The drive home is quiet, minus the soft rock music muffled through the car speakers. Our hands sit joined together on the center console with our fingers laced together. I don't recall when that happened, but it did. I can't get myself to pull away, even as he pulls the car inside the garage. He shuts the engine off and neither of us make an attempt to detach. I fight the urge to run away, but I know I have to face dad.

The thought of going in there and confronting him sends me into a panic. All of the fears I worked so hard to control have managed to resurface. There's no warning as the panic rises in my chest releasing an ugly sob. Before I have time to register what's happening I'm back in his arms. His fingers gently comb through my hair while he whispers to me that everything will be okay. Will it? I'm probably overacting, because I'm really good at that. Here in the moment it feels like almost too much to handle.

I blow out an unsteady breath. He releases me from his grip, then gets out of the car. I pull down the viser to get a look at myself. I'm a mess. There's mascara running down my face, and eyeliner smudged, giving me a raccoon-like appearance. I start to wipe it away when the car door opens. He reaches his hand inside and waits for me to take it. I swipe under my eye with my finger, lift the visor, then take his hand. Warmth spreads through me from his touch.

As I step out of the car he shuts the door behind me. I expect him to pull away, but he holds my gaze, and keeps his hand against the car. With his other hand he does the same. I gasp. It shouldn't feel this good to be trapped in his arms, but it does. My senses flutter to life as if they've been woken from a long slumber.

"Marnie, I won't leave unless you want me to. I'll take you anywhere you want to go so you can clear your head, but if you want me gone just say the word. I'll walk or call a cab."

I'm drawn to his blue eyes. I want to say thank you for sticking by my side, even though I don't understand why. What can I say that doesn't sound ungrateful?

"You just want to drive my car," I tease, my eyes never leaving his.

A smile crosses his face, and he chuckles. A sense of calm washes over me and the tears start to slow down.

"Why are you being so nice?" I ask, wiping the remaining tears.

"I'm trying to walk in your shoes. Wasn't that the assignment?" he whispers. "Trying to figure you out..." He presses his lips together.

"What's there to figure out?" My voice squeaks.

With all my focus on him, my mind can't help but go into overdrive. So much has changed in only a short amount of time. I went from hating him, to tolerating him, and now it's something more. I try to shake the idea of us being anything more than friends, it wouldn't be possible. My friends would ever accept him and vice versa, plus I have a boyfriend.

"You're different than I thought," he says, pulling me from my thoughts.

I was so caught up in my own head that I missed how close his face was mine. I glance down at his pink lips and have to fight with my heart to not give in. His eyes do the same. He leans in slowly, my eyes fall shut as I brace for the impact of his kiss. I hold a breath as his lips gently brush across mine, bringing me a sense of calm along with it. The air around me stills, and the world disappears. He's too quiet. My eyes flutter open to find him watching me. I lean back as far as I can go.

"I should go talk to my dad." I had to say something to keep me from slipping.

"I'll stay here in the garage," he says.

"Won't your parents be angry that you skipped school?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No. It's not like my dad pays any attention to what I do anyway. Unless you want me to go, I can.."

"No." I interrupt him. "Stay. Please stay." He drops one hand at his side and I grab a hold of it, not ready to leave his embrace yet. I allow my fingers to dance along the top of his hand. His breathing turns shallow with every touch.

"Thank you," I whisper.

I close the garage door then lean up against it. I touch a finger to my lips, trying to remember how it felt. I'm reliving the moment when I catch the sound of Lucille's sobs echoing through the house. Dad's angry voice is in full rage. It's not directed towards Lucille, but to someone on the phone. His anger only makes the situation more real.

Dad paces back and forth in the wide open living room. His phone is glued to his ear. Lucille sits on the couch wiping her tears away while watching him. The TV is muffled, but he's watching our local news channel, and his face is plastered on the screen. He's still in his flannels and ratty old night shirt, which means he hasn't left the house at all. His face scrunches and for a moment he stops near the far wall and bangs his fist against it. Resting his head in the same spot, he sighs.

Lucille's eyes land on me. She gasps so loud that dad turns. His face grows pale at the sight of me standing in the living room. He growls something to the person on the phone then hangs up. More gently than he was with the wall, he places his phone on the glass coffee table in front of Lucille.

"Marnie, I..."

"Is it true?"

I'm doing everything in my power not to cry. He takes a few steps towards Lucille and reaches down for her hand. She takes it and stands beside him.

"Did you cheat on mom?" My voice breaks.

He and Lucille look at each other and then back at me. Why are they hesitating?

"Damnit dad, just tell me the truth!" I stomp my feet. "I at least deserve that, don't I?" I yell, throwing my hands in the air.

I study their faces, dad averts his eyes. All this time I thought mom was the bad guy, when the truth was dad cheated. I want them to say something, anything to deny what's happening, and when they don't my heart sinks.

"Dad. It's true isn't it? You aren't denying it. Oh my god my whole life..."

"Marnie," he says calmly." He takes a deep breath. "It's true."

Dad hangs his head. The man I thought I knew is not the one standing in front of me. He leaves Lucille standing there and starts heading towards me. I hold up my hands and shake them.

"Don't." My voice catches in my throat. "So, she's the reason mom is gone." I point to Lucille.

She holds her nose and sobs, and I have zero sympathy right now. I don't have my family together because of her. I'm pretty sure that whatever dad has to say won't even matter, because I'm too pissed to care.

"Marnie, I know how it looks..."

"Oh do you?" I yell. "You didn't see the way that people were talking about me behind my back today. The whispers, the gossiping. Calling out that my daddy mayor isn't perfect. That's my reputation dad and you just took it and..."

"Yours?" His face reddens. "Marnie, do you hear yourself right now? I have a bigger issue. The people who look to me to lead them are now questioning their decision..."

"Okay, and it's your screw up not mine. Why should I have to pay for your mistake?"

I run a frantic hand through my hair. He had all this time to come clean and he only has himself to blame for not.

"Don't blame Lucille, it's not her fault. My relationship with your mother had gone to shit well before Lucille and I got together. Your mom couldn't handle three kids. She said it was too much for her. She started fighting with me all the time, wanting to go out when I had work to do. All she wanted to do was go out and party with her friends, how do I know she didn't do something behind my back too?" His voice raises with each word.

My eyes fill with tears again. I blink to try and keep them at bay, but nothing is working.

"That doesn't make it right to cheat on someone," I yell, instantly feeling guilty because it almost feels like that's what I'm doing to Cam.

"You're right, Marnie, it was really shitty of me to do that to her. Our relationship was rocky and I took the wrong way out. For that I apologize, but it never would have worked out between us..."

"Yeah, but if you hadn't cheated maybe she would have stuck around for us kids," I yell.

Dad shakes his head. "It was all too much for her, after she had you...."

"Oh, so it's my fault now?" I jump in not caring.

"Marnie, listen to me. She suffered postpartum depression with all three of you."

"But after me it was the worst, I already knew that."

I cross my arms over my chest. I knew mom was not well, even at that age. She would play with me and then fall asleep on the floor or tell me she was too tired. I remember asking her to play with me, but then she'd tell me that Derek needed her and that I was almost five and could do things on my own. She had called me needy on more than one occasion, but that didn't matter because she was my mom and I loved her. I don't know how I can recall the information, but it's always there in my head.

"Marnie."

Dad shakes my shoulders bringing me back.

"It's not your fault either," he says.

"It doesn't matter, you still should have never cheated on her. It's like I don't even know who you are right now."

I step back out of dad's grip and slowly back away. Dad has tears in his eyes and they start to fall as I back further and further from him.

"Marnie, I'm still the same..."

"No, no you aren't. I can't believe you kept this from me this whole time. You are like my favorite person in the entire world, dad." I choke. "You are my world. I grew up admiring you. I feel like my whole childhood and everything else I've known my whole life is just one big lie. I don't know how I can forgive you."

My voice breaks and I'm crying again. Dad let's go of a sob he's been holding in. My heart feels like it's crumbling into a million pieces. I've never seen my dad cry before and the image will now be burned into my head forever.

I'm finding it hard to talk and hold myself together, but I have more words to get out. "I told myself I would be happy if you found someone. I actually just started noticing things between you and Lucille, and I was okay with it. This though, this changes everything. I can't even look at you right now."

Dad quietly sobs into his hands. My lips quiver. Lucille goes over to comfort him. I thought I knew both of them, but in reality I knew nothing. I need to leave. Flint's right. I need to get out of here and process everything. I want to drive far away and part of me wants to never come back, but for now I just need space.

"I need to uh... go." I run another hand through my hair, this time tugging at the ends so hard I let out a small yelp. "I won't be in school the rest of the day, I need time to process all of this. Perfect timing with my birthday this week."

It sounds selfish, but I was looking forward to it. I couldn't wait to get my tattoo with dad and celebrate with my friends, and now I don't want any of it.

"Here I thought eighteen would be amazing, but if this is the type of shit I have to look forward to, I am in for one awful ride."

"Marnie..." Dad tries, but I'm not having it.

"Dad, just don't. Okay? I need time to process. Flint he uh... drove me here. Cameron probably has no idea I even left, or probably doesn't even care for that matter. When my friends find out I'm hanging out with Flint Rogers..." I ramble about things that don't even relate to this moment. "I need to get out of here for a little while. I'll text or something. I just can't be here right now."

"I get it, Marnie. Just have either you or Flint text me. I need to make sure you're okay." He wipes his red eyes. I can't stand to be in the room anymore. Between the secret and dad's tears, I'm about to lose it.

As I leave the room Lucille cries out that I hate her, but I ignore it and head straight for the garage door.

I can't get out fast enough. For a moment I wait by the door, Flint is on the other side and I know once I go out there I'm opening up something I don't think I'll ever be able to shut out. There are so many feelings that I'm not ready for, but I need to leave. Maybe Flint already left, realizing that I'm selfish and that this is a mistake. Either way, I have to clear my mind.

I push through the door, my stomach fluttering at the sight of him. He's got a leg propped up against my car while leaning back. His muscles twitch under his t-shirt as he folds his arms at his chest. I leap off the small step leading into the garage and crash into his body. He grunts from the impact, but wraps his arms around me. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing by going with him, but I don't know what else to do. Maybe I do take after dad after all.

"Want to run away with me, Marie?" he whispers, his lips dancing over my earlobe. His voice sounds different, shaky, like he's nervous. A chill radiates through me. I pull away enough to see his face.

"What did you have in mind?"