The light had shined bright into my bedroom the next morning.
When I went downstairs I was greeted quickly by my father. "Good morning."
He pushed a glass of orange juice into my hand as he sat to read the paper.
We spent a slow day together in Greendale, shopping around different stores until we decided to head back to Riverdale.
Dad requested Pops, I entered the doors with hesitation. I quickly spotted him, sitting in a booth with his friends. My brain sighed his name, Sweet Pea.
I ignored his stare as I followed my father to a booth. I sat across from him, able to see the Serpents talking. Quickly enough my stares were broken off by someone approaching our table.
"Mr. Rye! It's so good to see you, Sir." Reggie smiled at the end of our booth as I glared. I was wearing a turtle neck to hide the hickey he forced onto me.
"Nice to see you, Reginald." My father shook his hand but also threw a motion with his head. His respectable way of saying screw off.
By the time he was out of ear shot my father looked back at me with a smile.
"I hate that little asshole." I couldn't help but laugh loud. Shaking my head at him as none other than Fp approached our table.
"FP, good to see you." My father smiled at the man, my heart hammered in hopes Fp wouldn't say anything about the other week of me drinking at the bar.
"It's so nice to see you, Mason. Your girls been a real treat to have around." FP put a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"Wish she'd come around more." He continued with a smile.
"It's where she came from, I'm glad she'll always have a place." I stared at my father in confusion, where I came from?
"Your mother was born on Southside." He smiled as if he's told me this a million times.
"What can I get you two?" My father orders my usual along with his own meal. I can't help but stare past him, locking eyes with a passionate looking Sweet Pea. Longing is all I feel. Why did he have to be such an asshole?
"So, which one is it?" He asks with a smile, he reads me like a book. I look back to him with an eye roll.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Daddy." Our milkshakes are brought back, as I take a sip my father stands. I look at him in concern as he walks towards the counter.
"Dad?" I ask as I follow him, to my shock he stops in front of the Serpent teens, Sweet Pea immediately locking eyes with him.
"You, what's your name?" My father looks at me and my horrified face, which only confirms he picked out the right one.
"Sweet Pea. Nice to meet you." His tone is even, strong as if he was expecting this.
My father nods, "I'm Mason, tell me Sweet Pea we're you the reason she cried all night?" He tilted his head at the tall boy, who's eyes flash to mine. My cheeks are bright red with embarrassment as I try to tug on my fathers suit jacket.
"I'd hope not sir." Sweet Pea looks back to my father. The other Serpents giving a quiet laugh at his reply. Or maybe it was the fact Sweet Pea hadn't told a Northsider to screw off.
"Well, at that response I hope to see more of you around." My father smiles, taking my arm to lead me back to our table.
I stare at him once we seat, "Why the hell did you just do that?"
My fathers eyes shined with mischief as he glanced back at a shockingly flustered Sweet Pea.
"You like him. He likes you." I shake my head as I lean back against the booth.
"No. No he doesn't, Daddy." My voice has quieted as I stirred my milkshake with my straw.
"Then why was it as soon as you walked in he straightened up? Shushed his friends? Watched you walk to the table?" My father leans across to me.
I can only stare at him, not wanting to explain what I knew. The things he had said to me, the way my heart felt broken.
"No, he doesn't. He hates Northsiders." I roll my eyes hard and my father gives me a curt nod.
"Your mother did too until she met me." My eyes meet his quickly.
"You never told me, why?" I ask but watch as confusion covers his face.
"Your mother told me she had. I'm sorry, dear. I thought you had known." He takes a bite of his burger and I take this moment of him being distracted to look back at Sweet Pea. He was staring.
I couldn't help it, my anger took the best of me and I immediately shot him a glare. He frowned at this.
"I want to leave." I tell my father, he's already eaten half his burger.
"You haven't eaten at all, Violet." My father scolds as he pushes my plate towards me.
"Dad, stop calling me that. Everyone knows me as Asher, it's embarrassing." He frowns at me for a moment before nodding.
"If you would like to leave go ahead, I would like to catch up with FP." My father slides his car keys across the table to me.
For a second I frown at the gesture. Slowly I place my hand over them. I can't make myself get up though, I never left him. I hadn't ever left him.
I slowly stood from the booth as we stared at each other, "I love you, can we watch a movie later?"
My father smiles and nods but I can see a sadness in him. I lean over and kiss his cheek before I turn, a terrible feeling in my stomach.
I looked back to him when I got to the door, "Hey, Asher!"
I turn my head to the booth besides the door, the Serpent booth.
I smile at Fangs, "Hi." I gave a slight wave to Toni.
"You weren't at school today, everything okay?" I was incredibly surprised he had even noticed.
"Uhm, yeah. Yeah, everything's fine. My dad came home." He glanced to the booth my father sat in.
"Wow, you actually stay home when your dad's there? I make sure I'm halfway across town." I tried to put a smile on my face at his joke.
"Shut up, Fangs." Sweet Pea grumbles from his seat.
I glanced at him, annoyed to have even heard his voice. A look that didn't go unnoticed by anyone. I caught them look at each other in confusion.
"Okay, what the hell is wrong with you?" Toni asked boldly, surprising everyone including me at the table.
"Sweets catches you with another guy and you're the one telling him off?" Bewildered I can't help but get defensive.
"Why does it matter who I'm with if he just thinks I'm a bitchy whore?" I snap back at the purple haired girl. She looks to Sweet Pea with wide eyes.
"Wait what? Who told you I said that?" Sweet Pea stood from the booth, as if to show he was being serious.
I couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh, "Who doesn't matter! What's matters is you said it and you think it's true. You think I'm just like any other Northsider!"
He balls his fists tightly, "Well right now you're acting like one, a spoiled brat!"
It's as if all the anger exited my body. I deflated as I stared at him, I didn't hesitate to turn to the diner door and slam it hard behind me.
My father stood by the booth and I could hear him through the thin glass, "She might be spoiled, but she definitely isn't a brat. She's always stood up for you guys."
I watch as my father opens the diner door but stalls for a moment.
"My daughter is the one for her 15th birthday she begged for me to buy new textbooks for your school. Call her a brat again and I'll break your nose." My father moved calmly out of the door, I stood close by staring.
"I didn't want to tell them about the donations or the upgrades to the trailers." He stalked past me to the Porsche.
I didn't dare look back at the teenagers as I followed behind my father.