A week after my in home date with Tre I had talked to him everyday at school since that night. When we would meet up in between classes he would carry my book bag to my next class and we would hold hands in the hall. One day he bought my lunch for me even though I had the money to pay for it myself. Another day he made me lunch and brought it in for me as a surprise. I'm not exactly sure what we are but it feels kinda like a relationship. On the last day of school before winter break he gave me a small box and made me swear not to open it until Christmas morning. I of course swore on my future pet that I would wait until Christmas Day and let him know when I opened it. When I got home on the last day from school my dad wasn't there. It wasn't weird because it was something that I had been accustomed to. Tony came to the door and let me in since he didn't do the pick up and one of the other guys from the security team did.

"Hey Tony! Have you heard from dad?" I asked following him to the kitchen.

"I did! He's on his way back from a meeting with a few of his band mates. Your uncle Dez will be coming by tonight. So your dad wants you and your brother on your best behavior."

"Come on Tony were always well behaved when anybody comes you know that."

"Oh I know about Joey. I was talking about you!"

  "Me? Why me?"

  "Don't play like you're so sweet and nice now Carly cakes! Don't think ya pops forgot all about your suckface fest last week."

  "Tony! That's not what it was and you know that! It was just.....kissing!"

  "So whatchu sayin'?"

  "I'm sayin' that he just might be the one."

  "THE ONE WHAT?"

I smiled really big as I began to daydream about Tre and his soft lips.

  "You know! The one! Like my boyfriend!"

Tony laughed out loud as he tossed me a bottle water and an apple.

  "Girl! You know what? I ain't in this. Ya daddy is gonna kill me if I get involved in any of this!"

Tony walked out of the kitchen singing Hall and Oats 'I Can't Go For That' and I sat on the counter peeling my apple with the peeler. Just as I pulled off the last bit of skin I heard voices headed towards the kitchen. It sounded like my dad and Joey. I quickly jumped down from the counter and took a bite out of my apple.

  "Hey Carly!" Joey said as he threw his book bag down by the table and sat down.

  "Hey squirt! How was school?" I asked as I sat down next to him.

  "Good! Santa came by on the fire truck and gave me a candy cane."

  "Oh yeah? Where's your candy cane?"

No sooner did I finish asking the question dad walked in sucking on the candy cane and took off his fedora.

  "That's where it went." Joey said unenthused.

  "Oh! Well how did that happen?" I asked.

  "We made a bet on the way home that if I saw more red cars I got his candy cane. I only saw one more than him." Daddy said.

  "Yeah because he cheated!" Joey shouted.

  "How did I cheat son?"

  "You counted a billboard!"

I never laughed so hard in my life.

  "Daddy! That was cold!" I snickered.

  "It was a red car though!" Daddy exclaimed.

  "Doesn't count! Don't worry Joey I'll make sure you get what he owes you!" I joked.

  "Really? How?" Dad asked.

  "You'll see! But I have a question. Can I have a cell phone?"

My dad looked confused at first but then he soon remembered how old I was.

  "A cell phone? Why?" He asked.

  "Well for emergencies of course."

He sat down at the table and helped Joey open his pack gummy worms.

  "I'll think about it." He said with a deep sigh.

  "Cool! So! Tre got me a Christmas gift can you kinda hide it for me so I don't go and open it before it's time? I know I'm kinda gonna peak and I made him a promise that I would wait."

  "Sure! Leave it at the reception desk. I'll have Lauren put it in the vault for me."

  "Why in there?"

"Because I know that's one thing you can't break into!" He said with a smirk.

  "Oh very funny! I'm gonna go and sketch some stuff in my room."

I gave my dad a kiss and patted Joey on the head.

  "Have fun sweetheart. Don't forget to change for dinner tonight. Your uncle is coming over tonight."

  "Will do!"

I skipped out of the kitchen and out to the lobby to find someone at the door looking in through the glass. I squinted my eyes to make out who it was but I couldn't make out the features. The buzzer sounded and the person walked in and walked over to Lauren. The voice sounded like a woman but the person was so bundled that I couldn't make out who it was. Suddenly the person took the scarf down from their head and it was like I was seeing things.

  "Oh my god!" I whispered to myself.

I backed away slowly from the lobby then made a mad dash back to the kitchen. I called for my dad out of breath.

  "Dad! Come here! You gotta come see this!" I said. He turned to me confused at first.

  "What's the matter?" He asked.

  "Just come quick!" I said.

He stood up from the table and followed me back down to the lobby. When we got there the look on his was more than stunned. He looked almost flushed. Just no color. His eyes looked teary as if he wanted to breakdown and cry. I couldn't understand. I didn't understand! What's going on? Who is this woman. I guess we caught her attention because she turned and to us and when her eyes fell on my dad she she looked the same way my dad did. Stunned!

  "Daddy? Who is that?" I asked.

He didn't respond he just slowly walked over to her and she did the same meeting right in the middle of the lobby floor on his love symbol. I tip ropes behind him and stood off to the side but centering them.

  "Uh.....what's going on?" I asked still trying to figure out this conundrum of confusion.

  "Hello Manuela." My dad said in a soft voice.

  "It's good to see you again Prince." She replied in the same exact tone.

So this is the ex wife he never wants to talk about! This was about to get interesting.