Usual disclaimer applies

March, 2012

~37~

I am back to regular self by the next day. Although my eyes feel slightly swollen, and my throat is hoarse, I look normal enough.

I slip down the staircase to where Dad is partaking in cereal and reading the newspaper at the kitchen table. Sunlight streams through the window, alighting Dad's face in its warm glow. Kindness and love shine through his features, and I am hit with a powerful wave of love towards this man, towards my Dad. I feel a twinge of regret seeing the less-than-filling breakfast he is eating. I'm a good cook, and if I had got up only fifteen minutes sooner, maybe I could have made him something that would last him, like an omelette, or bacon and eggs.

I must strive to make the effort more often.

Wrapping my arms around his strong shoulders, I give his prickly cheek a kiss. He glances up, surprised by my display of affection. Like our usual form of communication, Dad speaks with sarcasm when he says, "Are you trying to butter me up for something? What is it this time?" Exasperation colors his words, causing me to laugh.

"Oh, Dad! All I want is a pony. Please, please, please!"

He shakes his head, not wanting to admit that he is amused. I plunk down on my chair, pulling the box of cereal my way.

"So Bella, anything interesting going on? It feels like it's been a while since we really caught up…I'm sorry I've been working so many hours." He looks sorry too, his eyes displaying perfectly the disappointment he feels for missing out on time with me, for potentially letting me down.

Guilt overwhelms me. The reason we haven't been talking all that much lately is not his fault at all; it's mine. Everything that is currently filling my mind, making it feel like it will explode with the information, with the memories, is matter that I don't feel I can share with him. And I sometimes wish I could, really wish it, but then I remember the potential consequences.

"Dad, I know you can't help how much you work. And I've been busy the last little while, what with the mid-semester workload and trying to get the Cullen Scholarship and all. Please don't worry about it. You are the best Dad I could ever ask for."

I mean that too.

I think back to last year at this time, when Mom was still here. Although I can freely admit that Dad is the best father out there, I don't know if I could say the same for Mom. A morning like this would have undoubtedly gone the exact same way. Renee would have probably been out of the house already, attending a class for her latest obsession. Even if she was still home at this hour, she never would have made any kind of breakfast that required the stove.

But she was my mother. I loved her.

Too bad she had decided to put her love elsewhere, in a man with his own wife and kids, one of which was dating her own daughter. I still can't wrap my head around how fucked up that is.

I don't want to.

~SW~

From what Bree said, Tyler Crowley and Lee Stephens had participated in taking advantage of me while I was inebriated. Even if they were just doing shots off of me, it still deserves an ass-kicking. But first, I want to find out exactly what they saw, what they know.

Especially if there is a video out there of me like there is of Leah.

Using the pad of paper with our school crest that I had swiped off of a teacher's desk, I write a quick note and bring it to the office.

The secretary looks it over, nods in thanks to me, and I exit the office.

But I don't go far.

A few minutes later, I can see Tyler Crowley making his way to the office, probably wondering what it is for this time.

Using the element of surprise, I grab his arm and manage to pull him into the girls' washroom, located right next to the office. Locking the door, I turn to see Tyler Crowley, both surprised and undeniably angry, staring down at me.