✔ | 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍, jasper hale

thirteen

Madelline entered the cozy dinner just a few blocks from their house, where her father has been waiting. He asked her to join him since as she quotes, "I'm too lazy to cook anything. Join me here," and of course, who was she to deny free food?

"Hey," Madelline called out as soon as she neared him. She leaned down to plant a peck on his cheek before sitting down in front of him. "Sorry, I'm late."

"No, you weren't that late. I also ordered you already six pieces of chicken wings and a garlic rice," he told her. A sound of approval escaped her lips as she gave him a thumbs up.

"Is there a side of sweet and sour flavored fries and coke?" She asked, hope lacing her voice.

"Duh, of course. I know your favorite."

"Oh my gosh, you're God-sent dad. Thank you!"

Elijah couldn't help but chuckle at how ironic her statement was. "Oh Madelline, if you only knew," he thought.

"How was school?" He asked.

"School's fine as usual. Actually, my grades for this quarter were really great, especially history and literature," she answered, a proud smile etched on her lips.

Elijah smirked proudly at his daughter and gave an approving nod. He didn't doubt that his daughter would get high grades, knowing how smart she was as it was one of the things she picked up on his late-wife. However, grades did not really matter to him that much as long as his daughter was okay.

"That's amazing! We got to drink on that," he winked discreetly at her, causing her to laugh out loud.

"You're really supporting me? Drinking?"

Elijah snorted and took a sip of his water before he looked back at her. "You got to learn somehow, and it's better that you learn it with me and not with someone else. Drinking is inevitable. Also, you can only drink underage with me, not with someone else." He pointed his index finger at her as a warning.

She raised her hands up in mock surrender but not before sending her father a teasing look and wiggled her eyebrows at him. Elijah couldn't help but shake at his daughter's cheekiness and chuckle just in time for the food to come.

The two immediately took a bite, both of them letting out sounds of delight and shared a look. They soon engaged into a conversation where they caught up one another with work, school, people they hate, and where they plan on having their summer soon.