▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎

Monday rolls into Tuesday and then, in a blink of an eye, it's friday morning and I'm screaming into my pillow at 6am because today is the day I have to begin my therapy sessions with Tyler.

Luckily, I have managed to avoid him this past week, since he's been at home nursing his broken nose and I've been staying at my father's house - one of the bonuses to having divorced parents. Caleb decided to stay at home with mum and I'm actually quite glad because Tyler has practically been living there like it's his second home.

I can hear my dad and his fiancee - Emma - walking around the house, quietly conversing with each other as they start to get ready for work. I lay in bed a little longer, debating whether or not to feign sickness and take the day off. I have my dad so tightly wrapped around my finger, that I'd barely have to pretend and he'd believe me. Emma is harder to convince, but I know that she doesn't want to ruin our friendship by suddenly acting like an authoritative mother, so she tends to just roll her eyes in amusement and watch as my dad eats out of the palms of my hands.

There's a knock at my bedroom door and Emma peeks her head into my room, frowning when she notices that I'm still in bed. She's already freshly showered, got a full face of light makeup on and is wearing black checkered trousers and a white blouse. Her short blonde hair is curled to perfection."We're having breakfast soon, so you might want to start getting ready."

I roll over to my side and look at her, pouting "I don't feel that great."

She raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow and steps further into the room, "What's wrong with you?"

I shrug and snuggle further into my covers, "My stomach hurts."

"Are you being genuine, or is this one of your,"I-have-a-very-important-meeting-with-a-boy-who-i-want-to-see-dead," illnesses that allows you to skip the events of today?"

I can't help but scowl through a smile at her words. She can be very observant sometimes. Too observant. "Both?" I try, already knowing that she's not going to let me stay at home today and that no matter what I say, it won't be enough to convince her to let me skip.

"C'mon lazy bones, time to face the day with determination and optimism. Things might not be as bad as they seem." She goes to leave my room, but then remembers something and turns to smile at me.

"Almost forgot - I went shopping yesterday and I saw these and instantly thought of you. You should wear it today, you'll look super cute." She throws a bag of clothes onto the bed and then leaves me to sit up and investigate what she has bought me.

It looks as if she's gotten me an entire new outfit - one that consists of a mid length, just above the knee, black and white checkered skirt with just a plain black crop top that ties around the neck. She's even thoughtful enough to partner it up with a light blue faded jean jacket and some chunky black boots.

I smile at her generosity and count myself lucky that my dad found someone who is willing to try and bond with me - his daughter. I have a very strong bond with my dad, so I was worried when he first approached the subject of him dating. Just like any kid who comes from divorced parents, there was still a slight hope in my heart that they would get back together - but after five years I had to learn to accept that that he was ready to move on.

My parents were young when they had me and caleb - they were seventeen, almost eighteen, and had barely been dating when mum fell pregnant. Mum comes from quite a religious and old fashioned family, so my grandparents pressured them into getting married and committing to each other. And for a while it worked. They were a great team, they love both me and Caleb with all their hearts but at some point down the line, they just realised that they could no longer lie about their feelings.

Caleb and I weren't shocked about the news. We were a little hurt and worried about how it would affect our relationship with dad, so we were very happy when we found out that it works. Nothing has changed. Our dad still makes time for us, still jokes around and is still the man that I feel comfortable to talk to about personal things.

He's my best friend.

And so it makes me happy to see him finally happy. Emma is a few years younger than him, she just recently turned thirty-three, but she still likes to let her inner youngster out which always makes my dad laugh. I think he likes to be reminded that despite the fact the he has an almost eighteen year old son and daughter, he's not that old - barely half way through his life.

With a sigh, I reluctantly climb out of my bed and stumble into my bathroom. I take a quick shower, brush my teeth and take a straighter to my hair to smooth out the crinkles and lessen the frizz. I forgot to bring my main makeup bag, so I'm restricted to some tinted moisturiser, mascara and an eyebrow gel that gives me more of a natural look rather than my usual full coverage, shaped to perfection appearance.

I then change into my new outfit and marvel at how good it looks on me - I look innocent and cute - perfect for the first meeting today. I want the guidance councillor to have a good first impression and hopefully realise that I'm not the person that the reports label me as.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" My dad chirps happily when I finally enter the kitchen. He's stood over the stove and the smell of fried bacon, eggs and waffles encase my senses and leaves my mouth watering.

"Hi dad." I grin. Turning my attention to Emma, who is sat at the kitchen table typing away at her laptop, I do a little twirl and laugh, "Thank you for the outfit, I love it!"

She looks up and her smile is wide and affection is clear in her eyes. "You look amazing! I wasn't too sure about the jacket, but I really like it."

I sit down next to her and we immediately jump into a conversation about fashion and style. We find ourselves laughing and giggling whilst my dad watches us from the stove with a delightful smile. "For my two queens," he announces, placing two hot plates of food in front of us, "breakfast is served."

We all eat in comfortable silence, each of us savouring every last bite. My dad is such a good cook - a hobby of his that I hope he never let's go. My mother has never been one to enjoy cooking, so Caleb and I are mostly restricted to pasta or takeaways - not that we ever complain. "So, anything exciting happening at school today? Aren't you all preparing for your back-to-school dance thing that you have each year?"

"Yeah, preparations are being made. I don't even know why its called a 'back-to-school' dance when we're almost in october." I frown, trying to understand the logic. We've been back at school for almost a month now, so it doesn't make sense to have a school dance. It's pointless.

"And you have that meeting today, don't you?" Emma encourages through a smirk, obviously trying to get me to tell my dad about the incident last week. And my punishment.

"What meeting?"

I sigh, "The school are making me and Tyler go to the guidance councillor because they think it will help us sort out our drama."

Dad frowns, "Tyler? As in Tyler Black?"

"Yes, dad."

"Why is there drama between you two? I thought you guys were friends?"

I roll my eyes, "Where have you been these past few years? We're not friends anymore, far from it. He's an ass and he isn't my biggest fan either."

His frown deepens, "What happened? I could have sworn you two were basically inseparable."

I snort, "Yeah, back when I didn't have any standards. Besides, we were like ten dad, things change, people change."

He shrugs and finishes the last bite of his food, "You never know, this session might open your eyes - he might even say something that will make you change your opinion on certain things."

"I doubt it dad," I say through a sigh, "I doubt it."

▪︎▪︎▪︎

The day goes by slowly. Time seems to be ticking slower, which only fuels the anxiety bubbling in my stomach. I can't seem to settle it. I fidget in my lessons and barely eat at break time. My friends all look at me with worry.

"Are you ok, Carter?"

I look up and give a distracted smile, "Yeah, I'm fine."

Ryan raises an eyebrow at me before he shifts closer and loops his arm over my shoulder, pressing his cheek against my shoulder, "It's ok to be nervous. I'm nervous too. And by the looks of it, so is Tyler."

I pull back slightly, confusion washing over me, "What do you mean?"

He shrugs, "In class he couldn't sit still and he kept staring at the clock. Plus he was totally spaced out that he didn't even acknowledge the fact that Gracie was talking to him."

The girls all look surprised, "Bet that didn't wash over well with Gracie." Veronica laughs. Freya opens her mouth to say something but stops to glare at someone my shoulder.

It doesn't take a genius to guess who.

"What?" I snap, not bothering to turn and face him. This must annoy him because he moves into my eyeline. Tyler stares down at me, his lips pressed into a thin like and his fists clench at his sides. "Nice face." Is all I say when I take in the left over purple bruise that stains his left eye. There's a slight mark on his nose, but it seems to have healed quickly, making it impossible for someone who doesn't already know, that he had broken his nose.

He narrows his eyes.

"I just wanted to make sure that you're coming to this stupid session today."

I rest my head in my hands and study him curiously, "Are you?"

"I asked you first."

"Well, I asked you second."

"You're so immature."

"That's rich, coming from you."

He lifts his arms up in exasperation, "Yes, I'm going. Now you answer the question."

I nod my head, "Yeah."

He doesn't say anything, only rolls his eyes and storms off, out of the cafeteria. I let out a huge sigh, tiredness now working it's way through my body. "This is not going to end well." I groan.

Ryan rubs my back soothingly, "Deep breaths Carter. Think positively. And please, please, be on your best behaviour."

"I'll try."

▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎