The Runaway Birthday Girl

This was the worst birthday ever.

Of course, some chick at school mocked me for Dad being a 'bad cop', whatever that meant. I came home with a couple bruises on my face and a detention slip. I was unaware Dad already knew.

"I got a call from the principal's office." It was his first words out of his mouth when I stepped through the front door after getting off the bus. I froze at the front door, letting it loosely shut behind me as I stood on the welcome mat.

"...yeah?" I tried to play it cool, like I didn't know what he was referring to, but he gave me that look.

"Grey, you know what I'm talking about." He came out from behind the kitchen island, standing next to it. "You have detention next week, is this correct?"

Words escaped me as I felt my chest grow heavy with panic, my eyes desperately searching the room for answers that I knew didn't exist. My brow furrowed.

"Dad, I-"

"I'm very disappointed in you." His head hung low, the sparkle gone from his green eyes. "You know better, your mother and I may be separated, but I know for sure she did not raise you to beat up people at school."

"I didn't do that though!" I tried to defend myself, my voice becoming shrill, tears in my eyes.

"Then someone is lying." Throwing the rag he held in his hands over his shoulder, he turned to go back to making dinner. "Go upstairs to your room. You're grounded. No phone, no computer, no gaming systems."

"But Dad, I-"

"No buts, Grey." Dad's voice was more stern and strained than normal, not coming to terms that his daughter had the potential to harm someone else. Which I never did in the first place.

"That's not fair, Dad!" I tried to fight, but he stayed his distance, his glare enough to put me in my place. Almost.

"How is it not fair, Grey?" He questioned, putting a box of pasta on the counter. "You broke a school rule and expect not to get punished at home?"

"N-No Dad," My voice began to stutter, I was getting rather anxious and jittery. "I-I didn't t-touch her..."

"Well I'm sorry Grey, I can't exactly watch security footage." He kept his tone, despite seeing me get physically ill. And I followed my gut reaction.

Dropping my bookbag at the door, I grabbed my wallet, keys and phone and darted out the door, down the hill of his house, and to the streets of Pawnee.

"Grey!" I heard Dad shout behind me as I dashed down the hill and through the trees that lined the road of the backwoods of the small town. I didn't really know where I was running to, but I had to get away from here.

***

[INBOUND MESSAGE AT 3:31pm from: Dad]

Do not make me call your mother to come find you.

You are not making yourself look in a positive light by running out.

[INBOUND MESSAGE AT 3:37pm from: Dad]

Where are you? I'm about to call your mother.

[INBOUND MESSAGE AT 3:45pm from: Dad]

You're lucky she didn't answer and that her voicemail is full.

[INBOUND MESSAGE AT 3:52pm from: Dad]

At least let me know you're okay, please?

You're still my daughter, and no matter how much trouble you get into, I will always love you.

[INBOUND MESSAGE AT 4:08pm from: Dad]

Let's talk this through, okay? I didn't acknowledge your argument, and I should have, and I'm sorry.

Dinner will be done in a little bit. I can't promise the steak will still be here if you don't come back soon.

[INBOUND MESSAGE AT 4:19pm from: Dad]

Grey I'm getting worried. Please let me know you're okay, and when you're coming home. I love you.

[OUTBOUND MESSAGE AT 4:22pm to: Dad]

im fine

I ended up at a small library in the middle of the town, not far from Dad's. Hiding in a back corner surrounded by bookshelves, I remained hidden behind an encyclopedia and every once in a while, the recent college grad librarian would walk by to check on me indirectly. My only school friend was keeping tabs on me, but I texted sparsely, trying to conserve my phone's battery life since I didn't have a charger. I knew the library had a charging station, but I didn't want to be out in the open in case anyone who came in knew me or Dad. Despite is apology, I wasn't ready to face him yet. I should've been used to him jumping the gun like this, he often did when something went haywire, either at school or my relationship with Mom. It made me anxious to talk to him about any of my problems, even when I needed him the most.

"Excuse me," The librarian was now closer to me than she had gotten before, her hands folded in front of her. "Is everything okay?"

Unbeknownst to me, I had started to cry while staring at the wall in front of me. Quickly wiping my tears, I tried to change my demeanor.

"I-I'm f-fine." And of course my stutter gave my feelings away. She gestured to the open chair across from me and I begrudgingly put my book down and she took a seat.

"This town is very small, even the strangers all feel like neighbors." She commented, folding her legs. "I've seen you come in with an older gentleman - Aiden, if I got his name right - a couple times before. And I noticed that you're not with him. Did something happen?"

I merely shrugged. "He's mad at me for something I didn't do." I mumbled, my hand plastered onto my cheek as I slid down in the chair into an awkward sitting position. The librarian chuckled.

"That's often with parents. Mine did the same up until college when I was on my own." She took a pause. "He didn't...hurt you, right?" She nodded to the bruises on my face.

"N-No," I stammered quickly. "Dad would n-never...uhm...a girl at school hit me. And I got in trouble for it." She cackled to that.

"Ugh goodness, school districts do love to pick and choose. I was going to be a school librarian, but student teaching taught me that I hated teaching children and dealing with the favoritism and politics of schools." She went on to explain some of her horror stories, both as a student and as a teacher, which helped lighten the mood only a tad. "But, just because I didn't like being in a public school doesn't mean I don't like helping kids find books. Or a place to...get away from everything."

"Yeah..." I mumbled again before my phone pinged once more.

[INBOUND MESSAGE AT 4:40pm from: Dad]

Please come home, Grey. Let's talk about this. Dinner's ready, and I'd love to share it with you like we always do. I love you.

I rolled my eyes at the message, then proceeding to share the message chain to the librarian, to which she furrowed her brow.

"My psychology friend would have a field day with this." She chuckled before handing back my phone, which was now on 10%. "To me, it sounds like he's being honest. I know it's hard to discern over a couple text messages but..."

"...but what?" I asked.

"It's a gut thing." She shrugged. "My intuition was always spot on about these types of things. My girlfriends all have me dissect texts from their crushes to find the hidden meanings." I released a sigh. I was still internally conflicted and I didn't want to completely trust a stranger's intuition, but I knew I had to go home eventually, even if it pained me to do so.

After a few more minutes, she left me to my devices until closing time. My phone had died and I didn't bother to plug it in, and as I was getting ready to leave, I heard a crack of thunder overhead.

"Would you like a ride home?" The librarian asked me, to which I shied away.

"N-No thank you, Dad told me to...never take rides from strangers. Sorry." I glanced down with a sulk and I heard her giggle.

"No worries! I can respect that, but know that you're always welcome back here." She gave another smile. "Oh, and my name is Debbie, by the way, it was lovely chatting with you and I hope everything goes well!"

"Grey and....likewise.

***

It took me 20 minutes to get home as I weaved in and out of trees to take cover from the rain, and I slipped in the mud at least once. I was most definitely not prepared for the weather shift, and was dripping wet by the time I walked through the front door once more.

My backpack sat where I left it and the house was still, no lights on minus a flicker in the kitchen. A candle was just lit and Dad stood there with the lighter.

"Grey..." He moved to approach me, but hesitated. Looking down with a swallow, the candlelight hiding a tear gracing his cheek, his body trembled in place. "Grey I was so worried about you, I'm so sorry."

I stayed quiet, unsure what to make of what was happening. "...a cake, Dad?" I questioned, my voice dry for I haven't drank anything since the afternoon. He chuckled.

"Honey, it's your birthday." Grabbing a few towels from the nearby laundry basket, he approached me, the towels extended towards me. I took one to wipe my face and he wrapped the other around my upper body as I slid my shoes off. "I don't care if we fought today, or every day of the year. It's still your special day, and you still get to eat some cake." I peeled off my soaked socks and placed them on the welcome mat before Dad escorted me to the kitchen island, where a chocolate cake stood with the lone candle flickering. "I was going to add more, but I couldn't find the other ones from the box and I didn't want to leave in case you called the house..."

"Thank you, Dad." I hugged him, even though I was sopping wet and muddy from the elements, but he didn't seem opposed. He returned the hug, squeezing me tightly.

"You're the best thing to happen to me, and I'm sorry we get into it often. I do so because I love you, and I want to be a better father for you." His hand brushed back some hair from my face, letting go so I could blow out the sole candle. Taking a staggering breath in, the candle whisked away with one breath and Dad turned on the under the counter lights before cutting me a small slice. "This will be the only time I allow you to have dessert before dinner, so cherish it."

I kissed his cheek before taking a bite of the three layered chocolate cake. "Thank you, Dad, and I love you too."