Once Was, Never Again

Chapter 4: Kicked Out...

I winced slightly and opened my eyes to find Geoff staring in them, he looks like he's searching them, his arms are still crossed. The silence was killing me.

His eyes widen slightly. "It can't be..." He whispered, he was examining me, then he looked back at my eyes. "It just can't be..." He repeated.

I felt a lump in my throat form, he went silent again. I rubbed my arm and swallowed nervously.

"Has it really been that long?" He was asking himself more than me, but I nodded anyways. "How old are you?" He asked.

"I-I'm gonna be 20 in a few months..."

"Hannah Nicole Ramsey..." He whispered, my eyes began to water, I tried so hard not to cry but a tear slipped and ran down my cheek.

"That's me..." I spoke softly. I looked in his eyes and it looks like they're teary-eyed too. He walked up to me and uncrossed his arms.

He wrapped his arms around me tightly. "My baby girl..." He whispered. "I can't believe it's you..."

"It's me daddy..." I whimpered, crying on his shoulder.

"Don't cry, shhh, it's ok." He rubbed my back gently. "Daddies here." He whispered.

A few minutes went by and I was calmed down, we parted and he wiped his eyes and I wiped mine. "Look how much you've grown!" He smiled, wiping his eyes again. "The last time I saw you, you were 5...What are you doing here? I-"

"I came down to see you... I wanted to meet you..." I sighed, looking down at my hands.

"When did you come down? Where are you staying?" He asked, running his hand through his hair, making it even more messy.

"I'm staying at a hotel, we flew in yesterday." I shuffled my feet slightly.

"We?" Geoff raised an eyebrow.

"Ashlynn and I." I said, "it was a spur of the moment ordeal... situation..."

"I remember her, isn't she like 2-3 years older than you?" He asked and I nodded. "How'd you get the money to come down here?"

"College funds, I never wanted to go to college." I said, smiling.

"I bet your mother is pissed about that. How'd she take it?"

"I didn't give her a choice. I told her I was leaving and she asked about money and I told her my college funds and I didn't want to go and she just looked at me." I shrugged.

"Well, I'd like you to stay with me for a while, if you would. I want to catch up on things that I missed out on." He said, smiling and crossing his arms again.

"I-"

"Even Ashlynn can stay with us, we have the room. After Gavin moved out its like our house is to big for just me and my family... The offers up, let me know when you make your decision." He said, his smile dropped slightly and he sighed. "I gotta get back to work, you're more than welcome to stay..."

I nodded and we walked back in, Geoff wrapped his arm around me and walked into the office. "Do they know?" He asked.

"Only Jack and Ash." I whispered. He nodded and let go of me and went to the middle of the room.

"Listen up assholes!" By then Ash was back in the room. "This girl, right here, is my daughter..." Everyone looked at me, eyes wide. "only Jack knew about this, I was to heart broken to talk about it. So I am telling you guys now. I'm going to tell you guys only once, and I'm talking about you too Gavin." Geoff paused, looking at the man who was spinning in his chair. "To leave MY DAUGHTER... Alone, and I know you know what I mean about that..." He finished.