In my room, I was getting a headache and was still nauseous, so I decided to go out back to get some air. Outside, I was on a tree branch when Sharon came out.

"I never seen you up there," said Sharon.

"I figured I'd be alone for a bit," I said. "It's not fair that I'm treated like a small child for no reason. What did I do?"

"Nothing, your father has no right to do so," said Sharon. "You can come down to be with me."

That's what I did.

"I know Mom wouldn't let him being the new person," I said.

"I agree that she wouldn't," said Sharon. "Dawn didn't know a thing about it."

"Oh, I must have been too embarrassed to tell anyone except for my teacher. My friends currently didn't like the way Dad treated me a long time ago not even Kristy," I said.

"They do care about you," said Sharon.

"I know. Thank god I get As, so I'm not worried about being punished," I said.

"That's true," agreed my stepmom.

"Living with a person who changed can destroy a relationship," I said. "I might be in Iowa before the hurricane hits because the National Tour has been postponed if Dad still acts up by then because I don't want to be stuck with him."

"I don't blame you at all," said Sharon.

Inside, I went toward to my room when Dad stopped me and said, "Where have you been? You were supposed to help the others with the kitchen."

That didn't stop me to go around him and continue to go up to my bedroom.

"She has an issue," said Dad.

"It's not her, Richard, it's you," said Sharon. "You're going to end up ruining the relationship with your daughter and it would be your fault, not hers."

"My fault?" asked Dad who was shocked about being blamed.

"Yes," replied my stepmom. "It's not fair for her to be treated like a four-year-old."

The next day, I was glad to be at school and I didn't want to tell my friends, so I acted normal to hide my emtional feelings. Dawn was acting strange, but I didn't care. My other friends didn't know what's going on. But Dawn and I aren't fighting at all. So, why is she ignoring me? I don't get it. I didn't let that bother me. Was it because Dawn didn't know about my new dad like Sharon said? It's not my fault if I was too embarrassed to mention it. And, Dawn is going to blame it on me? I don't think so.

At least Carlos and Meredith don't ignore me, that's all I care about. They rather let me tell my friends on my own when I'm ready.

After school, Cokie came by and said, "Bet you'd be too shy to speak up to our own dad."

"Be quiet," I said.

"Who says?" asked Cokie.

"Me, that's who," I replied as I walked away.

That should stop Cokie and how did she know about Dad to begin with? I bet she knew from Dawn or something. Cokie should mind her business anyway. Cam was still sick and there would be no studios. Drats and Dad's off from work, but I didn't want to go back home, so I decided to be with Logan. Besides, I had to baby-sit his siblings for the afternoon until around five pm. I was relieved about that. That was way better than being at home with Dad between you and me.

Later, after the Brunos came back home, I went to the club meeting, but I didn't tell anyone about my strict dad. So, I managed to keep that off of my mind for awhile so I won't make a scheduling mistake. After that, I went back home. At home, I was in my room doing homework.

"You're in trouble. You never came home," said Dawn.

"Did you forget I had to baby-sit?" I asked. "I'm 14 and don't need to tell a grown-up I had to baby-sit when they know it already."

I got up to do my homework somewhere else. After that was done, it was dinner time, but I sat with Sharon away from Dad.

"Since when you switched spots?" asked Dad.

"Because she wants to," replied Sharon.

After I had my meal, I asked Sharon if I could leave the table and got up to clear my spot. Then, I went up to my room. I'll stay there until it's time to help the others in the kitchen.

After I helped them out, I was back in my room. I'm a chicken not to tell my friends about my strict father because I am too shy. Maybe Meredith or Carlos would know what to do even though I should go to Dawn.

I went to her and said, "I didn't get why you ignored me at lunch. Was it because I didn't tell you about Dad?"

"What did you think?" asked Dawn.

"I was just too mortified to mention it to anyone, that's why you didn't know about it," I said. "But you and I didn't fight at all, so I was confused."

"We can't help you if you don't tell us," said Dawn.

"Maybe I'll wait tomorrow after school in case Cokie passes it on to D-a-d and I'd be in hot soup. In fact, she thinks I was too shy to speak up to him. That's how I am, but I didn't let it bother me," I said. "I'm just too embarrassed to mention it to anybody. I trusted your mother. That's why she was the first person to know and I don't know why he's like that now because I did nothing wrong to him."

I think I know I can mention this to as well: my therapist, Dr. Reece. Maybe she can help me out. She's the first one who came to my mind. I'll call her tomorrow.