Half a Heart

01

01: Karey's dance camp for teens

"Amber, come here!"

I set my bowl of frosted flakes down on the table in front of me and get up from my comfortable position on the couch. I walk out of the living room towards my dad.

He's sitting at the counter with his laptop open when I come in. I shift awkwardly on my feet but he doesn't acknowledge my presence. I clear my throat but he still doesn't look up. Instead he shifts some papers around and throws me a brochure.

"You're going, tomorrow"

I wait for a couple seconds to see if he's going to say anything else, but he just ignores me and goes back to his laptop. Seemingly dismissed, I walk out of the kitchen and go back to watching the television and eating my cereal.

Once I get settled in again, though not quite as comfortable as before, I look down at the piece of paper in my hand. Across the front page in yellow letters it reads, Karey's dance camp for teens.

I throw it down without even reading it. It doesn't matter, I don't have a choice anyways. It's another stupid thing my dad's making me go to because he can't stand to see my face around the house. He tries to be civil, but that's just it. He doesn't act like I'm his daughter who he's lived and cared for for years.

He acts like I'm just a stranger. A stranger living in his home with the face of his wife. I got my genes from mom, dark brown hair and light green eyes. With my medium-pale skin I'm basically a carbon copy of her.

Danny and Sarah got our mom's eyes, but inherited everything else from our dad. Blonde hair, naturally tan skin and an athletic build made them automatically raise to the top of the social standings at our school.

My mind automatically wanders back to that day but I cut off the thought immediately. I can't think about it.

I glance down at the brochure for the camp and suddenly get an idea. I pull out my phone and dial my best friend, Haley's number.

"Hey Amber!" she screams through the phone. Music blares in the background, along with the loud chatter of teenagers. No surprise there, she's at a party.

I remember when I used to go to those. Just one month ago, but now I don't see the point.

The background noise gets fainter until I can barely hear it, and Haley can talk without having to scream.

"Hey sorry what's up?" she asks

"My dad decided to ship me off to one of those stupid camps again to get me out of the house. This time it's a dance camp and I was going to see if you could come with me."

We both loved dancing and were on the team at school, so she was the best person to call.

"Oh yeah totally! I'll text you when I get home so you can give me more details okay?" The music starts to get louder again so I assume she wants to get back to the party.

"Sure, alright bye"

She hangs up the phone without saying anything causing me to huff. Typical. She's a great friend, just one who gets distracted rather easily.

Once I finish with my cereal I click off the tv and walk to the kitchen to put it away.

My dad is still sitting there, clicking away on his laptop. Once I enter the room, his back stiffens. He chooses to ignore me until I address him directly.

"So, um, what time do we have to leave tomorrow?"

" Five o'clock " he answers without looking up.