He watched her from farther away then usual, trying to pick up a physical indication that she was in less pain. But that indication never came. It never, ever came.

It was painful to see her.

When he saw her face, that sorrowful, angry, pained face, he felt like he was being hit by a bolt of lightning right in the chest.

At the moment, he sat in his office, his feet on his desk. No one would realize the agony he was in if they stepped in the room.

Agony. What a stupid word for his current situation. He felt like an asshole even saying that he was in pain.

It was Gillian who was in agony. In pain.

But everytime he saw her... his heart felt like it was going to beat right out of his chest.

.:.

"I will, Emily. You know that I will."

"It's taking a long time, dad, and I'm getting worried."

"Chill. I'll figure it out. I'm trying to drive here and you're distracting me."

"Well... I'm doing homework and you're distracting me."

"Liar."

"About which part?"

"The homework... and the distracting, I guess."

"Eyes on the road, dad," she reminded him.

He chuckled and said, "Get your work done."

He was stuck at a stop light for a while and looked around, nodding his head to the music.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know."

When he saw her, he stopped immediately and turned the music off. She was talking to some guy on the street and laughing.

There was a loud honk from behind him and Cal pulled forward.

He pretended to not care that she was standing there, already talking to some guy.

The truth sank in a couple seconds later though.

"Gosh dammit!" he yelled, pounding his fist on the steering wheel.

"What? Dad... what?" Emily asked.

"I screwed every fucking little thing up!" he cried, kicking the ground. "Gosh DAMMIT!"

"Dad! Calm down! What's wrong?"

He felt a tear run down his face and shook his head, pulling the car over to the side of the road. "Dammit. Dammit!"

"Dad! Stop!" she insisted.

"Emily... I'm such a screw-up... I can't do anything right... I... I'm... I don't deserve to even see her! The pain in her eyes! I could still see it... even when she was laughing with him! I ruined everything... It's not even worth it anymore!" he yelled, punching the dashboard.

"Dad... I really think you need to take a breath. Are you still driving?"

"No..." he mumbled, shaking his head. His voice was muffled behind his hands.

"Good... um... where are you? I'll come and get you."

"No... no, don't worry about me..." he said, shaking his head. He dropped his head against the headrest and sighed loudly.

"No... where are you? You can't be out where ever you are alone and distressed... Where are you? Seriously," she asked madly.

"Emily... it doesn't matter... I can take care of this myself."

"No, dad... I want to help you. Tell me where you are."

"Do your homework, Em... gosh dammit..." he mumbled, shaking his head. He dropped his forhead on the steering wheel and moaned. "I'm a fucking idiot. Everytime I see her... God, I'm such an idiot..."

"Dad, it's fine. Calm down."

"No, Emily! It's not fine! I screwed every little thing up!" he yelled.

"Dad!" she yelled back. "Stop yelling or you will get someone calling the cops!"

"I'm hanging up now..." he whispered.

"No! Dad! Don't hang up that phone!"

"Emily, can I ask you a question?"

"Yes, go for it," she said impatiently.

"Does Gillian hate me now? Be completely serious."

"I'd say so, yes..."

"Really?"

"You cheated on her dad."

"Stop reminding me!" he yelled.

"You asked!"

"Holy... shit."

"You screwed up dad, and yelling and beating your car up won't fix things. You need to figure this crap out."

"I know... I know..." he moaned.

"I'm hanging up now," she whispered. "Come home. Like, right now, dad."

"Why'd I have to see her?" Cal asked.

"I'm sorry?"

"Why the hell did she have to show up? I don't understand..."

"I don't know. It was just a coincidence."

"There are no coincidences in life, Emily..."

"That's a lie."

"No! My whole fucking LIFE is a LIE!"

"Dad... you're being a little overly dramatic..." she whispered.

"Gosh dammit, Em..."

"Could you stop? Cussing and being so depressed. Just come home. I'm hanging up. See you in a bit."

He didn't say anything more. He hung up and started the car again.

Everytime I See You by Luke Bryan