Chapter Twenty Two

                                    

                                          

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." –Alice Walker.

                          
Dedication: XxAlways_DreamingxX for the cover! Thank you!
                          
Recap:
                          
"Thanks for being here."
                          
Shrugging, I just smiled, before exiting the room.
                          
A warm, fuzzy feeling spread through my chest as I walked down the corridor.
                          
I'm beginning to really fall for this guy.


                          
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"Wait, what?" my dad asked, sounding confused. 
                          
"Don't make me repeat everything again," I groaned.
                          
It was good to hear his voice again. With everything going on, I hadn't had a chance to ring and apologise. He had tried calling but I hadn't answered. It was never the right time and I still felt a bit worked up about the whole situation.
                          
But now that was over as I had bigger things to worry about now. And I had missed him.
                          
"Is he okay?" he asked with concern.
                          
"Yeah, a bit shaken up and he has some injuries, but he'll live."
                          
"Are you okay taking care of him? It sounds quite serious." 
                          
"Who else is going to do it?" I asked. 
                          
There was a bitter tone to my voice but it wasn't because I had to look after Xavier. He means a lot to me and I don't mind one bit looking out for him. I just wanted dad to realise that it was a big responsibility for me, considering I still had to worry about school and homework. 
                          
Sometimes I think he forgets I'm still actually young.
                          
He was silent for a few moments. "Maybe I should come home."
                          
My heart stuttered to a stop in my chest. I gripped the phone tightly. 
                          
"What?" I croaked.
                          
Excitement and hope swelled inside my chest and a goofy grin spread across my face. It would make everything so much easier if he was here.
                          
"Yeah, I might see if I can come down for the weekend and just check on you guys."
                          
Those feelings shattered into a million pieces.
                          
"Oh." My voice immediately became cold. 
                          
"How does that sound?"
                          
"Yeah, great," I muttered, a sour expression on my face.
                          
"What's wrong?"
                          
"Just for a weekend?" I spat, again gripping the phone. "How about for good?"
                          
"I'm on a contract, Faith, you know that."
                          
Making a face, I rolled onto my stomach, before pressing my face into my pillow. I wanted to scream into it.
                          
"Yeah, how could I forget?"
                          
Maybe I haven't moved on as much as I thought I had.
                          
He sighed. "Only a few more months."
                          
"Come on, dad." I whined. "Just come home. We need you."
                          
"I'll talk to my boss."
                          
"Really?" I asked, unable to void the hope from my voice.
                          
"Yeah, I'm sure a weekend wouldn't be too much of a stretch."
                          
"Ugh," I groaned angrily. "Whatever. See ya."
                          
I hung up and threw my phone aggressively onto the bed.