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BITTERSWEET
::  x. | hatred? strong feeling

It's been a month and two weeks, since everything went down. Cole has been ignoring and avoiding her mom at all costs. She just has mixed feelings of all that was said about her dad, she doesn't know how she feels and she kind of blames her mom for that.

Since her return to school, staying focused was much more harder for her. Her mind would wander off or she was drift towards her phone, sometimes doodle on her paper. She was aware that she wasn't dealing with the root of the problem which was her mom and she wasn't intentionally acting the way she was now. It just happened and Mia noticed the change in her friend.

Today though, Cole took it too far. She was high at school and it was quite noticeable, at least to some of the students and definitely Mia who sat two rows behind her in English class. As soon as Cole exited the classroom after asking to use the bathroom, Mia then soon exited the classroom as well with permission of course to go follow Cole.

Cole being high as a kite was wandering the halls, acting paranoid as ever. Mia walked up to her and tapped her shoulder.

"Cole?" She whispered, so they wouldn't be caught by teachers, "Where are you going?"

Cole knowingly lied, "To go home. My mom needs me."

"Your mom needs you?" Mia questioned in disbelief, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yes." Cole spun around, "That's what she said. So I have to go." She brought her finger up to her mouth, "Shhh." Cole continued making her way to the exit as Mia stood behind absolutely worried about her friend.

She made her way out the school and began to head home. She had a plan to go get money somewhere at her house, then hitch a ride on a bus to the prison that her father is being held. She knew her mother didn't want her seeing him but she didn't care, she had to see him.

Within thirty minutes, she was at the bus stop. She had her bag with her and phone in her pocket. Her leg was repeatedly shaking as she grew impatient waiting. She knew if her mom found out, she would be so pissed. But you can't separate a girl from her father. She didn't know how she was going to get in but she had a plan, plan A and plan b. Plan A was to use a fake id that she's had for awhile now but if that didn't work, then she would talk jj into helping her.

Forty-five minutes later, the bus finally stopped. Then another ten minutes by foot, she made it to the prison. She walked on in and waited in line, till she was at the front to talk to an officer. A lot quicker than she expected, she was now face to face with an officer.

"Here to see Miguel Reigns." She told him. Cole pulled out the id and slid it to the officer.

He picked it up and began to examine it. He shook his head as he looked at it, "Fake. You were born in 1972?"

She wasn't hesitant in her next answer, "Yeah."

"Yeah and I'm usher." He called out, "Next!"

Cole threw her hands in the air, "Come on, dude! I just want to see my dad!"

"Step out of line or i will arrest you." His tone was stern, his eyes were serious.

Cole huffed as she got out of line and made her way outside to the parking lot. She pulled out her phone and called jj. It was time for plan b. She didn't know if it would work but nothing was going to stop from seeing her dad and she doesn't care much for the consequences of doing this behind her mom's back.

Jj didn't answer the first time, so Cole called again. After two rings, the blonde agent finally answered. She pleaded and guilt tripped jj into helping her. Within the next forty-five minutes or so, jj finally arrived at the prison. She parked, head on in and met Cole in the waiting area.

They both got in line, waited till they reached the front. Luckily for Cole, it was a different officer this time— a woman. Jj showed the officer her id and let them both through. Soon enough, Miguel walked in and even though Cole and her dad were face to face, there was still a glass blocking them. But it was better than nothing. As jj stood in the back, shaking her head in a disapproving way, Miguel paid no mind as he began chatting with his daughter.

• • •

Vanessa had just gotten home. She was finally settling down after a long day at work. On her way home, she didn't notice she had gotten a call from cole's school.

She walked back into the kitchen, realizing her phone was still in her purse since she left her job. She pulled out her phone and as she scrolled through the notifications on her way to the living room, that's when she saw the missed call from cole's school. So, naturally she called back.

"Ah, Ms. Reigns— it's good to hear from you." The principal began, "I hoped we could talk about your daughter."

"Is everything alright?" Vanessa's tone turned worried.

He sighed, "She wasn't in her afternoon classes and she's been a bit distraught lately."

"She wasn't in class?" It's like that phrase didn't register with her for some reason.

"Correct. Is there something I should know about?"

"No. I will talk with her, no worries."

"It's settled, you have a good day now." He lastly said before hanging up.

Vanessa sighed and called jj. She knew if Cole wasn't home, then she most likely was with jj. Luckily jj quickly answered and was asked where Cole was and if she was with her. And so she was honest about it. She told Vanessa Cole was with her and they were at the prison.

Vanessa was pissed but before she wanted her daughter home, she wanted jennifer to find out why Cole skipped her afternoon classes. Jj agreed and soon the call fell, leaving Vanessa more angrier than she's ever been. Cole deliberately disobeyed her mother and with that, comes great consequences.

• • •

As soon as jj and Cole got in the truck, that's when the teenager dumped it on the agent. She told Jennifer that her dad wanted to see her every week. Therefore, jj would have to help her get pass security— which she immediately shut down. Then Cole played the guilt card and how jj would be someone else who is stopping her from seeing her dad. Jj was not only offended, but she was hurt.

Jj then ignored her the rest of the way. When they were approaching the house, that's when she finally spoke again. She asked Cole why she skipped her classes and it was simply because she wanted to see her dad.

Cole didn't care about who she was hurting or the consequences of her actions. She just wanted to see her father. Honestly, if jj didn't help . . she would've found another way and she didn't care if that ended her up in juvenile detention. She was tethered to her dad and that's what scared Vanessa. She was scared that Cole would be just like him.

As soon as they reached the house, Cole got out the car. Jj followed after a moment and they both ended up in the kitchen with Vanessa. Jj explained a few things, then soon left after that.

Now it was just Cole and Vanessa.

"I just want you to know that I spoke to Mia, learned somethings. I'm disappointed, Cole. I want your phone, laptop in my room by the end of the night." Vanessa finished, "No tv for a month. School and home every day. Talk to your dad again and I will extend your punishment."

"You take pleasure in this don't you?" Cole had a smug expression across her face.

"Not even close." Vanessa mumbled as she made her way out the kitchen and to the staircase.

After her mom left upstairs, Mia was calling cole. She told cole that Vanessa stopped by and that she lied about cole's whereabouts. Cole never asked her to do that but that just shows what Mia would do for her friend even if it could've put her in trouble.

Cole never heard her mom say they word before, disappointed. She knew that her mom was a different kind of mad now. They were already having a tough time and Cole pulled this shit. But did she care? Not in the slightest if meant seeing her dad. Would she do it again? Hell yeah. If the roles were reversed, as in her mom in jail — she would've done the same thing because that's how much she loves her parents. So Cole thought, maybe that's why her mom didn't understand.

a/n:
END OF ACT 1 !!