Hero:Chapter 4

The bus dropped me off a few blocks away from my house.  I lived in a townhouse with my mom and step dad and his two brats.  It wasn't a bad place to live or a bad living situation, but I was the oldest and was usually called on to babysit the kids whenever mom and Glen wanted to go out.  This usually entailed chasing the three year old around the house, making sure he put on his diaper and arguing with the six year old about bed time.  By the time Mom and Glen would get home, I would be way too tired to do homework and the house would look like a disaster and I would be the one in trouble.  Ugh, life… it sucks sometimes.  Reaching the front door, I noticed an unfamiliar car parked outside.  It was shiny and looked like something someone famous would drive.  I walked cautiously inside and was surprised to see my bio dad, Marc, sitting at the dining room table.  I hadn't seen this man since I was five and he decides to show up now… what the heck?   Marc looked up and smiled.  I think I must have grimaced back because he stopped smiling and stood up.

"Sadie, I know it's been awhile, and I'm sorry for that.  But please have a seat and listen to what I have to say."

I nodded and took a seat at the opposite end of the table.  I was so nervous.   

"I've come into some money and I'd like to repay my absence."

I sat there shocked.  Excuse me?  Repay for what?  

"Marc…"

"Dad…"

"No, Marc, I don't think money is going to repay for anything you've done or haven't done to or for me.  What makes you think you can just waltz back into my life and offer money and everything will be back to normal?"

"Sadie, I'm your father, I deserve the respect of being called Dad."

"Umm, no… no you don't… do you remember how you left us?  Because I do.   You are only my father biologically, nothing else… and no, I will not call you dad."

Marc looked up pained.  I knew I hurt him.  I didn't care though.  What had he done for me and mom?  Absolutely nothing!  He didn't even pay child support, or let alone, offer to pay it.  Mom and I got along fine and then she married Glen and he became my "dad".  Glen is much more my father than Marc ever was.  

"Sadie, please let me back into your life."

"Maybe, but you can't buy my love.  You have to prove to me that you aren't going to leave me.  Again."

Marc nodded.  I stood up; I was done with this charade.  I had homework to do, an outfit to pick out, and my favorite show was on tonight.  

"Thanks for stopping by Marc."

Marc, smiled weakly and stood as well.  He awkwardly patted my shoulder and walked out the front door.  I groaned and rolled my eyes.  Mom was going to hear from me tonight.  

Once in my room, I cracked my Math book open.  I banged out the questions and then opened my History book.  I read and wrote notes from the first chapter and felt like I accomplished more that enough.  As I was putting my books away, the doorbell rang.  I heard Glen answer the door and muffled sounds of the guest and Glen talking.  Then I heard my name.  Seriously?  No one comes to see me, ever.  I walked slowly down the stairs.  Standing in the doorway was Shane.  I groaned.  

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you wanted to do homework together."

"Ok… how did you figure out where I lived?"

By this point I was a little bit more than freaked out.  

"The internet has a plethora of information."

"You are by far, the creepiest guy I've ever met.  Give me a second to gather my stuff and I'll be right down."  

He smiled and nodded.  Glen raised his eyebrow in my general direction and showed him the living room.  I rolled my eyes and ran up the steps.  I grabbed my stuff and went to run back down the stairs, but I made the mistake of running past my mirror.  I looked awful.  My eyeliner had crept its way down my face and my hair was disheveled.  I probably looked like a crack whore.  I don't really know why, but I ran a brush through my hair, fixed my makeup and even changed my shirt.  What the hell?  I didn't even like this kid, why did I care what I looked like?  I sighed.  This was as good as it was going to be.  

When I finally showed up in the living room, Shane had already set up his books and what not.  He looked up when I walked into the room.  He chuckled.  I blushed.  I sat down and opened by history book.  We started working silently next to each other.  I kept feeling like he was watching me study, but I didn't look up to see his face.  

"Ok… I'm confused."

I looked up startled.

"What?"

"You confuse me."

"Again, what?"

"You seem to hate me, but you change your clothes, fix your make up and come down looking totally different then when I first saw you."

I just stared at him.  I couldn't believe he felt like he had the right to call me out like that.  I was probably seven shades of red but I didn't look away.  He stared right back at me and it felt like years before one of us made a move.  He finally looked away and back to his books.  He wasn't smiling.  He actually looked pained.  I felt awful.  Why?  I don't know.  It just seemed like I pained him; like I made him feel sad or something.  Now I was confused.  I looked back at my book and back at him, and then back at my book… it was a vicious cycle for about ten minutes.  Finally I sighed and closed my book.

"I don't hate you."

Shane looked up startled.

"I know you don't but you don't like me either."

"True, but that's because you annoy me.  Don't take it personal.  Its been awhile since someone took some interest in me and then you show up and the whole world turns upside down and people know my name."

Shane chucked.

"That's how it should be.  You're a great girl; people need to get to know you."

I blushed… stupid embarrassed reaction.  It totally gives me away every time.  I reopened my book and we studied and talked for the next hour.