Lies My Parents Tell Me
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"Mom, I'm home. Six minutes before curfew, aren't you surprised?" I called out as I dropped my bag on the granite kitchen counter and got a Coke from the fridge.
The lack of response from my mom was weird since she is usually in the living room working on a case when I usually get in this late. Grabbing a cup from the cabinet I noticed her briefcase laid abandoned on the living room table. Even weirder. The past few days between my parents have been nothing but awkward to say the least; Mom and dad working together on a case and then Dad finding out about the engagement.
"Mom?" I called out again with a louder and more worried tone. I saw her car in the driveway and there is no sign that she left. I crept along the long hallway to her door and just as I raised my hand to knock on her door she slid out.
"Hi honey. I didn't hear you get in." Examining her blatantly disheveled appearance and the look of guilt written on her face I knew that it was a lie. Being around Dad has paid off more then he knows. The buttons on her shirt were mismatched and her hair looked as though it's been through a wind tunnel. Putting the pieces together my heart sank and anger rose in its place.
"That's a lie," I coldly replied looking at her with disgust.
Her eyes looked down and away, a sign of shame. She didn't even try to deny it. A noise coming from her room broke the awkward silence between us and without another word I pushed her aside and opened the door to reveal my worst nightmare. Dad was half dressed beside the messed up bed when he turned around to face me. His face remained emotionless, but his eyes were sad. He opened his mouth to speak, but I beat him to the punch.
"I hate you. Both of you," I yelled shaking my head and willing my tears to stop from pouring down my face.
The look of pure devastation washed over his face but I didn't care as I did the only think I could think of. I grabbed my purse from the counter and ran out the door. I didn't stop running until I reached my favorite coffee shop, the Metro Café blocks away. I sank into the large sofa chairs and tried to control my hysterics. How can they do this to me? Don't they remember all those nights the spent screaming at each other while I laid in bed and tried to wish myself somewhere else; All the fighting in court over custody of me. How can they sleep together after all of that?
Breathing in and out slowly I finally got a hold on myself. I felt my phone buzzing to see my Dad calling me. I immediately hit the reject button. I didn't want to talk to him and I didn't want to return home tonight to face them together. Glancing at the clock on the wall and seeing that it wasn't too late I dialed the one person I knew who could help me.
"Hey. Can you pick me up? I need a place to stay tonight."
Relief washed over me when they said they would be here in a few minutes. Now all I had to do was wait and hope that my parents didn't try looking for me here first. They would probably start with my friends, but they wouldn't expect who I called. I ordered a small apple cider and watched as the late night traffic lights flashed pass the large glass windows.
"Emily!" I looked up and smiled in relief as my rescuer approached me. I threw my arms around him and started to cry again.
"Thanks Eli," I whispered. He pulled back and looked me dead in the eyes.
"You look like crap," he said with no empathy.
"Well that's how I'm feeling," I said with a humorless laugh.
"Can we get out of here? I'd rather not have my parents find me tonight."
"Sure," he said grinning and looping his arm through mine lead us out of the café to his car. As we started to drive I noticed immediately that we were going in the wrong direction.
"Eli, why are we heading towards my dad's house?" I said angrily. He didn't answer, but instead increased his speed. As we got closer my heart began to beat faster in panic.
"Eli!" I screamed. He flinched but didn't change his direction or say anything.
As he pulled into the drive way and turned off the car I saw my dad waiting a few feet away.
"I can't believe you. Why?" I cried hitting him my tears returning.
"Because you can't run away when you're angry about something, Em. You have to face it no matter how much it sucks," he explained as he unlocked my door and practically shoved me out of the car into my father's waiting arms.
"Appreciate it Loker," my dad said as I shot Eli a glare. He nodded, shut the door, and pulled out of our driveway disappearing quickly into the cool night air. I immediately yanked my arm out of my father's grip and ran inside to my room. I knew locking the door wouldn't stop my dad from coming in so I just slammed the door and dove into the pillows on my bed. Within seconds I heard his soft knocking, but didn't bother to reply. I heard the door open and felt his weight on the edge of my bed.
"Em," he said softly. I felt his hand start to stroke my hair so I purposely turned away. I could almost feel him hurting by my rejection but I still remained silent.
"We didn't mean for it to happen. It just did, love," he explained lamely, but I still couldn't look at him. Instead I pulled my pillow closer to me and cried harder.
"Please Em, talk to me," he begged, his hand now rubbing my back. I didn't pull away this time because it was soothing and he knew it.
"Are you getting back together?" I articulated through the sobbing.
"No love," he answered, honesty ringing in his voice.
"I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it. I thought you guys were getting back together and I couldn't deal with all of the fighting that would happen. Not again," I said softly sitting up on my bed to face him. He moved his one arm up to stroke my hair and with the other pulled me into his side. I snuggled into the crook of his neck and sighed in exhaustion.
"I'm so sorry for putting your through that darling," he mumbled as he kissed my forehead. "I think we should both be getting to bed, been a long night." I nodded and crawled under the covers not caring that I wasn't in pajamas.
"Can I ask you something darling?" he said as he tucked the comforter around me.
"Sure," I said with a slight yawn.
"Why did you call Loker, not Gillian? I thought she was your life guru," he joked.
"I didn't want her to be hurt too," I replied.
"What do you mean love?" Confusion painted his face.
"If I had called her and told her what happened between you and mom she would've been crushed. She really loves you dad," I said gauging his reaction.
"You don't know what you're talking about love. We're just friends. Great friends, but there's a line that we don't cross," he admonished.
"But you're so much happier when you're around her though. Not like when you're with mom. I can see it all over your face and hers," I stated. He looked hopeful for a second then put up his usual mask. He smiled at me and kissed my forehead.
"Goodnight, Em. I love you," he said from the doorway.
"I love you too," I answered back as he quietly shut the door. I turned over on my side and looked at the picture of the three of us at the Christmas party. We looked so happy together. The way a family looks. I smiled at the thought and turned back on my stomach. I knew my dad and Gillian loved each other, but I also knew it would take some more pushing before they would finally admit it to themselves and each other. Sooner, rather than later, I'll make them see it. But I'm gonna need some backup. I grabbed my phone on my nightstand and quickly typed a message.
"Got a mission for you and Torres. Non compliance will result in exposure of those pics from the XMAS party. Yes, THOSE pics. Details will follow in the morning. ;)"
Within thirty seconds Loker responded, "Anything you say, my queen."
I smiled as I put my phone back down and snuggled into my sheets. Dad and Gillian didn't stand a chance now.