6~ Dad Talk

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Thursday rolled around and I went to the Haywood's after school to work on the project with Ashton.

I couldn't wait to see my dad. I told Ashton I would work on the project today because the project is due tomorrow and we need finishing touches on the presentation as well as practicing it a little bit.

I tried to work but my mind was with my dad. I know it's only been five days but I miss him.

"You mind is somewhere else."Ashton stated. I looked up from my computer into his eyes.

"What?" I asked. I didn't really hear what he said. His voice just snapped me out of my trance.

"Your mind is somewhere else. I'm the only one working"

"Um...I'm sorry" I said kind of embarrassed. I could feel my cheeks redden. I was the one who got mad at him for that.

He slid down from the couch to the ground with me.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked genuinely.

"My dad. He's uh he coming back today"

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" He asked.

"It's a very good thing. I love my dad more than anything. Before we moved he only had a business trip every few months if not longer, but now, since his job is in an entire different state halfway across the country he's going to be gone a lot more" I looked down at my feet, embarrassed at what I had just revealed to him.

"I didn't see my dad much either"

"I've never met him"

"That's true but we're not talking about the same guy. Briar, Jasper, Alex, Parker and me all have the same dad. I can't tell you much, that's up to Parker, but that's one reason he's so closed off to everyone."

"Oh" I said not knowing how else to respond.

"Yeah anyway Silas, Rhett and Flynn are our half siblings. Hair and eyes came from mom and their dad."

"They still look like all of you." I smiled sadly at him.

"Yeah we get our amazing good looks from our mom" he stood up and ran a hand through this hair and stood in a terrible model pose.

"Yeah I can tell, she's beautiful" I stood up.

"I'll tell you what, go see your dad, I'll finish the project."

"But" I started but I was cut off with a hand over my mouth.

"Shut up. I'm being nice for this one time. It's only the presentation left anyway."

I started to argue but I stopped myself. I gathered all my stuff and headed out of the door. Before I was fully gone I went back in and into the living room.

"Thank you Ashton" I said before running back out.

I drove home quickly and anxiously. I pulled into the driveway and I saw dads car there.

As fast as I could, I rushed to get out of my car and into my house.

I ran into my dad's arms.

"Dad!" I squealed

"Hi Aspen" he chuckled and wrapped his arms around me picking me up and twirling me around.

Mom looked at us in awe. She knew I was closer to my dad. She didn't care though she loved watching to two of us together.

"I have a surprise for you" he said.

I unlatched my arms from his neck and he went into the kitchen to grab something.

He came back a few seconds later with a jar of notes.

"I stopped by Larissa's house while I was there. She gave me this jar of notes. It was from all the girls. She said 'you can never be too far away for our stupid quotes and jokes"

I hugged him tight. The hug wasn't meant for him but he's the closet I could get.

"Thank you so much dad!" I squealed as I took the jar and ran into my room.

There was a note tapped to the top. It said "take one a day until we shall see each other again (over Christmas break)"

I picked up a note of the top.

Well the fridge broke so I had to eat everything

A quote from Friends. How surprising. Note the sarcasm.

I laughed as I remembered the scene this quote was in. Larry might have forced me to watch the entire friends series many times in my seventeen years of life.

I can't say I didn't enjoy it though.

There was a knock on my door.

A quiet come in came out of my mouth. Dad entered the room.

"Hey Aspen" he said as he sat down in my bed. "Listen so um there's a big project coming to my company, we've expanded to San Francisco."

I squealed and launched into his arms. He hesitantly wrapped his arms around me.

I leaned back and looked at the sad look on his face.

"Dad?" I questioned. "That's a good thing, right Dad?" I asked quietly. The look on his face made me uneasy. My breath hitched in my throat.

"Well it won't be for a while. The project needs some work and I can't do it from home" his voice strained as he spoke. His eyes were filled with regret and his lips curved into a sad smile.

"Dad?" My eyes teared as I spoke. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I'm moving to Tennessee until the new year" his eyes filled to the brim with tears and his voice strained as he spoke. "Don't worry I'll be back for Thanksgiving and Christmas."

"No dad you can't" I cried and threw myself into him as it would keep him from leaving. "Daddy please don't go"

"Aspen I have to, I don't have a choice." He choked up.

"When do you leave?" I pulled back my arms and took all my focus off of him and on a spot on the wall. I couldn't look in his eyes.

"Tomorrow"

"You're just going to leave me for almost four months?" I cried and stood up.

"Aspen" he started but nothing else came out of his mouth.

In a mixture of anger, sadness, and loneliness, I grabbed my keys off my dresser and ran out of my room.

Dad followed me, calling my name. I honored his calls ans started my car.

Mom followed him outside and grabbed his wrist, keeping him back. As she talked to him I took the chance to peel out of the driveway.

I didn't know where I was going until I remembered that Ashton said something about Parker being closed off because of his father.

I drove to the Haywood's in tears. I pulled up and thankfully he was in the front yard.

I got out of my car.

"Hey Aspen, I thought you were hanging out with your-" the words and smile died off his lips as he saw my tear stained cheeks.

"What's wrong?" He asked as he rushed over to me, crushing me in a hug.

"My dad's leaving" my words muffled when I cried into his shirt.

"Tell me everything that's happened" he lead me over to a bench. He laid his arm around my shoulders comfortingly. My body shivered under his touch.

I told him everything from the moment I got home until the second I drove off.

"That's four months. Four moths I have to spend without him. One of the only people here that made me feel at home, Parker, and he's leaving." I cried.

"What about your mom? She's still here"

"I know" I sniffled. "She's great and I love her to death but my dad is my best friend."

"I know how you feel. My dad was my best friend too. I dont know if you know this but me and everyone older than me have a different dad"

"Yeah Ashton told me" my voice barely a whisper.

"When he left I didn't see him for a long time, but whenever I saw him again I was the happiest I have ever been. When he was gone all I thought about was the last time I saw him and the next time I'd see him again."

I focused on his eyes. They weren't looking at me, but more like something in the distance. I know he was t actually looking at anything but the pictures he had in his mind.

"What happened?" I asked, stuck in a full on trance in his eyes.

"That's a story for another time." He chuckled. "Go back home and talk to him. You won't regret it"

I gave him a big hug. "Thank you Parker"

I knew he would understand even though I don't know what happened between him and his dad.

I drove back home trying to calm myself down a little bit more and getting my mind straight on what I was going to say.

I pulled up to my house. I took a deep breath before leaving my car and walking inside.

Mom and dad were sitting on the couch having a deep conversation. I really didn't want to interrupt but I had to talk to my dad.

I slowly walked in to the living room. Mom was the first to notice. She shot you and hugged me tightly.

I slowly sat down on the couch refusing to meet dad's eyes.

"I'm sorry" I broke the silence. "I overreacted and I shouldn't have ran out like that. I just didn't want you to leave for that long. I can't live that long so far away from my best friend." I fought my tears back.

"It's not your fault Aspen." He hugged me tightly.

"You and mom are the only ones who make me feel at home. You are my home, my comfort zone. All of this is so new to me and I don't want to go through it without you. But if it means that you won't leave as much throughout the years then I guess it's worth it." I spoke with a soft smile on my face.

Dads lips broke into a smile and he tackled me into a tight hug once more.

"Thank you for that. I know this all new to you it's new to me too. Just FaceTime me whenever you need me and I know for a fact that you have some great friends here as well. Lean on them, trust them, make them trust you. They can help you get through this time whenever you need them."

"Thank you dad. I love you so much"

"I love you so much more, blue sourpatch kid."

I hugged him tightly.

For the rest of the night our small family laughed, watched movies, ate takeout, had fun, and spent the night with dad. I didn't want him to leave tomorrow but I had to deal with it.
***
Dad left today, I haven't been in a happy mood all day. I don't think Del caught on until lunch rolled around.

I haven't seen Dylan much this week. He hasn't been at lunch in three days. I assumed he was sick so I never said anything to Del.

"Where's Dylan? He hasn't been here since Tuesday." I asked Del as we sat down.

She tensed up a little bit.

"He uh he transferred schools."she said. I didn't push the subject. She didn't seem very comfortable.

"What's with you, pen? I haven't seen you smile all day." She dipped her broccoli in ranch and stuffed it in her mouth.

"My dad left for Tennessee this morning. I won't see him until Thanksgiving and Christmas. He won't be back officially until the end of the year" I tried to sound casual. I stopped myself from crying before I needed to.

Her eyes went wide and she was about to say something but she stopped herself.

"I'm sorry" she ended up saying and leaving the conversation at that.

There was an awkward silence before some guy sat down in front of us.

"What are you sweet things doing?" He winked at me.

I tried to keep myself from gagging.

"I haven't seen you around before, you new?"

Again, it took all I had to not visibly gag.

"Yeah I am" I played along with his little game. "Wanna know a secret?" I fake smiled at him.

He nodded eagerly. I moved my finger for him to come closer. He slowly reached over the table. Not happy with how slow he was going I grabbed his shirt and yanked him over to me. The boy smirked.

I could see Del trying not to laugh out of the corner of my eye.

"I've got a shovel and private land don't make me use it"

His eyes went wide and I let go of his shirt. He scurried away fearfully.

Del and I busted out laughing.

"What did you say to him?" She laughed.

"Only that I had a shovel and private land" I said innocently.

Del and I laughed again.

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