Unpredictable • cth

4

El-
*present day*

"Ella? Love? You ok?"

"Huh?" I finally answered. All I was doing was replaying last week with Ryder in my head.
My dad picked me up from school and didn't say anything. He just let me get in the front seat in silence.

He always knew what to do when I was upset. The only thing that would make me feel at peace was a long car ride. So that's exactly what we did.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" his voice was so soft, he never raised his voice with me unless he was really pissed off. It was always low and soft. Very thoughtful, constantly thinking of the right thing to say.

"No not really. I'm sorry I interrupted your day." my voice was shaky, trying hold back the tears.

"Don't apologize. I come home to see you. To hang out with my best friend, my world. Your my world Ella."

The car came to a stop, causing me to look over at my dad. His looked over, smiling.

"I love you dad." I finally said. I meant it. I miss him and he's finally home for a few weeks.

"And I love you Ella."

He started driving again, playing ABBA , the greatest hits, which is my favorite album of all time, lightly in the background. We drove all around LA, down to the pacific coast, finally pulling into a drive through.

"What do you want to eat?"

Without even thinking about what was about to come out of my mouth I just said it.

"Why do you always have to fucking leave?!"

My face fell, my body turned to look at my Dad, who was staring at me with wide eyes.

He slowly pulled out of the drive through, parking in an empty lot just across the way. He parks, then turns off the car.

Before he had a chance to speak I rushed out an 'i'm sorry.'

"Ella." he croaked out, still stunned at my language and my tone.

"Why dad? Why do you always leave, I can't take it anymore!" I was basically yelling, with tears now streaming down my face.

"I don't want to leave, you know that. I would never willingly do it. I would bring you everywhere with me if I could."

"Then do it, bring me! Take me around the world time and time again. Then we can stay here for two years write an album then do it again! God Dad can't you see i'm dying here!"

"You know I can't do that either. I'm raising you differently than how I was. The way your mom and I talked about." He said firmly but with the mention of my mother his face and voice dropped.

"She wanted you to be in school, be successful, follow the dreams we both know you have."

"Dad please." I could barely see, water was flowing out of my eyes and I felt light headed.

"I just, you just got home. Your going to be here for a few weeks then leave again to who the hell knows where! I just want you here, please."

I heard his door open and close. He got out of the car, making his way towards mine. Pulling the door open, he lifted my head with his hand.

"Ella, I'm here now. Let's make the most of it. Ok?"
I couldn't see his face, my own was covered in tears. I leaned my body into his and placed my head on his shoulder, tightly wrapping my arms around his torso.

"Ok." was all I could croak out.

"I'm sorry, so sorry." I mumbled as I continued to sob into my fathers shoulder.

——

We just got home, we didn't talk much on the way home but we both somehow knew we would be alright.

I walked inside, greeted by a lovely little duke, very excited to see two people walking in the house instead of just me.

"Hey Bubs.." I reached down to pick him up and give him love, as is very common in this household. You always give duke love first, people come second. That's what my dad always said when I would come home from school.

My dad snatched him out of hands, showering him with kisses as I walked away into the kitchen.
Setting my stuff down and taking a seat at the island, I admired our house. The one place where I was always safe, that was Dad's first, but when mom came along so she made it theirs.

He hadn't change anything that she did. If my mom placed something or decorated a certain way he left it. It's been like that for as long as I could remember. Always the way mom had it.

"Penny for your thoughts?" My dad jokingly said as he slid a heads up penny across the counter.

"You never change the house."

"No I do not."

"Why? I love it the way it is, but wouldn't Mom want you to make it yours again?" I looked at him. I knew I wasn't hitting a nerve or anything but I wasn't sure how he would take the question.

"It is mine. In a sense. You change your room and the office. The living room and  everything at Christmas time is always set up how you like. That's the thing, you are mine, your ours. So even though I don't change much, when you change it, I know it's for both of us, me and her." He looked down but was smiling at the idea of her.

"Penny for your thoughts now?" I said as I slide the penny across the counter back to him.

"I have to ask El. What happened at school?"

"Dad" I groaned out. "Mia said the usually shit-"
I stopped myself, he hates when I cuss. Which was evident based on the look on his face.

"Sorry. Mia did her usual stuff. Takes something I told her and throws it back at me. But she never means to hurt me. It's just hard to hear the truth sometimes."

"She has no filter, I thought that would get better as she got older." He looked at me, making sure I was listening.

"Whatever it is was, she's looking out for you. I know it doesn't seem like it now but she is."

I looked up at him, he's know what this is like. He went through hell growing up in the public eye, having people turn on him. He knows that an honest friend is the only one you need.

"Thanks dad."

"How bout this ?" He said rather excited. "Let's have a movie night. You and me, or we can even invite the boys over. What do you think?" 

The look on his face, so happy. Even though he just got off a tour bus that he shared for months with my three uncles he misses them and wanted them close.
He was looking at eyes for reassurance. Practically bouncy up and down like a little kid.

"Yea that sounds great." I meant it, genuinely. I wanted to hang out with them, I haven't seen the uncles in months.

"Only if we watch Mamma Mia!" I yelled as he was running upstairs to call the family.

"Ella you know your the only one that likes that movie ! No!" He yelled back in response as he also mumbled a few 'fucks' from falling over the stairs.
"Please dad ! Please!" I pleaded running towards him, this went on a while but I finally got him to say yes.