Double post again today!

Chapter Six:

As I showered after the game, I could hear shouting.

"I want the whole squad disbanded," Coach Kim was saying. "Every one of them was laughing at that poor man!"

"I can't let you do that," Principal Hastings said. "We have a nationally ranked cheer team."

"You really think everyone watching that video is going to side with you? Everyone one of them is an embarrassment to the school."

"They will be punished," Hastings said. "But I will decide the punishment. And I don't like your tone."

"I don't like the way you run this school," Coach Kim said. "I quit."

"You're fired anyway," Hastings said.

I silently creeped out of the locker room. But Coach Kim saw me.

"You!" she said. "You should be ashamed of yourself! Laughing at your own father."

"Don't talk to my students like that!" Hastings said. "Go prep for the dance, Gracelyn."

"You people disgust me," Coach Kim said and stormed out.

"Don't let her get to you," Hastings said. "This is your moment to shine."

"Thanks principal Hastings," I said.

"Anytime Gracelyn," she said.

I walked out.

The sound of my dad sobbing echoed through my head. It was a low blow on my part, and we both knew it. I couldn't let him get to me though. I'd apologize to him tomorrow, tonight I had a crown to win.

…

It was the night of my life. I dressed in a gold dress with beaded fringe, with my hair in a partial updo. My girls knew better than to bring up my dad. We twirled, smashed our bodies against our guys, and did synchronized dance numbers. There was also plenty of laughter and spiked drinks passed around. It was a night of wonders.

I was had just left the bathroom when Tina appeared.

"Find another nerd to do your homework," she said.

"Excuse me?" I said.

"You heard me," she said. "After what you did to your dad, I'm done with you."

"Whatever, loser," I said and walked away.

But she followed me.

"One day this town is going to crumble under the weight of its hypocrisy," she said. "You can still escape it, or drown in dirt like everyone else."

"Someone's been writing too much angsty poetry," I said.

She got into my personal space.

"I hope you drown," she said and walked away.

A few people clapped. I glared at them, but they glared back. These were not my friends.

Liam appeared.

"I got you some more punch," he said.

"Thanks," I said. "I lost my nerd who does my homework."

"I'll hook you up with my guy," he said.

"You're too good for me, Liam," I said.

"Anything for you," he said and held me close to his side.

Adam, the president of the homecoming committee appeared on stage.

"This year's homecoming King is: Liam Hastings!"

There was clapping and cheering as Liam took the stage.

"This year's homecoming Queen is: Gracelyn Estlin!

There was also cheering and clapping, except there were a few boos for me.

I accepted the crown gracefully, but I had to do damage control. I took the microphone.

"I'd like to dedicate this honor to my father," I said. "I had a major lapse in judgement after the game. I just wanted to be like the rest of you, and now I see how I failed him. My father is a good man, and brilliant math teacher. He deserves more respect than I give him. That changes tonight. I will lead by example. The pranking of my father, Mr. Estlin ends now."

Several people clapped and cheered, but not as many as I'd hoped. Liam looked oddly uncomfortable.

"Let's dance the night away," I said.

A slow pop song came on and Liam and I danced.

"You haven't talked to your father recently have you," he said.

It wasn't really a question. It was more like a statement.

"No, we're on texting terms," I said. "Why?"

"My mom fired him on Friday," he said.

I couldn't hear the music anymore. The sound of my dad's sob filled my ears. I couldn't do this anymore.

"Liam," I said. "I love you, but I have to be with my dad."

"I thought you hated him," he said.

"I don't know what I feel, but I have to go," I said.

"Do what you have to do," he said. "I love you too."

I let go of him and stepped off the stage.

Scanning the crowd, I found Tina dancing with Eliot.

"Nice speech," she said with a snort. "Too bad I don't believe a word of it."

"I know," I said. "Did your mom bail out my dad like she said she would?"

"Someone beat her to it," she said. "Hastings refused to tell her anything about the bailers."

I left the auditorium and to get an Uber. My dad had unfrozen my account. He still cared.

The driver didn't say anything as he drove to my house. I preferred it that way. The waiting game was awful.

All the lights were off in my house. I ran to the door and unlocked it. Throwing on the lights, I searched every room for him.

Part of me was honestly expecting the worst. To find my father hanging from somewhere. Or him in the bathroom with razor blades. His depression pill bottles were full. The house was empty.

I collapsed in the middle of my family room. My conscience had finally caught up with me. He wouldn't leave me. Would he? That awful sob filled my mind.

There was one door left: His office. I figured out how to pick the lock years ago with my friends using bobby pins, when we went snooping for Christmas presents.

He wasn't in there. I couldn't tell if I was happy or disappointed.

Dad's office, was like him, neat and precise. It didn't hold much, a desk and book case filled with math texts. The bottom drawer was always locked.

If I'm going qualify for worst daughter of the year, I might as well go all in. I picked the lock to the drawer.

There were two books by a Mathew Simmons and what looked like a thousand dollars in cash. There was also a weird case with a cover that said: The Complete Works of E.E. Cummings. Curious, I opened it to find shiny metal discs in sleeves on binder hooks. In the last sleeve, there was something else. I pulled it out.

It was a piece of folded leather with the FBI logo on it. I opened it and my mind was blown.

There was a picture of my dad from almost twenty years ago. Something about his face was off, but it was him. His name was Spencer Reid. The birthdate matched. The height too. He was a special supervisory agent working out of Quantico.

Holding on the FBI badge and grabbing the books, I ran into my room, and booted up my computer. I started searching like a madwoman for Spencer Reid. The thing was, the name is so common, and I couldn't find any matches. It didn't help that it was so long ago. I linked it with everything from FBI to Matt Simmons, the author and found nothing. Something felt weird. I needed more help.

I flipped through Matt Simmons's books and found multiple references to my father. The second book was dedicated: "Spencer Reid: The bravest agent I know. I hope you're safe and happy."

Changing into a black sweater and jeans. I pulled on sneakers, and carried everything in a backpack. Locking the door before I left, I ran.

Tina's house wasn't far from mine. The lights were on there. I walked up and knocked on her door.

Selina appeared.

"Your wife Marie, is a computer programmer, right?" I said desperately.

"Why should I, or anyone else in this house, give you the time of day?" she asked angrily.

I gave her my Dad's FBI credentials.

"Don't help me," I said. "Help him."

She looked at them closely.

"Come in," she said.