Chapter 34

ANGEL SINCLAIR.

In the morning, I find my father talking to someone on his cell phone. As soon as he sees me, he automatically hangs up the call and puts the phone in his pocket. Could he be hiding something from me? Maybe he is.

"Dad? Is everything all right?" I ask, approaching him.

"Hi, sweetheart. Yes, it is," he replies, kissing the top of my head, "I'm sorry about yesterday, okay? I know you didn't like that conversation".

"It's okay," I sigh, "I just hope it doesn't come up again. It's gone now, Dad. It's all in the past. We can't change the past. It was really sad that everything happened the way it did and that Matthew had certain attitudes, but we don't have the power to change what has already been done," my father nods.

"It's true, daughter. You're very mature for your age, have I told you that?" I smile, hearing footsteps coming down the stairs.

I look back and see Bryan, then the smile fades from my face.

"Hey, family reunion first thing in the morning?" Bryan says and laughs sarcastically.

"As always, very playful," my father laughs, "Let's have some coffee, kids. You've got a long day of studying ahead of you."

"And what a day. Starting with the fact that my car's tires are flat," I swallow after hearing this.

"What happened?" my father asks, as we walk together to the kitchen.

"I think it ripped on some glass or a nail while I was walking around," he replies.

"I'll have the mechanic come and change your tires. Is the shower in your room okay?".

"Brand new, James. Thanks for calling in the electrician."

"Not at all. Whenever you need anything, you can talk to me. I have several contacts in my address book who can help you."

We sit down for coffee and Madison is already here. I make a point of smelling my new jam to make sure there's no pepper in it. I can see a smile forming on Bryan's lips and I take a bite of toast with the force of my hatred.

"This time Margareth didn't let it happen," Bryan says and my father laughs.

"It wasn't Margareth. She's always been careful with everything and would never let that much pepper spill into the jam jar. It had to have been a lost soul," I say, my brow furrowed.

"It probably was," Bryan retorts.

I sigh, trying to stay calm. I don't want to lose my temper with Bryan again this morning.

I eat a slice of cottage cheese and finally a few spoonfuls of natural yogurt.

"Daughter, you can give Bryan a lift, can't you?" my father asks and I nod, totally against my will.

"Be more careful next time, Bryan," Madison says.

"I will, Mom," he says, looking at me.

So he'd already told his mother about the car? Interesting. It's obviously hit him hard, and I can already wait for him to come back, because I know he's not going to take it easy on me.

We leave the dining room and go straight to the garage. I sit in the driver's seat and Bryan gets in beside me. We buckle up and I set off for the school, swearing and hearing swearing the whole way.

***

Passing one of the corridors, I see Matthew sitting and fiddling with his cell phone. He looks very serious and should be in class by now.

"Aren't you going to class, Matthew?" I ask.

"My class doesn't start for another 30 minutes," he replies.

"Well, we have philosophy class now," I point to our classroom.

"Are you really going to play dumb, Angeline?" he asks, nodding.

"I don't understand what you're getting at, Matthew," I say, being completely honest.

"Seriously, they changed my class. And that's thanks to your father, thank him," Matthew says, apparently upset.

"What?" I ask, practically shouting.

"I'm saddened by news like that," Bryan says laughing as he passes us both, "Come on, you've got class," he calls to me, but I ignore him.

"Look, Matthew, let it be clear that I have absolutely nothing to do with this, okay? Dad's out of line. I don't mind you studying with me and I hope this is resolved as soon as possible," I say, before walking away from him.

I quickly take my cell phone out of my bag and dial my father's number. I call him as soon as I'm further away from people, and he quickly answers.

"Dad, what were you thinking when you decided to move Matthew? Is that what you were talking about on your cell phone this morning when I showed up? Please, Dad, don't make it worse!" I say, feeling my nerves getting worse and worse.

"Angel, child, it was the best thing to do. You say no so as not to worry me, but I know this boy gets in your way. Yes, today I had a talk with Principal Moore and we made a deal. She's changed Matthew's class so that you don't have as much contact, but he won't get in the way. I've been talking to Bryan and he thinks the same as me. We're protective men, darling. We just want to help you.

"My God, Dad! Don't listen to the nonsense that comes out of that boy's mouth. Haven't you realized that Bryan is super problematic? You can't let him get to you. What he really wants is to ruin my life," I say angrily.

"Don't say that, Bryan really cares about you. You should be less ungrateful, Angeline."

"Ungrateful? Me? I want you to undo that right now. Don't talk about Bryan's kindness to me, because it doesn't exist."

"I won't undo it, because a deal is a deal. Have a good lesson.

Just like that, my father hangs up on me, making me clench my cell phone with all my might.

I walk into the classroom with my blood boiling and see Bryan laughing. Of course he loved it. Of course it had to have that bastard's finger in it. I hate that boy.