Chapter 9

After everyone had gone to bed Clay went over to Tias room and asked her to meet him down in the music room when she asked what for he simply said that they needed to talk. "Can't this wait till morning" She huffed as she threw off both her shoes. Clay gave her a look that said he meant business "No it can't. downstairs in 20 minutes." Without another word he trudged out before going to retrieve Chrissy who was sitting on the bed scrolling thru the dozens of channels. A TV guide in her hand.

"Hey dad, just in time. A comedy movie marathon is coming on in about an hour I just need to find the channel. According to this their going to be playing "twins with danny davito, kindergarten cop with Arnold Schwarzenegger, George of the jungle with Brandon Fraser and the little giants with ed O'Neil aka al Bundy." Clay almost felt bad, this was the first time in a long time he'd seen chrissy so genuinely excited about something and now he was about to burst her bubble. "I set up a meeting with Tia downstairs." That caught her attention and she put down the remote. "Oh?"

"Yeah, I want you to be there when I talk to her. I want to hear her side of the story and yours. I don't want her to think I'm picking sides because your my daughter. I'm going to listen to both your accounts of what happened and will decide from there what we have to do."

Nodding in acknowledgment Chrissy looked up "I understand. What time and where?"
"Downstairs, music room. 20 minutes."
"K, I'll be ready"

Sighing, Chrissy knew what was coming and it wasn't going to be easy but they had to do it. What Tia did today was not acceptable and she needed to learn just because she was new didn't mean she could get away with doing things like that. especially things that cruel.

"Here we go" She thought as she shoved her combat boots back on. "This is not gonna end well..."

Cringing at the thought of having to sit across from Tia while they sat her down to talk Chrissy knew this was not going to go well. If only she'd known how horrible right she was.

The minute she walked into the empty music room, Tia was already sitting down. Her dad was standing up, why. She hadn't the slightest clue but didn't point it out she just sat next to him and listened as her father sighed. "Do you know why I asked you here tonight?"

"I don't know and with all due respect are we gonna play 30 questions or are we gonna get straight to the point on why I'm here so I can go"

Calloway was pinching the bridge of his nose as if deep in thought "It's your attitude" he finally admitted "That's why your here. I heard what you did today to Meena. I'd like to hear your version of how it all went down."
"With pleasure" Tia bit back sarcastically launching into her version of the truth. Halfway thru Chrissy wanted to punch her in the face.

Her story was making it seem like SHE was the victim and not meena. "I mean I tried to give her the phone back" Tia continued "But meena oh. She accused me of stealing her phone when all I did was pick it up off the ground where it had fallen. She also got mad at me when my finger accidently turned the screen on and accused me of looking thru it."

"How dare you!" Chrissy tried to stand up but her dad grabbed her arm and urged her to sit back down. He gave her a small look that said "Not yet" and she sat back in her chair and listened to the all the lies spouting from Tias mouth.

"So you see. I'm the victim here. If you need to get mad at anyone get mad at Chrissy!" Pointing a finger in her direction it took everything chrissy had to stay in her seat. Finally her dad gestured for her to stand up and tell her side which she proudly did. Giving Tia smirks and stare downs as she did. She had to give it to her dad though, he listened to both of them very careful his face held no signs of judgment he simply listened and spoke when he felt the time was right. "Tia tell me the truth" He finally said, Tia blinked in surprise "I did tell you the truth..." He waived a hand in her direction gesturing for her to stop which she did but more begrudgingly then anything.

"Wrong answer." He said and as if right on que Meena came slinking into her room, her ears covering almost her entire face. Her body shaking like a leaf. "Meena, why don't you go and tell them exactly what you told me."

"Oh...Ok..." She said slowly before the words came rushing out the entire time Tia was making faces and fidgeting in her chair as if she was bored. "And that's what happened" Meena finally said.

"She's lying!" Tia suddenly shouted "I mean c'mon she just wants attention. That's all it is..." Calloway raised a hand again and she stopped mid sentence. "I'm gonna give you one final chance to tell me the truth."

"I already told you I did. I'm the victim here not her!"
Clay shook his head as if disappointed "Have it your way, Tia I want you to apologize to Meena. Right now."

"NO!" She snarled. "No way in..."

Finally having had enough, Clay slammed his hand on the table causing everyone to jump up in surprise. "Tia I saw what you did the other day, you can't lie your way out of this one now apologize to meena or your out of the group"

Tia paused for a moment as if thinking it over before finally standing up, removing the coat she was given in the beginning and throwing it on the chair "You know what. To hell with you guys. Your just a bunch of lame, good for nothing losers and I'm done with you guys"

She looked in Chrissys direction now, a look of pure malice and anger on her face "This is all your fault. You always wanted me out of this group because you were always secretly jealous of me. Everyone knows it."

"Tia that's enough. I wont have you speak to my daughter that way now get out or I'll remove you myself!" Clay snarled. Lifting her hands in defeat "Alright. I'm done for now but just know you better watch your back" Tia said still staring at Chrissy before she strutted out of the room, bumping into Meena on the way out. Everyone took that moment to finally breath. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to cause all this trouble..." Meena began but Chrissy stood up and gave her a gentle hug. "No Meena its not your fault. Don't you ever think that ok?"
Meena nodded "Yes but..."
"Tell you what, do you want to come back to our room. There's a comedy marathon coming up. Brandon Frasers gonna be in a tunic" Meena chuckled gently and both girls followed Clay out of the room. Chrissy knew one thing for certain as they made their way back to the hotel room. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

To be continued...