Innocence

Dad's Back

Macy woke up the next morning slowly remembering last night. She groaned and turned over in bed, her hand landing on Zelda, a sleepy purring fluff ball. Jem knocked at the door. "Breakfast in bed?" She smiled. "Yes please." Jeremy opened the door with a plate that had a pancake, a hard boiled egg, and buttered toast. Jade was still in her room when they heard a knock at the front door.

Jem walked to the door and opened it. "Hey Jeremiah, where's my daughter." Macy froze, paralyzed and scared. "She isn't here, I am sorry."
"Don't lie to me. You're the only person she was actually friends with. I want her back."
"You can't have her. Didn't you realize how much stress you put her through?"
"But she's my daughter."
"But you aren't a good parent."
"You don't have the authority to tell me that."
"Get out of our house, please."
"Fine, but you were warned."

Macy peeked around her door as the front door slams shut. Jem looked behind himself at her. They lock eyes, and Jade looks out of her room. "See, what did I tell you?" Then she closes her door again. Jem looks at Mace apologetically and locks the front door. As Jem is locking the door Macy locks herself in her room again.

Macy started to have a panic attack. Jem and Jade couldn't get in trouble because of her. Jade already seemed slightly upset with her being here. Maybe she could go back to her dad's and she wouldn't get in trouble... she doubted it, but she didn't want them getting in trouble when it was her own fault. She unlocked and opened the door to her room again. Jem was sitting in the living room with his face in his hands. "I can't let him get to you." He said. He must've heard her coming out of her room. "I can't let him get to you and Jade either, Jem." At that he looked up. "You can't just go back there. I saw how he treated you."
"He's my dad. He's human. He's probably just worried about me."
"If you go there's a chance you won't see me again. A small chance but a chance. He could be so mad.."

He broke off. He let his face fall back in his hands. When he did that his hair fell around his face, and that made Macy smile. She sat next to him on the tannish couch. She put her hand on his leg and laid her head into his shoulder. Jem straightened up a little and looked at her, slightly surprised, but grinning. "We'll be okay. Wouldn't it be smarter to let me go back than leading the cops straight here when there's not even an adult home?"
"I guess. But what if-"
"No, no what if's. We can do this. I will come back to school. And we will hang out more. Okay?"
"Okay," he said grudgingly.
"Okay," she smiled, and closed her eyes.