"Sit," he said sternly. I choose the seat across from him at the small dining room table. I looked right into his eyes.
"What is going on with you?" he asked.
"Dad," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "I really don't think that you want to know."
I looked over at him with tears pooling in my eyes.
"Thea, you can tell me anything," he said.
"Dad, I really don't think that you want to know this," I said through tears.
"Are you at least talking to somebody other than Adam about what is going on with you?" he asked.
"Yes, and none of them believe me," I said, "Except the school nurse, Sharon. She believes me."
"Believes you about what, Thea," he asked desperately, "Please tell me what is going on."
"Are you sure you want to know?" I asked with the first tear falling.
"Yes," he said defiantly, "I want to know what is going on with you. You have been acting different."
"Alright, but can you promise me not to judge me or interrupt the story?" I asked.
"Of course, Thea, you are my daughter," he said.
"The day we moved here I met Greyson. He took a particular interest in me, I finally found out why, but that is coming later. He harassed me at school and it wasn't too bad until science class on the first day of school," I took a deep breath, "He threatened me. He told held me by my arm and told me he would get me alone someday," I said, I couldn't look at my father, I was so embarrassed, "This was after I went to the poetry reading instead of his basketball game. He didn't bother me too much until after the basketball team won the championship back in March. He just made rude remarks at me, but he didn't do anything. Adam, had been protecting me from him, and normally it works. When I am with Adam, Greyson doesn't come by. Last Friday is when things started to get rough. I was waiting for Adam outside of one of our classes, and um…" I took a deep breath as the tears had started to come through now, "Greyson forced me to walk with him. He asked me to prom, but I said no because I am going with Adam. He got mad, and um… pushed me on the floor." I had to stop for a minute. My dad handed me a handkerchief, which I used to dry my eyes a little bit. I had cried so much over the past few days, I just wanted it to stop.
"He pushed me on the floor and climbed on top of me," I choked out, "I tried to get away, but he, um… pulled me back toward him. I couldn't get away from him, but Adam pulled him off me. Mr. Henry, my English teacher, found us all in the hallway and took us to Principal Masters office. We each gave our version of what had happened," I wiped my eyes again, I was now just staring at the piece of white fabric in my hand, "I was reluctant at first to tell him, but I did. He said that I was probably just making it up. It was only an accident, and that Greyson didn't mean it."
I took another deep breath before I continued, "Adam wasn't sick, he got suspended because he fought Greyson on the bus for saying some inappropriate things about me on the bus. As you could probably see from the state of Greyson's face, and it looks a lot better from Monday. Well, today at school, Adam wasn't there, he was suspended for three days. Greyson grabbed me as I was walking to my French class," I said, feeling the tears of embarrassment and shame rising now.
"He tossed me down a small hallway, where the bathrooms are locked, so no one would see us back there. He asked me why I let Adam get between us. Which is absurd because there is no relationship between us. But when I answered him saying that there is nothing between Greyson and myself, he pushed me against the wall," I flipped over the handkerchief in my hand, "I screamed for help, but he only pushed me harder. He made it impossible for me to move. He tried to kiss me, but Mr. Smith, my science teacher, found us," I sobbed.
"I talked to the school nurse, Sharon, and she took me back to Principal Masters office. Unfortunately, Greyson had gotten there before us. Principal Masters still doesn't believe me. He offered to change my schedule, but I said no. I like my classes, and Adam is in every one of them, so I at least feel protected. But, the school nurse believes me, she is letting me go to the nurse's office whenever I need to talk to anyone. Dad, I am so sorry," I sobbed. I sobbed some more, I felt him wrap his arms around me and I cried into this chest.
"Thea, there is nothing for you to be sorry about," he said, "Thea, you listen to me, you have nothing to be sorry about."
I just kept sobbing into his chest. He just kept stroking my hair telling me that it will be alright. When I finally started to calm down I pulled away from his chest. I could see where my head was, my tears had ruined his dress shirt.
"Thea, why didn't you tell me as soon as it started happening?" he asked gently.
"I was embarrassed," I said shakily, "And, I hoped that it would just go away on its own."
"Why were you embarrassed?" he asked confused, "You had nothing to do with this."
"I can't take care of myself. I need Adam to protect me. I wish that I could take care of myself, but I can't."
"Thea," he said taking my hands in his, "Look at me,"
I looked over at him, he had moved his chair closer to me, I am assuming when I started sobbing.
"Thea, you are the strongest person I know. I cannot imagine what you are going through right now, but you are still here. You are strong, and you will get through this."
"Thanks, dad," I said, throwing my arms around his neck, "I love you."
"I love you too, Thea," he said.
I broke away from him after a few moments.
"Don't worry, Greyson is never allowed back in this house. I have half a mind to walk up to that school tomorrow and give them a stern talking to!"
"Dad, it isn't going to change anything." I said defeated.
"No, but promise me, you tell me if something else happens," he said sternly.
"I promise," I said. I meant it this time as well. It felt amazing to tell him what was going on, "Well, this was an exhausting evening, I think that I am just going to take a shower and go to bed."
"Did I ever tell you about how I met your mother?" he asked.
"No," I said still staying in my seat.
"We met in high school," he said, rocking me in his arms, "We went to prom together and decided the day after graduation to get married. It wasn't really well thought out, but I was sure I loved her. We tried for a long time to have kids, and about fifteen years after we were married, she was pregnant with you," he said I could hear the smile in his voice.
"What happened next?" I asked curiously.
"Well," he started, "She loved you from the first day. She was always doting on you, but when you were born things changed between us, as it does when you are in charge of another human being. I loved taking care of you, and sometimes, that meant that she didn't get as much attention. She and I started to fight more and more and one morning she left. She couldn't handle the pressure of taking care of another human being. She wanted to be a mother for the glory, but not for the right reasons. We were growing apart before she had you, but…" he said.
"I understand dad," I said, "Thanks for telling me."
"You're welcome," he answered.
"Now, I think it is time to go to bed," I announced getting up from my chair.
I walked toward the front door and saw the rose on the floor. I must have dropped it when I saw Greyson. I bent down and carefully picked it up.
"From Adam?" my father asked.
"Yeah," I said gently touching the petals.
I looked over at him. He had his eyebrow raised.
"Dad, I swear we are still just friends. He was just being nice," I said.
"Why did he come here this evening?" he asked.
"I don't actually know," I said, thinking back to our conversation.
My dad just smiled at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said and walked back to the dining room to do some more work.
I pulled out a taller cup that we had and filled it with water and put the rose on the dining room table.
"Good night, dad," I said.
"Good night, Thea, thanks for telling me," he said.
I just nodded at him and headed upstairs. I took a quick shower and got ready for bed. I sunk down into my sheets. I felt better after telling my dad. It was so hard to keep this from him. The next month or so of school would be hard, but with my dad, Sharon and Adam believing me, I knew that I always had someone to go to. I also thought of my mother, who she loved us, but it was better for her to not be here. I still missed her, but now I understood more. I drifted off to sleep rather quickly.