Summer School Blues (editing!)

I Am Ingrid, Hear Me Roar

Ingrid takes a deep breath, attempting to compose herself quickly and quietly. Flynn's eyes flicker over to her, a hint of a teasing smirk resting on his lips. "You're not...scared, are you?"

"I am NOT scared, Flynn Newfield. Does it look like I'm scared? No? That's what I thought. I am Ingrid, hear me roar." she seethes, a determined look flashing in her eyes as she pulls the door open, storming into the bar.

This causes Flynn to erupt into a fit of laughter as he follows her into the bar. Being as it was a Friday night, the Junction was filled with lively, rowdy customers. A long-haired, leather jacket-clad man cracks his knuckles as his eyes follow the two teenagers who make their way farther into the bar, Flynn avoiding eye contact as he stays close behind Ingrid.

"Have you seen a guy, around five foot ten, a hundred and sixty pounds, blond hair like mine but it's kind of graying, around here? His name's Shane Armstrong, he's my father and I'm looking for him." Ingrid asks the bartender, who simply points to a table in the back corner, where Shane and a few other men are huddled around it, playing a game of cards. What surprised Ingrid the most was that Hunter, of all people, was sitting across from him, his back to his sister and her friend. This startling revelation lit a fire inside of Ingrid, who marches up to the table in an outrage.

"Oh, no, you're not! You can't just waltz back in here like you've done nothing wrong. And Hunter, I thought you were better than this, just schmoozing with the enemy. How dare you!"

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my lovely daughter, making a scene as usual. Still the same old stubborn, feisty girl you were growing up." Shane chuckles, finishing his glass of scotch.

"Stay out of this, Shane. This doesn't involve you."

"What do you want, Ingrid?" Hunter sighs, looking up at his sister with exasperation in his eyes.

"I wanted to have a conversation with our lovely father here, but now I want you to leave."

"And what if I don't want to?"

"Hunter, do you know how many tears Mom has cried over this sociopath? You very well know that Mom and I want nothing to do with him, and yet, here you are, laughing and carrying on like nothing bad ever happened."

"He's changed, Ingrid. If you sat down and had a conversation with him, you would see it too."

"He's playing you like a fool. You weren't there at the Newfields. You didn't see how he barged in on what should have been a nice dinner." she grumbles, balling her fists at her sides.

"Ingrid, why don't I buy you a drink to calm your nerves? You're clearly overreacting." Shane simply responds, leaning back in his chair after the card game finishes, Shane the victor. 

"I don't drink, father. You probably would have known that already, but you've never once wanted to be a father to your kids. Besides, I wouldn't trust any drink you would buy me. Knowing you, you'd probably poison it."

"Maybe you should calm down, Ingrid. You can't interrogate someone while you're running on high emotions." Flynn murmurs, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Oh, great, you're dating one of those goody-two-shoes Newfield kids. It's time you find a man who has a backbone." Shane smirks, riling his daughter up even more.

"Shane, you may be my biological father, but you mean nothing to me. You're nothing but a coward who abandoned Hunter and I for your secretary. You have no right to show up again after so long, and you certainly do not have the right to try and make amends. Not now, not ever." Ingrid grimaces, avoiding his comment about her and Flynn.