I am so sorry for not updating. School has been crazy. Please forgive me?! I will update more often I will be on spring break soon!

I woke up early to my dad cleaning up the kitchen. "Hey kiddo", he says, as I walk in a daze to the fridge and grab an energy drink. "Are you and Jared going to the book store", he questions.

"Yah, we are trying to get that order unpacked and on the shelf before mom gets back", I say.

"Well do not work too hard. You are on break from school and your grandmother has been asking about you", my dad says while pouring out beer from the bottles so he can throw it away.

I know my grandmother wants me to come and stay with her and my grandfather. All of my dad's family lives about an hour and a half south of Chicago. It is the middle of nowhere as far as I am concerned. I spend every summer there. I have so many cousins from my dad's brothers and sisters. I spend every summer hanging out with them, I have my own room at my grandparents. It would be nice to see everyone. My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on the door.

Jared lets himself in but doesn't move from the welcome mat, his boots are covered in slush and snow. I give my dad a hug, grab my boots and jacket, then leave. Jared and I walk hand in hand to the bookstore. We go around to the back entrance where the office and small break room are. We start shedding our winter attire placing our boots by the heater and hanging up our jackets and scarfs. I am on edge for some reason. I feel like something bad is going to happen. I always let my anxieties freak me out. I take a calming breath.

"What's wrong", Jared ask.

I give a weak smile. "I do not know. I just feel off. I am glad we are working today I need something to keep me busy until my mom comes home."

Jared walks over to me and wraps his arms around my waist. "I could take your mind off things for a little while," he whispers in my ear.

I smile at him. Then I lean in to kiss him. Before I know it we are on the small loveseat in the break room. I am trying to lift off Jared's shirt but he has somehow wrapped it around his head with one arm in and one arm out. I let out a giggle. Just then I hear a knock on the front door of the store. I look at Jared. If it were my dad he would have used the back door with his key and then killed Jared and possibly me if he caught us. I reach for my shirt and quickly put it on. As Jared fumbles with his shirt and pants; I make my way to the front door. I am thinking it is probably some college kid looking for A.) A job or B.) a book. The front doors are completely frozen over because of the subzero temperatures that come with Chicago's winters. If they would not have been frozen maybe I would have never opened the doors. I might have just slipped behind a book shelf and waited for him to leave. But, I didn't.

I unlock the door and yank it open. I see the same man from yesterday staring at me. I realize my hair is probably a mess, my shirt is probably uneven and I am barefooted. I try to say something but he walks right past me into the store. He stands where he did yesterday in front of the counter facing me. I close the door and stare at him. I see Jared walking up the hallway. Great. I am trying to think of something to say but all I can think of is, "We are not open."

Jared reaches us and is just as surprised as I am. "Can we help you?" Jared walks over to me and now both of us are staring at him.

The man whose names I cannot remember. Was it Chris, Smith or Keith? Whatever his name is looking pretty mad. Or sad? Disappointed? I cannot understand any of his emotions.

Finally he speaks, "I need to speak to Phoebe….alone."

I go rigid this guy is freaking me out, I grab onto Jared's forearm letting him know I am not okay with that. Jared in return stands up straighter and appears to be trying to make himself look bigger and tougher. "I don't think you and Phoebe have much to talk about, you wanted to talk to her mom but she is not here, I know her dad is at home, we could call him?" Jared is trying to be assertive, I think.

"Her father?" he almost laughs the words. "No kid I do not think that you understand. I don't think her "father" would be happy with what I interrupted, and I believe that we have a lot to talk about."

I am mad now. How dare he talk to me…to us…like we are children or criminals. I do not even know this guy. I feel the heat rising to my face. I scream, "Get out! Seriously get the fuck out!" I make my way behind the counter and grab the baseball bat my mom keeps back there just in case of an emergency. Jared has lost his tough guy demeanor and looks terrified that I might be considering assault and battery. I am not a "hood rat" but I grew up in Chicago and I know how to act like a degenerate when the occasion calls for it. Just as I dislodge the bat the door opens. Two more men walk in one of them I recognize, the butler, and another man who seems much older than all of us. They looked shocked when they see the bat in my hand and the man with the gray eyes in the defensive position. Jared looks like he might throw up or throw a punch I am not sure yet.

"Christian what is going on," the older man speaks gently, " I told you to wait, not to come here."

I am still clasping the bat, now it is three against two.

"Dad I just wanted to talk to her, but she and this kid were doing God only knows what, and I might have lost my temper," he says through clenched teeth.

The older man turns to me, "Phoebe my name is Carrick, I am Christian's father. I hoped we could talk to you when your mother came home but since my son has a hard time waiting I guess I must ask your permission to speak to you now."

"Listen," I say, "I do not know what your son or you want from me but, I have no interest talking to either of you."

Christian seems to be getting angrier by the second. The more I defy his wishes and turn down his requests the more his eyes turn from light shades of grey to dark aggressive shades of grey. He finally speaks. "Really? Well maybe you would like to know who your father is," he raises his hand gesturing to himself, "maybe who your grandfather is," he gestures to Carrick. "Perhaps I would like to know why you are so prone to violence and outbursts."

I stare at them. My father? I slowly lower the bat until it hits the floor. Jared has moved to the other side of the counter where the hallway that leads to the back room is located. I am shocked. So many emotions are running through me. Carrick looks disappointed and seems to be waiting for something to happen. I look at Jared, he has his phone in his hand. I know we are thinking the same thing, call my dad. I nod slightly knowing he will understand and he disappears into the back room.

"I don't know what you are talking about," is all I can think to say.

"You recognized me yesterday, I know you did," Christian says.

I stare at him and my lips move, "the picture."

"What picture," he questions.

"My mom has a picture of you in a box," I ramble.

"I am not lying Phoebe," he says his voice becomes soft. " I am your father, your mother left before you were born, I did not know you existed until a few months ago. I am here now because legally you are mine."

"Legally?" I look at him.

"I just wish to know you, Phoebe. I have a family too. People who care about you and want to know you too," Christian gives a weak smile.

Carrick looks touched by his son's words. The butler looks angry and focused. I feel sick. Then I hear the back door open and my father asks Jared where I am. My dad rushes up front and stops dead in his tracks when he sees the men. He walks straight over to me and ask me if I am okay. I nod, shakily, I can feel the tears threating to pour if I let my guard down for one second.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" my dad screams.

Christian looks furious. His hands have become fist at his sides. "I was talking to MY daughter," he bellows.

"Your daughter? YOUR DAUGHTER? She is not yours!" my dad yells.

The butler places himself in between my dad and Christian. My dad has jumped over the counter and seems to be getting ready to fight. I figure now that the butler must be Christian's bodyguard.

"Oh really? Where did she get her hair color? Her eyes? From her mother? I used to know her mother quite well and these are not her traits," Christian spats at my dad.

I feel like my dad is about to lose it. So I do the only thing I can think of, I let out a big sob. The tears are coming down now. My dad breaks concentration on Christian and comes over to me. He is holding my face telling me to call down. All I can say is I want to go home. I feel the panic starting to consume me. This is not happening. This is NOT happening!

"Dad please, please take me home, I want to go home, I want mom," I cry into his chest.

Carrick speaks up. "When Ana gets home," he looks at my dad, " we will speak again, I have already filed suit for paternity after that I hope Ana and yourself are willing to speak more openly about Phoebe and the future."

My dad lets go of me. He walks over to Carrick and takes the business card he is holding out. Christian takes the opportunity to lean over the counter and speak to me. "You still have my card?" he asks. "Yes," I whisper. "Good, call me anytime, if you need anything, or if you want answers, I will talk and tell you anything." With that they leave.

My dad walks over to me and touches my shoulder. I push him away. "Is it true?" I want him to say no. I want him to tell me I have been punk'd or it is early April Fools. He just looks away holding back tears. "Whatever he says Phoebe doesn't make you any less of my daughter. I love you so much, your mother and I were just doing what we thought was right. You do not know what type of man he is."

"Don't you think that should have been my choice?" I question.

"Phoebe you do not understand," Jake says.

"I understand that my life up until this point has been a lie! I do not even know who I am!," I yell.

I cannot take this. I walk into the backroom. Quickly, I put on my jacket and boots and walk out. Jared is waiting outside and he follows me as I start to walk in the opposite direction of my house. I need to clear my head or wake up from this nightmare.

Ana's POV

I have packed all of my things. Tomorrow I will be leaving and I am grateful and sad. I miss my family too much to stay any longer. I will be meeting some people for dinner in about an hour so I decide to read on the balcony until then. I hear my phone ringing so I put down my book and rush to grab it.

"Hello," I say.

"Ana," Jake says my name with relief and despair in his voice.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Ana…. He…. Christian has come to Chicago, he told Phoebe." He lets out in a choked voice.

My heart starts to race. What? How? Told Phoebe?

"Told her what," I question in a small voice.

"Everything." Jake whispers.