(10) Father? Why now?

I just leave the smirk on my face. Everyone was done eating so the same waiter comes back and hands me the check. Before I could see the price; Rogue took it out of my hand. All three boys huddle in a group while taking money out of their wallets. They turn back to us and Spike tells us, "You, guys wait outside while we pay."

Ang and I just shrug our shoulders than make our way to the front. As I'm about to leave the building, I get to run into it. The person who ran into me falls on the floor.

"Are you okay, miss?", I ask with my hand out.

The woman doesn't take my hand but does tell me off. "Watch where you're going! Do you know who I am? Stupid teenagers today, have no respect."

"Miss, I do have respect. I was watching where I was going unlike you. Also, you can't just call someone stupid especially if you don't know them. It's quite rude.", I say calmly.

The woman just growls at me before pushing me out of her way. Rolling my eyes at how dramatic she is being. The rain stopped so there's only a starless night now. We make our way to my car when I accidentally bump into someone.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize that there was someone there.", I say apologies.

"It's quite alright. You look beautiful, Tala.", the man says.

"Sorry, sir but who are you?", I asked.

Just as the stranger opened his mouth the boys came toward us. None of the boys look happy; I wondered what happened? Rogue grabs my hand and speeds walk to my car while Spike takes Angie's hand, and Rex picks up Coreen. Nobody says anything. I turn to look at Rex and Coreen to see her asleep in his arms. A smile comes to my face. We make it back to our cars. Rex puts both himself and Coreen in the backseat; while Ang tells Spike, bye and kisses him on the cheek before getting into the back. I turn my attention back to Rogue, who still wasn't in a wonderful mood.

"Hey, are you okay?", I ask.

"Not really. My father wants me to come home but to be frank, I really don't want to. There's always something going on and I just can't deal with that.", Rogue tells me.

"I have more important things I need to handle than whatever my father has plans. I got to make sure Coreen is safe and that she's not scared. I need to get her clothes along with….", Rogue continues on.

"Rogue, stop. Once we get to my place, go see what your father wants. I was planning on going to some stores for my place anyway so why don't I just get Coreen some clothes too. She'll be safe with Ang, Rex, and me.", I tell him.

He nods his head and gets in my car. Smiling to myself; I also get in the car. The drive back was silent beside everyone's breathing. After parking, I wake up the two sleeping heads, then pick up Coreen. Has all four of us walk to the front door; Rogue kisses Coreen's forehead then kisses my cheek. I end up blushing but thankfully Rex and Ang were too tired to fully know what happened. I unlocked the door and the two sleepy heads tumbled inside; letting out a little giggle, I began leading them to my room. Thank god, my bedroom door was open. Placing Coreen on my bed; quickly making my way to my dresser, I grab three big shirts. Turning back, Rex was already undressed. Throwing the shirts at Ang; she looks at me confused but then fully gets a good look at the items before her eyes go wide. I grab two blankets from my closet along with two of my smaller pillows. Placing the biggest blanket down than the two smaller pillows; just have Rex and Ang fall down. Smiling, I tuck Coreen before changing; grabbing my other pillow that she wasn't using and laying in between Rex and Coreen.

In the morning, I wake up to Rex's snoring. I swear that one of these days, I'm going to get a video of his snoring since he doesn't fucking believe me. Sitting up, I see that everyone was still asleep so quietly getting out of the makeshift bed; also trying not to step on either one of my friends. I grab a grey turtleneck with jeans along with boots and my phone; taking a quick shower before heading to the kitchen. I check if there's anything in the fridge which there isn't so I send a quick text to Ang's phone letting her know where I'm at if I wasn't back before she got up. Leaving the house, I drove around town to see if I could find a supermarket or a fruit place; I found Violet's fruit market. I begin looking around to see if there's anything in this place that I would use. I found a couple of fruits I could use; such as Abyss Pecans, Spring Cantaloupe, Fafruit, Gluttefruit, and Sanguine Cauliflower. Making my way to the cash register but someone calls me.

"Tala is that you?"

Look out of the corner of my eye to see if there was anyone but once I didn't see anyone, I continued to the cash register.

"I know you heard me, young lady.", someone says.

"Look whoever you are, please leave me alone. I don't have time to play around with you.", I tell the stranger.

I place the five items I had and continue on with my shopping; paying for my items, I make it to my car. I place my bag into the car before heading to the driver's side just as someone calls me once again.

"Tala Nyx! You will turn around and listen to me."

Turning to face the stranger; "What do you want? Don't you see that I'm busy?", I ask.

Taking a good look at the stranger to realize that this person is no stranger to me. I let out a growl before rolling my eyes at the sorry excuse of a father. Not waiting for him to tell me what his business is with me, I get in the car and drive off. I'm not able to deal with that fucker by myself that's for damn sure; he must be insane to think I would actually give him a time of day. Knowing I need to go to a supermarket to get the rest of the breakfast; I take all the shortcuts just to make sure that he wasn't following me. Making it to the supermarket, I quickly take the things I need. Just as I'm about to exit the isles, I see my father again. Now, I'm getting fucking pissed. Doesn't that bastard have something better to do than follow me? I reach the cash register and I let the worker know about the bastard.

"Hello, umm… there's this man who keeps following me and I don't know who he is."

"I'll let someone know.", the cashier tells me.

I thank the worker before heading to my car; making it to my place without anyone following me. Taking out all the bags, just as Coreen comes running out of the house.

"Mommy! Do you think we could go out and eat?", she asks me.

"Sure, why don't you call your daddy, to see if he wants to join and maybe grab some clothes for you just until we go shopping.", I tell her.

Coreen nods her head as I'm handing her my phone. Making a beeline to the kitchen where I see Rex and Ang, talking. Placing the bags down, they both help me put the food away; it's pretty quiet beside Coreen on the phone with her brother.

"So, I ran into someone while I was out getting groceries.", I tell them.

"Who did you run into?", Ang asks.

"My father.", I say bluntly.

"Why the fuck is he bothering you?", Rex says getting protective.

"Not sure, but he followed me to the supermarket so I told the worker who was doing my groceries that I didn't know him and that he was following.", I tell them as I get the last of the food away.