Behind Her Mask

Chapter 2

**Nicole**

"Josie---" Scott starts to explain, but my Da--- John's phone starts to ring. He picks his phone up off of the table. "Mmm, it's Crystal. Sorry, gotta take this." He says then walks out the house.

I watch him as walks away.

Was the man that I thought was my father, for what I thought was my whole life, not really my father?

"Are you okay?" Scott asks and I look down at the table.

"I have no idea, there's just so much on my mind." I answer with a sigh as John walks back into the house.

"Well, that was the wife calling telling me I gotta go home. But we did talk it through, and we want you to stay here. You'll be living with Scott for a while. So...." He says before pulling out his wallet.

"Here is about $5,000 to buy her some more clothes, phone, whatever it is she needs until she's ready to come back, as long as she wants to." He says handing the money to me.

"Your kidding? All this money isn't needed, I can---" I say but he cuts me off.

"I did however, pack you some stuff from home. It's in my car, wanna come help me get it?" He says and I feel slightly confused.

"I--Sure." I say, getting up from the table and walking outside.

We walk to the trunk of the car as it pops open. John grabs the bag and hands it to me, then looks me in the eyes.

I look down.

"I'm sorry." I say, feeling many different emotions at the same time.

He pulls me in and hugs me.

I let him hug me because I figured he needed it. Before he pulls away, he plants a kiss on my forehead.

"Just be good for Scott, kid." He says.

"What should I call you?" I ask honestly. He sighs and looks down the street.

"When you were a baby, you would always call me Skippy." He says, with a hidden laugh behind it. I always laugh at myself. "Uncle Skippy it is then." I say and start to walk away.

"Nicole, please use that money for anything you need. And if you ever need me, I'm a phone call away." He says to me.

I nod my head before walking back into the house.

I close the door behind me and look up to see Scott at the table doing something on his computer. When he sees me, he closes the computer and stands up.

"Ah, Nicole. So, you have three choices since it's only three in the afternoon. One, I can show you to your bedroom incase you want to sleep. Two, you can go back into the room you went into before we ate and do whatever. And three, we can go shopping for whatever you need now. Which sounds the best?" He says and I let the words sink in.

"Are you sure you have the energy to go shopping? I had some friends at home and they are blowing up my phone so I'd like to get a new one." I ask cautiously.

"Yes, of course. You got the money John gave you?" He asks as he grabs his keys.

I grab the money from the bag and put it on the couch.

Shortly after, we are on our way to get me some new stuff.

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We both get out of the car and start walking towards the mall.

"Okay, this is what I'm going to do. We will use the money John gave you for clothes and shoes, everything like that. I will pay for the phone, charger, headphones, and anything else. Okay?" He says.