The Private School

Chapter 24

(ORIGINALLY POSTED 17 JUNE '18)

"So you've been pretty quiet about school the last couple of weeks, is everything ok?" Dad asks. It's the weekend after mine and Stefan's date, he did give me a detention for not having my homework done, and I spent the entire 30 minutes doing the homework, nothing else, I called him an idiot because it was his fault the work wasn't done, but it was also funny. Anyway, Dad has just picked me up from school and we're going home.

"Yeah it's been good, I went out last Monday with a friend, bowling, not much else happened other than school stuff" I tell him.

"You went bowling? Outside of school? With a friend?" He asks. What's with the questions?

"Erm, yeah, we don't have bowling at school, there's a place just down the road, it was fun" I say.

"Addison, I spend everyday thinking you are safe at school, you didn't even tell me that you weren't there, what if something happened to you? I think you are at school" He says. What's the big deal?

"Dad, I was only off the grounds for like 2 or 3 hours, it was nothing" I point out.

"Your mother and I spent your life trying to protect you, I didn't get you into that school- I'm not paying for you to go to school for you to not be IN school" He says, he's trying not to yell at me.

"Dad, it was after school, and I'm doing fine with my school work, I was safe, seriously what is the big deal?" I ask confused.

"Just, when you are at school, stay at school where I think you are, I don't want you leaving school again, you understand?" He asks.

"But Dad-" He interrupts me.

"DO you understand?" He asks again. What the hell? I'm not gonna try and argue with him.

"Ok, I understand, I'm sorry, I will stay at school" I assure him.

"Good, this is no longer up for discussion" He says. I don't answer as I want the conversation to be over.

"So do you have anything planned for us to do tonight, or over the weekend for Mums birthday?" I ask. It is Mums birthday today, it feels weird, her first birthday and she's not here to celebrate it. I didn't even tell Stefan that today is her birthday, I've tried to seem normal, happy, he did ask me if I was ok and I did my best to assure him I am, but I honestly don't know if he believed me.

"I'm not sure yet, we can have a drink on her tonight, how about you think of something and we'll do it, it's your choice sweetheart" He says. Does this mean, he didn't plan to do anything? She was his wife, my Mum, it's the first birthday without her, not the 21st one. Maybe he's just been busy with work cases.

"I'll have a think" I say.

Roughly 40 minutes later we are home, I put my bag by the front door, I'll take it upstairs later, I'm going to stay down here for a bit. I want to spend some time with Dad.

"What do you want for dinner?" He asks as he looks at the TV guide.

"You're thinking about dinner now? It's only 4:15" I point out.

"Depends what you want to how long until it's ready" He says.

"Um, do we have any pasta bakes?" I ask.

"Yeah, it'll take about 45-50 minutes in the oven" He says. We agree on pasta bake. We decide on what to have on the TV. "So how are you friends?" He asks.

"They're cool, Jake and Ali are still good, Eli has started talking to this guy called Finnick, apparently he prefers Finn, they're all good" I say.