Chapter 10

"Okay, I think the house is decorated enough." Troy said, licking sticky frosting off his fingers.

"Are you kidding me?" screamed Angie, "Your end of the house is totally lopsided!"" she cheered as she tried to concentrate on the gingerbread house that, for some reason, the walls didn't want to stay up. "Erg!" she freaked when they wouldn't stay, "Houdini wouldn't be able to fix this!" Troy chuckled at this as he tossed a gumdrop at her nose, "Right on target," he crowed, dancing in his spot; like a tree during hurricane season.

"You did not just do that?" she said, scooping at fistful of sticky frosting-luckily Troy didn't notice. "I believe I just did!" he crowed again.

She was clever; her frosting covered hand was behind her back as she put on a look of defeat and her best pout."Well, I guess you won," she said.

When she was in fifth grade she was dubbed 'best actress', then again, she was the only one in her class that was nominated, and in her theatre class this year and at drama camp over the course of the summer, she has won awards and has been dubbed the 'champion actress', so she has background, and she is good at what she does. she laughed internally. "I guess I underestimated you," she sniffled and looked down-sadly-at her feet; the act must have been believeable, because Troy said: "I didn't mean to upset you, I was just playing, I didn't mean to"

In between false sniffles, she said, "I know,...I...I...," her false sniffles turned to false sobs. "Hey don't cry," Troy said, he moved to her level and -hesitantly-wrapped his arms around her, "I'm sorry, okay?" Angie nodded. Then she leaned against her dad's chest and wrapped her arms around him, her sticky frosting covered hand rested on his side; just four inches away from his shirt. Time the grand finale, she thought. "Can I give you something?" she asked.

"Sure thing." Troy replied, "what is it?" he held out his hand. To be honest, he was kind of nervous, what would she have that she wanted to give him? a gift? what kind of gift? she'd only just met him...it didn't make sense, Troy pondered this; while he was, he barely heard Angie say: "It's a surprise, so close your eyes." she stated, a hundred watt smile glowing so bright that her insides felt like mush and really warm, she just wanted to laugh. but, she knew better than to break character in the middle of a scene, she stayed put. Although, she did let out a small-unnoticable-snicker when she saw her dad hesitate, but he closed his eyes waiting for her 'something'.

Angie went put the frosting in his hand, but stopped and faster than her hands can go, she slapped the frosting on his face-both cheeks, lips, and nose. When he opened his eyes, she said: "Mess with me, that's what you get, bam-bam turkey and ham!"

Troy stood there, shocked; and sticky. it seemed like all this time he was denying that she was his daughter, like he was looking for htings that seemed-well, not him. But, just then when she did what she did and said-well, not what she said-but, what she did, it was something he would do. it's like the thought had just now hit himl he had a daughter, and she was here in his kitchen. He knew something was going to change in his life, but he just never thought of a-well, he just thought somethign different.

Dear Diary,

I feel like I've been denying it, but today

I realised, I have a daughter and she is

amazing. Why haven't i known her before?

Oh yeah, her mother left and never told me.

I should give her a call-no, I will give Gabriella

a call, wait, where's she staying at? Oh well,

I'll just use Angie's phone.

-Troy.

Later that night-after dinner

"I had fun...Did you have f-aw-un?" Angie yawned as she snuggled further into the deep cushions of Troys couch. It had been a long day. True, she had gotten up early, but the ginger bread fight that she and her dad had had was amazing. she wasn't expecting it, but she's always been a fan of spontaneous acts of fun. She didn't think she was tired, until her dad asked and chuckled when she shook her head 'no' and a yawn came out of her throat at the same time, that's when he insisted that she go lie down and he'll finish up with all the cleaning. She apologized for the mess of course, but he dismissed it and said it was 'no big deal', she just nodded and went to lie down.

Now, the kitchen was clean-not spotlessly, insanely clean, but shiny and had done a damn good job if he should say so himself. He sat down on the couch to rest, funny, he didn't think he was tired until he actually sat down. But, he couldn't and wasn't as tired as Angie. She had gotten up early to decorate his house. He turned to look at her and saw that she was out; the phrase "out like a light" didnt' even describe her at this moment. laying there sleepin, she looks exactly like Gabriella, he thought. He reached his hand over and moved some fallen hair off her face, "come on, let's get to your room." he said, picking her up and carrying her up the stairs.

When he got to her bedroom door, he eased it open, but cringed and looked at a Angie when the hinges squeaked. "Oh thank god," he whispered, carefully as to not wake her.

"He placed her on the big, queen bed and took off her shoes and socks. Just like Gabriella, he thought, I can watch her sleep forever. and it was the truth, he could watch her sleep, like he did Gabriella when they-when they were together...in high school-because she looked like her, but when a soft snore escaped her lips, that reminded Troy of himself. He chuckled sonftly and made his way out, but stopped at the frame when he heard her speak between snores; "I...love...you...dad."

He was speechless for a moment, unsure of what to do-or say. but, as if on pure -paternal- instinct, he said "I...love you too." he just wished and hoped if he said the right thing or not. He left the room, closing the door behind him.