I walked upstairs and ate my food; I went online on my phone and text my friend Amy who was visiting some family in Europe. We talked until she had to leave; I put my food away and grabbed the cat food I hid in the back of the fridge. I put some into a small bowl and walked outside, the cat I called Shadow walked down the driveway and started eating.
"Thank you" She said
"No problem" I said back, well mentally said back
When the cat finished she ran off when Tony started pulling up the driveway. I didn't even look at him and walked away. I walked down a dirt path that leads from my house to the beach. When I got to the beach it was completely empty. I sat on the sand Indian style with my hands on top of my crossed legs. The tide was high enough to reach me but low enough so it wouldn't get me wet. I looked out watching the moonlight reflecting off the waves. I heard footsteps and saw someone sit next to me.
"When I was your age, I would come down here whenever my dad and I fought." Tony said "The only time we talked for more than five minutes was because we were arguing about something."
"Where are you going with this Tony?"
"My dad and I never had a good relationship, he sent me away the second he had the chance." He said "I told myself if I ever had a kid, I would never do anything like that."
"You already have, besides it was going to happen sooner or later."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not yours, yes you adopted me but I'm not your own blood." I said with my head lowered "You're bound to get at least one girl pregnant. And when that happens, you won't have a reason to keep me."
"There isn't anyone in this world that can take your place." He said "I love you like you where my own flesh and blood. And I'm so sorry I've been treating you like this, I was so afraid of this happening. I never wanted to hurt you Kida."
I felt a warm feeling ran through my body making me feel like I was glowing. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Tony just"
"Kida" He said interrupting me "why do you call me Tony?"
"What else am I suppose to call you?" I look up at him
"You know what I mean"
"Why don't I call him dad" I thought
"I-I don't know" I said "Tony it's just, it feels weird, I don't know who my parents are. I'm not even sure if they're alive."
"Do you really want to know?"
"Yes" I said loudly and standing up "Tony my life is like a book with the first five chapters missing"
"I don't want you to get hurt" He stood up, I grew over the years and we now stood at eye level "what if they are gone? Or what if they're not good people?"
"I don't care" I said as I started walking away "I need to know what happened, I need to know who I am"
"You're my daughter, Kida Stark" He said
I froze; this was the first time he ever referred to me as his daughter. Whenever he would introduce me he would just say "This is Kida" he never said "This is my daughter, Kida" until now. I looked over my shoulder at him. He stood there he seemed like he had a million things to say. I felt this strange feeling, a warm feeling that made me feel like I was glowing. I quickly turned back around and ran to the house. I went to my room slamming the door shut behind me. I didn't know how to handle this, being loved.
All I know is handling being bullied, teased, and mocked. That was all I experienced when I was younger, but now it's all changed. I never knew how it felt to know someone loved you and cared for you. I didn't know how to respond, this isn't what I was used to. But how could I know if he was being honest? Did he really mean it?
"No" I thought "he would never love a freak"
I looked at my roses and watched as they withered and died. I crawled into bed and fell asleep.
Morning,
I heard my door open and someone walking to my bed, it was really early and I knew it was Tony. I kept my eyes closed and pretended I was asleep. I felt lips kiss the side of my head,
"I love you Kida" Tony said
After a few seconds of silence he left closing the door behind him. I buried my face into the pillow, I should've said something. Why didn't I say anything? I looked on my alarm clock and realized I had to get up in ten minutes. I pushed myself off the bed and took a shower; I changed into a knee high white dress with a bright red baggy long sleeved sweater. I put on black flats with a white bow on the toes on and grabbed my backpack. There Pepper handed me a sack lunch and I grabbed my coffee mug.
"Did you say goodbye to Tony?" She asked
"Goodbye?"
"He's leaving to go the Middle East to present some weapons for the army." She said "You didn't say goodbye, did you?"
"No" I looked at the time on my phone "I got to go, bye Pepper"
"Bye Kida"
I walked outside where Happy was waiting in the car; I got into the back and finished my coffee on my way to school. I put my cup in the cup holder and got out waving bye to Happy. My friend Olivia walked over to me. She was tall and really skinny, with long blonde hair and pale blue eyes.
"Hey Kida"
"Hey Olivia" I said smiling "did you finish the essay?"
"Yeah after three hours, I hate English homework" She said
"Honestly who does?"
We walked to my locker and I got out my books and sketchbook for art class. The bell rang and we walked to class. Olivia and I sat together in science and math until I had to leave for art class. I sat at my seat and everyone a large pile of clay. We worked on creating the same sculpture of a woman on the teacher's desk. I was almost finished when there was a knock on the door, everyone looked up and I saw ObadiahStane stood there. I smiled, he was like a grandfather.
"Mrs. Bishop I need to take Kida out of school" He said softly to her but I could still hear it
I grabbed my stuff and walked out with him, he let me grab my books for the rest of my classes before we got into the car.
"Obadiah has something happened?" I asked
"Unfortunately yes, I'm taking you back to the house" He said "Pepper and Rhodey are there waiting for you"
The driver pulled up the driveway and stopped,
"Are you coming inside?"
"No I have to head back to the labs" He said
"Ok, bye Obadiah"
"Bye Kida"
I felt a bad feeling grow with every step I took in the pit of my stomach. When I walked into the living room I saw Rhodey and Pepper on the couch. Her eyes were red and there was a tissue box in her hand. There was still a trail of tears on her face; Rhodey looked up to me with a grim look on his face.
"What's going on?" I asked even though I was still afraid of the answer
"Tony's caravan was ambushed a few hours ago." Rhodey stood up and walked over to me
My heart stopped beating, the lump in my throat made me think I was going to choke on the air still in it. I shook my head no and as he stepped forward I stepped back.
"No you're lying" I said "where is he?"
"We don't know" Rhodey said
"If this is some kind of joke" Tears built in my eyes "please tell me this is just a joke"
"I'm sorry"
I slammed my fist onto his chest, he pulled me into a hug and I fell apart like glass breaking. I fell to my knees and he slowly rocked me back and forth.
"He can't be" I cried out "he has to come back he has to"
"He will" He said "he'll always come back"
