--
"What's going on?"* I asked, noticing Pepper and Dylan waiting for me by the door.
"She's calling my mom," I replied.
"Well, Luc, it was nice knowing you," Dylan said with a grin.
"Shut up, Dyl!" Pepper shoved him playfully.
"Hey! Knock it off, you guys!" I snapped, and they stopped teasing each other.
"If she calls my mom, there's no way I'm going anywhere tonight," I said, worried.
"Oh yeah, we can't do anything about that," Pepper sighed.
"Wait, I can," I said, a plan forming in my mind.
At the Hospital*
"Where is she?" I asked.
"Probably with a patient," Dylan replied.
"Lead me to her office," I instructed.
We sneaked around the hospital, avoiding anyone who might question us. When we reached her office, I whispered, "This is it. Watch my back; I got this."
Dylan's POV*
I walked into the room, scanning around for her phone.
"Luc, call it," I said.
Lucy dialed her mom's number, and the phone rang inside her dresser.
"How are you going to get in?" I asked.
"Give me your pocket knife," she said.
She slid the knife towards me, and I caught it with my foot. I tried my best to pick the lock, but I just couldn't get it.
"Let me see," Lucy said, taking the knife from me. She expertly picked the lock in two clicks.
"Easy," she said, opening the dresser and grabbing the phone. "Let's roll."
"Not so fast," I said, spotting a gun in the drawer. I picked it up.
"Whoa, put that back!" Lucy demanded.
"This is totally dope. Can I keep it?"
"Definitely not!" she snapped.
"Guys, she's on her way down here!" Pepper warned.
"Let's go!" Lucy threw the gun back in the drawer, and we quickly ran out, shutting the door behind us.
"Where do we go, Lucy?" Dylan asked, panicking.
"The break room!" she answered.
We ran into the break room and shut the door behind us.
"Someone has to see where she's at," Pepper said.
"Let Dyl do it," Lucy suggested.
I peeked out the door. "She's going into her office."
"Great, now we can leave," Lucy said, relieved.
"No, no, a nurse stopped her. Now they're talking. She's pointing down the hall. She's headed our way; we have to find another way out!" I said, shutting the door and turning to face the girls.
"What do we do?!" I asked, starting to panic.
Lucy pointed to the window.
"HELL NO!" I exclaimed.
"Too late," Lucy said with a grin. Once she's got a plan, she's going to follow through, no matter how crazy it might be.
"Dyl, we need your help with this," she said.
"What can I do?" I asked, already knowing I'd have to be the muscle in this situation.
"We might need you as our force bag," Lucy said.
I sighed, then held onto the girls. "Ready?"
"Yep," they said in unison.
We ran full force, straight out the window, falling backward. God, I'm so sorry for whoever I landed on.
Lucy's POV*
When we landed, none of us felt a thing, thanks to Dylan. He's like a human shield.
"Woo, what a ride!" I laughed as Dylan helped us up. We ran toward my house.
At Home*
"Whew, that was so close. Thanks, Dyl," I said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Ugh, gross," he groaned.
"Not for me," I teased.
We waited for hours, but the damn phone didn't ring once. When it finally did, it wasn't Mrs. Diana. It was another number.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Lucy?"
"Oh, hey, Mom."
"Do you have my phone?"
"Oh no, you left it on the counter."
"Really?"
"Yep, I swear you're so forgetful."
"Maybe I am. Could you please return it before you leave tonight?"
"Yeah, I'd be happy to bring your phone before we go to the club."
"Phew," I thought, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.
"Thanks, HoneyBun. Love you."
"Oh yeah, love you too," I said, hanging up.
"Thank God, I thought we were goners," Pepper said, relieved.
"Same here. Let's not worry about that, but what are we wearing tonight?" I asked.
"Well, I gotta go home and change," Dylan said.
"Be here by 9. You're our driver."
"Of course, bye ladies," he said, leaving.
Once he was gone, Pepper and I raided my closet.
"What about this?" she asked, holding up a short black dress.
"Yeah, that should fit you," I said.
She undressed and changed into the dress. "I always feel like such a princess in your clothes."
"How so?" I asked.
"Because this dress cost almost 200 dollars. Where'd you buy it from?"
"I stole it," I said with a smirk.
"Why did I even ask?" she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Exactly," I said, throwing on my red dress. I found some cute little high heels to match.
"You can wear my gold ones, and I'll steal my mom's black high-heel boots from her closet," I suggested.
"Alright," Pepper agreed.
I walked into my mom's room and grabbed her shoes. I noticed a tiny gleam on top of her dresser and realized it was her knife, the one with the "J" on it. I grabbed it and strapped it around my thigh.
Three loud honks sounded from outside. It was time to go.
"Let's go, Pepper!" I called.
At the Club*
"Are they gonna let us in?" Pepper asked nervously, eyeing the two bouncers outside the door.
"They better," I muttered.
We got out of the car and walked up to the door.
"Name?" one of the bouncers asked.
"The Clown Prince's daughter. Now let me in," I demanded.
"I don't see that name," he said, looking at his list.
I grabbed my knife. "LET ME IN NOW, OR I WILL CUT YOU DOWN TO THE BONE!"
"Whoa, Luc!" Dylan exclaimed, quickly grabbing the knife from my hand. "Dude, she's literally his kid. Can't you tell?"
The bouncer looked at his partner, who just shrugged. "Fine," he said, letting us through.
"Finally," I said.
"You really gotta stop doing that," Dylan scolded.
"I can't help it," I replied.
I glanced over at the VIP section and noticed two piercing blue eyes staring at me. He knows. Oh well, let's just have a good time without my dad ruining it.
And that we did. After dancing, we sat at the bar and ordered food. I could barely eat my shrimp; every time I'm around my dad, I get a gut-wrenching feeling.
"You don't want it?" Dylan asked, noticing my untouched plate.
"No," I said, sliding it toward him.
"Sweet," he said, digging in.
"Hey, I'm going to the bathroom," Pepper said, hopping down from her chair.
"Need me to come with?" I asked.
"No, I'll be fine," she replied, heading to the bathroom.
"You know she's just doing this to leave us alone together, right?" Dylan asked.
"Of course," I said.
"It's nice, though," he added.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"Just being here with you," he said.
"Look, I gave you one kiss. It doesn't mean I'm like in love with you or anything," I clarified.
"I know," he said, looking a bit upset.
I ate a shrimp and glanced in the mirror. Those blue eyes were now focused on whoever he was talking to in the private section. Please, don't let it be a shootout, I prayed silently.
"If it is, I'll protect you," Dylan said, reading my mind.
"I'm sure you will," I said, giving him a small smile.
"Okay, she's been gone too long," I said, suddenly worried.
"It's been like a minute," Dylan replied.
"Yeah, too fucking long in my book," I said, standing up.
"Lucy, let the girl pee, please," Dylan said, trying to calm me down.
"No!" I insisted.
In the Bathroom*
"Pepper, you in here?" I called, checking each stall. She was nowhere to be found. Shit.
I tried calling her, but she didn't answer. Panic rising, I ran back out to Dylan.
"She's not in there!" I exclaimed.
"What?" Dylan said, confused.
"I checked every stall. She won't answer her phone, and—" I looked over, and there she was, in the VIP section.
"NO!" I screamed.