Secrets...

'mom i just want some time away from here. i promise i'll come back.'
' but sweetie, i dont trust Herald's new girlfriend. she's practically your age.'
' mom she 32 and i dont want to be rude or make either of them feel unimportant...'
' ok,ok. if you want to go for a couple of months with your father, thats fine.'
' really mama?'
' not really, sweetie but... if you want to go, then go and... have a good time and have fun...fun...fun...............

"Marie? Marie? Sweetie. Wake up... where here." said my dad.  As he slowly stopped the car, while i tried to remember where i was. Cannon Beach, Orgeon. I remember crying myself to sleep, then getting hiccups from crying too hard. I sat up from the passenger seat and seeing the most creepy view of the ocean... but i couldn't look away. It was breath taking and so quiet. Seagulls fought over something i couldnt see and saw, down by the shore, a few houses lying close to the cliff, hiding from view. I open the door of my dad's crappy Pinto and taking a breath in, and went to the trunk or backseat, no difference to me, grabbed my two bags and followed my dad inside the house. He cleaned his wet boots on the rug near the door and gave me space to clean mine. It was a big house, with 4 rooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms. It had a garage and an attic full of my mom and dad's wedding pictures. My dad took the bags from my hands.

" Tada!... Well, what do you think?" he asks with a smile. I walk to the stairs and stared into the reflection I could see in the first step. They looked glossy and slippery and deadly, and and it fit perfectly as I look around. " It's really nice dad..." I say with total honesty. " Well im glad. Ok..." he rubbed his nose with his wrist, " Uh, let me show you your room then..." he leads the way up the stairs to the second biggest room in the house. It had a bed, dresser, walk in closet, and full length mirror. It had dark wood floors like the stairs, that had a blood brown color tint to it that made the room feel warm. He places the bags down and crosses his arms. " So i'll give you time to put somethings away and I'll bring in the rest later. I think there's gonna be a storm soon ". He walks out the door, closing it lightly. I walk to the bed and lay back. I close my eyes and think " was this a good idea? ". I felt my head drift away when a knock on the door sent me flying into the air to the floor. " Marie? Is everything ok?." He opens the door and finds me on the floor. " What in God's name are you doing on the floor?" I look up in complete shock. " You scared me with your knock..." i said while starting to get up. " Oh. Sorry. Where you asleep?" he asked with a guilty tone. " I guess..." I answer. " Ok, um, well, wash up and come down stairs, dinner's ready." He slowly closed the door and i heard him walk downstairs. I walk over to the bags and unzip the coach bags my Aunt Stehpanie bought me from L.A. and take out some clothes. I changed into my favorite green shirt and my blue jeans, grabed my toothbrush and slowly made my way to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and made my way down stairs. Before touching the top step, I took off my socks and shoved them in my pocket, then slowly make my way down to the kitchen. I walk into the kicthen and see dad wearing an apron with big ugly orange flowers and pink deformed butterflies. I giggle to myself and got my dad's attention.

" What are you laughing at, young lady?" he asks with a sarcastic tone. I made my way to table made with the dinner table that was made with the same wood as the floor. " So... what's for dinner?" you ask. In the air, you smell spicy orange chicken and somethings I couldn't name. " Chinese. Your favorite." he says with a proud smile for knowing my favorite dish. " Bravo, bravo. You still remember." I clap my hands together. " Hey," he stops me," I've always knew ". I look at him with serious eyes. " When did you call mom? "  I asked. He gave me the deer in headlights look. " 43 minutes ago..." he says in defeat with puckered lips. " It's ok for no remembering. I haven't seen you in 3 years. " I say clicking my nails together. He places a big pan of chicken on top of a rack like thing for the table with a big bowl of garlic noodles and 4 egg rolls. "Dad, wow. I forgot how amazing of a cook you were..." i say in awe. He picks up forks and sits on the opposite side of the table, facing down to hide his blush. " Well, Im no chef..." he says passing a fork. " Well, thaks dad." After the greatest 45 minutes of my life, I help clear the table and wach the dishes. I took out the trash and made my way upstairs. Once inside, I sceamed good night to my dad downstairs watching some show on tv. I got a blanket from the box of my stuff dad brought in and stuffed it under the blanked on the bed and shaped it to look like i was in it. I close the door and made my way to the curtains. I crack the window open to see if it made a sound, but it made nothing. So I opened it all the way up and slid onto the roof. Hanging to the shingles of the roof with dear life, I made it to the very top. I sat there in the dark admiring the waves and the white smile in the sky. The smell of the salt in the breeze felt so relaxing. I took out my iPod from my pocket and listened to my favorite song and made myself more comfortable. I thought of mom and how she looked so upset to see me leave but she knew that all I wanted was space. After an hour, I felt a drop of rain, then another. I turned my iPod down and put it in my back pocket. I stood up slowly now that the shingles were a bit wet. I held on to the black rail outside of the window and practically threw myself in. I landed on my shoulder, causing the floor to shake and my arm to break in a billion places. Footsteps from the bathroom down the hall sent me running to my bed, where I fell asleep, even with the pain in my shoulder, as soon as my head hit the pillow, without even knowing.

I felt something touch my forhead and brush my hair over my ear, but I just thought it was my dad being my dad. It was gentle and so loving, so I drifted back into a deep dreamless sleep. In the morning i was awoken by my dad's alarm two doors down. It was 4:45, and I'm guessing he has to go to work. I pulled the blacket off and kick the other out so i had more space to move around and decided to sleep for a few more minutes, the only problem was i couldnt go back to sleep. I threw the blacket of once again and went to the bathroom. I took a warm shower and brushed my teeth. Instead of putting on clothes, I put on my pj's and went downstairs. In the livivng room was the tv, so i figured some tv would pass the time. I hit the power button and schkkkk, the signal was gone. " Hey sleepy- head..." said my dad from behind. " Oh! " i jumped like a cat that was electrocuted. " Hey, relax. It's just me." he holds out his coffee mug. " Dad! You scared me again." I took a deep breath. I dont know why but i've been getting scared pretty easily. " Well, I'm sorry..." he looked down at his coffee, chipping the paint from the rim of the mug. " No, dad, it's fine. I'm just pretty easy to scare now, I guess...". He lookes at his wrist watch, takes one last drink of coffee and gave me the cup. " Great Scott. I have to leave sweetie." He kissed my forhead and grabbed his keys. " There's left overs in the fridge. Once I come back home, I'll whip up something good. Alright? Oh and please shower. Not that you smell bad, but--- Well,ok. Bye, pumkin." He picks up his umbrella and wallet as he left. He shut the door and hurried to his car and drove away. I walked to the couch and looked at the clock on the desk. 9:48... what can i do this early? I stood up and went up stairs. I got dressed a pair of jeans, a old shirt, and put my hair in a ponytail.

I sat in bed thinking of what i could do when I hear someone open the front door. I thought of it being dad, he would be late to work if he came back. I got my spelling bee trophy from thrid grade and made my way downstairs for the millionth time. I see a tall boy with dark hair, looking around. He makes his way to the kitchen, letting me make a very slow run for it to the hallway to the right of the stairs. I hear his footsteps and slip in to the hall closet. What a mistake. His foot steps stopped in front and I felt he was going to open the door. With all I had, i ran into the door, causing him to fall back. I thought freedom, until my sock hit he slippery wood floor and made me fall, hard, onto my trophy . He groaned in pain along with me, and i watched him sit onto the wall. " Who are you?!" he asked. " You tell me first! " i yelled. " Im Terrance." he whispered. " Who? What are you doing in my house?! " i stood up and grabbed onto the rail of the steps, rubbing my back. " Terrance. Im Herald's step-son." he stood up rubbing his head. " Step-son? " i said. " Yes. Step-son." he slowly made his way to the kitchen and stopped at the freezer. He got a compass and placed it on the back of his head. " Im his daughter..." i said without conscience. " So your Marie? He said you weren't coming until next week." he groaned again in pain, but stood up straight and steady. Felling a bit nauseous, he placed the compass back onto his head. " Im sorry about that. Your in luck. I didn't know we had those ..." i said to him while pointing to the compass of ice. "That's fine... I should have called out something instead of keeping silent..." he drags the table chair out and fell into it. " He said you were a gentle person..." he said it like he was told a lie." I am, its just i panic when i feel in danger. " he looked at me like a crazy person and i decided to just stay silent.

After half an hour of siting in silence, i needed to break the silence. " Um, so, how's your head ?" i asked . " Ok. " he replied. Again the silence. I asked another question. " Uh, are you hungry? " i say standing and slipping off my socks again. I make my way to the fridge and find the left over chinese and throw the food on a plate. " Sort-of..." he whispers in a controlled angry voice. " Well, da-- ummmm... Herald, made chinese yesterday... Do you want the left overs? " i ask while facing the microwave. " No, no. You go ahead and enjoy..." he said facing the front door. I had a feeling he didn't want to be here. " Well, um, if you're waiting for him, he wont be back for another couple of hours. He went to work. " He stared at me like a moron. " Work? Why would he go to wor--- " his eyes widen. "Ohh. Work. Oh. Well, i can wait for 'him' here. " he emphisized the 'him' . He might have been talking about his mom when i was thinking of dad. " So, Terrance, do you want anything at all to eat? " i ask biting into hot noodles. " No i just-- ate. I remember now. " he said in a sarcastic tone. " O...k then..." i took the food to the table and ate a couple of feet away from him thinking the will get hungry by the smell, but he just stared at the door. Waiting.

The front door opens and i stand in shock, thinking ' Is dad home again? ' A pair of clicks make their way through the hall as a pair of keys fall on the drawer. "Terrance. Honey? " a female voice said from behind. " I'm home, and guess what? I brought-- " she met eyes with me in suprise. " I brought dinner... Oh my... Are you who I think you are?! " she squealed in awe. " Oh come here! It is so nice to meet you my love! " she grabbed my arm and threw me into her arms. " You're Herald's daughter!!!! " she held onto my arms and looked into my eyes. Her nails were digging into my shoulders with such strength, I knew i will have bruises. I made my way threw the pain and smiled at how crazy friendly this lady is. " Yeah, that's me..." i tossed a smile in and made her yelp and hug me again. " Oh my..." she said. " Oh no, oh no, no, no, no, no... Terrance! " she looked at her son in anger. Him being still distracted, looked confused. " What now? " he asked in question. " What are you doing hear?!  Herald told you to stay home because of something important..." her eyes hissed. " Oh no.  What have I done... How will I live on knowing i messed up. My life is now over. " he said in a careless voice. " Now Terrance, I dont like your sarcasm. He asked you to visit later on in the week and you should have listened. He was going to suprise us by introducing us to his daughter and now its all ruined because of your actions... Oh dear. I am going to have to tell him that we know she here. " she said so sadly. " You dont have to... I mean I wont tell him, you know, that we met..." i suggested. " No, no. I dont like lying to your father, child. " she said in such a motherly voice. " Well, Its not lying, its just like forgetting to tell him or something..." i said feeling like such a moron. " Well, I dont want to make him feel disappointed..." she said biting her nail. " Mom lets go. The smell is driving me crazy. Thats what brought me here..." he told her with pleading eyes. " Ok Ter, we'll go. Ohmygod, It was nice to meet you Marie. " she said touching my cheek then tiptoeing to the hallway drawer to get her keys. He left with one last look and followed behind. The last sound I heard was the door slamming.

I found my way to the couch and turned the tv on, without anything to watch, just schkkk. For the rest 6 hours, I sat there, trying to not cry. Trying to forget the love that woman had. My mom was the greatest person in the world to me, but the love I saw was so pure. My mom was right, this lady is weird; she only knew me for like 5 seconds. And it doesn't feel right. I already knew; she's hiding something.

The twist of the front door knob sent me into a suicide dive into the kitchen. I heard dad take off his shoes, after he wiped them on his little mat. He made his way through the hall and ran upstairs as he turned into the kitchen. Once through the door I close it quietly and took my time in the shower. " Marie? " dad knocked on the door. " Yeah dad? " " Nothing, i just wanted to tell you im home. " I used the restroom and noticed the bruise forming on my back from my trophy and from the nails that were dug into my shoulders. I couldn't believe all of this cheesy crap can happen in one day, so i changed clothes and went downstairs onto the beach.