Click, I've Caught You

Arc 3: (Save)(Needs Editing) Chapter 12

Jewels couldn't catch her breath. Not with how it nearly ran away from her with every gasp.

Ms. Amelia had called the school and informed them she was sick so she didn't have to attend today. The small girl currently sat curled up under her blankets, attempting to slacken her breath and shake off the anxiety.

It was today. Today. She knew she would never be ready, but why today?

Her father was to be released today. And he wanted to see her. And talk to her. And be a dad  to her.

Jewels felt sick. She knew logically he wouldn't dare risk getting himself put back in jail. Not the same day, but at the same time it's nerve wracking. It's been so long since she'd seem him. And even longer since he was thinking correctly.

And so she couldn't help but wonder, would he be her father- the man who didn't care when she was getting picked on by some of the boys at school for splashing through mud? Or would he be her daddy- the man who let her put daisy chains in his hair and spun her around and called her his 'Little Princess?'

Jewels sighed.

"....I want my mama. She makes everything better."

She sniffed and for the first time in seven years, she cried herself to sleep.

Ms Amelia, who had been loitering by the door walked in when she was soundly asleep and pulled the cover over her. She kissed Jewels' head and stroked the waves of her ebony hair before leaving silently, knowing Jewels needed her sleep.

She knew this day was going to take a lot out of her.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

He was clean for a man fresh out of prison. His fur was shiny and well washed, and his eyes were brighter than the eyes of the people on TV.

Jewels figured he was probably allowed a quick bath to clean up.

She walked over shakily while forcing herself to look up at her father's face. It wasn't that she was utterly scared, it was more of her automatic reaction to meeting the eyes of an adult. The act always made her nervous and uncomfortable.

She took a seat across from him trying to make herself remain neutral. She waited in silence as he looked her over, taking in all of the changes she went through since she was six. She could understand it. It had been 10 years after all.

"...everyday you look more and more like your mother." his words pressed the aching silence away, "Good, that means you got all the good genes..." he muttered under his breath. "Sorry." He said louder.

Jewels blinked. This was not how it went in her books.

"That is never going to make up for what I did but, I figure it's a start." Her father continued.

This is why she and her father got along so well. Because even when she's shy, she's straightforward when she apologizes.

That also meant he was giving her familiar ground.

Jewels nodded silently.

"Right, ah..." He faltered. " Pr-" her father cut himself off early. Rightfully so, he didn't deserve to call her Princess after all of these years. They weren't that close anymore.

But it did confirm she wasn't talking to her 'father,' she was talking to her 'daddy.'

They shuffled in silence not quite knowing how to approach the situation. On one hand there was the reason he'd been arrested. And then on the other hand, she'd been young. Very young, and he'd only really started hitting her a few weeks before he was arrested, leaving the memory faded and foggy like a dense mist.