Chapter 1
Sometimes it can feel like you have no break from the awful things in life. It's just one terrible mess after another and it slowly starts to get to you. It had been months since everything had happened; since my parents had died, since Steve had adopted me, and since I had finally come to terms with the fact that I had a father who loved me again.
I had a break from those horrible awful things and I thought that life was finally looking up for me. I smiled at the cheesy family photo hung in my locker. What an odd family I had become apart of, but they were my family and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I closed my locker and turned, coming face to face with my best friend. "Hey, Jake!" I grinned.
"What's got you so smiley?" He raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Life just feels great right now!" I shrugged and began to walk to my next class, "I feel like everything is how it's supposed to be and I couldn't be happier!"
"Not everything is how it's supposed to be." Jake mumbled.
I stopped, grabbing his arm to stop him too, "Jake." My tone was quiet and wary, "You know how I feel. I don't want to ruin our friendship."
He rolled his eyes, "We won't ruin our friendship! We're just going to grow into something more from here."
I sighed and began walking again. I wasn't ready to become something more with Jake. I wanted to in the worst way, but I couldn't. I couldn't afford to lose my best friend. "Jake, please, can we just not focus on this right now."
"Sure, whatever. I have to get to class. Later, Jessa." Jake called over his shoulder.
I shook my head and let out a mangled breath. I walked into my drama class and found Lacey already sitting in our corner. She smiled as our eyes met and I took my seat next to her.
"You look like you just went through war." She joked.
"What?"
A small laugh came from her, "Your face has the I'm so devastated, I have lost all my friends in battle look."
I nodded, "Jake."
"Oh, I see! He still won't leave you alone about the whole dating thing?" Lacey asked.
I shook my head just as the bell rang. Our director was gone for the day so that meant we were supposed to just focus on character work for the one act play we were doing. It was a fairytale play about bullies and ogres. It had many iconic fairytale characters like the Little Old Lady who lived in a shoe or Little Bo Peep. I played Jill, a sassy princess.
I was just about to do an improvisation act with Lacey to get into character when a knock sounded at the door. All of our heads turned as in walked my dad. He searched the room until his eyes landed on me and a grin lit up his face.
I walked over, "Dad, what are you doing here?"
"Grab your stuff, we're leaving." Dad's grin never left his face as he turned and walked out the door.
I furrowed my eyebrows, but did as I was told. Lacey gave me a questioning look and I shrugged. I pulled my backpack on and went out the classroom door. "Dad, what's going on?"
"What? I can't surprise you at school and let you leave early for no reason?" He asked, still smiling.
"Well, of course you can, but you've never done it before." I stated.
Dad nodded, "I wanted to spend time with my daughter. We just wrapped up a pretty awful case and I thought it'd be nice to see you other than just for an hour or two."
I tried to not let my smile be too cheesy, but that made me really happy and giddy. "You want to spend time with me?" The question was out before I could stop it.
"Always! Why wouldn't I?" He asked as we stopped by his truck.
I shrugged, "I don't know. You've just been super busy lately and well, you have Catherine back. I thought you'd want to spend your time with her. Don't get me wrong, I'm not upset about that."
"I will spend time with her, later. She's working with Five-O right now so I saw her a lot. I haven't been able to see you quite as often and I wanted to spend time with you. You're my number one priority, Jes."
I couldn't help myself as I threw my arms around him. Dad responded by pulling me closer, tightening the hug like only a father can with his daughter. I pulled back and skipped around to the passenger's side of the truck. "So, Dad, what are we going to do?" I asked excitedly.
"Nothing, do we have to do something?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh! No! I just- I thought that-" I stumbled over my words and Dad began to laugh.
His laugh grew quieter as he said, "I'm kidding! I thought we could go home and do some surfing, maybe a little competition and then watch a movie after dinner?"
I nodded my head excitedly, "You are so on! The water won't be too cold for an old man like yourself? You know because it's the middle of November."
"Hey! Old man? I don't think so! I am barely old! I'll show you!" Dad narrowed his eyes at me and pulled out of the school's parking lot. The ride back to our house was filled with laughter and a little giddiness. I couldn't wait to go surfing with my dad again.
Dad had barely parked the truck before I was bounding into the house and up to my bedroom. I quickly changed into my bathing suit a rash guard. I grabbed a towel and ran down to our shed. I pulled out our two surfboards and waited for my dad.
"Jeez, Jes, slow down! The waves aren't going anywhere!" He laughed as he closed the glass door behind him.
"Right! I know- I just- we haven't gone surfing together in a really long time and I'm excited." I shrugged and put my board under my arm.
We walked towards our beach and he wrapped an arm around my neck, pulling me towards him. I felt him place a comforting kiss on my head and I smiled to myself. "Now are you ready to eat your words?"
I dropped my board in the water and began paddling farther out, "You're on, old man!"
It wasn't long before Dad caught the biggest wave and easily rode it all the way in. I sat on my board as the waves seemed to calm and Dad paddled back towards me. I took it the beautiful sights around me; the palm trees swayed with the early winter air, the air smelled of sweet flowers and salt.
"Pretty sure I win." Dad grinned as he came up next to me.
I splashed him with water, "Whatever! I let you win!"
He rolled his eyes, "Sure!"
I went to stand up on my board and felt my knee throbbing. "Oh." I hissed and dropped back down.
"Jessa, are you okay? What's wrong?" Dad pulled my surfboard closer to his, worry filling his voice.
"I'm fine, I think I just over did it a little." I gave him a reassuring smile.
He nodded, "I think it's time we went in. We've been out here for two hours and you should rest."
"Dad!" I whined, "I'm not sick or an invalid! I just need to put some medicine on my knee and we'll be good to go!"
"Nope! Rest time and then we can eat dinner. Don't forget the movie." Dad gave me a pointed look, daring me to argue with him. I sighed and followed my orders. "Want a ride to shore?"
I grinned and nodded my head. Dad tethered our boards together as I laid flat on mine. He paddled forward until we hit shallow waters. I felt myself being lifted up and suddenly I was on my Dad's back. "You know I can walk." I laughed.
"I know, but when will you ever pass up the opportunity for a piggyback ride?" He questioned.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the smile that played across my lips. Dad carried me until we finally hit dry sand and then he carefully lowered me to the ground. Pain still shot through my knee, but it wasn't quite as bad as before. I found my towel and laid it down directly under the sun. Stretching out across the warm fabric, a yawn escaped me.
"Hey, Jes, I'll be right back." Dad said, jogging away. I sat up on my elbows and watched my dad stop in front of a middle-aged woman. They talked for a few seconds and then Dad looked over at me, worry and confusion filling his face. Something wasn't right. He turned back to the woman and I decided to join the conversation.
I walked over, stopping next to Dad. "Good day, Commander McGarrett. We'll be in touch." The woman nodded and left.
"Who was that?" I asked.
"That was Sara Croft," he paused and took a deep breath, "a social worker."
I could almost feel my heart rising inside of me, wanting to beat right out of my chest. "What- what does- what does she want?" My voice came out strained with emotion.
Dad turned to me and laid his hands on my shoulders, "She says your aunt is in town and she wants to see you."
I felt my heart stop, "I don't have an aunt."
"You thought you didn't have an aunt. Apparently Bill had a sister that he didn't stay in touch with and completely wrote out of his life." He searched my eyes, probably looking for a sign of distress.
"I don't want to see her." I stated firmly.
"I know, I told Sara Croft that. I'm afraid there's not much of a choice for you though."
I pinched the bridge of my nose, "I want that part of my life to stay in the past. Dad, I will not see her."
Dad nodded, "I'll do the best I can to hold them off. I'll call the governor if I have to."
I let out a breath, one that I hadn't realized I was holding. He pulled me into him and I tried to steady my breathing. My biological father was dead and somehow he still managed to make my life horrible.
As promised here is the new story on Jessa Lawrence McGarrett! If you're just coming to read my writing now I highly suggest you jump over to my story, "A Not So Ordinary Life", this one would make a lot more sense if you read the first! For all my ever faithful readers: what do you think? Any thoughts on what might go down next for Jessa? I am not sure if this one will be a Thanksgiving fic or a Christmas one. It will probably go through Christmas just because I won't have a lot of time to write the story before Thanksgiving. Reviews and constructive criticism are always welcome! I hope you've enjoyed chapter one of A Not So Horrible Holiday!
More to come,
Theatrefreak10
