Thrust Into His Arms

GWENETH

It’s Friday, 6pm. I’m in my room lying in bed with Archangel by MEKJO blasting into my ear drums. I have no intention of going to Wolfe’s party.

Wolfe and Sloane had been on my back about it at school today. I told them that I would try to make it. But I won’t be going.

That would mean I have not learned lessons enough. If I had not gone to that sleepover at Courtney’s house those nude photos would not have existed. Calix would not have had something to threaten me with.

It would have all gone differently.

I do the breathing exercise that is said to clear one’s mind as I want to stop thinking about that. I hear Dad’s voice shouting to call my attention through the insane loudness of my earphones. Seeing him at the door I take it off.

Before I could laugh at the sight of him in the apron and kitchen gloves powdered with flour, he informs.

"Your friends are here. They’re outside asking for you." I got confused at first. "Who?" The word "friends" almost had me hyperventilating. Who would be asking for me? It clicks just then.

"Sloane and Wolfe? My new schoolmates?" I add, as Dad does not get those names I spoke off.

"Yes." He confirms. "They said you all planned a study session. It’s that party right? I played along with their lies." He laughs lightly.

"You can go. Get dressed."

"I’m not going. Did you tell them I’m home?"

"Yes, because you are."

"You shouldn’t have!" I scold in a whisper as though they were within ear shot. "I told you that I am not going!"

"Go tell them that I’m really sick. Make something up; a flu. A bad headache. Fainting. . ." I named options. "Pick one of those and tell it to them!"

"Why are you scared? They seem like nice kids."

"Lucifer was once an angel. Now go, hurry!"

"Do they pick on you?"

"No."

"Then would you not want to go? A party is fun."

"DAD!" I growl.

"Okay okay, I will. But you need to tell me why." He goes.

Soon I hear a car passing. I peer through the glass of my window and see Wolfe’s car. I see Sloane in the front sit. Dressed in her usual scary fashion.

Could she be related to the Adams family? I thought, watching the car leave. Dad comes back to ask me why. Having a detective as a Dad sucks because they always try to dissect and analyze every little detail. Turning everything into a case to solve.

Fortunately mom is not yet back from work. She would have strongly pushed for me to go with them. She has become more a teenager these days. Wanting to vicariously relive her teenage years through me as she did not have the liberty of enjoying it.

"You should be excited about partying with your friends as you have never gone before. Why didn’t you want to go? Did they do something?"

"No. Not them."

A crease appears on his forehead. "Your previous school." That was not a question but a stated fact.

I sombrely nod to answer before speaking to elaborate. "It was not a party. It was a. . . A sleepover.

They also came here that day. They met mom, who surprisingly did not object to it. I knew I shouldn’t have gone.

I got drunk. Someone there took my nudes and sent it to that guy. And he wasted no time in blackmailing me with it." I explain with a mournful sigh.

"They’re nice but, I just don’t want to go."

"I am sorry." He says,

"For what?"

"There is so much that we did not know. I’m sorry that for only being able to provide you with this average life. If I were well to do you would not have to push yourself for a scholarship and endure so much." He adds pensively.

"Dad. . . Don’t say that. You are giving me all I could ever need. I would be fatherless if it wasn’t for you.

I don’t know what I would have done without you. If I only had mom I would’ve. . ." I can’t bring myself to finish the sentence. Mom cannot listen. She cannot smooth things over. She only adds her single-minded opinions and makes things worse.

I learned to read mom’s mood and expressions before the alphabets. But Anthony, I don’t have to overthink or practice. He always listens and advises me.

Mom only started to change a little for the better when she sees that I was starting to like and love Anthony Calloway more than her. I will always do. Nothing can change that.

She tried, but she could not be him. Because she is someone who sees things as they are even though they are truly not that way. She criticizes rather than listens.

She thinks only her views matter. Giving the vibe of, "Your life is not half as hard as mine was." Meaning that I have no right to complain or anything.

I understand the people who might not like her because I’m one of them sometimes.

Calix was not the first person that made me regret being born and existing. Mom was. I had my first thoughts of suicide as a kid. As she always snapped at me for every little thing. Saying I looked so much like my father. Even now I do not know who is or his name. It’s not like I want to.

Someone else stepped in and filled all the spaces. I got very fortunate with him. His family were against him marrying mom because of me. A single mother wasn’t suitable for him. But he did not mind it.

I did not allow myself to get attached, thinking that he would also leave us like the others that came before.

But he proved me wrong. Now I would not change him even for my real Dad.

"I love you more than mom. You’re the best. You would always be the best dad in the world to me."

He smiles. "Yeah you too.

I really want you to bounce back to who you were and forget everything that has ever happened.

In the meantime, come check on the dough. I think I may have messed it up." The guilty look he now has on tells that it must be really bad.

"That is why I told you to leave it to me in the first place Dad!"