05

« Everyone has a choice, » Dylan’s eyes lit up, « We could run away together. I’ll grab as much cash from my parents as possible and we’ll leave. »

« Dylan you know I can’t leave Sophie, Tanner, and my mom behind, » I argued.

« Tanners gone, » Dylan reminded me.

« My dad found him and took him in, so if there’s still a chance I can see him again I’ll take it, » I paused, « This doesn’t change how I feel about you Dylan ; I still love you. »

Dylan pulled his hands away, « Don’t say that don’t ever say that if you really meant it you would fight back, and not hide in a hole like you’ve been doing your whole life ! »

Man, he knew how to push my buttons, « You think I like being quiet ! No ! It’s torture to me ! You don’t know anything about me ! »

« Oh is that right ! So when I found out you couldn’t speak in front of people without getting sick, or can’t make brownies without burning them, or when your dad left you, and when they took Tanner away ! Yeah, that’s right I know nothing about you ! » I threw a pillow at him hitting him hard ; I shouldn’t have done that, « Get out ! Get out ! Get out ! » his face went red, and I ran. Far away from him.

« You probably should start packing, » Mom suggested.

« There’s not much to pack, » I said.

Mom flinched, darn it I didn’t mean it like that, « I didn’t mean it like that. »

« I know, » She sat on my bed (our couch folded out), « I hate to give you bad news right now, but you’re leaving in three days. »

« What about graduation !? » I asked disbelieved.

« I’ve already talked to your principal, he said he’d give you your certificate tomorrow after school. He said it would be okay because school is ending soon anyways. »

Congratulations to me, « At least I’ll be able to see Tanner sooner. »

Mom hugged me, « You’re always doing your best to be optimistic and I’m thankful for that. And don’t worry about Dylan he’ll come around eventually. »

« I hope your right mom, » I whispered again, « I hope your right. »

* *

« Congratulations on graduating Miss. Draper, » The Principal shook my hand.

« Thank you, » I said quietly.

The day I had been waiting for, the day I’d saved up my money for my graduation gown, hat, and so on. It had been torn to pieces ; instead of standing with my class of 2007 I’m in here shaking hands with the principal with no one to see my great hard accomplishment.

« May I ask why you are leaving so soon ? » The Principal asked.

« My dad is back and wants us to move with him to Florida, » I half lied.

« Well that’s great news ! Have a good day Miss. Draper, » He shooed me out of his office. When the door closed all I wanted was to fall against the door and disintegrate into thin air.

« Congratulations graduate, » I heard him say.

I opened my eyes not realizing I’d closed them, « Hi. »

Dylan walked up to me taking my hands, « How about we celebrate ? »

I smiled, « Your not mad ? »

« No, I’m furious, not at you though at your dad, but I’m going to make the best of this even though I’m not allowed to be your boyfriend any more, » Dylan said.

I smiled, « I appreciate it. »

He leaned down kissing me, and this time it was the last time we would ever kiss, he let go, « Let’s go celebrate ! »

« Dylan ? » I asked biting into my burger a few minutes later.

« Huh ? » Dylan looked up.

I swallowed, « Could you make sure my family is okay until they move to Florida ? »

« Of course, I’ll do anything for you, » Dylan smiled. Then his face lit up like he had just thought of a plan, « I have a great idea ! How about you make a list of demands you want from your father since he is making you do this stupid thing. »

« That’s the smartest thing you’ve thought of today, » I complimented.

I really liked this idea. Dylan pulled out a notebook and I started scribbling down my list of demands.

**

« Is that everything ? » Dad asked pointing to my small suitcase.

« You forget that mom paid the bills for the past nine years, » I spat.

« Ouch, I guess I had that coming, » Dad picked up the suitcase, « Ready ? »

« Almost, » I started pulling out the list.

« Now what ? » Dad had been standing here for thirty minutes he must be a very impatient man.

« I’ve got a list of demands I want to be done if I’m going to go through this, » I held it up, « I want you to pay for me to go to college for at least 4-years. » I paused, he was listening intently, « I want you to give mom a better home, and I want you to get Sophie a tutor, I want-«

« Cassandra if I have the power and money to do it I’m pretty sure I can do everything on that list of yours, » He said.

To test him I said, « So I can get my belly button pierced. »

His face went into shock, « Why would you want that ? »

I slightly smiled, « I don’t I was just checking to see that you’d do whatever’s on this list. »

Mom came in interrupting us, « You ready ? »

« No, I mean yes, » The no was meant for no I’m not ready to get married, but I didn’t want to start anything.

Mom grabbed me giving me a tight hug, « Fly safe. »

I sighed, mom was barely able to make it through the front doors of the airport with out freaking out. How in the world was my dad going to get her to Florida on an airplane in a few months ?

« I will don’t worry. » I turned to Sophie, « Do I get a hug from you ? »

Sophie spread out her hands, « Of course. »

« Now you be good and behave for mom, I’ll see you soon, » I whispered in her ear.

« I’m going to miss you, say hi to Tanner for me, » Sophie whispered letting go then walked over to mom so she had someone to hold on to.

« Don’t I get a hug ? » Dylan asked.

He insisted on coming to the airport too. Dad didn’t know he was my ex-boyfriend he just thought he was my friend.

I hugged him, « I’m going to miss you. »

« I’ll miss you too, » He whispered.

I let go, and walked over to dad, « Let’s go. »

I waved to everyone and then we where on the plane that would take us to Florida. I got on the plane, my first plane trip ; I never thought it would be with my dad.

« Cassandra where are you going ? » Dad asked me as I went to go to coach.

« Isn’t this where we are going ? » I pointed to second class.

« No, we’re up here in first class. I thought for your first ride you’d like to be up here, » Dad motioned for me to follow.

I went through the curtain that separated the two classes. Whoa there was a big difference, the seats were white, not as squashed together as 2nd (two seats each row), and so much more.

« Here we are, » Dad pointed at two very nice looking seats, « you can have the window since you’ve never been on a plane before. »

I just gawked at him is this really where we were sitting ? Dad cleared his throat bringing me back to reality ; quickly I sat down in the seat next to the window. When we took off I opened the cover on the window up, and I started gawking at how cool it was below. « Whoa. »

« I’m glad you like it so far, » Dad smiled.

I looked at him, « You know pampering me isn’t going to change the fact that you’ve been gone for nine years and that for the past year you’ve been secretly taking care of Tanner why we all were wondering what happened to him. »

His smile faded, « Cassandra. »

« Save your excuses, I know the real reason why your back, and it’s to make sure you live the happy rich life you’ve been living the past nine years, » I wanted to crush his soul if he had one.

« Cassandra, I haven’t been living this life for more than seven years, and it’s hard making you do something that was originally my mistake, » Dad argued.

« I broke up with my boyfriend because of you, so excuse me if I have a hard time forgiving you, » I turned to the window with a pout. He didn’t deserve to be called dad, my mom told me I was allowed to call him by his name, Felix.

Silence went on for a while before he spoke, « Did you love him ? »

My shoulders tensed, « Yes I did why would you care ? »

« I am sorry. I don’t know what else you want me to say Cassandra, » He hissed.

« Just don’t talk to me Felix, » I threw the name out as a weapon to sting him and it worked.

« You can call me dad, » Felix said.

« In order to be called dad you have to earn the title, » I said. I pulled out my earplugs I was done talking, « Cassandra I-« I plugged them in ignoring him, and looked out the window. Silence was between us the whole rest of the ride.