Chapter 14: Unfair

That night when I got home from the beach, I hid our extra key under a little ceramic gnome we had. Yes, I had picked it out. He was really cute. Don't judge me, okay? He was the only gnome left, and is absolutely adorable.

Okay?

I went up to my room, and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

When I woke up, I was the teeniest bit confused. What day was it today? Oh…Sunday. Right. Ah I didn't have to work till Johnny called me again. When did he say he was coming back? I thought hard about it, but couldn't concentrate long enough to remember.

I sighed happily, not wanting to get out of bed. It was too warm and comfortable.

"Hey sleepy head," my dad called, knocking on my door. "Are you going to get up anytime today at all?"

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Noon," he said.

Had I really slept that long? "I'll be out in a few minutes."

I dragged myself out of bed, and pulled a sweater on over the tank top I was wearing. I went downstairs to where my dad was waiting at the kitchen table.

"I heard there's a school dance coming up," he said.

"And?"

"Are you going?" he asked.

"Well, since Paul doesn't go to my school, and they probably won't like an outsider at the dance, I think that's a no," I said, crossing my arms.

"You should go with one of the boys here," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "No thanks. I think I'll just spend that day in La Push."

He pursed his lips.

"What?" I asked.

"You're spending an awful lot of time down there," he said. "And I don't like Sam Uley's gang."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "They aren't a gang, Dad!"

"I want you to stay away from them," he said sternly.

Where was this coming from?! "No." I said. "No, dad, I can't do that. I won't."

"Yes, you will," he argued. "You're my daughter, and I don't want you hanging out with the wrong crowd. Stay away from those boys."

"But, Paul hangs out with him," I objected, stating the obvious.

"I'm aware," he said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Dad, please," I begged. "They're helping La Push, they're not a gang. They're not trouble, and they're not violent."

"I've heard stories about them," he said. "They have bad tempers."

"Oh I'll be sure to pack pepper spray next time I go down, just in case one of them gets mad at me." I said angrily.

"Mel, I will ground you," he warned. "Don't give me attitude."

"You know what, dad?" I said. "You're being unreasonable. There are worse things out there than Sam Uley."

"I saw his girlfriend," he said quietly. "She has scars all down her face…"

"That was an accident," I said, gritting my teeth, not wanting to go into that. How could I explain it to him?

"What happened to her?" he asked.

Crap. "There was a wild dog, I think it had rabies or something," I lied. "And it got too close to Emily, and it scratched her; lots."

He didn't look like he bought it.

"You're grounded," he said.

I glared at him. "What did I do?"

"You gave me attitude," he said. "And you were going to try and defy what I said. You're only allowed out for school and work. That's it."

"For how long?" I asked.

"One month."

A month?! An entire month without being able to see Paul? He had to be joking.

"A month?" I sputtered.

"Yes," he said. "I'm not joking."

I stomped up to my room, and threw myself on my bed. One month without Paul. No way. Nope. I wouldn't do it. First, I would go crazy. Hell, I went crazy not seeing him every day. Second, he would go crazy.

I wasn't going to not see Paul for a month. There was absolutely nothing my dad could do about that. I would skip class to go see him if I had to. I would sneak out every night to see him. My dad would not stop Paul and me from being together.

Not. Going. To. Happen.

I flopped onto my bed, and went back to sleep, seeing as that was the only thing I could do on a Sunday when I was grounded. I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing.

"Hello?" I asked breathlessly.

"Mel?" Paul's urgent voice answered.

"Hey," I sighed happily.

"Why haven't you been answering your phone?" he asked worriedly. "It took everything in me not to come across the border and see if you were okay."

"Oh, no…I'm fine," I assured him. "I was asleep."

"Are you going to come down today?" he asked.

I ground my teeth. "No, my dad grounded me. I'm only allowed out of the house for school and work."

"Oh," he said, I could hear the disappointment clear in his voice.

"I know," I sighed. "It sucks."

He took a deep breath. "Yeah, it does."

I sighed and rolled onto my back. "I'll sneak out every night to see you if I have to."

"I don't want you to get in more trouble," Paul objected. "Not because of me."

"My dad's asleep at ten o'clock every night." I said, rolling my eyes. "He'll never know. And there's no way I'm going a month without seeing you."

"You know there is an alternative…" he trailed off.

"Paul, I'm not moving in with you," I said forcefully. "We've been over this."

"I could always just take you…"

"No Paul," I said. "Chief Swan would be on your ass in a second, and he'd arrest you. And, my dad would probably think I left willingly, and he'd ground me for even longer."

I heard his sigh.

"Look, I know how badly you want me to move in with you, but I'm not eighteen yet, and I want to graduate at my high school."

"After graduation you'll come?"

"I promise," I said, smiling into the phone.

"Good," I could hear the smile in his voice. "I feel better when you're with me."

"I feel better when I'm with you, too," I said as my stomach growled.

"Even Iheard that," Paul laughed. "Go get something to eat. I love you."

I smiled. "I love you too."

"Bye Mel."

"Bye Paul," I said, ending the call.

I padded down to the kitchen, and my dad was there reading a book. I didn't look at him as I poured myself some cereal and milk. I sat at the table across from him, not saying a thing. I quietly ate, while I could tell he was getting uncomfortable. He wanted to say something, but was waiting.

I chewed, waiting.

He put the book down and cleared his throat. I didn't look up.

"Mel," he said. I didn't look at him, and I didn't say anything. "I want you to go to that dance." Still, I didn't say anything so he sighed. "I know you're mad, but I'm just trying to keep you safe." I was probably as safe as anyone could be with three wolves helping me. "Say something," he practically begged. I knew stuff like this made him uncomfortable.

"Why do I have to go?" I asked, pissed off.

"It will be good for you to know boys at your school," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "I already know all the boys at my school; I've known them my entire life! When I finally get a good boyfriend, you want me to stay away from him! That's not going to happen, Dad."

He muttered something under his breath, and I didn't bother listening to what it was. He pushed away from the table, and wandered into the living room to watch TV. I rolled my eyes, and finished my cereal.

One thing I did know, I was definitely not going to that dance.