Chapter 2

Lucas

"Hello?" I asked picking up my phone

"Lucas, it's me" My mom's voice responded

"Mom, hi is everything ok?" I asked, wary that my mom's voice sounded uneasy

"No, not really I just had a call from Lucy's school. She's in some sort of trouble and they called me in to talk to the principle but I'm on my way from work and stuck in traffic" she explained "I know you're writing dear but is there any way you can get to her school and see what the problem is?".

"Of course mom it's no problem, I'll see you later" I agreed. I wasn't getting much work done anyway. I grabbed my car keys and darted for the door.

As I drove towards Lucy's school I started to think about what sort of trouble Lucy could be in. She has always been a straight A student and there have never been any problems before. As I approached Mr Brown's office I saw him talking to a women that I recognised as Madison Green's mum.

"Hello Mr Scott" he said whilst shaking my hand "I'm sorry I had to call you in but there has been a fight between Lucy and Madison" he explained. "If you would like to make your way into my office" he gestured with his arms.

As I entered his office I saw my daughter sitting in a chair near the large window that occupied a large section of the office wall and opposite her was sitting Madison. Lucy acknowledged my entrance and then averted her eyes to Mr Brown who had begun speaking.

"As you all know this school has a zero tolerance for violent behaviour and I am extremely disappointed that these two students felt the need to resort to physical violence". He said whilst glaring back and forth at Lucy and Madison.

"So what happens now?" I questioned "Will they be suspended?" I asked worriedly

"No, fortunately because it is the first time that either student has acted in this way and both students have impeccable grades. I have decided to let them off with a warning. But this kind of behaviour will not be tolerate in future" He finished "Am I understood?" he asked Lucy and Madison

"Yes sir" They both replied.

"Good, I'm glad to hear it now since it's already half way through last period you can leave with your parents now" Mr Brown said standing from behind his desk and opening his office door. "I'll see you both tomorrow".

"Thank you sir, sorry again I can assure you nothing like this will ever happen again" I said guiding Lucy out the door.

"I'm confident it won't" He replied

I was fuming, a fight? Lucy has always been the perfect child she's never given me or mom any trouble and she's a straight A student. What on earth possessed her to get into a fight at school? It's not like her she doesn't do this sort of stuff I mean this is how I used to act as a teenager, but not Lucy.

We had driven the whole way back to my mom's house in silence. As we walked into my mom's apartment Lucy tried to make a break for her room.

"Hang on a second young lady" I said as Lucy paused in her tracks.

Lucy turned around to face me. She looked into my eyes and I know she could tell I was mad.

"You want to explain to me what you were thinking when you got into a fight today?" I said. Lucy averted her eyes to look at the floor. "Lucy?"

"I wasn't thinking ok" She said

"Dam right you weren't thinking! Do you have any idea how stupid it was, you're a straight A student Lucy and on track to go to a top college a suspension could ruin all of that"

"Well I didn't get suspended did I so what's the big deal" Lucy answered back

"The big deal is that this is not like you, you're better than this" I said looking at her.

"How would you know!" She started to yell "You're never around!"

I stared at her shocked. I had never seen her react like this towards me. I took a step towards her

"That's not fair" I said

"Well it's the truth, you have no idea who I am and you don't care" Lucy snapped

"Of course I care" I said reaching for her hand

She pulled away and took a step back from me

"Whatever" she said, turning away and heading to her room

"Lucy, don't shut me out" I pleaded "Talk to me, what happened today?"

She stopped and turned around to face me

"I don't want to talk about it"

"I'm just trying to help" I said

"Well it's too little too late dad" she said waking into her bedroom and closing the door behind her

I stood in the living room of my mom's apartment at a loss of what to do next. Lucy was right I had no idea how to handle a situation like this and I was naive to think that my daughter would open up to me, hell I had been absent from her life for as long as she can remember. I don't know how to be a good father, I'm trying but somehow everything I do and everything I say is wrong. I made a mistake handing Lucy over to my mom I should have raised her myself, I should have built her a stable home and I should have been the father that she deserves. After Lucy's mom gave birth and then left us I was so confused and heartbroken and overwhelmed. Suddenly overnight I had gone from being a normal teenager to a single parent. The stress was too much for me and I took the easy way out. I gave my beautiful little girl away and I abandoned her and it was the biggest mistake I have ever made. But I have made a promise to myself I am going to by the father to her that I should have been all along.

Karen

I rushed back from work as fast as I could. Lucy had never been in trouble before she was the best granddaughter I could ever ask for. That's why when the principle called me I was shocked to hear that Lucy had been in a fight. I opened the door to my apartment to see Lucas standing in front of me. He looked worried.

"Hey, I'm sorry I took so long. Did you find out what happened?" I asked

"No, she won't talk to me" Lucas said, taking a seat on the couch

I waked over and took a seat next to him.

"I just don't understand Lucy doesn't do stuff like this" I said confused

"I know, I wish she would talk to me" he said clearly upset

I put my arm around him

"I'll go talk to her. Why don't you stay for dinner" I said

"I don't know mom I don't think she wants me around right now" Lucas said

"Well tough you're her dad and whether she likes it or not you're staying for dinner" I said

"Thanks mom"

I nodded and made my way to Lucy's room. As I stood outside her door I could hear her playing her guitar. I twisted the door knob and walked in. Lucy was sitting on her bed.

"Hey girly" I said taking a seat next to her

She stopped playing and put her guitar down

"Hey" she whispered

"So you going to tell me why you were fighting in school today?"

Lucy looked into her lap and ignored my gaze

"Madison was being a bitch" She replied

"Isn't she always?" I asked "What was different about today?"

"She said something" Lucy replied

"You want to be more specific?" I asked lifting her chin and forcing her to meet my gaze

"She said something" Lucy paused looking reluctant to continue. She took a deep breath "She said something about dad"

"What did she say?" I asked

"It's nothing"

I took her hand "Honey, whatever she said you can tell me"

Lucy looked at me and a tear streamed down her face

"She was taking about how dad abandoned me and didn't want me" Lucy said between sobs

"Oh baby" I said stroking her cheek "You know that's not true"

"Isn't it?" she asked

"No of course not your dad loves you, you know that. He has always wanted you and will always want you" I said "He was overwhelmed after your mom left and that's the only reason he hasn't been around as much as he should have but he wants to try Lucy I really believe that". I wiped a tear from her face

"I know he loves me" She said

"Good so don't let anyone tell you otherwise" I said pulling her into a hug. I gave her a quick squeeze and then stood up. "I should go and help your dad with dinner and you should do your homework".

"He's staying for dinner?" She asked surprised

"Yeah, like I said he's trying to be a better dad Lucy. Starting with dinner"

Lucy seemed happy that Lucas was trying to involve himself in her life.

"I'll call you when dinner's ready" I said heading towards the door