Unavailable {S.S}

22

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"Dani, the guys and I are going out for a bit", I hear Sebastian say from the living room. I set down my phone and walk into the living room, to see Sebastian, Anthony and Chris standing at the front door. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere", Chris drags on as he shares a look between Anthony and Sebastian. I squint my eyes suspiciously but shrug it off as I see Sebastian's smile. "Just be careful please, and text me just to let me know how long you'll be", i smile as I kiss Sebastian.

"Seb?", Anthony asks him. Sebastian turns around to look at his best friend and flinches when Anthony smacks him across the head, "What was that for?!"

"For being a complete idiot and not dating Dani sooner! She's the best", Anthony exclaims as he walks out the door. I laugh as Chris walks out the door too, followed by Sebastian who was still rubbing his head, "I'll see you soon, okay? Call me if anything's wrong. I love you", Seb says as he kisses me. I push him out the door and wave the boys off as I close the door, locking it.

I had the entire house to myself, yet I didn't know what to do. I had never been to Los Angeles or anywhere out of New York so I couldn't go out. I didn't know my way around and I was afraid I'd get lost. I sat down on the couch to contemplate what I was going to do when suddenly my phone rings. I walk back into the kitchen to grab my phone, answering it without looking at the caller ID.

My initial thought was that Sebastian or one of the guys was calling me, but it was neither of them, "Hello?"

"Yes, hi, is this Daniella Valentine?", I grimace at the sound of my last name as I make a mental note to change it, not wanting to be associated with that family anymore. I clear my throat, "Yes, this is she. May I ask who is speaking?"

"Um, this is detective Mark Decker, from the police station. You came a while back", he says as he clears his throat. I pull the phone away from my ear as I gasp. I hadn't heard from him in months; since the day I showed him that picture. "I know I'm probably the last person you want to talk to right now, after our last encounter, but I was hoping we could meet up. I have some things I'd like to discuss"

I sigh as I walk into the living room, sitting down at the edge of the couch, "I'm afraid I can't do that"

"Oh"

"Listen, I'm out of town and I don't know for how long. Is there any way we can discuss this over the phone?", I ask him as I wait for a reply. I didn't know why he was calling me when he made it very clear that he wasn't my father. After that I gave up on finding my real father, what was the point anyways? What if I found my real dad and he didn't want anything to do with me? It would hurt less if I just stopped looking for him.

"It's not really something I'd like to discuss over the phone but I guess so. I'm working on a case right now but can I call you back later on tonight?", he says as I throw myself back down onto the couch, "Yeah, sure", I say quietly.

"Good, thank you"

"Bye"

I hang up the phone and look around as I bite my lip. What did he want from me? He made it very clear to me that he wasn't my father and that he couldn't help me, why come crawling back? I sigh as I stand up, walking upstairs and into my room to take a shower.

Once I finish taking a shower I put on a pair of pyjamas, not really in the mood to wear my actual day clothes. I walk back downstairs and grab a blanket off the back of the couch as drape it over my body as I lay on my back, my head propped up on the pillow. Since I had nothing to do I might as well sleep until Mark calls me back. I close my eyes and cuddle into the blanket helplessly trying to calm my mind that was racing with thoughts.

***

I woke up startled at the sound of my phone ringing as I try and find it. My eyes were still adjusting to the light as I finally grasp what I presumed to be my phone. I pick it up as my heart pounds against my chest, "Hello?"

"Yes, Daniella?"

"This is she", I say tiredly as I yank the blanket off my body. "It's Mark, is this a good time?", I hear his voice say on the other end of the line. I lean my head on one of my hands as I shut my eyes tightly, "Yes, so what can I do for you?"

"First off, I want to apologize for the way I acted the day you came to the station. I was rude and it was highly unprofessional of me. You seem like a sweet kid and you didn't deserve that, so I'm sorry", I hear him sigh. I shake my head as I lean against the couch, "It's fine"

"What I wanted to say was, and believe me I'd much rather say this in person than over the phone, but, I think I might be your father. I had some time to think about what you said and although I denied it, I went home that night unable to sleep, and it got me thinking. You left the picture in the interrogation room and I brought it home with me, and I found more pictures of your mother and I. And so I got to thinking of the time I spent with her and things started to add up. The picture of me in the hospital with your mother was when we had already broken up, and we had remained good friends. She had met someone else and I assumed that the baby was obviously his and not mine, but now that you've said your father isn't really yours, I feel like there might be a slight chance that I could be your real father", he says as I hold my breath, "Could you just give me a minute?", I sigh

"Of course, take all the time you need"

I put the phone down and mute the sound as I place my hands on my face. Could he actually be my father? I sit there for a few more seconds, allowing Marks words to settle in my mind and truly sink in. I shakily pick up my phone again and unmute the sound, "So what do we do now?"

"Well for starters I'd like to see you again", he laughs slightly. I nod my head, "But I can't go back home, Mark. It's too much right now"

"Then I'll come to you", he says without hesitation. My eyes widen at his response as I scratch my head, "You'd really do that for me?! You hardly know me". "If there's even a slight chance that you could be my daughter, I'd go all over the world for you. Listen, we can talk more in person because it doesn't feel right to do all of this over the phone, I'll send you some dates that I'm available to come wherever you are and you let me know which date works best for you"

"Okay—Okay, thank you, Mark"

"You're welcome, have a nice night", and with that the line goes silent. I place my phone in front of me as I place my head in my hands. This was all happening so fast, it was overwhelming, but I was somewhat hoping that this man would be my real father, because if he wasn't, I had no clue who was.

My head shoots up at the sound of the door opening, loud, laughing voices entering the living room. Chris, Seb, and Anthony had finally come back home, but the moment they saw my face their smiles faltered and so did their laughter, "Hey, what's wrong?", Sebastian says as he walks over to me, worry evident in his eyes.

"I think I found my real dad"