father, but the tears quickly disappear when Jessica walks by. My ego would never let her see that, i giggle.
"Can we talk?" The sad tone in Jessica's voice is hard to say no to, so i nod. Immediately she begins rambling, "Im so sorry Dakota. I was stupid and foolish for not claiming you to my friends. I miss you so much, and everyday I feel guilty for making you feel this way. I can't believe that i was so stupid. I cant help but feel lonley without you around, as if a piece of me is missing." I scoff, "i, i, i, thats all I hear. You only care because you feel like shit about it," i see Renesme slowly approach as i continue, "you don't actually care at all. You just don't want to be alone. Go find some desperate girl to be your toy 'cause im done." My voice cracks when i near the end of my rant, and by the time I've finished talking Renesme is in the car, so i hop in and watch as Jessica disappears from my view.
"So?" Renesme glances at me briefly, and I roll my eyes, knowing what she's wanting to hear. "I think I'll be okay... maybe not right now, but soon hopefully. I'm done with her games." She nods and drives to her house.
~~~
Later that evening I tell Renesme that I'm walking to the store a coupke blocks away to get some snacks. She offered to drive but i told her i needed the fresh air, agreeing with me, she gave me a jacket and sent me on my way. Little does she know that I'm going back to my house to get clothes. I just hope he isnt there...
When the house comes into view I see that the car is gone, letting me know that my father is gone. I go inside, the reek of alcohol filling my senses. Looking around I find that he hasn't cleaned up since i left. Alcohol bottles, trash, dishes, and clothes sprawled out across the floor causing me to step around everything as i make my way to my room. The only clean room in the house, my own, it's been left exactly how it was that day. I pack my bag full of clothes and glance over at my desk to see a letter and money. I slide the stained letter into my hands, setting the cash to the side as i notice a slight layer of dust on the letter when i begin reading,
"Honey,
I've gone on a trip for a couple of days. I miss you. Please come home. Here's some money for food. Im sorry.
Love,
Dad❤️"
I count the cash, finding $150 and taking it. I crumple the letter and set it back on the desk. That's nothing like him... the handwriting is definitely his but the words, how could they come from my father. A vile creature who hasn't said he loves me in years, hasn't cared for me since my mom passed away, and hasn't bothered to even notice my presence. A cold tear running down my cheek is the only thing that snaps me from my thoughts. I walk to the living room and hear boots pacing the kitchen. My heart rate speeds up to a million miles per hour as I attempt to quietly go back to my room, but I fail, kicking a beer bottle into the wall, causig it to shatter. My father rushes into the room and as soon as his aged, brown eyes meet mine, i run. I make it to my room just in time to lock the door, which he continually bangs on. "Dakota please! Open the door!" He shouts, but his words aren't as i expected... for the first time since my moms funeral... his words aren't slurred. This scares me even more than him being drunk. So once again, I run. When i get to a park down the road I call Renesme.
"Hello?" Her voice rings through the phone, "Renesme im at the park down the road from my house, i need you to pick me up. Now. Please." My breath heavy as i finish speaking.
"What why are you th-" i cut her off.
"No time to talk. Please."
"Okay" she hangs up and I go to the far end of the park, hiding from my father.
When Renesme gets here I rush to her car, not bothering to be quiet as i slam the door shut, "Drive. Now." With that she speeds to her house, "what the hell D?!" I look down at my hands as she continued yelling, "You couldve gotten hurt! You know how worried i get about you! I thought you got mugged, but when you called i knew it was even worse. Why did you go inside if he was home?! No... why did you even go there?"
I sigh, "he wasnt home when i got there, and i needed more clothes. He came home when i was leaving and i ran away. He left me a letter on my desk apologizing and asking me to come home, and saying he was on a trip. He wasnt drunk, and that scared me, maybe even more than when he is drunk."
"D, you couldve borrowed mine. Don't worry me like that again." The car shifts into park and we go inside, only to find the beautiful, manipulative blonde who's haunted me for the last week. "Jessica, Why are you here?"
Oh god what could she possibly want?
