Scarred Hearts (Blackrock) (5 page)
Paige stands up and pins the poster back onto the art board and turns around "ok well if you follow me we can go see the science building and then we can take a break". We all follow her, Dalton is still making stupid comments about her ass to Derek, who looks like he is about run away and hide. I think Derek may like Dalton. We walk on through the double glass doors at the end of the hallway and outside, "This is the quad," she says. I look around and see other tour groups stopped along various stages of information, some of those groups have about twenty people in them including parents.
We continue across the quad and enter the science building, like the rest of the college it's made up of glass and steel and has wide hallways. Paige tells us of the different science programs offered and we move to the second floor. "This floor is dedicated to our computer classes," she says. We have four full time faculty members and eight part time instructors. We also offer the latest hands on experience in cyber crimes with a former FBI agent who is new to us this year.
I look up at her and then open my brochure on the computer section. We all head back towards the Blackrock Cafe located by the student housing office and library. I order a coffee and a sandwich. We sit by the window and I admire the beauty of the quad, with its green trees and picnic benches located in various areas around the quad. Summer would be in love with this place. She would say, "Bails, we are so going here. Tell your dad we are moving in".
Paige takes the seat beside me, "So what school do you come from?" she asks. I look over at her and think to myself, why is preppy chick talking to me? I haven't answered her questions up until now. I huff a breath "Grove High". She looks at me to continue, "It's about an hours flight south of here" I say. "Oh that's not too far, your parents are close then," she says. "I actually live here, I went to Blackrock High". I smile then bite my sandwich not too interested.
After lunch I walk back to the main entrance office area, stopping at the desk I pick up two enrollment packages and head outside. I look at my watch and notice that it is already 2pm. So much for exploring town I say to myself. I take my phone out and call my dad. I tell him I will be at his office in ten minutes. I walk through the strip and into the non-college part of downtown; I see the Mortenson Engineering building up ahead and make my way over to it.
I pull open the heavy glass doors stepping into a large reception area and go to the desk, the lady smiles at me and I ask for directions to Frank Mortenson's office. She looks at me and asks if I have an appointment, "No. He is my dad," I say in return. I see her register the information and a slight look of shock crosses her features before her polite mask is back in place. "Fifth floor" she says pointing to the elevators. I walk over and step inside pressing the button for the fifth floor, when the doors open I am met with another lady. I read her desk sign, Ms. Quinn PA. I look at her and ask her to tell Frank I am here; I take a seat on one of the leather sofas located across from her.
She picks up the phone and talks quietly and then hangs up, a moment later my dad walks out of the office without the tie and gives me a hug. "Hi sweetheart How did your downtown scouting expedition go?" he asked. We walked into his office and he closed the door, "Wow its good to be the boss" I say, his office is a large corner office with a dark wood desk in front of a floor to ceiling window, there is another desk, like an architect would use on the far side with rolls and rolls of blueprints all around the surrounding workspace.
My dad laughs, "yes it is".
I sit in front of his desk and watch him pack some papers into his briefcase; he pulls his jacket from the coat rack beside his desk and asks me if I am ready to go. We take the elevator to the parking garage and walk over to his new life crises car, I like to give him shit about it but truthfully I like it and he deserves nice things after what my mother did to him.
As we climb into his car he asks "What are your plans for next Thursday?" I look over at him and shrug, "I haven't made any, why?" He looks over at me and smiles "I don't know Bailey maybe because nineteen years ago next Thursday I became a proud father" he says with a smile. I look out of the window and think, shit I forgot my own birthday how is that possible?
"Well dad I guess it's just you and me," I say.
We arrive home and I turn on the oven, placing the pizza on the tray and wait for it to heat up. I put the college brochure on the table and begin reading through it. My dad comes into the kitchen a few minutes later he notices my college brochure and application, "You go to the college today?" "Oh yeah, it was a last minute decision" I say thinking of getting away from tall, dark and handsome, man he was cute.
"Are you going to go to college?" he asks. "Yeah I think will," I say.
"What did you decide to major in?" dad says, "I think I will do cyber crimes and forensic computers" I answer and flip the page of my brochure. I look up at him after a minute of silence, he is standing at the island with the salad forks in mid air "Cyber crimes that's sounds interesting, I though you wanted to be a vet?" I close the brochure and give him a sad smile, "No dad that Summer's dream, she was always going on about it".
"Oh right, sorry Bailey I forgot". "It's ok she never shut up about it, you probably heard it so much you thought it was me" I say "well look on the bright side you don't have to pay for med school for me" I smile at him. He smiles back and continues to make the salad.
After dinner I go up to my room while dad works in his office, I take a nice relaxing bath and decide to text Roger, I haven't heard from him since the day I got here.
Me: Hi man ho how are you?
I put my phone on the window beside the bath and close my eyes. After about five minutes my phone beeps.
Roger: Hi babe, I am good how about you, miss u.
Me: I am ok, doing a little better decided to go crazy and apply for college.
Roger: WHAT!! Where, when did you decide this, Y was I not consulted?
Me: today :-) and I am telling you now
Roger: ok so I forgive you, what are going to do?
Me: cyber crimes & forensic computers
Roger: oh, Are you sure you want to do that?
Me: yes I'll be fine, I am sure. It is the least I can do for her now and it looks interesting.
Roger: well if U R sure, I support U no matter what
Me: thx, what are U doing?
Roger: I am moving into my apt in FL
Me: what! You left Grove early?
Roger: Yeah it sucked without you & Summer
Me: I'm sorry; I know I couldn't stay it was too hard.
Roger: no worries babe, I get it. I need to finish packing I'll text U l8r xx
Me: ok later love U xxx
I put my phone back on the window ledge and sink under the warm water. When I got out of the bath my skin is like a prune. I put on my yoga pants and a tank top, picking up my college application and headed downstairs. I found my dad sitting in the kitchen reading over some papers. "Hi" I say, and put my application packet on the table. "Hi Bailey, so your serious about school" he asks nodding at the packet of papers. I smile at him and nod yes, "I am serious dad, I suppose I better be, I know I did an extra year of high school for work experience but I didn't really know what I wanted to do".
"Now I found something that interests me and I think I will be good at it" I say. " I am happy if you are happy, what about Grove, did you already accept their position?" Dad said. "No I did not take the placement but I am sure BRU will take my application, I know I am kind of late applying but I don't think the college is at capacity" I say. I sit down on the chair across from him and open my paper packet and begin the process all over again. By the time I am done with the application it is ten pm. I say good night to my dad and head up to bed.
On Thursday of the following week my dad comes into my bedroom at eight in the morning with a white chocolate birthday cake with nineteen candles singing "happy birthday". I sit up in my bed and smile at him; I blow out the candles when he is finished singing and make a wish for my best friend Summer. "I hope you are doing ok wherever you are and I wish you could be here with me," I say to myself.
"Ok after breakfast we are going shopping for your birthday present" dad says. I look at him sideways; he is way too excited to see his kid turn nineteen. "Dad you paid for my tuition, that is enough of a present for me" I say. "That is what a father is supposed to do Bailey, I have been fortunate these last two years and I am able to pay for your college, but that is not your present, now hurry up" he calls as he walks out of the room.
Twenty minutes later I arrive in the kitchen in my ripped jeans and a black sleeveless button down shirt, with my ankle boots. I take the coffee dad has placed on the table for me and eye the slice of cake, "If I didn't know any better I would think you are trying to fatten me up" I say. "No I am not" he says and closes his newspaper "it is your birthday so you can have cake for your breakfast". I dig into the cake and close my eyes, it is the most delicious chocolaty mouth watering cake I ever tasted, ok so it is my birthday I think and before I change my mind I eat the whole slice.
Dad hands me one of his ties when we get into the car, "what's that for?" I ask him. "It's a surprise Bailey now put it on and indulge your dear old dad". I look at him and give in, taking the tie I put it around my eyes and tie it behind my head, I feel the car reversing and then lurching forward. We drive for what feels like an hour, with my eyes in darkness I begin to get sleepy and yawn. "Almost there" dad says. Another left then a right and up over a bump and my stomach is starting to roll a little; maybe birthday cake for breakfast wasn't such a good idea. "We are here, take off the blind fold" Dad announces. I remove the tie and wait for my eyes to adjust to the daylight; I look around and realize we are in a Chevy dealership.
"What's going on?" I say "one sports car not enough for you dad?" He smiles at me and gets out of the car; I follow him out and stretch my legs.
"Hi I am Alex, do you need any help today" says the approaching sales associate. I groan inwardly at him, I remember when Brad was buying his truck the sales guy was a dick trying to sell stuff to Brad that he didn't need. "Hi Alex, I am Frank and this is my daughter Bailey" says dad shaking his hand. "How can I help you sir?" Alex begins and continues on with his spiel. I begin walking around and notice a car parked inside the show room, I walk inside while dad and Alex do the car sales dance. Looking at the car sitting in the middle of the floor, It's a Chevy Camaro 2014 sports coupe. I slide my hand along the hood all the way to the back. Nice car I think and step around to look in the window.
"So you like that one?" dad asks. I stand up fast and look at him, "its nice" I say. "Nice?" he questions with his eyebrow raised. I smile "No dad it is F-ing cool". He starts to laugh and begins to look around the car. After two hours of deciding on what color and what extras to get I finally signed on the dotted line. I snapped a pic of the car with my phone and texted it to Roger with the tag "Happy Birthday to me". Dad was finalizing the payment and delivery when Nickelback's "Gotta get me some" began blaring from my ass. I pulled out my phone and laughed as I answered, "Hello man ho" I sing into the phone "Are you shitting me, Are. You. Shitting. Me!" Roger screams at me, I smile and shake my head "No Roger my friend I am not" I can hear him breathing heavily through the phone "damn Bailey can your dad adopt me?" I smile even though he can't see me but for once since June I actually smile a genuine smile. "So tell me, make me cry," he says. "Ok, I got the sport coupe in blue Ray metallic, with sunroof and tinted windows" I tell him "fuck Bailey I am so jealous" Roger says. " Whenever you come to visit me I will allow you to grace my passenger seat." I say. "Nice Bailey, you know you want me to drive you wild". I laugh at him "You are so gross, I have to go now I will call you in a few days" I say. "Ok if you must, happy birthday babe nineteen shots for you tonight" we say our goodbyes and I hang up.
My happy mood slowly dissipates, it's my birthday and I have no friends to celebrate it with. My dad and I drive back to Blackrock in silence, as we approach the downtown area he slows the car down "Do you want to grab lunch somewhere" he asks me. "Sure if you want" I say. He pulls the car into a parking space in front of one of the vintage clothes stores I saw last week. We climb out and walk towards the row of eateries. Dad opens the door to a cute little Italian place, we are seated immediately and we look over the menu, "Thank you for the car dad" I say to him. "You are welcome, I have only one child and I want to at least know you will not have to rely on someone else to catch a ride to places," he says. I am sure he is talking about boys but I say nothing further about it.
We have a nice lunch talking about school and what I expect to do with my degree, he tells me that he has to go away on business at the end of September for two months and that he should be back for Christmas. I nod in understanding and we decide to go over to the college to apply for my parking permit. They don't allow freshman to have cars except for those who live further than ten miles away from campus. After we apply for and pay a ridiculous amount of money for a parking permit we head back out to the car. As we are pulling out of the stall I hear the roar of motorcycle engines, turning around I see the two bikes I saw outside of the tattoo shop pulling up into the parking lot. Dad pulls the car forward and I can't see who is driving them.
I wonder if tall, dark and handsome is one of them. Oh god get grip on yourself, you didn't come here to hook up with a guy, even if he is TDH, I continue to scold myself all the way home. We just walked into the house when my cell phone rings, "Hello". "Hi sweetie, happy birthday" It's my mother just what I needed to ruin the day completely. "Thanks mom" "So did you get anything nice? What are doing to celebrate?" she asks. "I got a car actually and I haven't decided what to do yet, I might just hang with dad for the day" I say. I can hear her breathing down the phone, she sounds like a dragon "A car, that's what he got you, a fucking car?" she shouts.
