“You know it!” What a lie! What a horrible lie, she could care less what they were doing because she already knew she wasn’t seeing Laurissa. She wanted to talk with Laurissa about the big issues that happened from the crush on Joaquin to admitting that she loved Oliver to realizing that Luna might like girls, but she wasn’t focused on that part yet. She was focused on her love for Oliver.
“Well let’s go, don’t want to hit that I-95 traffic back down to Tampa.”
“We are getting on I-95, we are always going to end up in traffic because of all the construction.”
“Well, listen to you being an adult, but you aren’t wrong; the I-95 always has traffic but that’s the best way to get home.”Wow, Luna is an adult in his eyes because of her choice of words. This is going to be an interesting break with her dad. They headed for I-95 South and as they got on the immediate traffic started and so did the immediate silence. He didn’t seem too thrilled to have his daughter and he didn’t seem to look like he cared that he had Luna for Christmas. Which made no sense, he always fought for Christmas and New Years to be with him and now he hardly wants Luna on either holidays.
“Soo, dad. How’s life?” She didn’t know where to start on that conversation with him so she dug a hole for it.
“Life is something I will say. What about you, how’s middle school treating you?” What a vague answer from him but also again the question about how middle school is. Why do both her parents want to know how it is going for her, it is just a different school and new kids to be around but nothing changed in Luna’s eyes.
“Middle school is good, finally adjusted to the changes but I have made friends in at least all of my classes just in case I have to leave early for a doctor's appointment. Which is nice, some of my classes are harder than others which is a good challenge for me.”
“Wow, should I call you Miss. Popular because of all the friends you’re making. Any boys, I need to worry about?” Oh no! Who spilled the beans? I doubt it was Laurissa or Sammy, could it have been the boys they were there when she told them about how she and Oliver truly met. Play it cool Luna! He is probably just curious about if there are any guys she is crushing on.
“You know you are the only guy in my life, dad.”
“Better stay that way, you shouldn’t have to be thinking about boys in that way anytime soon.”
“In what way?” She was curious what he meant by that line, which meant that he wasn’t supposed to say it like that at all.
“In a bad way, in a way that they feel like they are entitled to you in a lot of ways. Have you and your mom had that talk yet?” Oh geez, the birds and bees talk. She remembers that conversation because her mom was telling her about it all in their old house the summer before 4th grade because she was developing slightly. She was told that sex was supposed to be special and after actually talking and knowing when she was ready. To think back at that talk and then that same summer Luna had to deal with Lucas and his hormones toward her made her question the timing of it all.
“Yeah she and I talked about sex. It was weird but. I understand it.”
“You understood, you had no questions?”
“I mean, I had some questions but not too many. She said that if I have any questions I can ask her.” Why is this the conversation we are having in the car? How did talking about middle school get us to the conversation about sex?
“Okay good, do you have questions for the guy side of if?” AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! This is not the topic that Luna wanted to talk about with her dad.
“I’m good actually, Marc already answered those questions for me.” Lie, but to cut this topic short it must be done.
“You know that he isn’t your dad, Luna. I am. I am here to help you understand all that and the fact that he took that from me really does hurt my feelings.” Seriously? How was Luna supposed to respond to that? She was questioning if she asked the same questions again to her dad just to make him feel better. She didn’t have any questions though, because she was questioning why this was a big deal?
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I was just asking him because he was right in front of me when I had all the questions. The next time I have those kinds of questions I will ask mom to call you for me to ask you, sounds like a good idea?” She hoped it would shut this conversation down to nothing. She hoped more than anything.
“Fine, I can work with that. So, are there any boys I should worry about?” Back to the beginning of this whole awkward conversation.
“No dad, I just have a bunch of friends that are guys but none of them meet my standards. Now if you asked about my celebrity crush I would tell you it is Robert Patterson because he is my dreamy vampire and I can’t help but be in love with him. Is that the kind of guy you are thinking of?” Please say yes and have this conversation be DONE!!!
“Sure kid. Are you excited for this break with me?”
“Definitely! What is in store for us these couple of weeks?”
“Well, I will be working for a lot of the time but I have a babysitter coming to watch you half of the time, she is a nice girl that lives down the street from my house.” He got Luna a babysitter? He knew that she was home alone after school, why does he think she needs a babysitter?
“Why do I need a babysitter? I take care of myself at home alone all the time. I think I can handle being alone for a couple of hours.”
“I got you a babysitter because you shouldn’t be home alone in this neighborhood, that’s why. As I was saying, she is a nice girl that lives down the street from my house, you will respect and be good with her.” So, she can be home alone at her mom’s but not her dad’s? Luna hated this moment, she felt like she was like she was 5 years old. She “needs” a babysitter.
“Okay, does my mother know that you are leaving me alone with a stranger that you claim is a nice girl that lives down the street from your house?” A bit rude even for Luna’s standards but she knew it was needed.
“No, she doesn’t and I am hoping this can stay between us.” Ahh, the best thing about Luna and her dad’s relationship is how he thinks it’s keeping a secret but really it is Luna lying to her mom. Her dad made her lie to her mom all the time because he didn’t want her mom knowing that we were hanging out with Laurissa. The thing is, she finally gained her mom’s trust again. She wanted to text her, but Luna left her phone at home because her mom didn’t want Luna’s dad knowing that she has a phone or asking for her number to call Luna whenever he thinks is appropriate as she would put it. She just wanted to let her mom know just so then it is easier for Luna.
“Sure we can, but if I get punished will you tell her the truth that you told me to keep this between us?” Luna can answer that question without thinking, his answer is going to be no. He’s going to say that if she doesn’t bring it up, she won’t get caught.
“Why would you end up bringing your babysitter?” Something about this conversation that Luna is noticing, she never got a name for this nice girl that lives down the street from his house.
“She might ask me what I did during the day while you’re at work, I want to be able to say, I was with my babysitter named?”
“Named?”
“Yeah, you haven’t said her name yet. What is her name?”
“Oh, Samantha. Sam for short. Just don’t tell your mother that I left you with Sam, I don’t need that headache.” Which means that Sam isn’t the age he is making it seem, which means he is dating her. She didn’t want to be babysat by one of his girlfriends, then he is going to say at the end of the week, “oh did you like her? Cool, because she is my girlfriend and I want you to like her like I do.” He had done that once before Raina, Luna couldn’t remember her name but he had introduced her as his friend to her and by the end of the week he told Luna that they were together. She hates meeting new people that won’t last in her life.
“Why would it be a headache? If Sam is nice then there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“Stop it, you are trying to act like an adult again. You are a kid and you need a babysitter, end of conversation.” Wow! She didn’t know what to say, she stayed quiet. That was the end of the conversation, and he made it clear that Luna is a child that knows nothing. Good job dad!
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