The Taunting (College Life #1)

Mr. Pratt does not approve, what to do, what to do

I'm late today.

My biostatics class starts in 20 minutes, and I've got one shoe on my foot and a pore strip on my nose. My mother always gets on me about taking care of myself, even though I'm a man, I should still do proper care routines.

Standing by the front door is Mr. Pratt, phone in hand and a look of concern on his face.

"Hey, is everything alright?" I asked, leaning against the wall to put on my other shoe.

He stares at me, "I could ask the same thing about you. Late?"

"Very." 

"Well, can you spare me 5 minutes?" He asked, opening the front door for both of us.

I would tell him no, but sometimes I find myself being scared of Mr. Pratt, and I guess I have 5 minutes to spare. I know I'll hear Megan's mouth today.

"Sure." I walk out the door, he follows behind shutting the door gently.

The weather is nice today, it's warm with cool breezes. Thank God for that, I have football practice later today and it's a bitch when it's hot out. I also think it will be good for Topolski, the guy swells up like a red tomato under the sun.

"I need to talk to you about something serious, and don't bullshit me." 

I straighten, "I would never. Ask away." 

He exhales a long breath, "How long have you been messing around with my daughter?"

"Bridget?" I question.

"You know I'm not talking about Bridget, the little one with the foul mouth." He says, being more specific.

"Ah, I figured you found out when I placed my hand on her back," I confess.

"And when she came out of your room with nothing but your shirt and underwear, I put two and two together. Elizabeth thinks herself being a good liar, but I know her like the back of my hand." 

Oh fuck.

This is extremely awkward. Out of all the girls I've slept with, none of their fathers came to me and asked was I sleeping with them. I like and respect Mr. Pratt, and lying to him is something I'd never do. We've always had simple conversations, talking about football and classes, but this, this is a whole new part of our relationship.

"I don't know what to say."

He puts up a hand, "Don't, just listen to me." 

I nod.

"When I found out I was having another daughter, I thought my heart was going to explode. Bridget was already a handful, and she was only 3 years old. Having a son is much easier, they don't get hurt easily, not like girls. You give them a condom, tell them to watch their back and everything is good, but daughters, a whole other world." 

"They are more emotional, and the world's prey. Girls like Bridget and Elizabeth, beautiful rich girls, they can get taken advantage of really easily. I was scared for them, every time they left the house or went out of town with friends, I would sit by the window, by the phone, waiting for them to call, begging me to come and get them, but they never did."

He gulps, "Then when Elizabeth got into a car accident, I thought I would die. I thought she was dead, my heart felt heavy and I couldn't breathe, it was the first time I had a panic attack, Marlo explained to me. Thank the lord she came out with only bruises, so what I thought. Her bruises were internal, and as her father, her protector, I couldn't heal them. No Neosporin could help what she had. At one point, she wouldn't so much as walk near a car, she chopped up her driver's license and threw it away."