An Unstoppable Dawn

12. Discussing Progress

I strolled down the path to see my father standing in front of the truck, awaiting for my approach.

"Father..." I let out, running to my knight in shining armor as he picked me up high into his arms.

"My sweet babygirl..." he murmured while I felt his warm breath gust gently into my hair and on my ear. Unknown to me, Alexander was in the truck, sketching in his book filled with his artistic illustrations. I leaned my arm on the windowsill and smile at him.

"Hey Alex." I smiled at him.

"Hey Kiara." He said to me, closing up his book to neatly shove it in his bag.

"Cmon kiddo. It's time to head on the road." My father crossed his arms with his tough smirk while my eyebrows hoisted up in confusion.

"Where are we going and where are the others?" I asked him, beginning to observe the surrounding woodlands.

"They are working in the dam with Caesar and his apes. We are heading to the city to inform to Dreyfus on our working progress in the dam." My father told me, fixing his unbuttoned jacket. I climbed into the passenger's seat after his words and we drove off and out of the woods.

"I wanted to ask. Where were you?" My father asked me, centering his view while driving on the road ahead of us.

"I was with my friends." I dashingly said, wiggling my eyes.

"Oh, you mean your ape friends?" He asked me to be fully sure. I nodded my head while observing my father driving the truck as his action rolled my mind back into a goofy memory.

My mind travelled back to the moments I had behind the wheel. My father always granted me permission to drive the car as I was exceptionally good to be an unlicensed driver. Since the outbreak, I couldn't be able to get my driver's license as I planned when I turned 16.

"Hey, why couldn't I drive this time?" I asked my father.

"Because it's not safe for you, especially in woods like this." He straightforwardly said, overprotectiveness taking over his voice.

"I know how rebellious and adventurous you got during this virus so driving on your own is dangerous babygirl." He acknowledged my character traits and I slid my eyes to look through the car window.

"Father, I'm a big girl now. I can take good care of myself." I reminded him, feeling annoyed by his chivalrous attitude towards me.

"I mean, I didn't hit the truck entirely. Remember when I almost rammed into a bush?" I began to bring up our thoughtful vehicle memories.

"Yeah, I thought we would be screwed." Alexander joined in and we began to laugh delightfully.

"I know but I still don't think you can drive on your own unless your with someone." He lectured me, keeping his gaze on the road as we saw the Golden Gate Bridge up ahead.

"Cmon father! I can handle myself-"

MY father slammed his hands into the stirring wheel which made me halt within my words.

"I said no babygirl. Okay?" He disapproved, his mouth transforming into a frown, visibly exasperated by my beseeching on driving our truck again.

"You never let me be a normal teenager and do what I want..." I vexingly murmured, rolling my eyes into the passenger seat window. My father sprightly slammed the vehicle on its brakes and faced towards me with liquified eyes.

"I don't want to lose you like I did with your mother!" He reasoned, whimpering cries elevating in his voice as my eyes stood still. My dreadful father leaned his bald head into the stirring wheel regretfully as Alexander and I touched his shoulder with our hands.