Falling In Love With You

Chapter 5. Adventures in Babysitting

"Hey, honey."

Bex nodded to her dad, as she sat down at the table for breakfast the next day. "Hey." She hadn't slept well the night before, still stressed about her fight with her parents. She felt terrible that she upset her dad, especially, since he was so hard to make mad. Believe it or not, she didn't set out to deliberately irritate her parents. But in the process of trying to be herself, it just kind of happened.

Ham set a plate of toast on the table, and Bex took a slice and spread some jam on it. "Where's mom?" she asked, tentatively.

"She went to work early. She has to show a house at ten-thirty," her dad explained, sitting down across from her.

"Listen-" they both said in unison, as their eyes met. The laughed, breaking the tension in the room.

"You go first, dad," Bex said.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," he told her, reaching out to pat her hand. "I didn't mean to get so angry with you. I just want you to take your education seriously. You're a smart girl, Bex. There's so much you can do if you apply yourself. I don't want you to waste your potential."

"I'm sorry too," she told him. "And not just because I got caught."

He smiled, friendly crinkles forming around his blue eyes. "So, are we still pals?"

"Of course," Bex nodded.

"You're still grounded though," he reminded her. "You know that, right?"

"I know," she said, rolling her eyes teasingly.

"I love you, kid," he told her, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Even when you drive me crazy."

"I love you too, dad," she replied, relieved that their fight was apparently over, even if she did still have Celia to deal with. Her dad never stayed mad long.

"Hurry up and finish your breakfast," he said. "I'll give you a ride to school."

****

Bowie was waiting for Bex at his locker as always. She rushed to meet him, wrapping her arms around his neck. And happily, she noticed he was still wearing the necklace she gave him. "Hey," she smiled.

"Hey." He kissed her softly, caressing her back with his big hands. "So, what happened after you got home yesterday? Did you get away with it?"

Bex sighed, recalling her fight with her parents. "I got caught. The stupid school called my mom's cell. Grounded for two weeks."

Bowie groaned, his eyes clouding with something like regret. "Bex, I'm so sorry. I never meant for that to happen."

"It's fine," she shrugged. "If I hadn't skipped school, I would have done something else to get grounded, anyway."

"You sure you're not mad?" he asked skeptically, searching her face.

"No way," she smiled, reaching out to squeeze his arm. "Yesterday was so much fun. I loved every minute of it."

Bowie's face softened. "So did I."

"How about you?" she asked. "Did you get away with it?"

"Yeah," he shrugged. "My parents don't have cell phones, and even if they did, they get that sometimes you need to take a mental health day."

"What kind of world do you live in?" Bex asked, half-jokingly. Her mother would suggest Bex take a "mental health day" from school when hell became an ice rink. She was only allowed to miss school when she was sick enough to warrant a doctor's visit.