Under Control

Chapter 6

Jack's POV:
Looking at the letter I got from Ken, I sighed deeply and contorted my face into distraught. This is so stupid, my father knows that if I want to meet someone, I'm meeting them on my own, and at my own time. I rolled my eyes and threw away the letter, hoping I can forget it entirely. I lay on my bed, tired and a little irritated as I hold up my phone. I'm waiting very patiently for Mark to call or text, but he hasn't yet. I wonder if he can't text or call yet, and he was so confident about me giving me his number. I place my phone on my chest and looked up at my ceiling. I was about to close my eyes when all of a sudden, I heard my phone buzz. I quickly opened my phone and looked at the message. What came up wasn't something I expected. It said:
'Hey, I'm really excited for you to come to my party. Hope I'll see you there, Prince of Legend. ;)'
I looked confused but suddenly my father came bursting in my door with a loud bang and some wine. I almost gagged seeing the wine and I scooted back to the headboard so father can sit. "Son, I have exciting news. The princess of Molova would love to meet you at her 18th birthday." He handed me a glass and then went to work trying to open the cork. "I say, let's drink to this wonderful day." I placed the wine glass on my dresser and looked at my father struggle. After 5 minutes of twisting, pulling, and even teeth pulling,he finally opens it and looks at me. "To a bright future." He's about to pour wine into his glass until I finally speak up. "Father,  I love you but you seriously need to stop doing this." He poured himself some wine and set down the bottle on the floor and looked at me. "Doing what son? Celebrating your achievements with wine or is it something else?" "I-it's something else. I don't like the fact that you're basically setting me up for some princess shopping." My dad looked at me with a stern look and slightly puckered his lips. "You don't like this? Already? Jeez Sean, it's usually you wanting to go and meet them before turning them down." He took a sip of wine and continued to believe this situation he's in is non existent. "Father, I'm serious. I want to meet someone on my own terms and not someone you have hand chosen. In fact..." I paused for a second and grabbed my phone from my lap and showed him the message. "Oh that's the princess herself, I gave her your phone number so you guys can hit it off before the meet n 'greet. Like I said, she's excited to meet you. What's so bad about that?"
"Father, what's bad is, your being unreasonable. I've told you from time to time to stop getting into my love life." I say calmly enough so that I won't punch something. Father finished his glass and then set his glass on the floor next to the wine and looked at me. "Son, your in denial. You're a Prince of me, a legend who's name flies faster than the wind.  No girl will resist you, and soon I'll be there, watching my boy marrying a sweet young princess with traits and personality that uphold the family name." "But father, what if... What if I had a different preference?" He froze and had a blank face before looking at me with wide eyes. He soon cracked a smile and laughed a laugh that I knew too well. "Son, if you like older princesses, I'll gladly offer some. I know a lot of queens just dying for their daughters to become the next queen. It's all about figuring out what you want son." He patted my back a little too hard and then grabbed his glass and poured himself some more wine.  Before I could say anything, my phone vibrated, signaling that I got a message. I grabbed it and looked through, expecting another stupid message but when I saw the message, I checked back to see if my dad was occupied. My father was now spouting nonsense about me getting married and having a fair amount of babies. I rolled my eyes and looked at the message. It was sent by Mark. I bit my lip in an anxious tone and read over it.
Unknown: Jack! It's me Mark, I'm sorry I didn't text or call, I had to run away from some type of demon dogs and had to catch my breath when I got home. If you'd like, you may hit me. Or smite. Don't know.

I smiled and giggled at his message. I quickly texted back before my dad notices and he'll get really detective like.

Jack: Sorry, my father trained them to protect me and also, I'm saving my smite powers for later in life.

3 minutes later, he texted back immediately and I kept my smile plastered on my face.

Mark: Also, COULD YOU CONTROL YOUR DOGS?! A PIECE OF MY ASS ALMOST GOT CHEWED OFF. >:1

Jack: can't help you there bud, but tip for when you come back, throwing some meat at them will work.

Mark: when i come back? Does that mean I'll see you again soon?

Jack: Maybe. If you get past my dogs.

I giggled and my father looked drunk off his ass. "Father, do you need to lie down? You look.... unwell." I say with some concern. My father looked at with one eye half lidded and the other wide awake. He looked at me and gave a.... I'm gonna say stern but it looks more like he's gonna throw up. "Son, I'm fine *hic*. My body is a fortress plus we're Irish, we can handle *hic* alcohols. Now son, you'll be going to that party and you'll be a guest of honor even, so mingle with the princess and see where it goes, ok?" Before I could say an answer, he fell forward in my arms and immediately started to snore. Ken quickly swooped in and helped my father up and out my room. I sat there a bit awkward and then took the invite out of the trash. I sighed deeply, placed it in one of the drawers of my nightstand, and looked back at the messages that me and Mark had made. I giggled and turned off my phone and placed it on my dresser. I get up and start getting dressed into round the house clothes: a white t-shirt, a black hoodie, and sweatpants. As I get into the clothes, my mind started to fill with thoughts of me going to that dance. I put on my last piece of clothing and headed out the door. ' At least i know Mark will come back.'