If I had known what would happen after telling Gerard about Emerald's dad, I never would have said a word, but it's too late now. He has his mind set, and there's nothing I can do to change it.

My much needed day off was anything but relaxing after he told me his plan, by the way, and the next day at school went by painfully quick. I actually wanted to stay at school for once.

Either way, in an all too short amount of time I'm climbing into Gerard's car, hesitantly telling him the address, and soon, we're parked out in front of Emerald's house. This place I was hoping I'd never see again, despite my longing to go back to that time in Emerald's room. When it was just her and I, and we were happy, and when she called me amazing.

My heart flutters at the memory, but my happiness is much too hastily ripped away from me when I hear Gerard open the car door and get out.

"Wait!" I say, getting out of the car too, before I can stop myself. "This isn't necessary."

"I'm not letting that man off the hook, Evelyn, he hurt you. He hurt his own daughter, too, didn't he?" He says angrily, charging toward the front door.

I grab his arm before he has a chance to knock. "Well, what are you gonna do?" I ask. I need to prepare myself for whatever's about to happen.

"I'm just gonna... talk to him."

I roll my eyes as he finally knocks on the door three times, then I step behind him when just the person I was dreading to see opens up.

"May I help you?" Emerald's father asks, noticing me, then eyeing Gerard with his cold stare.

Gee sticks out his hand. "I'm Gerard Way, I adopted Evelyn a few months ago."

I see he's trying to be polite before shit inevitably goes down. Emerald's dad just stands there with his front door open. He doesn't return the handshake, or invite us inside, but introduces himself reluctantly. "Richard. Emerald's father." Then, he just waits for Gerard to say whatever he has to say.

"Well, Richard, I want you to tell me why you thought it was okay to kick my daughter out onto the street Halloween night," he demands finally.

"Why do you think it's okay to show up on my doorstep and interrogate me like this?" Richard asks, anger already apparent in his voice.

"We deserve an explanation," Gee states simply, crossing his arms.

"'We' meaning you and Evelyn?" He forces himself to say my name, I dare say in disgust, as his eyes flicker briefly down to me. "She was there. She knows perfectly well what happened."

"That doesn't answer my question." I can tell he's having a hard time keeping his anger under control now.

The man grits his teeth, speaking in a low voice. "I walked in on our daughters... kissing."

"So?" Gee raises his eyebrows, "You think that means you could yell at the kid? Tell her to get up and leave without having anywhere to go? They weren't doing anything dangerous! They were just two teenagers watching a movie and having a nice time together until you got there!"

"They were... they were being disgusting. I don't tolerate that kind of unnatural behaviour under my roof!" Richard yells.

"Unbelievable!" Now it's Gerard's turn to yell. "What if they'd been doing drugs down there or some shit? Would that have been more acceptable to you? Man, girls can kiss other girls, that's the way life is! You gotta accept that. You gotta accept your own fucking daughter."

I'm still cowering behind Gerard, but even from back here I can tell he pushed a button. I've never seen him so angry before; I'm kind of scared. But I'm more scared of the look that just appeared on Emerald's father's face. "My daughter," he spits, "didn't begin this— this phase until she started associating with yours!" He pokes Gee hard in the chest.

"Hey!" I yell, stepping out from behind him before he has a chance to open his mouth. "Don't you dare put your hands on my dad."

Richard looks down at me, smirking, "Oh, Sweetie, you really think he's your dad?"

Oh, he shouldn't have said that.

"He is more of a dad than you will ever, ever be to Emerald! He actually accepts me for who I am, unlike you. And you really think this is a phase?" I laugh humourlessly. "Think again, old man, Emerald likes me and- and I really like her, okay? That I know will never change, so maybe you should go apologize to her and work on accepting the things that you can't change, asshole."

I've had enough now. I stick around only long enough to get the satisfaction of seeing the shocked expression on his face before going back to the car, slamming the door behind me. Gee follows suit, and when he drives away, Richard is still standing in his doorway with a dumb expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from!" I burst out before he can speak up.

"No, don't be. I'm proud of you."

"I just called a grown man an asshole to his face and you're proud of me?"

"Where's the lie, though? Eve, just then, you fucking stood up for yourself and Emerald. Of course I'm proud of you."

I can't stop the smile from spreading across my face. "Thanks, Gee."

• • •

Okay, so, that was kind of amazing. I mean, I said things I never thought I'd say out loud to anyone's face, actually standing up for myself. But, here's the thing: I'm still worrying.

I'm in my room, waiting for Gee to be done making supper, pacing. Not just normal pacing, though. As soon as we got home, I pulled my bed away from the wall and into the middle of my room then began walking circles around it. It's something I used to do when I was little, when I got overwhelmed or had a lot on my mind. My mother absolutely hated it because she didn't understand, so she'd always come in and forcefully push the bed back in its place. Once, she nearly crushed me with it in the process, but my little legs jumped out of the way just in time.

What am I so overwhelmed about this time?

Let's see... for starters, Emerald probably hates me now. We just showed up to her house and yelled at her dad! I mean, maybe he did deserve it, but still. She's already been avoiding me like the plague, so I can't see this making things any better.

If only life could be a bit simpler. But, no. It's not.

I learned that a long time ago.

We all know the story. I was abandoned by my mother when I was seven, I went to a shitty foster home, then another shitty foster home, I stuck around in another one, sad and bored out of my mind, and then I was adopted at thirteen.

Why can't I stop going over it again and again in my head? It's not like I'll suddenly realize something new about the situation I hadn't previously. Nothing I do will ever change the past.

I'm still walking in circles around my bed, surprised I haven't burned a hole through the floor yet. I speed up as more and more thoughts and memories enter my mind until I'm basically jogging. I'm getting dizzy, but oh well, the exercise is good for me.

Just then, I hear Gee's voice ring out from downstairs. "Food's ready!"

"Coming!" I yell back.

Oh, joy.

• • •

i forgot to update last night. whoops.