I spring from my bed and pull my dad out of my room. He kept starting back, glaring at Gray.

"Dad. I need to talk to you, " I beg when he refuses to budge. He gives Gray one last stare and walks out.

I throw Gray an apologetic look and go after my dad. I follow him to his room and close the door behind me, so no one else would hear our conversation.

"Did that start in my house?" he points at the door angrily, referring to my make-out with Gray.

"No, dad. We've h-had, " I swallow, thinking of how to explain myself to him.

"Is he your boyfriend?" dad's brows furrows as he stares at me.

"Ex."

"But you told me you've never had a boyfriend before. Why did you lie to me?" he crosses his arms and bends his head to stare at my cowering face.

"Well, he was my first and only boyfriend, and I couldn't exactly tell you a boy broke my heart."

"He what? That little cunt, " he fumes, reaching out for the door handle.

"Dad, " I groan and drag him back by his shirt.

"How dare he?" dad runs a hand through his hair frustratedly. "When did this happen?

"Breathe, dad. Breathe, " I say, gesturing with my hands.

There were multiple times I'd come home fuming because someone got me mad. Before I tell my dad what happens, he'd always go "Breathe, Dove. Breathe. Come on. Three times."

Dad takes a deep breath and opens his mouth to say something. I raise my index finger to stop him.

"Ah-Ah. P-a-t-i-e-n-c-e, " I say slowly, shaking my finger. That was how my dad acted whenever I try to talk without completing the breathing exercise.

He burst into laughter at my perfect imitation of him, his laughter resonating in the room.

He runs his hand through his hair and sits at the edge of his bed. He motions for me to come and sit next to him, which I do.

"Do you like him, " he asked, earnestness in his eyes.

I shake my head violently. "No, Dad. It's just a fling."

Knowing my Dad, he had always put me before him. Although it might kill him to let go of Shelia, I knew he would if I had a relationship with Gray.

Dad raises his left eyebrow as he studied me intensely. "Tell me the truth, Dove."

"Dad, he's Shelia's son. Even if I did like him, which I don't, it would be weird, " I shrug.

He sighs and runs his hand through his hair frustratedly. He looks back at me with his 'I fucked up eyes'

I call it that because whenever he does something wrong, he looks at me that way.

There was a time when he forgot to get my tickets to Taylor Swift's concert. I was the only girl in my class who didn't go, literally.

He had come home from work that day and looked at me with those eyes and went 'Dove, I need to tell you something."

I couldn't even express my anger because he looked so sad and disappointed. So I had to lie that I didn't like Taylor Swift, anyway.

"I need to tell you something, Dove, " he says softly after a while.

What did I say?

I figured he was probably about to talk about his cheating on Shelia. "I know, Dad."

He looks up at me with fearful eyes. "You do? How did you-"

"I saw you kissing that lady at the restaurant on Sunday."

His body relaxes before he widens his eyes again. "Wait. What?"

"I saw you cheat on Shelia," I raise a confused eyebrow. Was he about to play dumb?

Realization dawns on him, and he rubs his face vigorously. "Damnit, " he groans into his hands. "Dove, that was a mistake."

I cross my arms and tilt my head to stare at him. "A mistake?"

"Dad, you're not a kid. You don't kiss someone by mistake, " I point out.

He rubs his eyes and rests his face on his hands. "I promise it won't happen again. It was a one-time thing. Please don't tell Shelia, " he pleads with his eyes and mouth.

I didn't know whether to believe him or not. I just wanted him to be happy and didn't want anyone to get hurt. The female in me wants him to let Shelia know, but the daughter in me wants my father to be happy.

I decided to help my dad this time. It was just a kiss, a one-time kiss. It won't happen again.

~~~~~~~~~~

Fawn drops her tray on the table and plops next to me happily. "My sister said she'd be free on Saturday."

I beam with joy at her words and smile. Her sister Jessie went to NYU, and she has offered to give us a tour around the school. Growing up, I had always thought I would school outside NY.

As much as I liked Newyork, I'd like to experience other states too, but I can't stop thinking about my dad. I'm pretty much convinced he'll get sick if he doesn't see me for a week. Or maybe I was the one who'd get sick, not sure.

"Free for what?" Elliot asks between his meals. Elliot has been sticking with us ever since we found out about his relationship. I wasn't complaining because he is a pretty cool friend.

"A tour of NYU, " Fawn responds, sweeping her hair over her shoulder.

"Ugh, " Elliot fake gags. "Why would you want to go to NYU? Let's go study somewhere like Spain or Italy."

"To be honest, I'd prefer to study in Japan, but Dove wants to check out NYU, " Fawn shrugs.

They were talking about studying in other countries like it wasn't a big deal. First of all, my grades won't let me. Second, my homesickness would kill me.

"Can I come too?" Elliot asks, and I look at Fawn.

She nods her head and pops a French fry in her mouth. "Be my guest."

"Great. I'll be able to feast my eyes on some college candies, " Elliot grins.

"Aren't you in a relationship?" I raise my brows.

"That doesn't mean I can't look, Dove."

I frown at him. Uh-yes, it does. I know I'd hate to see Gray checking out other girls even if we aren't dating, at the moment.

"Besides, Aaron and I are kinda going through a rough patch. After what you said the other day, I'm beginning to feel like an experiment, " Elliot continues.

What did I say?

"You know, almost like he's using me to test his sexuality, and I don't want that, " Elliot's voice suddenly lowers as he stares down at his plate.

I mentally curse myself and my big mouth. I shouldn't have said anything because now Elliot is beginning to question his relationship.

I knew Aaron's dad was a conservative man who would flip if he found out Aaron was gay. Maybe that was why Aaron didn't want to go public.

"Why do you think so?" Fawn asks him.

He shrugs and forks his salad. "I see him making out with girls, and he always seems to enjoy it."

"Maybe he's bisexual?" I scrunch my face.

Elliot looks up. "That's why I'm bothered."

The bell rings, signifying the end of the lunch break. After three more classes, school ends for the day.

"Can I drive today?" I ask Gray as he grabs my bag from my chair.

He looks at me with an amused expression. "Did I do something wrong?"

I have decided to take my driver's license test once more. I couldn't keep waiting for people to drive me around. Frankly, I didn't think I was the problem. My examiners just have a bad day and are taking it out on me. Yes, all the five different examiners that I've had were all having a bad day.

"No, " I reply.

"Then why are you trying to kill me?"

I roll my eyes at him and try to grab my bag from him. Instead, he holds it up and intertwines his free hand with mine.

"Wanna grab McDonald's before we head home?" he asks in a fatal attempt to try and change the subject.

"I wanna grab the steering wheel, " I deadpan as we walk out.

He groans and swings my hand. "There are so many things I haven't done yet. I can't die now."

I frown at him. I wasn't that bad of a driver. I didn't know why everyone makes a big deal out of it. My dad also refuses to let me use his car to drive.

"Please, Gray, " I plead and look at him with puppy dog eyes. Those eyes always work on my dad all the time.

"That's not going to work on me, " he chuckles and shakes his head.

~~~~~~~~~~

I look to my right out of the corner of my eye. Gray had a constipated look on his face as he clutches on to his seat belt. The horns of the cars behind me increases with time.

"Do I increase my speed?" I ask Gray, biting down on my lips.

He shakes his head weakly. "No. Don't. Just keep going like this, " he gestures with his hand.

It had been weeks since I've driven a car. But I swear I was better than this the last time I drove.

I keep my eyes trained on the road, raising my neck higher so I could get a better view. I try to switch lanes, but the car at my left suddenly horns, so I stay in the middle lane.

Gray jerks from his seat and stares at me. "You have to turn on your signal before switching lanes."

"Oh right, " I mutter under my breath.

I turn on my left signal and steer to the left. The Vehicle at the left lane horns again, so I swerve back to my lane to prevent being hit.

Gray sighs and rests his head on the headrest. "Did you check your side mirror? The blind spot?"

"How am I supposed to see a fucking blind spot, " I yell frustratedly. I need to be on the left so I could make a U-turn towards our house.

Gray swallows and licks his lower lips. He places a hand behind my seat, his muscles flexing in the process.

"Now, " he says, and I smoothly steer left.

I grin happily, and Gray relaxes on his seat.

I see where I'm to make a U-turn, and my anxiety is back again. U-turns are the worst part of driving.

"Just slow down, " Gray says, gesturing with his hands, and I step on the breaks.

The car comes to a sudden halt, and Gray flips again. "Don't stop in the middle of the road. Press the gas pedal."

My heartbeat quickens as I try to press the gas pedal to prevent the car from being hit. I press the pedal forcefully and drive past our turning point.

Gray chuckles lowly and runs a hand through his hair. "I guess we'll get home someday since the earth is round."

~~~~~~~~~~

Our usual drive home usually took twenty minutes, but it took me an hour to get us home.

But I did get us home safely.

Gray gets down from the car without saying a word. "Remind me, to never let you touch my keys again, " he says as I hand him his keys.

I roll my eyes. "Don't you think you're exaggerating a bit too much, " I pinch my fingers.

"No. I think I'm under exaggerating, " he replies, a smug look on his face.

"That makes no sense, " I scoff and open the door.

"Life makes no sense either, " he shrugs.

What?

I am unable to reply to him when we walk in due to the commotion in the house. Dad and Shelia were hugging each other in joy, while Chloe just stared at them.

"What's going on?" I ask, dropping my bag on the sofa.

"I dunno, " Chloe shrugs and tugs on my dad's jeans.

Sheila sees me and pulls me into a big hug, raising me off my feet slightly. Her happiness radiating everywhere. I hug her back.

She finally releases me, a huge grin still plastered on her face. "I'm pregnant. "

••••••••••

OOTD- what's your favorite food?

>I'm obsessed with spaghetti. I literally can't get enough of it.

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