I Wish My Father Wasn't So Supportive (Jade)

I whimpered as my alarm went off. I had only ended up only getting four hours of sleep and I hated myself for it.

I needed to be at the theater in an hour, prepping, practicing, double-checking I had every costume piece I needed.

When the snooze went off I dragged myself out of bed.

I pulled on my last clean pair of sweatpants.

As I brushed my teeth I thought of last night's events, my amazing night with Liam had been a dream. I'd have to speak with Hale, sometime soon, I hadn't planned on her coming by last night. Though nothing that happened last night was planned.

I opened my medicine cabinet and made sure I took my birth control, then clasped my necklace around my throat.

I gathered up all of my stuff and pulled on my shoes, I was going to be late if I didn't get a move on.

I pulled the cord from my phone and glanced at it, besides a few useless game notifications there was a text from Liam.

I had fun last night, I'm sorry we couldn't spend the whole night together. Have a good practice I'll see you tonight, break a leg!

My cheeks heated and I bit my lip, a smile slowly spread across my face.

"Well, you look like shit,"

I nearly dropped my phone as I jumped, my eyes snapped up, and saw Hale leaning on my door frame.

"How the hell do you keep getting in my house," I grumbled as I tried to resume a normal heartbeat.

She cocked her head to the side a bit and gave a cheeky smile.

"Luck. I was going to talk to you last night but you looked like a cat in heat so I rescheduled,"

I grimaced at her with narrowed eyes.

"I remember thanks, but I actually need to get going," I grimaced with a sharp breath.

Hale gave an amused smile before pushing back to her feet and stepped closer to me.

"Yeah yeah, I can walk and talk,"

I was about to object but when I looked into her eyes, behind the humor and defensiveness I could see the anxiety she was trying to hide.

I pressed my lips into a tight line.

"Fine, but your helping,"

I reached down and grabbed my dance bag and held it out to her.

She pulled the straps over her shoulder.

I grabbed my coat, purse, and shoe bag and motioned Hale to follow me.

As I turned to lock the front door, my eyes glanced over to Hale.

"So what is going on that breaking into my house seems so important?" I asked, turning the key until it clicks.

"Okay well, first I never broke in, each time your father let me in. He seems to like me," Hale gave a short smile then continued. "Second, it seems that my decision on where I'm moving just got a lot more complicated,"

My jaw tightened, it seems that Lev might have taken my advice, I just hoped she left my name out of it.

"Lev thinks that I should move in with her. I mean I've known her for barely even a month! How the hell does she think that's a good idea?" She expressed in long thought out breaths.

"I don't know, but she seems to like you a lot Hale, you can see it in her eyes. It's like she loves you already," The words come out before thinking and I noticed that I was several steps ahead of her now.

She's frozen behind me.

"Hale are you okay?" I asked and went back to her.

"L-love's me? H-how that's not..." Her words are broken and her eyes seem glazed over in fear.

I grimace at myself.

Nice going, Jade.

"Isn't that a good thing?" I ask and push her forward to keep walking, luckily for me she complied.

Hale shaked her head.

"I don't know. I -" she cleared her throat before going on. "I've never been cared for like the way she wants to care for me. She's making a mistake, I'm people posion yet she's so instant on staying around," her words are whispers.

We are a few blocks from the studio, I needed to fix this before we got there, before Mrs.Cross saw me and dragged me away.

"Hale, listen. Your my sister and I love you, hear that? I. Love. You. You are lovable, I don't know what has you so convinced your not but it's wrong. Talk to Lev, don't hide from her. If I'm right and she does care for you the way I think then she will accept your choice. Do what's best for you,"

I flicked my eyes over to her and her face was stone.

Oh now I really did it, I should have just resealed her cracks instead of taking a pickaxe to them.

She gave a tentative nod after a few minutes.

"Okay," was all she said.

We stood outside the studio and Hale handed me my bag.

"Good luck tonight, I can't wait to see everything," Hale smiled and for the quickest second I wasn't even sure it happened she pulled me into a hug and whispered into my ear. "Thanks,"

Then she was walking down the street, blending into the crowd of people.

The door opened and a hand gripped my wrist and pulled me in.

"Jade there you are, get out of the cold we have work to do," Mrs.Cross exclaimed.

Hours of practice, costume fitting, hair pinning, and face painting later, the show was going to start soon. Other dancers bristled around me, nerves were jumping around everyone.

I was waiting, scrolling through my messages, Lots of people wishing me luck tonight. Peyton telling me where to find them in the audiance.

A crew member cleared her throat asking for my attention.

She held out a vase and smiled.

"These were dropped off for you,"

I took them and she wandered off.

There was a note attached to the case of flowers. I recognized them Salvia's, Mom had loved flowers.

You'll be amazing! No child of mine could do less. I'll be watching. Dad

Fear struck my heart and the vase slipped from my fingers and I was lucky it was a plastic vase.

That was not my father's handwriting, not the one I grew up with anyway.

He was here.

I grabbed my phone and called Peyton.

Before we could exchange hello's I rasped into the phone.

"Peyton, he's here,"

"Jade? What? Who's here?" she asked confused.

"Edward he's here Peyton, he sent me flowers,"

Peyton didn't respond but I heard Hale in the background.

"What? What's going on?" her voice was sharp.

Then nothing. My phone snatched from my hands.

"Jade come on the shows starting you need to get on stage.

No, no, no. Stage was the last place I should be, but she didn't give me much of a choice.

It was dark as I entered the stage with the other girls, just enough light for us to the tape that marked where we were supposed to be.

My heartfelt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I felt ridiculous in my tight, and dress, the pins in my head ached, the ballet shoes felt too much like bare feet. I needed to run and this outfit was like a spotlight.

The bright stage lights came on and I peered into the house to try and find my family but it was so dark.

I could see Liam to the right watching with amusement. I spotted my father in the front, he was beaming with pride. I spotted Peyton by her flame-red hair. I cursed myself, only if I'd been able to get Liam and my sibling's seats next to each other.

Each of their faces were in unease, watching me then flicking around, watching.

My time to worry was up when music poured heavily into the air.

I was forced to change my mind into beats and steps.

I followed the others in careful twists and lunges, my movements light as the wind.

My eyes kept going back to my family, then I saw Hale getting up, something was cradled in her hands.

I tried to shake it from my focus as I was drawn in by the hands of the other dancers.

When I ended in my final spot and the music withered away, the lights dimmed till it was pitch black, I was able to catch my breath.

We quickly left the stage to let the next group take out place.

There was a hushed argument happing.

"I'm sorry but all photographers need a badge or there is no entry, now please go back to your seat," A male crew member hissed, to a short woman, it took me a second to see that it was Hale.

"And I told you," she snapped back. "That it was never sent to me. I am Jayden Fell's personal photographer and I have already missed her first act. Her father has paid a lot for these photos. I'm not missing them because you screwed up,"

I stepped forward and laid my hand on the man's shoulder.

"It's fine, she's with me," I urged and he grumbled and stepped aside.

She raised her camera and snapped a photo.

"Surprise,"

I pulled Hale into a tight hug and realized I was shaking. Slowly she pressed her hands to my back.

"It's okay, nothing's going to happen," she whispered.

I nodded and let go of her.

"I have to go change, I'll be right back,"

I dashed off to the dressing room and Mrs.Cross was waiting for me. She helped me change quickly, I exchanged my ballet flats for, theater shoes, even harder to run in.

I was escorted back to the curtains and I gripped Hale's hand.

She smirked.

"Don't worry, I'll get amazing photos from back here,"

I chuckled, I wished that was my biggest concern, good photo's.

Dance after dance my anxiety never went away. Nothing happened, yet I never felt safe.

When the last group went we all got to the stage and bowed.

There was cheering and flowers were thrown. If he was going to do something now was the time.

But nothing happened, it took in my first worry-free breath and went to bow for the last time when a flower fell to my feet.

A blue salvaina.

I felt like I was going to be sick all over the stage.

I broke line as people were starting to move and gripped Hale's hand dragging her with me.

"He's still here we need to leave," I warned looking back at her. I crashed into a chest.

Just like when we first met.

Liam grinned at me.

"We have to stop meeting like this love,"

He drew me into a hug.

"You were specatulier. Honestly, Jade, it was buetufuil,"

Behind him, my dad was walking next to my brother and sister.

"Hey Dad," I breathed as he also hugged me.

"You were wonderful. Good job,"

He let me go and his lips quirked up to the sight of Hale, maybe he did like her.

"Hale! How were you able to get photos from backstage?"

Hale gave a proud smile.

"A confident attitude," she responded.

Dad's eyes fell to Liam.

"Who's this?"

I swallowed hard, I did not want to this right now, not with my pycho birth father lurking in the shadows.

"This is Liam, we've been seeing each other for a couple of weeks," Introduced. "Liam this is my dad,Hale,Ryker, and Peyton," I pointed to each person.

"It's very nice to meet you all," Liam beamed.

"Well, I've arranged for dinner down the street. Liam are you able to join us?" Dad asked, an edge to his voice.

"That be lovely, let's go," I moved to go forward but dad caught me.

"Don't you want to get your stuff? And change?"

Oh, right. I swallowed a grunt and nodded.

"Yeah um, Peyton will you help me?" I turned to her. I needed to know if she saw anything while Hale and I were backstage.

"Of course," she breathed.

I locked eyes with Hale and jerked my chin and Liam and she nodded.

Peyton followed me and I began to rip the pins from my aching scalp.

"We didn't see anything, if he was here then he just came to torment us,"

I nodded and pointed to where my stuff was.

Peyton helped me out of my costume and I put on the leggings and jumper I'd packed for dinner.

Even though everything my stomach growled with hunger, I packed faster.

"I just want to get out of here,"

"Understandable," Peyton mumbled.

I grabbed my bags and Peyton took one.

I glanced at myself in the mirror for a second.

My hair laid wavy from the tight bun and hairspray. My eye's still dark from the makeup that hadn't smudged.

"Let's go," I said and rushed from the room and meet the lobby.

"Ready?" Dad asked. I nodded and followed after me.

We left and weight left me as we spilled out onto the street, away from those blue flowers.