"Now. What's on your mind little lady?"

Was the question of the moment as my dad closed my door and had a seat on my bed. I knew I had to try to diffuse my dad getting all parental before I came out and told him so I took a deep breath and grabbed his hand.

"Daddy I don't want you to flip out and go all protective on me but you have to let me finish the story before you wanna start breaking out the big guns. Ok?"

He smiled and nodded as his eyes were bright.

"Alright. No freaking out until after. I'm cool with that. So what's up?"

The big moment had arrived so here goes nothing.

"Well today at the mall I felt like someone was watching me."

His face never changed which I'm guessing is a good thing considering that this is just the beginning of the story.

"It was really weird because every time I looked behind me nobody would be there. I asked Tony if he saw anyone following me and he said no but I still kept getting that feeling until Tre showed up."

Now his faces changed. He looked like he was ready to find Tre and snap his neck for freaking me out but dad had promised to let me finish so he just sat silent.

"I talked to Tre and that's when the feeling went away for a while. But when he left I had that feel again. And I couldn't figure out why. When Tony and I were leaving the mall and I turned the final time I finally y saw who it was but it wasn't Tre."

My dad was now on the verge of locking me in the house never letting me leave again. His face was a bright red and his eyes were darker than normal. I was starting to feel like I shouldn't have said anything at all.

"Dad? I think it was a woman watching me. But I could be wrong. Maybe I was just seeing things."

Finally daddy had lighted up in color and he let out a deep breath before he said anything.

"Carlyn I want to be sure that nothing happens to you while your not with me."

Oh no here it comes.

"So as an extra precaution I'm not only going to send Tony with you but your uncle too."

Shit! I knew it! Now I'm really gonna regret opening my mouth!

"Come on daddy please don't! It's already hard enough with Tony on my heels as it is!" I whined falling backwards on my bed.

"I know you don't like it mama but Andre will make sure things are ok. Tony might not always be able to watch everything that's going on sometimes."

My dad was very sure about this idea and there was no changing his mind.

"But what about uncle Morris? Or uncle Jerome?"

"Are you kidding me???" He laughed out loud.

"No daddy I'm serious! Come on! I'll take anybody but uncle Dre! He's embarrassing out in public you've seen him!"

My dad laughed again as he stood to his feet.

"And you think that those two clowns aren't embarrassing in public?" He joked.

He actually had a point. Morris and Jerome probably couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag let alone keep an eye on me without being distracted.

"What about uncle Dezzy?" I asked sitting up on my bed.

"Dez and his wife are out of town this month. I'm sorry baby girl but your stuck with Andre until we can sort this out."

"Ugh fine." I hugged.

He kissed me on head and went to the door.

"You should get washed up and ready for dinner." He said.

I flashed him a smile as an ok before he left my room. Contemplating if I even wanted to leave my room for dinner I took a hot shower and changed clothes. By the time I was done it was already about 3:30 so I just laid on the bed and did some doodling on my sketch pad. Since I've been living in Paisley Park I had a ton of time to kill on the weekends and drawing a few pictures every once in a while was a big help. As I was drawing my mind went to wondering about the person watching me. I let my imagination play out on the paper in front of me as I drew from memory. When I had finished the picture I studied it carefully. I was beginning to feel another emotion. Anger. The figure I drew out was a slender build with a short bob just came assumingly to their cheeks. I couldn't tell what the person was wearing so I drew on a pair of black pants and burgundy polo. The only person I knew who wore that outfit was the one person I had hoped to erase from my memory all together. I was tired of carrying memories of my life prior to the adoption and the orphanage. Most nights I had laid in my bed crying myself to sleep because of the anger that I let build up for some many years. I never wanted to keep reliving the days of the abuse and being left behind but my heart for some reason wouldn't let the hurt die and stay buried never to be felt again. The more I looked at the figure I drew on the pad the more I wanted to scream. I think I might have and didn't even know it. I had tossed the sketch pad against the wall in a rage and began to cry hysterically. I wasn't sure how much of a scene I made until Tony burst through the door.

  "What's the matter Carly?" He shouted as he tried picking me up from the floor.

I didn't even know how I got there. Before I knew it my dad was back and had dropped down to the floor next to me rocking me in his arms.

  "I got her Tony. Go keep and eye on Joey until I get back." Daddy said as he continued to comfort me.

I buried my face in my fathers chest as I cried even harder.

  "My sweet girl. What's wrong?" He asked.

The gentle touch of his hand on my back had helped me calm down as he wiped my tears away.

  "You won't send me back will you daddy?" I sobbed.

His eyes were gentle and assuring that he wouldn't do such thing.

  "Never in a million years my love."

  "What happens if someone tried to take me away from you?"

  "If that were to happen then I would die trying to keep you with me."

  "Daddy I love you."

And that was all I could say after as he held me close and let me cry for the first time in a long time since I told him about my mom leaving me.

  "I love you too baby. You are my whole world and I will do anything to keep you safe and sound."

The sound of his voice was deep in his chest as he told me that everything will be ok was comforting. Before I was able to realize I had cried myself to sleep in his arms.