*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you to everyone that reviewed, favorited and followed this story. Thank-you so much!"
SKY's POINT OF VIEW:
It would not be a Saturday in the late month of August turning into September without the opening weekend of college football. It is one of my favorite weekends of the year because I love to join my dad on the sidelines and watch the game up close over the last few years my father has turned me into a Georgia Tech football fanatic. I will cheer for the Yellow Jackets till the day that I die. My dad; the best man in my life, has turned me into a football fanatic period. This is just something we choose to bond over and I love every minute of it. The team is looking pretty good this year. I'm impressed by their performance as we just come back from halftime with a score of 27-3 Georgia Tech in the lead of course. Our players get ready to play defense and Gunner smiles at me before he puts his helmet on as I smile back at him. "Let's focus on the game, Gunner," says my dad. "Get out there and do what you need to do. Keep your eyes off my daughter."
"Yes, Sir," he says before I see a small smile from him through his helmet before he runs out on the field.
"Sky," says my dad, "you better quit looking at that boy. He's too old for you and you have your whole life ahead of you. You don't need to be distracted by some boy. I was young once too and I know it's tough but you can't get distracted."
"All right, Dad," I say barely paying attention to him as my eyes are drawn to Gunner on the field.
"I'm serious, Skylar, your mama had her whole life planned out and then she got pregnant because of me. I wish I had been there but she never told me. I don't want to see the same thing happen to you."
"Dad," I say, "I'm just smiling at him and that's it no one said anything about babies, dating or getting pregnant. Just relax okay?"
"I'm just looking out for you, Angel," he says as he gives me a side hug.
"I know," I say as I hug him back before we go back to watching the game but mostly I keep my eye on Gunner throughout his time on the field as well as his time on the sidelines as my dad yells at the refs if he doesn't agree with a call or yells at the players to get it together even though we are pretty close to winning. Gunner and I make eye contact occasionally throughout the game giving each other a soft smile but it quickly fades when we see my dad glaring at us. I don't think he's ever going to let me grow up.
As expected we win the game and my dad is going wild it's a big win for the first game of the season so I see his excitement. We high-five the players and celebrate while my dad is interviewed before the guys hit the showers. "That was a good game," I say to my dad.
"It was a good game. They worked their asses off and they kicked ass out on that field today but this is just the beginning we have some tough games coming up this season so I don't want to jinx it but I think with our players this year we're bringing home the championship." The coveted championship; something my dad wants more than anything. It seems every year our team plays exceptionally well, we do well in the playoffs and once we get to the big game we never win. Then my dad gets disappointed every year hoping for the big win the following year. I hope this team can get the job done this year. "If the boys play like this all season and post season we will definitely bring the championship home," he says with hope in his voice making me smile. That's what I love about him. He is always hoping for the best.
"That was a good game, Baby," says my mom as she comes to greet my dad with my sister Rainbow dressed in her Georgia Tech cheerleader outfit while Summer and Storm are dressed in a Georgia Tech football jersey.
"Thanks," he says with a smile as he wraps his arm around her shoulders. "What did you think, Rainbow?"
"Good game," she says with a smile as she comes over to me to pick her up. I scoop her up in my arms and smile at her as she smiles at me.
"Did you cheer for them, Rain?" I ask with a smile.
"Yes," she says. "Daddy," she says reaching for my dad.
"Come here," he says with a smile as he takes her from me.
"So which one was Gunner?" asks my mom as she looks at me with a smile.
"The defensive lines man with dark brown hair and the most beautiful blue eyes ever," I say with a smile. "He's kind of thick but he is so cute."
"That's enough of that type of talk," says my dad.
"I want to see him!" says Summer. "I want to see Sky's boyfriend!"
"He's not my boyfriend just someone I have a crush on," I say, "It's nothing."
"It better be nothing," says my dad as Gunner approaches us. I smile immediately as I see him and he smiles at me. "Gunner," says my dad.
"Gunner?" asks Summer as she looks at him. "Are you Sky's boyfriend?" she asks him as I feel my face turn red.
Gunner looks at my dad, then at me and laughs nervously before he says, "No," he says. "I'm not but Coach, can I talk to her?"
"Talk to who?" he asks.
"Sky," he says, "Can I talk to her for a minute or two?"
"I don't think so," says my dad.
"Le," says mom, "let them talk. They're just talking."
"Fine," he says. "Two minutes but don't pull anything funny."
"Leati," says my mom. "They'll be fine. You two go ahead and talk. I'll take care of him."
"Thanks," I say with a smile as Gunner and I walk away from my family to talk. "Hey," I say nervously.
"Hi," he says," with a soft smile as his blue eyes meet my dark brown eyes. "I wanted to talk to you through the whole game. Your dad doesn't like me does he?"
"It's not that he doesn't like you," I say with a soft smile we stop and face each other in the warm Georgia sunshine. "It's just he's really protective of me."
"I understand," he says. "So how old are you again?"
"15 but I'll be 16 in two weeks," I say.
"In two weeks?"
"Yes," I say with a smile.
"Okay," he says.
"How old are you?" I ask.
"17," he says, "I will be 18 in October," he says.
"That's not bad," I say with a smile. "Did you start school a year early too?"
"More like skipped a grade."
"Me too," I say with a smile. "You don't look like you're 17."
He lets out a soft laugh and says, "a lot of people say that but yes I'm only 17."
"That's better for me," I say with a smile.
"Me too," he says, "so I wanted to talk to you because I wanted to know if you would be interested in going on a date with me."
"A date?" I ask with a smile as I feel my heart skip a beat. "I would love to."
"Think your dad will let us?"
"It might take some work but eventually," I say with a smile.
"Awesome, Let me give you my number and then you can text me or call me to let me know what he says and we can set something up."
"Okay," I say with a smile as I pull my cell phone out and put his name in my phone and allow him to type his number in. "Maybe I should give you my number," I say.
"Yeah," he says handing me his phone for me to put my number in.
"It's been two minutes," yells my dad as I let out a small laugh.
"I bet it takes a lot of work," says Gunner with a smile.
"Probably," I say handing his phone back to him as he hands mine back to me. I know who I have to talk to in order to get my dad to say yes. I have to go through my mom first and then hopefully she can talk my dad into letting me go on a date with Gunner. "I should probably get going."
"Yeah," he says with a soft smile. "Will he get upset if I give you a hug?"
"Probably," I say with a smile as I see my dad glaring at us but I wrap my arms around Gunner catching him by surprise as he wraps his arm around me as we share an embrace as butterflies appear in my stomach.
"SKYLAR!" yells my dad.
"I have to go," I say with a smile. "I'll text you."
"I look forward to it," he says as I hurry back over to my dad.
"Sorry," I say.
"What was that?"
"Did you know that he's only 17?"
"Only 17," says my dad. "Yeah, but he's still too old for you."
"Dad," I say looking at him with my brown eyes.
"That may have worked when you were younger but it's not working now." It's going to be a lot harder than I thought.
ROMAN's POINT OF VIEW:
Rachel and I were up the whole night before this talking about how to handle the Briana situation with the kids. The only one old enough to remember her is Sky but we want to make the other kids aware of stranger danger so they know to be careful. I don't trust Briana as far as I can throw her. She's free and it's only a matter of time before she finds us. I want to make sure my kids are safe and don't trust just anyone. Briana is crafty; she has proved it many times, and I don't put anything past her not for one second. For all I know she could have a spy on us already trying to find their way in. I don't know and I'm not going to try to figure out her brain nor the way she thinks. "All right," I say as all the kids are gathered in the living room. "I wanted to go over some stranger danger facts with you."
"Stranger danger?" asks Summer. "What is Stranger Danger?"
"Stranger danger is what we call the talk about not talking to strangers. You know that rule don't you? You don't follow it but you know it right?"
"I talk to everyone," she says, "strangers are our friends that we don't know."
"NOT all strangers I know you like to make friends and I know you like to talk to people, Ms. Social Butterfly but this is serious. When you were a baby your mom and I had some trouble with a certain lady and she went to jail. She has bad intentions for your mom and for me most likely and she is capable of pretty much anything. As long as she was in jail she was okay but now she's out and we have to be careful so things are going to start to change around here," I say.
"Change how?" asks Sky.
"For one there will be no talking to boys by yourself anymore."
"Dad," she says, "that's not fair."
"Roman," says Rachel. "Come on."
"All right," I say. "From now on we will have a security team. Every single one of us will have their own security guard/bodyguard to keep you safe from harm. This will keep people from getting too close to you and keep you safe from any harm heading your way. They will be with you at school, sporting events and they will be with you at home. Anywhere you go they will go."
"Dad," says Summer, "that is so not cool? How am I supposed to have a social life with some guard around ALL the time? I have friends and I'm sure they don't want them around." Summer is sassy. I just let it roll off my back most of the time but lately her attitude has increased and it's starting to get to me.
"Summer, you're only 7 going on 8, you don't have a social life and you know what's not cool?"
"What?" she asks.
"Losing people that you love because no one was there to protect you."
"Dad's right," says Sky, "this lady tried to kill us before. She is the reason Lyric doesn't walk anymore. And she's a total nutcase."
"Pretty much what Sky just said," I say. "She is capable of ANYTHING! This is why I don't want you talking to anyone you don't know or giving any information to anyone about where you live, what your parents' names are and all that stuff. Stranger Danger," I say. "All strangers from here on out are dangerous and there is NO talking to them, SUMMER!" I say looking at her in her blue eyes as she pulls her curly hair up into a messy bun. "Understand?"
"I understand," she says, "Stranger Danger, don't talk to strangers. I get it."
"I'll just Superman punch them," says Storm causing me to smile.
"I know you like to be Superman and Batman but Storm you have to let the guards handle everything. I know you want to protect us but that's what the guards will do."
"Okay, Dad," he says. "But if you need me to Superman punch anyone, I'm your guy."
"Got it," I say with a smile. "And whatever you do don't give out our phone number, your cell phone numbers once again, SUMMER!"
"Okay, Dad," she says, "Why do you single me out?"
"Because you're the one that gives your phone number out to everyone that asks for it. We're not doing that anymore."
"I don't have a phone you took it till I could follow the rules remember?" she asks.
"Right," I say, "and so far it doesn't look like you'll be getting it back any time soon so I guess I don't have to worry. Does anyone have any questions?"
"When is security coming?" asks Sky.
"This afternoon. It's better to start now rather than later."
"And they are going EVERY where with us?"
"EVERYWHERE!" I emphasize.
"Well, last time they failed at their jobs," she says.
"And that's why I hired the best this time and I know they will protect us a lot better."
"Do you have a restraining order out against her?"
"Not yet," I say, "I'm going to find a new attorney and get one done not that it will help because it didn't help last time but I hope that it at least does something."
"Good," she says. "Is it okay that I'm a little scared?"
"That's fine," I say. "I'm scared too and your mom's scared but I know your mama is watching over all of us and we'll be safe but I still want to go the extra lengths to be safe."
"Okay," she says, "has she tried to contact you or anything?"
"Not yet but like I said we're doing everything we need to do before she tries anything."
"But what if she shows up here then what?" she asks.
"Then we handle it the way we need to. I just don't want anyone talking to strangers or giving out private information. That alone will help us out a lot."
"Is she really bad?" asks Summer.
"The devil," says Sky. "She is evil."
"Pretty much," I say. "I just want everyone to be cautious and on high alert. All right?"
"All right," they say together.
"Did I do all right?" I ask Rachel after the meeting is over and I have answered all the questions asked of me.
"You did perfectly fine," she says with a smile as she wraps her arms around my waist. "But I think we have something else we better talk about?"
"What?" I ask with a smile as I look down into her blue eyes wrapping my arms around her. "Are you pregnant again?"
"Never again," she says with a smile. "Four kids are more than enough for me. I think we need to talk to Sky."
"About what?"
"Dating," she says, "did you see the way her and Gunner were talking to each other and looking at each other. It's time, Roman. I know you don't like it but it's time."
"I know," I say taking a deep breath. "I can't go back and make her 7 years old again? Life was so much easier with her back then."
"I think we've had smooth sailing with her so far right now she's just growing up and we did say when she turned 16 she could date. We should sit down with her and discuss our expectations and give her our rules."
"I just don't like it. I hated when she became a woman, I hated when she got breasts and now I really hate this. She's MY little girl! I don't want some football player for her or just anyone. I want someone that is going to love and respect her and those men are hard to find anymore. I'm just not ready for this. I really hate it."
"I know, Baby," she says, "but Sky is a good kid and has always been a good judge of character. I trust her and you should too."
"I do trust her it's the boy I don't trust. She is MY little girl and I will hurt ANYONE that hurts her. I'm just not ready for this," I say as I kiss the top of her head. "And now everything with Briana I can't keep up with both of them."
"I know," she says, "but we can do it."
*A/N: Do Sky and Roman seem to have a close relationship? What do you think of Sky and Gunner? Is Roman ever going to go for that? Did he do a good job warning the kids about stranger danger? What are your thoughts on Summer? How do you think this talk with Roman, Sky and RAchel about dating is going to go? Please review and thank-you for reading.