Gio

"Will you hold my hand?" Celia asks, brushing the tips of her fingers against my hand. She looks up at me with big eyes like she needs my permission. I take it and squeeze it, kissing her head.

We're walking down the aisles of Ari's school theater after dropping her off backstage. The space is worn-down and dim, the smell of dust and old wood wafts my nose with heavy perfumes and colognes. The stage ahead is split in two. The left is decorated with a blue sky backdrop and clouds made out of some fuzzy fabric. The right side is a barn with terrifying farm animals.

"She okay?" Chase asks, worried as well from Celia's unusual neediness.

"She might be a little baked," I mutter, feeling guilty. He deadpans at me, knowing damn well why I let that happen. I'm weak for her.

I wave at Arthur who sits in the front row with the rest of the town. A cop in a school theater, baked out of his mind. I snort to myself.

We settle in the back and some older students shut the doors, the lights turn off and a teacher from the front starts playing a piano. Chase makes a snoring sound.

Celia giggles and I squeeze her hand, giving her a warning look.

She's unfazed and just smacks my arm, then leans her head against it. I watch her skinny arms wrap around my arm until she's hugging me to her chest. My hand settles on her lap and I take the opportunity to push my fingers around her inner thigh, holding her like that.

I don't pay much attention to shit that's happening on stage until Ari dances in. Her brows are furrowed in concentration as she takes little steps on her tip-toes. Is she supposed to be a ballerina angel? What are they doing up there, having a party while we plead for help?

It's just a show.

Am I high? Of course not, I drove. Maybe it's Celia.

I look down at her. She's focused on the stage and her chest rises with a soft sigh, her lashes drape up and down. She notices me staring and looks up. I rub my thumb over her jeans. She smirks and bites my arm. I jump a little, startling Oscar and Chase.

"Can you stop?" I laugh under my breath, peeling her forehead away from me. She has her teeth bared like a crazy animal. I can't stop laughing.

"Celia, down girl." Chase folds forward to smirk. I twist my arm and hit his chest with my fist, telling him to mind his own business.

"I'm hungry," Celia justifies. What am I. Steak?

"You want chocolate?" Oscar lights up, turning. He unzips his fanny pack with a proud smile. "My wife always puts candy in here in case I get hangry."

He hands her a red, wrapped piece and she opens it. She's trying not to smile as she finds a ball of chocolate and takes a bite. Her face distorts into an angry scowl. "Is this white chocolate?"

Some people turn and sigh in annoyance. My jaw hardens. I narrow my eyes at them.

"Go Ari!" Celia cups her hands and cheers. Literally it's dead quiet. Why. "Whoohoo!"

"Shut up," I strain my voice and whisper in her ear.

"Who's the prettiest girl on stage!" She yells. Fifty people glance back at us.

I squeeze her thigh, hard. "Can you be fucking quiet?"

"Why?" she whisper-yells, turning to me. "Why do we have to be like the rest of them? These pretentious, stuffy, smelly, sorry excuses of adults, who have forgotten how to live!"

"Now is not the time for your speeches," I try to be serious, but she's so funny. "Just keep it inside."

"I will not keep it inside. This is the problem. Everyone's too afraid to be the one that stands out. How else are things supposed to change?"

Where is this coming from? "People don't like to be interrupted while watching something. So just be respectful, okay?"

"Be respectful," she scoffs, leaning away. Great, now she's mad. "Ari, I love you baby girl!" she screams suddenly, cupping her hands to make it louder.

Some people gasp and we all freeze. Kids on stage break their performance. The piano music slightly falters. Celia shrinks beside me, startled by everyone's attention.

"Yeah! Who's the prettiest angel in heaven?" Chase then yells, pumping his fist. "Ari, Ari, Ari!"

Oscar claps rapidly, like he can't take it. "Wonderful! Just wonderful! So proud of you!"

Then Chase, Oscar and Celia slowly look at me. Like I'm the last one to jump off the plane.

Fucking hell. "That's my baby girl!" I cheer, my voice booming across the hall.

Chase goes 'rawr' and Celia smirks at me. I roll my eyes at them. Then I notice Ari looking at me with the brightest wide-eyes. She seems to gasp slowly as a huge smile spreads across her face.

Then she squeals. "Daddy!" Jumping up and down and waving.

I chuckle and relax back in my seat, melting over her happiness.

The performance resumes and people settle down.

Celia leans to whisper. "See? Wasn't that worth it?" I look at her from the corner of my eyes and she smiles. "I learned that from my mom. She was fearless. No matter what people thought, she stuck to her principles and gave me unconditional love. I wouldn't survive this place without her."

"I'm very happy you had a mother like that," I say softly, kissing her forehead. "You're a very lucky person. Not a lot of people experience that." I give her a smile, but she frowns at me.

"Marilyn really loves you," she says in a smaller voice. "You guys should spend time together."

She's so sweet. I shake my head, furrowing my brows at the idea. "That would be weird."

"No, it wouldn't! You guys would have so much fun."

"Let's watch the show," I whisper and lean back in my seat, taking her hand with me.

Eventually, the torture ends, but it was worth it. Ari is the most adorable sight in her angel costume. Watching her take her role so seriously filled my chest with pride. One day, she's going to be a strong woman. I can't wait for her to rule over the world.

When the students bow and the crowd applauds, the curtains close and people stand to leave. Thankfully we're in the last row and therefore the first ones to get out. Immediately, we head backstage to pick up Ari, all of us excited to see how she feels.

It's crowded with staff members and teachers. Some parents are already here, either friends with each other or just bored. Kids in various costumes walk in every direction.

"There she is!" Chase points in the right corner. We notice a group of angles huddled together.

Thinking she must be with her friends, I smile and walk up to her. But my steps come to a pause when I see her face, casted down in distress.

"Oh no," I hear Celia beside me. "She's getting bullied, we should go help." She tries to step forward but I catch her arm.

I shake my head. "Let her be. She can handle it."

"You're such a loser, Ariana. Who says 'daddy' like that?" A girl with black hair down to her waist snaps. She's about Ari's age.

"I, I was just..." Ari mumbles, hands clasped together. "I'm sorry..."

"Nobody likes a loser, you shouldn't try so hard to be cool. Everyone already knows who you are. You and are dad both need to leave. We don't like you here," that girl says and my hands clench.

She's got this.

"We should stop this, no?" Oscar mutters softly, Celia nods. Chase stays quiet beside me.

"And you know what?" That girl leans forward and flicks Ari's halo off. "You don't deserve to be an angel. None of us yelled 'daddy' and embarrassed others. Only losers do that."

"Gio, please..." Celia whispers, eyes getting watered.

I scowl at the parents around, glancing at what's happening but acting indifferent. Like it's none of their business? Are they not bothered? What world do we live in?

Where did I bring my girl? I did this.

My heart squeezes uncomfortably in my chest as I look at Ari. She looks down and sniffles, blinking deliberately to not cry in front of everyone. Even in this state, she's being so strong.

I rush forward to pick her up, to hug her and tell her I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being good enough to prevent her from harm like this. Sorry for bringing her here.

"I am not a loser!" She shouts, halting my steps. "And my daddy is not a loser, either!"

The girls quiet down, all shocked by her explosion. She fixes her halo, glaring at the girl.

She steps towards her, pointing a finger. "You're so mean—"

The girl scoffs. "I don't care what you—"

"Shush!" Ari shouts, giving her a stern look.

"Damn," Chase mutters, I hear the smile in his voice.

"So what, I called my daddy 'daddy?'" Ari says slowly, voice confident. "He cheered for me! Did any of your moms or dads cheer? No! Only he did! And you know why?"

Celia sniffles next to me, I don't breathe. I'm gaping at Ari and the anger in her.

"Because my daddy's awesome! He's one in a million! And I love him!" She stomps her foot and straightens up, putting her hands on her hips. "So, unless you losers have anything else to say, I'm going to go and hang out with him!"

"Nobody cares, you guys are so lame," that girl drawls and chuckles, crossing her arms.

"Oh, yeah?" Ari smirks. She puts her hands behind her and tilts her chin. "You know, Jackie... I heard you like Liam. Don't you?"

"What?" Jackie gasps and laughs. "No, I don't!"

"Oh, you do," Ari sings, chuckling. "He's shown me your letters. Your heart drawings. You put lipstick on and kiss all over the paper, don't you?"

"No, I don't!" Jackie shrills in tears. "I don't! Is nobody going to do anything? This is not fair!"

Chase chuckles and I turn to glare at him, trying to keep a straight face myself.

"You guys are so bad..." Celia whispers in disappointment, shaking her head.

"Oh, he tells me everything," Ari dusts her hands. "Don't you know..." She walks closer until she's face-to-face with Jackie. "He's my best friend?"

Jackie sniffles. "You're lying. No one would be friends with you."

"Oh no? Then did you know Celia's friends with me too? Yeah, she's badass. Don't you know? She'll shave your head in your sleep and make a teddy bear out of it."

"I would," Celia calmly nods and Oscar whimpers a little.

"So you go and think about it, Jackie." Ari narrows her eyes. "Either you can be my friend or you can be the mean girl who's missing out on everything! Goodbye! God bless!"

She struts away like those movie scenes with car explosions. We cheer and clap harder than we did during the actual performance.

"Ooh, this angel just burned down heaven and took a throne in hell!" Chase kneels to high-five her.

Oscar records a video of them. Celia looks at me and smiles. I don't know why, but I can't speak nor move. I'm overwhelmed. My heart is swelled and my throat is uncomfortable.

Celia squeezes my hand. "You're a good dad."

My chest thumps. "Thank you."

"I'll be right back, okay?" she whispers, slipping behind me. "I need to use the restroom."

I frown, because she hates this place so much, I know she'd wait until we got home.

"You guys go to the parking lot, I'll meet you there with Celia," I tell Chase and Oscar, then head in the same direction Celia went.

Worry settles in me that something's going on.

~ AN ~
Hope you guys liked this chapter! <3 Love you all.