Stranger

"Jess, you're going to have to go to school tomorrow," Dad said, as we ate at the Pizza Palace. 

"Dad...." I sighed, setting my pizza on the plate. 

"Jess, eat." Dad sighed. "Look. You only have a few more weeks left of school."

"Five more weeks," I corrected. "But Dad, I want to be with Dakota."

He nodded. "Yes, but you can't put your life on hold." Dad sighed, biting his lower lip. "Jess, I know it's hard, but you need to try and finish school and have some semblance of a life." 

I scoffed. "Dad, I do have a life."

"Jess, Dakota isn't your whole life," he said, shaking his head. "I love him, too, but even before the accident, you had your school life and the pack. It wasn't all about Dakota."

I looked into Dad's eyes, unable to believe what he was saying. "Dad, Dakota is a part of me. A part of my life."