Chapter 24: Chapter 24

After the heart to heart, I had with Malcolm I saw things in a whole new light. Who knew all it took was a good verbal slap to the face to see things differently. I knew what I had to do but that didn't make it any less fun to do.

With shaky legs the following morning I got up early for two reasons, one: obviously for school and two: to have a serious talk with my dad. I knocked softly in his door at around five-thirty in the morning, Malcolm was a pretty heavy sleeper thanks to his sleeping tablets but last night he slept straight away without them and didn't seem to be having any nightmares by the serene look on his face so I left the room quietly careful not to wake him.

I heard shuffling on the other side of the door before the door opened to reveal my dad wearing his gown with a tired look like he hadn't slept the entire night.

"Belle?" He asked in surprise, clearly not expecting to see me up so early.

"Can we talk?" I asked sheepishly, looking down in shame.

"Of course, uh come in." He stepped aside to let me in before he closed the door behind him. I headed over to sit at the edge of his king bed wringing my fingers anxiously as I wanted for him to sit beside me.

"I have a feeling I'm going to get yelled at again." He chuckled lightly sitting beside me dipping the bed with his weight.

I couldn't help but chuckle at remembering that a few months ago if he was near me my heart would shoot through the roof but all I felt now was ashamed of my actions towards him. He didn't deserve my childishness and for the life of me I didn't know why ever since that night I've just been losing control over my emotions and I hated that feeling, I needed them under wraps urgently before I said something that could destroy a good relationship.

I chuckled lightly, shaking my head slightly," No I promise I'm not here to yell at you, I'm here to apologize for my childish behaviour. I have been acting like a spoiled brat these past couple of days which is unjust and something I'm not proud of. A Lot of things happened to me that night in the alley and it changed me drastically, not for the better either. I realised I've taken all my anger out on you and that's so unfair on me because you've been trying so hard to change yet I haven't given you a moment of grief. The bottom line is I'm sorry for how I've been acting, I was in so much pain that I took it out on the closest person to me," I swallowed heavily tears escaping my eyes as a lump formed in my throat, I looked up to my dad who was looking back at me intently with blurry eyes, "I don't hate you I could never hate you, I love you more than the air I breathe and I'm sorry I'm such a failure of a daughter." I cried finally letting out the sobs I've been holding back.

Dad pulled me into his side, hugging me tightly as he rubbed my back gently.

"You're not a failure Bellenthu and you could never be. You're so smart and beautiful, I cannot imagine why you would think I think you're a failure. You've achieved so much and have a lot more to achieve so don't dare call yourself a failure because you're not, if anyone is a failure it's me. I also have to apologise for not being there for you and making you feel like you couldn't come to me for help. But I'm glad we're working on us because that's more than I can ask of you." He said, kissing my forehead.

"I'm glad to dad," I sniffed, hugging tighter.

"Ok hold on champ I'm not as strong as I look." He chuckled, tapping my back gently.

"I love you, Dad," I said, meaning every word.

"I love you too Belle," He said happily," Come on, you have school in an hour, rest a bit." He said getting up looking much better than when I came in.

"I think I'm going to stay here for a bit, Malcolm tends to move a lot in his sleep and you've seen how big he is." I chuckled.

"I don't see what you see in that boy?" He asked with a playful shake of his head.

"He's a good guy dad, one of the best actually and he's saved my life twice now so I think you owe him a little break," I said with a raised brow.

"Fine but that doesn't mean I like him." He rolled his eyes heading into his bed.

"Fair with me." I smiled crawling next to him as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder as he used to when I was a little kid reading bedtime stories to me.

It seemed I couldn't keep my eyes up any longer as I felt completely relaxed in my dad's embrace before I fell asleep.

***

"Wake up Belle," I hazily heard dad say as he shook me gently.

"Hmm," I groaned, turning away from him as I pulled the covers over my head.

"It's seven-thirty," he sang, my eyes practically bulging out of their sockets as what he said registered in my mind.

"Seven-thirty!" I practically yelled, throwing the covers over my head as I sat up instantly, "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" I asked my dad in shock jumping out of bed.

"You looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake you," he smiled sheepishly.

"Peaceful my ass," I playfully rolled my eyes at him heading for the door.

"Belle?" He called me as I opened the door.

"Yes?" I asked, turning to face him.

"Can I take you to school today?" He asked hopefully with a small smile, I couldn't help but smile widely with politeness.

"I'd love that," I beamed.

"Ok go get ready than before you're late," he urged.

"And who's fault is that?" I obnoxiously asked closing the door behind me only to hear his booming laughter, I chuckled lightly heading to the bathroom to freshen up.

After I finished freshening up I rushed to my room running around like a needless chicken as I randomly chose anything to wear from my closet. I faintly heard Malcolm shuffle under the sheets as he turned around, almost forgetting my phone. I pulled it from the charger and pulled the blankets from Malcolm's head. He always slept with the covers over his head, how he didn't suffocate was still a mystery to me.

"Morning, morning, morning." I sang loudly as I repeatedly kissed him on the cheek with each word. He groaned loudly trying to pull the covers back over his head.

"You look like you had a good night's sleep so I'll be out of your hair so you can rest more. Dad's taking me to school so you can sleep all day if you want." I told him kissing his blond mop of hair one last time before I covered his head with the blankets.

I heard him hum in content as he pulled the blankets tighter around him. I couldn't help but smile in absolute joy before I left my room to meet my dad in the garage.

"Goldilocks not up yet?" Dad asked as he unlocked the car.

"Not yet he's sleeping in," I said as I got into the front seat.

"Did he move in or is this the longest sleepover ever recorded in human history?" He asked putting his shaker in the cupholder.

"He's moved in," I answered with a smirk.

"A heads up would have been nice," he said.

"He's my best friend dad, no heads up is needed in that department," I said.

"You have weird tastes in friends, you know that right?" He said with a raised brow.

"So I've been told," I chuckled," So what's with the green goo?" I asked, pointing to the fitness bottle containing a thick green substance.

"Oh that I'm trying out a new diet trying to stay a little fit," he answered.

"What for? You're already fit enough?" I asked him.

"I may look fit but I'm lacking in other areas." He slowly glanced at me with a knowing look, my eyes bulged out of their sockets as I caught his drift.

"Oh God gross dad!" I cringed shaking my head trying to shake the thought of my dad having sex.

"You said you wanted to be more open with each other so I am," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Yes but I didn't mean too personal things," I said wrinkling my nose in disgust making my dad chuckle," By the way exercise will help you better than any remedy but a good diet is a good idea as well," I said.

"Then let's go to the gym," he suggested excitedly.

"Why didn't you mention that sooner, the gym is the perfect thing for us right now," I excitedly said.

"I'm not sure but I'm glad you like the idea," he smiled.

"Like it? I love it," I happily said.

"I'm glad you do," he smiled.

When we got to school I was a little on edge considering Eve hadn't texted me back in days. I wasn't sure what I did wrong but she was ignoring my calls and texts which hurt me a lot.

"Bye dad," I waved to him as I got out of the car.

"Bye Belle have a good day," he waved back.

I turned around only to have my nerves on edge as I felt all eyes on me. Through gritted teeth, I walked straight into the school with my head down and fists tightened around the straps of my bag as I headed straight for my locker.

I could feel people stare at me as I exchanged books. Sure I've been absent for a couple of days now but not months, people were so judgemental for no reason.

With a heavy sigh, I tried to ignore the heavy stairs I was receiving and closed my locker only to have my heart skip a beat as I saw Eve across the hall closing her locker with a dreaded look.

I swallowed nervously before I sped walk to her, I could tell she saw me heading towards her as she tried to dash for it.

"Eve!" I firmly stopped her in her tracks as I caught up to her. She didn't meet my eye as she pulled me roughly into the empty classroom by my wrist.

"I know I said I like things a little rough but I didn't mean this rough," I joked rubbing my wrist. She didn't find my humour funny as she looked at me blankly as if I had a screw loose.

"Not in the mood for jokes I see so why did you drag me here?" I asked seriously, dropping my playful mood.

"We need to talk," she gravely said, dropping her head with sorrowful eyes.

"Clearly because I can't even hug you without you flinching so how about we start there," I raised my voice showcasing my pain, she flinched in shame, not able to look me in the eyes. I could understand someone who was not into PDA but for Eve it was like she was deathly allergic to it.

If I tried to hug her in public she would freeze up and be completely tense until I let go of her. I wasn't sure why she did that, maybe she was ashamed to be seen with me or maybe she realised I wasn't what she wanted in a relationship.

"A lot happened to me these past couple of days and a relationship is the last thing on my mind," she said, finally catching my eye with tears dancing in her hazel eyes.

"Then tell me what's going on then we can talk about it so we can try and make things work," I pleaded even though I knew the results.

"I can't and I don't want to talk about it ok and I can't do anymore pretending that..." she said frustrated not finishing her sentence as she realised what she just said.

"Pretending?" I asked with a raised brow, a pang of hurt showing on my face.

"I didn't mean-" she began not sure what to say.

"No please tell me what you mean I'm all ears," I said through gritted teeth.

"Belle it's not what you think," she said with pain evident in her eyes.

"Then please tell me what it is?" I asked just wanting her to tell me the truth.

"Belle I just can't be in a relationship right now," she said sadly.

"Can't or don't want to?" I asked painfully with tears in my eyes as my heart felt like it was being ripped in half.

"It's not like that Belle just listen to me," she pleaded as more tears fell down her cheeks making my heart bleed even more.

She took a step closer towards me before she caressed my cheek with her hand looking at me with tender eyes.

"You have no idea how much I cherish these couple of months we shared," she smiled wiping away my tears with her thumb," You are the best thing that has ever happened to me you know that right?" She cried before she gently kissed me on the lips slowly showing me how much she loves and adores me, the kiss was so electric it had me curling my toes in pleasure.

I pulled her closer hoping to savour the moment and make it last longer as I hugged her tightly pouring my heart out into the kiss. When our lungs demanded oxygen we separated breathing heavily as we locked eyes.

"I love you Bernabee," she said softly with a peck on the lips leaving me speechless. I wasn't sure how I could even find a coherent sentence to even reply to what she said but when I attempted to speak she shut me down with her index finger pressed against my lips.

"I already know the answer, Bellenthu." She smiled slowly running her hands from around my neck to my shoulders then my arms until they rested holding my shaking hands.

"You know I remember this summer when I asked you out for our first date," she chuckled remembering the first time we went on a date, I couldn't help chuckle as I remembered the events of that day. She invited me over to a fancy cafe just a few yards out of town, it was a nice place honestly but what made it memorable was how I cursed the waitress to trip over my bag and drop the food she was carrying.

"You couldn't stop apologising," she laughed her voice music to my ears as I tried to memorise her every feature.

"How could I? She tripped over my bag," I laughed, my chest feeling lighter than when I entered the classroom.

"That's what I love most about you Bellenthu, you're such a caring person no matter what and I'm sure I'm not the only person who thinks that," she smiled, squeezing my hands before letting go and taking a step back.

"And this is the part where we say goodbye, I hate this part," I tried to laugh it off but it hurt like hell and I ended up a bubbling mess.

"I wouldn't say goodbye, more of a see you later," she smiled gently, I tried to memorise that beautiful smile of hers but the tears in my eyes blurred my vision.

"Ok I can get down with that, so see you later then?" I asked hopefully with a small smile.

"See you later Belle and no matter what stay just stay the way you are." She whispered in my ear as she hugged me tightly before letting go.

"I will just as long as you're around," I chuckled but she didn't reply as she took a few steps back with our hands laced. I didn't move with her but let her feel my touch one last time before she let my arm fall gently to my side as she smiled one last time but this smile was a painful one I could tell as she turned around and left.

That felt too much like a goodbye forever but I hoped I was wrong about that. With a heavy heart, I wiped my face and tried to compose myself before I left the classroom a couple of minutes after Eve, making sure to make a beeline to the bathroom to wash my face. Once I looked relatively fine besides my red eyes I headed to my class even if it was the last place on earth I wanted to be.