skinny || h.s. au [Rewrite Now Up!]

fiftyeight

So she does what she always does when life is just too real. She closes up. Leans back in her chair.

And laughs.

"Well that's sort of obvious, isn't it? I don't see some other middle aged asshole meeting his teenage daughter for the first time anywhere else around here."

"Marley." Barbara scolds.

"No, it's alright." He says. "She has a right to be angry."

"Damn right I do." Marley snaps. "I've never even met you in my life. God dammit I know Barbara over here better than you. You left me and Jax and now you think you can just claim me? Like some kind of animal?" She leans forward and nearly spits her words. "No. Fuck you."

Don is quiet. As if he wants to make sure she's done before speaking. "I didn't want to leave you. There's so many things you don't understand, Marley."

No matter what he says, it doesn't matter, Marley. He left you. No excuses.

"Then enlighten me." She says. Crossing her arms and leaning back against the couch again.

He clasps his hands together in front of him as if doing so will help him collect his thoughts.

"I wanted to be an amazing father for you, Marley," he starts off, "but your mother..."

She's about to butt in but he continues.

"She didn't want me around anymore. I fought for you and gained joint custody after we split." He shakes his head. "But she threatened to hurt you if I came to see you or tried to take you from her."

Marley is startled to silence. Her mother really was messed up. Far beyond even what Marley was capable of knowing.

In a way, it makes sense. Her mother both hated her and loved her in the worst ways. She blamed Marley for a lot of things but got angry when she would risk getting hurt by playing outside.

And as if Marley couldn't hate her any more already.

Don seems like he's finished. But she still can't bring herself to respond. She glances down at her hand. Clamped firmly over her elbow with her arms still folded over her chest. And the circular scar she has on the back of her palm from the crazy woman who kept her from her father.

"She never liked to talk about you." Marley says. Tears welling in her eyes as she traces her finger over the slightly paler skin. "When I was younger I always had questions."

She looks up at the man who's eyes resemble hers so closely it nearly scares her. And holds up her scarred hand.

"She was vile and manipulative my entire life. She gave me this--" She raises her arm higher. A tear slides down her cheek. "--with the butt of her cigarette. And you want me to believe that you did right by me because you fought for me--oh, but didn't succeed? She was crazy. You could have gotten her locked up or something!"

"Leaving you behind with her is still the biggest regret of my life." He says. "But that's why I want to try and make it up to you, now."

Marley laughs. A bitter, angry laugh. "I'm in high school. My childhood is gone. There's nothing left you can do for me!"

"You've been living on your own, trying to pay bills." Don says. His voice remaining calm despite Marley's yelling. "You don't have to do that anymore. I can do the things that a parent should do. I can help you with your homework if you need it. You can come live with me."

Marley looks down at her fingers. "Live with you?" She shakes her head. But her voice is softer than before. Not angry. Just sad. "I don't even know you."

"But we can learn to know each other." He says. "And you can meet my wife, Loraine, and our daughter, your half sister."

She looks up at him. "I have a sister?"

"She's fourteen." He nods. "Her name is Friona."

Marley tries not to feel. She tries so hard. But truthfully, she's always wanted to have a little sister.

And maybe this is what she's really needed all along. A real family that cares about her.

She just hopes that they will.

_________
SORRY FOR THE DELAY ON THIS CHAPTER BUT UGH IDK

Not sure how I feel about it but there ya go. What did you guys think?

Also... I haven't asked in a while but how are you guys liking the story? Scale of 1 (carroty) to 10 (must be written by the angels) what are you ranking this story?

I know I asked this but it's good to see if the average goes up or down or whatever idk

Also it makes me feel special when you guys say 10 so...

BUT BE HONEST I LOVE YOU EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT. TELL ME HOW I CAN IMPROVE.

Also did you watch the trailer yet? I worked really hard on it and even though I couldn't get HD footage of "Marley" or Harry I think it turned out really good.

I also put some of your amazing comments into the end, so be sure to check it out and see if yours made the final cut... see what I did there?

If you didn't watch it yet and don't want to scroll back up, here you go...

xoxo

-Lena xx

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