Crazy,Awkward,Sweet

We Meet Again Cruella And Fatso

"So Matey your mom told me you and your dance club just finished in state." Dad said in his lame attempt to shed the tension.

"Troupe dad, it's a dance troupe." I corrected him not even sparing dad a glance.

I kept my gaze on the passing scenery. It was all woodsy and isolated here. If I'm lucky I won't be eaten by a grizzly bear...that's a threat here, right? God the Midwest is the worst. I have never heard of anyone moving here,only moving out. That has to mean something.

This whole situation is pretty messed up! If you're wondering why I'm in such a sour mood, I'll give off the following reasons:

1.) My dance troupe just lost state

2.) My mom just got a job in Peru

3.) I have to move and leave all my friends

4.) I have to move with my dad

5.) He has a new family

Dad sighed, clearly exasperated. We've been driving from the airport for an hour now and I've given him nothing but the cold shoulder.

"I'm trying Matey, I really am." Dad said quietly.

I wish I could say I've always had an off relationship with the guy, but I can't. We had the perfect father-daughter relationship. Even after my parents divorced, we never missed a beat. The divorce didn't really tear us apart. If anything it made us closer...for the moment at least.

But then he met Tara, or as I liked to call her, Cruella and her pain in the ass son Reese, or fatso for my liking. Dad started missing weekend visits and would cancel all the time. I could lie and say I had a brave face on. Say that it didn't bother me and that having the weekends to myself was okay.

But I never was all that good at lying.

To make things worse, he proposed to Tara and they married three years ago. And that's where things went south...but that's a story for a later time.

"You stopped trying three years ago." I mumbled to myself.

***

"Home sweet home." Dad announced cheerfully, as we pulled up to his 'adorable' white house.

We both clambered out of his truck. I stood awkwardly by as dad grabbed my luggage and hauled it inside. I lingered behind him taking in the whole scene. It really was different from my place back in Florida. Here, the neighborhood was quiet and the only sound you could hear was the rustling of the wind through the trees. It was very nerve-racking how silent it was.

In Miami, there was never a single moment of silence. I found comfort in the loud talking, strong odor of Cuban food, and music that always filled my Miami. I lived in an apartment near the beach and my neighbors were extended family members. Plus around my neighborhood there was always an abundance of hot guys.

I scrunched my nose in disdain as an elderly couple walked by in matching workout clothes. I guess this place isn't going to have much action for me.

"Matey sweetheart are you coming?" Dad called. I groaned and followed him in.

The house was just as nice inside as it was outside. Everything was clean and polished and looked like something straight out of home magazine. The color scheme was a little tacky for my liking.  I mean who picks lilac as a theme?

"Nice digs daddy-o." I snorted.

"Don't be rude when you see Tara." He warned and before I could retort he did his douche call. "Honey, Reese, come down here!"

Then like in nature specials, the dramatic African music started playing and the dangerous species known as 'step monster' came pounding through the house. Her Marshalls high heels echoing through the house.