Stepping into the house was like stepping into a giant freezer. I had gotten used to the chill of the rain from outside as the air itself was still muggy and humid. Taking off my shoes did little to lessen the puddle trail I left in my path as I made my way to the kitchen, where I saw Dad clearly sitting, munching away at something he was hunched over. The television was on, echoing through the quiet house with the sounds of the evening news, loud enough that Dad had not heard me come in. When I reached him, I dropped the folder next to him. It landed with a loud, wet slap onto the counter and his attention quickly shot up to see who had done it.

All tension dissapated as soon as he realized it was just me and I watched as he proceeded to give me a once over.

"Did you go swimming?" He asked in astonishment. Instead of answering, I just pointed to the back window. He followed my finger and I could see it clicking in his head. "Man, you had me there. I thought you had finally faced your fears," he continued, twirling back in my direction. "Where have you been? I saw your bike at work, but you were nowhere to be found."

Oh crap, I forgot about my bike. Going to have to wait until the storm passes to retrieve that.

"What's this?" I asked, redirecting both his and my attention back to the folder.

"Looks like a wet folder," he replied. When he looked up and saw that I did not find his comment the least bit funny he added, "sorry," and proceeded to open it. I watched him carefully as he peeled through the papers that looked as though they were straining to hold together now.

"Where did you find this?" He asked. I could not read him at all. He had somehow turned off his emotions once the folder opened. His attention soon came to me, waiting for an answer.

"In the garage. Have you been keeping tabs on my friends?"

He exhaled loudly through his lips. "I guess the skeletons are out of the closet now."

"That's an invasion of privacy."

He sat up, waving a finger at me. "Now hold on, last I checked getting a background done of my daughter's friends wasn't a crime. All this information can easily be found on the internet."

"And spying."

"Of course spying! Isn't that what a father does? Spy on their children to make sure they're safe?"

"Safe from what exactly?"

"The world, what else? I will admit it has become a little extreme ever since Beth..." He cleared his throat. "Well, you know. I just don't want to lose you too. You're the only family I have left." I have heard of overprotective fathers, but Dad's is dangerously close to taking the 'best overprotective parent' award.

"Do they know about this? Or were they also kept in the dark about it as I was?"

"I may have mentioned something to them..." My heart sank. No wonder they all stopped talking to me.

"You know that you are the sole reason that I have never been able to keep friends, right?"

"Well they weren't much of a friend to you were they then?" I glared at him as his words struck a chord within me. He's brushing this off like it isn't a big deal. It's clearly a big deal to me. "I need to add Will in here soon..." he muttered as he looked through them once more. 

Like hell you are.

I snatched the folder away from him and tore it until I couldn't tear anymore, still keeping my glare fixed on him. Then I signed, angrier than I had ever felt, "no more! You are done spying on me and you are done digging into my friends' lives. I'm not a child anymore! And I don't need your protection!" Dad stared at me, wide eyed and taken aback to my sudden outburst. It was very rare that I got this way, but when I did, I often couldn't control myself. "Just stop!"

I threw the mucky pieces that was once the biographies of my friends back onto the table and stomped out of the room, making sure my actions were dramatic to make up for the inability to voice the anger I was now fuming with. Dad did not even try to stop me.

I was at the stairs when I overheard the news anchor begin what they considered their top story, "Nags Head Police have confirmed that two bodies washed ashore just off Jannette's Pier earlier this morning. Their identities have yet to be determined at this time. Both the beach and the pier have been closed off to visitors until further notice."

I continued my climb half listening to the story, the familiarity of it keeping me tuned in. It probably sounds wrong, but I only wish I could not relate to how the families will feel when they find out. My thoughts were no longer on Dad now, but on Mom. Her last moments flickered into my mind like a dying light. 

I heard the door to my dad’s room close and I knew full well he had began to think of her as well. Mom was the only thing in this entire world that could break him. I began to regret how angry I got with him. I feel like garbage now.

In all reality, we were all each other had. Just me and him for the last six years after Grammy died. Was the knowledge of him being an overprotective father going to ruin what little time we had left with each other? I said I was going to make the most of this time we had left and I meant it. 

I turned around and walked back down the stairs. He had bottled Mom up inside of him for so long, I wasn't sure when he was going to burst. For me, it was my mother, the person who gave me life, who loved me like no one would ever love me, who taught me how to see the world the way I do. For Dad, she was his only love, his other half, his whole heart, the first thing he saw when he woke up in the morning and the last thing he saw when he went to sleep at night. I can faintly remember the way they used to look at each other and I distinctly remember how happy I felt when I got to witness it. I have never experienced that kind of love before and I wasn't sure if I was ever going to, so God only knew what he was going through. The least I could do was show him that I was here for him.

When I reached his door, I could hear his muffle voice inside. At first it almost sounded like he was crying, so I reached for the doorknob to open the door. The moment my hand touched the door his voice raised and no longer did it sound even remotely like crying, but agitated. He was talking to someone, must be over the phone. I guess he wasn't as upset about Mom as I had first thought. 

"Do you have any idea what it is going to do here?" I heard him say to whomever was on the other line. "Alright fine, but I'm not going to be a part of it." He said after a moment of silence. "Do what you want and-"

Suddenly my phone went off in the middle of his sentence, and the inside of the room had gone silent. With a leap in my heart I bolted as quickly and quietly as I could for the stairs. I felt like a kid who had gotten caught red handed sneaking around where I shouldn't be. By the time I reached my room I was so full of adrenaline I was shaking. My ears began to ring as I listened for footsteps coming up the stairs. When nothing came, I took several deep breaths to calm myself down. 

Finally peering down at my phone, I saw it was from Will.

William Profit: Hey, I'm sorry about what went down. It all happened so fast that I did not get the chance to ask you. My father's hosting his annual dinner party next Friday. Would you be my plus one? 

Me: A dinner party? With like fancy dresses and tuxedos?

The fanciest thing I owned was a sundress I was bought only becuase I had to wear something nice under my graduation gown. 

William Profit: Lol yes with fancy dresses and tuxedos.

Me: Have you seen my wardrobe? 

William Profit: Don't worry, I've got you covered. All you would have to do is make yourself presentable in it.

Me: Is it that uptight? I may stand out in a setting like that...

William Profit: So is that a yes?

I hesitated on my reply, biting my bottom lip as I began to contemplate just how much regret I may find myself feeling if I did go. Apparently, to Will my hesitation meant 'yes.'

William Profit: Great! Like I said, don't worry about the dress. I already asked your father for your size.

He did what?! Which only meant that my father also approved of this outing. Great. Now I couldn't refuse. 

Me: ...Wonderful. I guess I'm going then.

I let myself belly flop onto my bed, groaning in my head. What a day. I rolled over and reread the message between me and him. I couldn't deny a teeny part of me that was actually a little excited at the thought of wearing a gown that I'd never actually proactively wear out in society. How bad could a fancy dinner be? And Will asked me. Of all the other women he probably knew, he asked someone like me; little old me who has been labeled weird most her life. 

I felt the corners of my mouth turn upward more and more with each time I reread the messages.

Me: Thank you for inviting me. I look forward to going with you :)

No, that just sounds weird. I deleted my text. 

Me: Can't wait!

After what I said previously, this just makes me look bipolar. Delete. After a few more unworthy texts I gave up trying to write anything at all.

Me: :)

And send.