Chapter 6

Chiara POV

"Hurry up, we have to get out of here," Jere said, sighing. He sheathed his sword and grabbed my hand. As we stepped out of the women's bathroom, an old lady and a teenager around our age (probably her granddaughter) eyed Jere and Danny. Danny blushed and tried to hide behind his blond hair. We kept going, and Jere whacked the side of his head. "Blushing buffoon," But his heart wasn't in it.

I gripped my knife as Danny helped me into the back of the car. Jere drove out of the gas station and straight to our house. "Dad said you can stay over tonight, if you want," Jere said softly. Danny smiled slightly.

"Thanks," He grabbed a tissue from his pocket and wiped my hands, which were saturated in Papa's blood. The blood was clumpy and disgusting. He took Anaklusmos from the floor and held it tightly. "I have a spare pair of jeans in my emergency back pack," Jere reached under his chair when we were waiting at a set of red lights, and pulled out a battered black bag, and pulled out a pair for Danny.

"You're shorter than me, but you should fit into them," Danny took the black jeans and I looked out the window as he quickly changed. "You can look again," Danny snickered, but I couldn't even muster a smile.

"Come here," Danny put my head on his shoulder and held me as Jere started the car up again.

"We can't tell Dad," Jere said as flipped off the guy next to us, who had cut us off.

"Why the Hades not?"

"He would be devastated. He's finally forgotten about the whole ordeal from when we were younger, and just bringing him this news will kill him,"

"Jere, you don't just forget your only love of your life, and you know that," Danny said softly.

"I know, but Jackson, what do you suppose we do? Tell him over pizza that his husband, our father just tried to kill us, and when his daughter stabbed him in the side, he disappeared? I don't think so," Jere gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. We were silent the trip back, and we found dad sitting on the porch steps, reading a book. When he heard the car coming up the drive, he placed his book next to him and jogged up to us. "How's my baby?" He asked me, and I snorted.

"Not a scratch," Danny chimed in. Dad chuckled and they shook hands.

"Awesome. I ordered pizza and it just came. Knock yourselves out," Jere looked at Danny and Danny grinned mischieviously. Jere pushed his chest as a boost, and Danny grabbed his arm, tugging him backwards, they ran together into the house, Danny calling a quick thanks Uncle!'

"So what did you guys get up to?" Such an innocent question.

"Nothing much. Danny tried using using the car to, and I quote, pick up a chick or few," I swallowed. When you first lie to someone you love, you can never take it back. It's just a snowball effect from then on.

The day turned into night, and then night turned into day again. Danny went back home again and Jere and I were left alone with Dad. It was the early morning, so he was probably up and ready for work. We jogged down the stairs and into the kitchen. Jere grabbed out three bowls, and I grabbed the cereal. We walked into the dining room to find my dad with his head in his hands, his shaggy blond hair covering his face. Quiet sobs were coming from him. Jere put the bowls and milk down and we raced over to him, the box of cereal sitting idly by itself.

"Dad? Dad what happened?" I asked softly, touching his shoulder. His head snapped up, to reveal bloodshot eyes and a puffy, tear stained face. "I-I-I didn't think you guys would be up yet," He sniffled and stood, turning away from us.

"Dad?" Jere grabbed his wrist. That was enough to set him over the edge. His tears broke like a dam. Jere and I ended in a bone crushing hug for more than ten minutes. When he had finished and calmed down, I sat him at the head of the table and Jere and I pulled up chairs next to him.

"I realized that..." Dad swallowed and looked at his lap, his eyes flickering to the dining table. There was a single coffee cup in a spare place that we vowed never to use. It was Papa's seat. There was a plate stacked with pancakes in front of the coffee.

"Dad..."

"I made him breakfast and he's not even here," Dad sniffled again. Jere stood up and walked out of the room. I listen carefully, to hear him picking up the homephone.

"Hey Cecil," Jere said softly. Dad's best friend. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and grabbed dad's hand again.

About 6 minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and I left to get the door. Jere had made dad a coffee of his own.

"Hey sister," Cecil grinned at me. I managed a weak smile.

"Hey."

"Is it..."

"He's have a really bad day today," I grabbed his arm and pulled him in. The other son of Hermes followed me to the kitchen and through to the dining room.

"Hey Will," Cecil said cheerfully. Dad looked up and tried to put on a big, fake smile, but it slipped off his face quickly.

"Cecil, he's not here. He hasn't been here for three years." I domething in my chest constrict qith pain and I looked away.

It was a sad day in the house that day. Jere and I decided from then on, to wake up extra early so dad won't have to make breakfast again. Incase he does the same thing. We never brought up that day again.

Hi all! I realize I haven't updated in about two weeks, I've been having a pretty crappy two or three weeks and I'm sorry that I haven't updated. Expect another update with juicy action on Sunday.

Be kind to one another, again? See you! R&R please.