Chapter one

                                    

                                          
It was the end of the second semester And Mrs. Lee was handing out grades, last quarter I made a C in this class and It was important that I made a 90 or higher this go round. I'm an A  student and calculus really wasn't my thing but that C still wasn't cutting it for me plus that C got my car taken away. you would think that my dad would let it slide being that it was my lowest grade and it wasn't even failing but no, I'm telling you the man is evil. Mrs. Lee Finally made it to me and sat my report card on my table I quickly viewed it and jumped straight out of my chair screaming in victory. my class mates gave me looks and I immediately sat back down in my seat dropping my head to shame still smiling because I had passed the class. Mrs. Lee Finished passing out grades and told us to we could talk quietly for the remainder of class. 15 minutes had passed and the bell rung signaling the day was over and it was the start to thanksgiving break. I left my class to meet up with my best friends Kaprial and ruby in the locker pod like I did everyday after school. I had already texted them and told them I passed the class so I would be getting my car back today and we were still on for our mall plans this weekend  so when I got to them both of them ran up to me squeezing me into a hug. "girl I am SOOOO happy your getting your car back" kaprial said as we broke apart from our hug. I just looked at her and smiled.. more then happy ruby added. just when I was about to respond to her Tania approached us. I rolled my eyes and kept walking. I could not stand being around that girl, she was the first girl ruby ever dated and the first girl to ever break her heart. I love my Bestfriend and because I loved her I had to walk away because if not I would of  ended up beating tania's hoe ass. Kaprial caught up with me and asked me if I was okay. I told her I was fine and kept walking until we approached Rubys moms car. since she was our ride home for the day. mins later she approached us still talking to Tania, she opened the door for us to get in the car and  five mins later their conversation was over and we were leaving the schools parking lot. the car ride was silent, but not an awkward silence! we pulled up at kaprial's house and said our goodbyes to her. We all lived pretty close to each other so we pulled up at my house less then ten minutes later. I said goodbye to ruby and went in my house.  as soon as I got in I was approached by my step mom, god I hated this lady "Hey cadence, how was school?" great I faked smiled at her and walked down the hall to my dads office which I found was empty
  "hey um do you know where my dad went? I thought he didn't have to go in today" I said pretty annoyed because I expected him to be home. 
"He didn't but he got called into a very important meeting,  He should be back soon" she said. 
of course, I rolled my eyes and walked back in the living room and grabbed my back pack which I had left on the couch and walked up stairs. as soon as I got into my room I kicked  off my shoes and jumped straight into my bed, falling fast asleep, I was tired. 
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I woke up to my ringing phone. I sighed and rolled over sleepily to answer it. I jumped up when I seen my moms number on the screen, she got a job as a doctor and was doing pretty good in California but I still wasn't able to leave my dad and move in with her. I hated him for all the pain he caused her. all the pain he caused all of us. since we were in two different time zones I barley got to talk to her. "Hey mommie, how are you?" I said as I answered the phone. "I'm doing great, how are you?" I could tell she was smiling.. I loved that I could feel her warmth over the phone. I hadn't seen her in forever. my dad had full custody and he always said he didn't have to let me see my mom and he barley ever did. It's been years since I've last seen her, i don't get why he is so bitter towards her when all of this was his fault. I just wanted to cry. I missed my mom so much. I couldn't talk to my dad like i could talk to her. he would never understand. "Cadence.." "Cadence? You okay?" I heard my mom say taking me out of my thoughts. I smiled at the sound of her voice and then sighed "yeah mom, I'm fine. I just really miss you" I said on the verge of tears. "Aww ca don't start to cry. we will see each other  really soon, I promise. you shouldn't be so worried about me though, I've been doing really good. me and Jonathan have been doing well to, were even talking about moving in together" that made me smile, I never met Jonathan in person but I've spoken to him a few times over the phone and my mom always talks to me about him, they've been dating for almost two years now and he treats her really well. "That's good to hear, im really happy for you. I can't wait to meet him and to see you again. I miss you so much" I could tell she was smiling again "I miss you to baby, and mommie loves you. I have to be in work soon though, I'll talk to you later okay?"  I got sad because I wanted to talk to her longer, but I didn't want her to hear the change in my mood "Okay mom, I love you to, talk to you later" I quickly said. as soon as I hung up with my mom I heard a knock at my door. I sighed knowing it was probably just my dad. I was pretty upset that he wasn't home when I got here. even though he caused my mom a lot of pain and basically threw her out of town I didn't hate him because he was still my father. Come in dad I said,  he walked in and threw my keys on my bed. I jumped up to hug him.. wait...  "You didn't even ask to see my grades yet, why you giving back my keys?" You don't want them back or something he said "Of course I do" I said rolling my eyes at him. "Okay then, be grateful plus I trust that you worked your butt off to improve your grades. you'd probably die another semester without your car" I'm glad you know I said more under my breathe then out loud, he gave me a stern look "yeah anyways were having dinner as a family tonight, Mary should be done with dinner soon and Arabella is back home for thanksgiving break. she got in while you were asleep. be nice" i rolled my eyes at him, "I'm always nice" but you gotta go I said shooing him out of my room, I need to pray really quick and ask god to guide me through this dinner. "Really Cadence be nice" he warned walking out my room closing the door behind him
                          
after laying in my bed for a while Arabella came to the door and told me that dinner was ready. Arabella was Mary's daughter. she wasn't really around often, since she attended college on the other side of town. she only came home on breaks, sometimes she visited on the weekends,  but she would be home for the next two weeks spending thanksgiving break at home with us. we barley ever spoke but I didn't hate her. we had a conversation once and she told me that she didn't blame me for disliking her mom but that she really loved my dad and he was to blame as well. which she was right about. 
                          
as soon as I hit the bottom step the smell of Alfredo sauce hit my nose. Alfredo was my favorite and Mary made it the BEST. 
                          
when I got to the table dad, Mary and Arabella were already deep into a conversation about how Arabella was doing at school. when they noticed me they paused the conversation so we could say prayer. "ca how about you say the prayer tonight?" dad suggested. I gave him a small smile and nodded my head. "Lord I thank you for the hands that prepared this food and the people I'm sitting with at this table. god is good, he is great, and I just want to take the time out to thank him for this lovely food amen" after everybody said amen we filled our plates, a few bites in I got tired of the silence and spoke up. "Arabella how is school?" I asked "it's great really, being that it's my first year and all I thought it was gonna be really stressful year, but it's been good,  how is your Senior year going? she said smiling.. "you got a  good idea of where your going to college yet?"  "it's been good, and so far and I'm really leaning towards the university of California right now" "California? My dad added, I rolled my eye "yes dad, it's a great school, and I've always told you I wanted to go to school away from home." I said looking to see his facial edinner Arabella walked in with a glass of iced tea. "Thank you" I said giving her a small smile.     
"No problem, you okay? she asked probably already knowing the answer, "nope I said popping the p and sighing, it's not even about being close to my mom, yes that would be great, but the university of California really is a great school, and it has an amazing nursing program. My dads been knew this is what I wanted I just don't understand why he's not supporting me yet, weigher I decide to go to California or Florida I'm still going a good distance away from home."
"I understand and I bet he doesn't even hate the fact that your gonna be close to your mom it's just probably that your gonna be far away from him, just give him time. Like you said he can't hold you back, if you get in you got it. I sighed "yeah your right, I just want him to be happy with me, I don't wanna have to pack up and leave and have him hate me because of it, you know?" "Hate you? Girl I'm telling you NOTHING can make your father hate you, nothing, and when he realizes that this is really what you want he will be fine with it trust me, besides what can he say, I hate you for following your dreams?" We both giggled   "Thank you, Arabella really it means a lot" she smiled "oh no problem ce, you know I'm here, if you didn't now you do" she said walking towards my door "I'm gonna go wash up. it's getting pretty late" I looked at the time and agreed, okay  goodnight 
"Goodnight, and don't be in here stressing" she said closing my door.
I grabbed a towel and headed to the shower, as soon as I got out I fell straight to sleep.