"I thought your mother and I made things quite clear yesterday."

Brynn is hiding behind my back, most likely too embarrassed to face my dad. He stood there at his full height of 6'1" and looked rather imposing, except for the pizza box in his hand.

I reached my hand back and Brynn took it but I didn't pull her forward. If behind me is where she felt safe then that is where she can stay. "It was just dinner, Dad. Brynn and I were working late on crew. She was kind enough to give me a ride home and I offered her dinner as a thank you. That's it. No more. No less."

"I beg to differ from what I walked into it looked like you, more or less, decided to break our rule and take advantage of the fact that we weren't home. I was feeling guilty about how little time I've had to spend with you lately and so I thought I would come home early for some Father and son time. Thank God, I had shown up, or who knows where this would have led too."

I saw red. I don't why but it seriously irked me. I've never broken a rule. I do everything they ask. "You want to know where it would have led to? It would have LED to me saying good night and seeing her drive off, and having to wonder and worry if she got home okay because I have no phone privileges."

"Do I look stupid to you, Finn? I get it's your Mom who has the Phd, but seriously what kind of fool do you take me for? I was a teenager once."

I held my hand up to stop him right there. "I think Brynn should be allowed to go home before her Grandmother becomes concerned about her. We can continue this...discussion then."

My Dad just nodded and moved out of the doorway. I take Bryn and pull her in front of me and walk with her to the front door. I open it and she steps through... turns and says, "Finn, I'm sorry... I should have never..."

I put my finger up and shake my head no. "Don't Brynn. I enjoyed this time with you, and depending on just how long I'm grounded, I'll just have to hope you won't forget me and will still be interested in doing it again sometime. I really do make delicious spaghetti. I'll even throw in meatballs. They are the frozen kind but they're still good."

She laughs but then looks sad. "I feel like I am ruining everything."

"Brynn, I can honestly say, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"Finn!"

I hear my Dad yell from the kitchen obviously impatient with our long good bye. I give her a quick kiss. ''See you in school tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you."

She takes a few steps away and then turns, runs back and kisses me again and I laugh. "Thank you, Finn. For everything."

I smile at her and say, "Anytime."

I watch her drive away, even though my Dad had called for me again. I slowly shut the door take a deep breath in and exhale slowly. Here we go.

My Dad does not get mad often. Mostly because I give him no reason to get mad, but there have been a few times where I crossed some invisible trip wire and caused him to blow up at me. This looks to be one of those times.

"What the hell, Finn! Your mom and I give you certain rules. Rules that are not hard to follow... did you even think this through? What were you planning? No. Never mind. I just want to know what were you thinking?"

"I was thinking..." I tell my Dad, " that I really like Brynn. That she was nice enough to drive me home. That it was late and she was hungry. So, I offered her something to eat."

"You offered her?" My Dad says in disbelief. "I remember that girl's mother. She was trouble with a capital T. IF your mom ever got into trouble...it was nearly a guarantee that Rebecca Rose was behind it."

"What are you implying?"

"I'm not implying. I'm warning you, Finn. Don't let some girl screw up your chances. You have a future, and it only takes one dumb decision and that future goes away."

"Dumb decision? Being with Brynn is the best decision I have ever made. I feel like a real person when I'm around her. An individual, instead of someone that has been tailor made by everyone else's decisions for me."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"It means my future is not playing ball or getting some extensive degree. My future is my own to decide what I want to do with it. And my future includes Brynn, so you had best get use to it."

I turned to walk away, but he held me in place with his voice.

"FINN! We are not done here. Not by a long shot. You know what you did was wrong. You chose to do it anyway. You think there are no consequences for that?"

I strode over to him. Standing a few feet away but close enough that he had to look up at me. "What will it be, Dad? You taking way my driving privileges? Here!" I hand him my keys but he did not take them. I drop them on the ground.

"My allowance?" I dig into my wallet at put the money on the kitchen counter top.

"You've already grounded me. So what? Another week? A month? I don't care. Do your worst because when it is all said and done I still will have no intention of leaving Brynn. If anyone is going to end this relationship it will have to be her. I'm in this for the long haul, and I for once, don't care what you or Mom have to say."

My father looked visibly angered, his face turning red. "Go... to... your... room." The words were spoken quietly, and distinctly. I nodded, happy to leave.

When I shut my door, my brain came back online. I could not believe what I had just done. I have never talked to my father like that before.

I jumped on my computer and typed an email.

Hey Brynn,

Thank you for hanging with me. I hope I am worth the trouble. I expect to be grounded for quite some time. I'm sure it will be decided once my Mom comes home, which should be any moment now. Prepping for round two. I already miss you.

Finn

I get to work on my homework the house is eerily quiet. I hear the keys in the front door about an hour or so later. Mom's home. I hear talking but it's too low to make out what is being said. Instead of trying to listen, I put in my ear buds and crank up the music. No sense to it. I know I'm in for it. My fate is once again being decided without me.

I get done my work and check for a response from Brynn but nothing yet. She may not of thought I would send her an email so it was silly of me to hope. I look at the clock and it's nearly 9:30. I know my Mom is home. I know that they had talked. What I didn't know was killing me. Why were my parents not busting down my door to yell at me some more? What was going on down there?

I knew better than to show my face when not requested. By ten I gave up, turned out the light and turned in for the night.

The next morning I got up early. I had a surprise for Brynn but it would take a little work. It took about an hour but I finished in time. I even made it to the bus. A few stops down I see her get on and she smiles at me.

Funny how one simple gesture can make your whole day. She takes her seat and when we get off the bus, she waits for me. "How did everything go?"

"Weird."

"Weird? How so?" she asks taking my hand in hers and I give it a squeeze.

"My Dad had it out with me. Sent me to my room. My mom came home. I heard talking and then...?"

"What?" Brynn asks, she stops walking, waiting with bated breath.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing?"

"Yeah, it's the weirdest thing ever. I expected a round two, more yelling, perhaps a longer or different punishment but nothing. I went to bed. This morning I got up I didn't see either of them and I got on the bus to get to school."

"That IS weird. What do you think it means?" Brynn wondered as we took our place under her tree.

"Beats me. This is new territory for me. I'm not usually defiant by any means, so ... no idea."

"Huh, do you think you'll be able to work on crew again today?"

"I'm guessing yes, as they haven't said otherwise."

Brynn immediately brightens. "Great!" The bell rings and she gives me a helping hand up, as she can jump up easily but I'm still negotiating the boot.

We enter the school together and before she disappears up the stairs she say, "Finn, yearbook?"

"I'll try and get there."

She smiled and nodded and continued up the stairs.

I didn't want to make any promises as I know except for announcements, which she could give the Vice Principal to make, that was a free period for my Mom... and I had a nagging feeling my parents were not done with me yet.