Thanks for all of the positive reviews! And all I can say, is hold on... this chapter is going to get ROCKY.
Why did I have to leave Gabriella's house? Why did I have to say 'I need some fresh air'? I knew that if I had just sat down and done my homework and get distracted by thoughts of Chad, that I wouldn't have been kneeling down, hovering over my father, wondering if he was still alive. Newspapers covered his limp body like a blanket. I tore them away, muttering, "Come on, Daddy..." I lightly patted both sides of his face, hoping he would wake up. "Wake up... wake up..." I panicked. All I had done was cut across Gabriella's backyard into the neighborhood next to the park. And guess who was slumped against the metal fence outside of the playground? "Daddy!" I said a little louder. He groaned, turning his head. His eyes fluttered open. Well, at least he was alive. Now all I wanted to know was what was wrong.
"I gotta tree... in the park, Tay..." he muttered. "I named the tree... it's just a baby." his eyes were slowly closing again. "I named it... Tay. I named it Tay." he repeated before he silenced. He couldn't be dead. He still held part of my heart! I violently shook him, knowing that Gabriella was probably wondering where I was at this point.
"Dad!" I screamed. I was on the verge of tears. Suddenly his eyes snapped wide open, and his chapped lips curled into a weak smile. Now that I knew he was okay, I went back to being angry with him. "Just get out of here before you get in trouble with the..." The wail of sirens cut me off. The all-too-familiar blue and red lights flashed rapidly. "...police..." I whimpered, standing up straight. On the other side of the fence, a police man stood, pulling handcuffs out of his back pocket. He looked tired and fed up, like he just wanted to go home and have a cup of coffee. I gave a weak wave and took a step back from my father.
Once the policeman had Dad in his grip, he stood him up straight, flashed his pocket flashlight into his eyes, and let him drop to the pavement again. My mouth snapped open as Dad flopped to the ground like a rag doll. I bit my bottom lip to keep myself from telling that policeman off. "You're under arrest for the use of illegal substance, soliciting on public property..." and the list went on. Dad groaned and rolled onto his knees. I took another step back.
Soon enough, Dad was pinned to the pavement, his arms cuffed behind his back, shouting in protest. The officer's knee dug into Dad's back.This was just like the day that Daddy was pulled out of our car, and I never saw him again. And I was going to have to live this all over again? I could already see him rolling onto the middle of the street again, only a few inches away from near death. "Wait!" I stepped forward. "This... this is my... dad." I winced at my own words.
The policeman looked from me and back to my father pinned to the ground. He let out a chuckle and rolled off of my father as I continued explaining. "All he needs is a little sleep. In fact, if you can give us a lift back to my house, I guarantee that you will never, ever see him here again." I knew I was going out on a limb, but maybe if I gave Dad one more chance...
"We're at my house, Gabriella." I explained into the phone. "I was walking by the playground and he was half-conscious and covered in newspaper. I had to do something." I was nervously pacing across the kitchen tile, praying that my mother would get caught in traffic. "He's sleeping in my room." I told her. "Just don't wait up."I said before I hung up the phone, leaning against the kitchen counter. This was my dad. Wasn't he supposed to be the one taking care of me?
"Taylor!" he shouted from my bedroom. I didn't budge. "Can I have another asprin?" I had already given him four. If he was thinking about getting high in my own house, then he would have to think again. But for that one moment, I loved my dad, and I felt the need to give him whatever it took to make him feel better. I made my way into my room, tossing the bottle of asprin onto his chest. He was curled into a little ball in the corner of my empty bedroom. "I owe you one, Tay." he gave me his stupid grin. I crossed my arms over my chest stubbornly. "You really had your daddy's back today." he stood up, making his way towards the door. "Can I borrow a few more bucks, Tay?"
I was just about to say no. But I thought back to him giving me math problems. I thought back to the days where he wasn't just my charity case, but my father. And maybe if I helped him out, we could make that a reality all over again. After giving him another twenty dollar bill, he smiled at me. "One day soon, Tay, I'm going to get you some real nice stuff. And me and your mother are gonna be happy."
He left. And just for the moment, I believed him.
It was the first time since Mom's 'There's a Great Chance That We're Going to Get Out of Here' party that I had spoken to Chad. Everyone was there. Everyone saw what happened in my bedroom window, so there was no use hiding the fact that we liked each other. But what he asked next...
I slammed my locker shut, looking up to Chad with cautious eyes. "E-excuse me?" I stuttered. Chad looked reluctant to repeat his bold question, but I pressed harder. "What did you say?" he shrugged trying to look casual, but I knew on the inside, he was a jumble of nerves.
"I asked you if you wanted to be my girlfriend." he said it so simply. But I had already made a decision.
"I'm really sorry, Chad." I shook my head sadly. "I'm really going through a lot right now, and I just need to sort things out..." I started.
"It's okay." he assured me. I searched his eyes for any trace of regret. "Really, Taylor. I can wait."
I smiled up to him as his last words repeated themselves in my head.
I can wait.
There are like, two more chapters left, so look out for them! Read and review!