Chapter One- Father Figure

David Durango wiped the sweat from his forehead. It was a hot day out, the hottest day so far this summer. He knew he really shouldn't be playing baseball, but he had to. The longing in her chestnut- colored eyes hypnotized him. How could he say no?

David looked at her as she picked up her bat a few feet away. She was short for age, but you could definitely tell that she was thirteen. Her long, brown hair fell in waves to her waist. David wondered how she was able to bear the heat of the sun with all her hair. Not a trace of sweat could be seen on her face. Her face showed traces of strength and power. She was tough, and the gray scar that ran from her upper left brow to below her left eye was a symbol of why she was tough.

Angela was abused when she was younger. Her father would beat her until she was knocked unconscious. One day, he beat her so badly that she almost died. Her cries could be heard from across the street. The neighbors called the cops, and her father was arrested. Angela's mother died during childbirth, so she had no where to go. She moved from foster home to foster home until she came upon David's parents. However, when David's parents died a year later in an auto accident, he took her in. It was the right thing to do. He adopted her as his daughter. She needed him, and he needed her.

"Are you okay, Dave?" Angela called from across the yard. "Do you need a break?"

David sighed and trudged up to the patio. He sat down in a chair and breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought that would never end!"

"You're just getting old," Angela said playfully. She dropped the bat in the grass and ran to a seat next to him. "I mean, thirty-one is pretty old."

"Excuse me?" David grinned. "I'm a minor league baseball player! Thirteen isn't exactly young either!"

"It's young enough," she said. "I don't break a sweat when I play baseball for an hour."

David chuckled. "Yes, and when you're thirteen, you have homework. Did you finish yours?"

David wasn't used to playing the "father-figure" role. He was still a kid at heart, and he remembered the whining he did when his mother pushed him to do his homework.

His mother…

It had been three months since she passed away. She died a few hours before his father. The drunk driver that collided with their car died. As mean as it was, David found satisfaction in the fact that the man who brought death to his family was dead himself. It was a form of justice as far as David was concerned. In way, though, the accident brought him happiness. He met his daughter. It had been a while since he opened his heart to someone. The same went for Angela. They were so similar. That was basically why they got along so well.



"Yeah, but…um…I got detention again," Angela spoke softly.

She hung her head. Although it looked as if she was about to cry, David knew better. She hadn't cried since the day her father nearly killed her. "Jaime" is what she called him. Jaime Sanchez is her father's name. She refuses to call him dad, though. David could never blame her. That man was no dad. Dads love their children and protect them from harm. Jaime Sanchez was a man who did the exact opposite. He was drug addict, an alcoholic, and a heartless man. He was in no position to be called "Father."

David sighed. "This is the fourth time this month, Ang. I hope you understand that. You need to control your temper. It continues to get you into trouble. I'm very disappointed." He softened. "What was it this time?"

Angela's face hardened. She seemed to be staring past David, out into the distance. Her mind was in a different world. She didn't speak, but she slowly pointed to her scar. "Gretchen was teasing my scar. Her older brother, Gavin, joined in. Every one followed. I punched Gretchen in the stomach. Gavin came after me and tackled me to the ground. I gave him a bloody nose and a black eye."

"Kids with names like that are in no place to tease other kids." David tried to make Angela smile, but she didn't budge. "Are there any other consequences?"

"Mrs. Reynolds made me apologize," Angela said. "I told her that making me say sorry was punishment enough, but that got her angrier. I have detention for two weeks, and I have to help out with the school fashion show every Saturday, too."

"Well, that's not so bad…"

"Not bad?" Angela exclaimed. "It's torture, if you ask me! I have to help with a fashion show. Me! A tomboy! Besides, I can't go to baseball practice now!" She stood up suddenly, knocking her chair over. She ran toward the back door.

"Where are you going?" David called.

Angela did not reply. She slammed the door behind her and disappeared into the house.

David stood and slowly followed her into the house. He grabbed a snack from the kitchen before going upstairs. He walked slowly and silently down the hall. If Angela heard him coming, she would lock her door. David walked to the third door on his left. He opened it, thankful that it wasn't locked.

Angela lay on her bed, tossing a baseball up and down. A rock song was playing on her radio. Her walls were painted bright orange, and her rug was hot pink, the only shade of pink that she liked. Posters of famous baseball players covered the walls. Her favorite was taped on a wall by itself, surrounded by newspaper and magazine clippings about the player.



The poster was of David Durango himself. The words SAN JOSE GIANTS ran across the poster above him. DAVID DURANGO #23 was written below his picture. In the picture, David was hitting a home run. He remembered that day. It was his sophomore year in the minor leagues. Here he was, a few years later, in talks with the San Francisco Giants.

Yup, baseball was still his love. However, his other love lay upset on her bed.

David closed the door. "I come in peace. I bear gifts." He held up the snack he grabbed, a bag of potato chips. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm not hungry," Angela declared in a hard tone.

David placed them on her nightstand. "Well, I'll just leave them here."

"I said, 'I'm not hungry.'"

David sighed and sat down on the bed. He caught the baseball Angela was tossing. "We need to talk."

Angela sat up and tried to grab the ball back unsuccessfully. "What's to talk about?"

"I know those kids at school are ignorant, and I know that you're hurt, but don't be. They don't understand the pain you endured. You should be proud of your scar. It represents where you've been. And you know what they saw about the past: It's a big part of your future. Think about it." David stood up, tossing Angela the baseball. "I'll call Mrs. Reynolds and talk about your punishment. Maybe I can lessen it."

Angela grinned slightly. "Thanks, David. You rock."

"You too, kid."

David walked out of the room. He began walking down the stairs. He stopped halfway when he heard the sound of the potato chip bag opening. He grinned.

David Durango had the perfect career, the perfect daughter, and the perfect life.

He had it…

A/N- Well, there goes the first chapter of my second fanfic. Hope you guys liked it. I know I'm going to regret writing two fanfics at the same time, but summer's coming and I'll have time. Please review and let me know you're opinions and advise. I NEED REVEIWS!!