“Penelope,” I heard Kendall’s voice behind me as I sprinted out of class to avoid him. “Penelope!” I felt a large hand grab my shoulder.

“I don’t want to talk,” I mumbled under my breath.

“Shit, okay. Sheesh. But let me drive you at least,” Kendall rolled his eyes as we walked toward the parking lot in silence.

“Why didn’t you answer your texts? From me? Or Cedric?” Kendall confronted me the second we got in the car.

I went to go open the door but Kendall instantly locked it.

“I said I don’t want to talk,” I crossed my arms over my puffy winter jacket and I watched the snow fall outside.

“Fine. I’ll talk . . .” he glared at me with his smartass eyes. “I think you're acting like a little bitch and I think your dad is acting like a bigger bitch.”

“Kendall!”

“WHAT! It’s the truth! I mean you could have stood up to your dad and told him he was being fucking crazy controlling —” he paused, “Like your mother.” He pressed his lips and gripped the steering wheel.

I knew he was right. I looked over at the snow and felt a burning hot tear slide down my cheek. I wiped it with my mittens and sniffed.

Kendall was right.

“But I don’t want to lose my dad.”

Kendall let out a loud laugh, “Penny, come on. You aren’t going to lose him even if you tried.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he loves you and even if he was pissed off at you he still wants you to be happy. It seems like he was more pissed about finding out your mother is a no-good-lying-gold-digging-whore.”

I sniffed and looked over at Kendall, “How do you even know about all this?”

“Where do you think Cedric came after the fight?”

“Is he at your apartment right now?” My heart joyed with joy as I thought about seeing Cedric again. It’s only been six days, but I miss him like crazy, more than I thought I would. More than I had ever missed anyone in my life.

“No, he stayed with me on Wednesday after the fight, but then went to his apartment.”

“He has an apartment already?”

“Yeah . . . he got one before we even went to Florida. Didn’t he tell you?”

“No,” I smiled to myself as I realized that he probably wanted to be my roommate for as long as he could.

“You should at least text him. He’s worried about you.”

I looked down at my phone and played with the volume keys. “Maybe after I talk to my dad about everything. I don’t want to get my hopes up and act like everything's normal when it’s obviously not.”

“Maybe it’s also time to tell your dad about your mom. It might help him understand a lot of things, especially the controlling part,” Kendall placed his hand on my shoulder.

I touched his hand and let out a sigh.

“He quit his job last week. The day before we came back. I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring that up.”

“Damn. Okay. Whoa,” Kendall let out a heavy sigh. “He really did have a shitty week, eh?”

“Yep.”

We both stared at the falling snow in silence for a few minutes while Kendall processed everything.

“But you shouldn't use that as an excuse to not talk to him. You should still bring it up.”

“Yeah . . . I know,” I screamed internally, conflicted with all the shit I had to worry about. “But he isn’t even talking to me,” I whined.

“Well, you didn’t want to talk to me either, but look at us now,” Kendall smirked.

I let out a little giggle and rolled my eyes.

* * *

“Dad?” I stepped into my own house feeling like an intruder.

I hate this feeling. I hate that I was right about everything being ruined.

Why do I always jinx myself?

I let out a heavy sigh and threw my book bag on my bed. I heard angry footsteps stomp their way downstairs.

I have to do this, don't I?

I stepped out of the room and headed toward the kitchen where my dad was making a sandwich for himself and me. Even though he was pissed off at me, he still wanted to take care of me.

“Hey, Dad . . . can we talk?”

He slapped the mayo on the sandwich angrily, “No.”

“Okay . . . I’ll talk,” I stole Kendall’s words as my dad looked at me with his dark eyes. I cleared my throat trying to make sure I can actually talk to him. “Hmm, well —,” I stalled. I didn't really know how to start this conversation.

“Here’s your sandwich, Pen. I’ll be upstairs.”

I grabbed my dad’s hand as he passed me so that he wouldn't leave.

“I get that you had a shit week last week. But I think you are being unfair to me . . . and Cedric,” he slowly moved his hand out of my grip and placed the plate down on the dining room table.

“I don’t know what to say. I have nothing to say,” his shook his head. “You should have told me — NO — you should have not done —,” he let out a frustrated sigh.

I knew he wanted to talk to me but he had no idea what he wanted to say either. My dad walked over to the end of the dining room table and pulled out a seat. I sat across from him, staring at the sandwich in the middle of the table. Observing the mayo, tomato, lettuce and ham layers like it was the most interesting thing to look at.

“You’re being like mom,” I blurted out.

I looked up at him with my big eyes. He was so confused and depressed that I compared him to her.

“What?”

I took a deep breath. “Mom — Tiffany used to threaten me if I didn’t do what she wanted me to do, and I feel like you’re doing the same when you made me choose between you . . . or Cedric,” my voice cracked as I brought Cedric's name again.

God, I miss him so much.

I looked down at the sandwich and tried to hide my tear-filled eyes. I tucked my hair behind my ears and tried to control my breathing.

“Penelope, what do you mean threaten?”

I sighed and told him exactly what I meant. I told him everything about her. Everything. From the time that woman had read my first journal when I was 12 and found out that I had a crush on Kendall’s dad to the time she lied about being extremely allergic to cats so I couldn't get my birthday present. I told him all the names she’s ever called me: tramp, trash, bitch, worthless, worlds-biggest-mistake, and so on.

Even though it wasn't pretty, Kendall was right. It was time he finally knew.

We sat in silence for a few minutes as I held back my tears. My dad got up from his chair quietly and grabbed me up to give me a full hug.

“I-I didn’t know,” he cried. His voice was weak and full of pain, “I’m so sorry Pen.” He let out a little sniff as his hug got tighter.

“It’s okay, Daddy,” I rubbed his back.

His grip got tighter when he finally heard the name he always wished I had called him. He let out a little burst of laughter, “I’m so sorry, Pen. I didn’t know. I wish you had told me — I’m so sorry.”

I petted the back of his hair as he let go of me. He coughed to clear his throat. I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. My dad took a seat next to me, still grabbing my hand, almost afraid to let go of me.

He chuckled, trying to fight his pain, “Fuck. So your mom was a bigger you-know-what than I ever imagined.”

I nodded and gripped his hand tighter, “Yep.”

He held hands for about a few minutes until I finally moved away. I looked at him straight in the eyes, “Can we talk about Cedric now?” I swallowed nervously, my eyes shaking.

He placed his hand under his chin, resting on it, “You’re too young for him.”

“You and Tiffany were eleven years apart,” I called him out.

“He isn’t —,” Dad let out a heavy grunt. “How do I know he isn't just using you? I’ve known him since college and he was such a . . .”

“Are you the same guy you were in college?”

He looked up at me and pressed his lips together, “No, but —”

“So why can’t he change?”

Dad chuckled under his breath while muttering, “smartass.” I laughed with him. It felt like we were back to normal again.

“I still don't like this,” he brought back his serious voice. “I don't know if I can believe him and what he told you.”

“Maybe you should talk to him. I know it’s hard for you to believe me, so maybe it would be best if you talked to him yourself.”

He looked at me and nodded with a smile, “You think I overreacted, don't you?”

“I don’t think you know how to handle it when your little girl isn’t a perfect little goody two shoes,” I giggled.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he looked at me with his big brown eyes. “My baby girl is all grown up,” he pouted.

“I heard that’s what happens with age.”

My dad rolled his eyes as if he was trying to make the whole world spin.

“I’ll talk to Cedric, but can you keep your distance in case I find out —”

“Find out he's lying?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled.

We sat at the table, enjoying each other's silence until my dad got up. He grabbed his plate of food and sat down on the couch.

“Are you coming?” he smiled over his shoulders. “It’s rude to eat without everyone.”

I brought over my sandwich and joined my dad as we watched a random chick flick on the TV.

“Although, I have a feeling he isn’t lying,” he said with a mouthful.

“You once told me he was the most honest and loyal person you ever met. You said that the only reason you became friends with him was because he went through with the punishment after he lost the dare.”

My dad nodded and let out an honest laugh, “Yeah.”

“Are you ever going to tell me what that dare was about?”

“Hell no, Pen. Just eat your sandwich.”

I smiled and took a bite of my sandwich. Yep, it seems like me and my dad are back to normal. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and read the last text from Cedric.