up your life.”
“If I chose to screw up my life than that’s my
choice. I know I’m not perfect and I may not make the best
decisions, but good or bad they’re my choices to make.”
“Ella, I don’t have time for your childish
dribble.”
I laughed harshly. Clearly no matter what I said he
wasn’t going to listen to me. “Just leave.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. It doesn’t matter what I say. You’re
not going to listen to me and I’m tired of living by your rule.” I
crossed my arms and dared him to challenge me. I knew what was
coming next would be ugly, but I was prepared for it.
“Ella, do not defy me,” he growled. “If you don’t
come back with me than don’t bother coming back at all.”
His words hurt, but I refused to let it show. “For
someone who claims they spent their life protecting me, you’re
pretty quick to throw me aside.”
“That’s not true and you know it. Do not twist my
words around.”
“Twist your words? Are you kidding right now? You
just said if I do not leave with you then don’t bother coming back.
You couldn’t have made it any clearer so thanks for that dad. Heard
you loud and clear the first time.”
“Why do you have to be so tiresome and argue with me
all the time?” he threw his hands up in the air. “This behavior of
yours has got to stop. I cannot allow it to go on any longer.”
“Sorry I’m such a burden and cause trouble in your
perfect little existence.” I stared him down and looked him
straight in the eye.
“Ella, you don’t just cause trouble you go looking
for it. You know how poorly that makes us look?”
“Well I guess you just got your wish then because I
no longer want to be part of a family who only cares about how I
make them look.”
He looked at me, surprised by my reaction. “You don’t
mean that.”
“Yes I do. I’m tired of pretending to be something
I’m not. I’m not the perfect daughter who obeys and beckons to your
every need. I’m not going to be bullied by you anymore. I’m done
being controlled by you and if don’t like it then you can leave.” I
pointed to the door, proving I was serious.
He stood there silently for a moment then he looked
at Dean who I forgot was even there. He hadn’t said a word the
entire time. “Dad, I’m sorry, but I’m staying with Ella.” He took a
stand beside me. “And if that means I’m out too, well then, I’m
out.” I took his hand and silently thanked him.
Our dad stood there shocked. Then he left without
another word.
The door slammed so hard behind us I thought it would
have fallen off it’s hinges. I felt my heart drop down to my
stomach. I let out a breath and ran a shaky hand through my hair.
My body was so numb I forgot Dean was holding my hand until he
pulled me into him for a hug. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know,” I said, pulling away. “You didn’t
have to do that. I mean there’s no sense in having dad pissed at
both of us.”
“No, but it was about time I took a stand too. I’m
not going to deny that dad has been a little easier on Xander and I
but that doesn’t mean we haven’t gotten our fair share of live by
his rules or else speeches. And I know dad puts more pressure on
you than us and that’s not fair. He shouldn’t have come down on you
like that. We all make bad choices, but that’s just a part of life
and that’s how we learn to make the right choices. I also believe
you know in your heart what the right choices are.”
“When did you get so smart?” I teased.
“When you started being the bad seed,” he laughed. He
made me smile which helped lesson some of the pain.
“Hey,” Josie said, peeking her head around the
corner. “Um, I kind of heard what happened. Well, we all heard. Are
you guys okay?” I rushed Josie and nearly crushed her in a bear
hug. “Oh, okay, not so good I take it.”
After the fight with my dad the only thing I wanted
to do was crawl into bed and cry, but that would
Lesley Pearse
Taiyo Fujii
John D. MacDonald
Nick Quantrill
Elizabeth Finn
Steven Brust
Edward Carey
Morgan Llywelyn
Ingrid Reinke
Shelly Crane