Chris walked down stairs to see Xandra placing a plate on the table by his usual spot. "Morning dad. French toast, scrambled eggs and sausage."

"Sounds as good as it smells. And if it tastes that good I'll have seconds."

"How'd you sleep?"

"What do you know?"

"What makes you think I know anything?"

"Spit it out."

"Dad, you can't have a room right next to my bathroom if you want privacy. I know everything. You have a date with Katy on Tuesday night at the drive in. Dad, you should have gotten better walls." She laughed as she took a bite of her French toast.

"What did you use to season the eggs? They're red, and delicious."

"I used Saźon. I'm glad you like it."

"So, what are you gonna do Tuesday night while I'm gone?"

"Throw a party, have sex, get wasted. The usual."

"I'm not gonna yell at you because I know you're joking."

She laughed and punched him in the arm. "If you must know, I'm gonna go to Walmart. I have money saved up. Like, a lot. And I want clothes."

"Xandra, do you know how much clothes you already have?"

"Dad, do you know how much more I'm gonna have by the time school starts next week?"

"Speaking of school, you have to get school supplies."

"Okay, I'll go to Staples too."

"That works." He took three fifties out of his wallet and handed it to her. "That is for school supplies, not clothes."

"Clothes is an important item at school. Unless you prefer I go naked."

"What do you think about home schooling?"

"Dad, you're hilarious!"

"Just wait till I try to be funny. Then you'll be dying."

She walked down the crowded town street. She walked into staples and grabbed a cart. She loaded up with school supplies. First thing in the cart was notebooks. She grabbed four. Then four folders, four two-inch binders, four packs of filler paper. She got a pack of pens, pencils and highlighters. She got a pre packaged bag of supplies which had sissors, a calculater, white-out, erasers and a ruler. She got coloring books too, cause why not, even though the author hates coloring.

She lugged her bags out to the street corner and signaled for a taxi. A taxi pulled up beside her, and she looked through the window. Oh no, it's that guy again. Randy Cagle. "Hey, Alexandra, right? hop on in, no charge."

"Oh, um, hi. Actually, I just remembered, I was gonna get a ride from a friend."

He smiled. He had a smile that could spoil milk. "Oh please, I insist. It's not that far. I'm off in ten minutes, I'm headed that way anyway."

"No, really, it's okay. She should be here in a minute." Just in time, she got an alert on her phone. She looked at it and touched her finger to the screen, pretending it was a text. "Oh, that's my friend now, she's just down the street. I better go." She walked off quickly, afraid of what could happen if she didn't.

She was about three blocks away, when she decided it was safe to signal another taxi. She got in the taxi, and smiled. The driver was a woman, she had grey hair and a sweet smile. "Where to sweetie?"

"107 Beacon st ma'am."

"Oh please, ma'am is so formal. Call me Trixie."

"Okay Trixie, it's a pleasure to meet you." She got out of the taxi, and saw Chris by the door. She handed the woman twenty-five dollars and smiled as she walked off.

"What took you so long, I was worried sick."

"Sorry dad. The first taxi I signaled was yours truely, so i had to say that my friend was down the street and pretend to get a text. Then it was a little while before another taxi drove by."

"Randy! Did he say anything to you?"

"He just insisted that he gives me a ride, and told me he was off in ten, that he was going this way anyway."

"He doesn't go anywhere near this part of town."

"Dad, it's fine. I'm okay, I handled it."

"You're sure you're okay?"

"Yes dad, I'm fine."

He looked at all the bags. He grabbed like six of them and left her with three. "Let me take some of those. You sure got a lot of stuff."

"Yup, I'm officially ready for school."

Later that night, they sat at the kitchen table, eating lemon tossed salad with chicken and walnuts. Xandra insisted on cooking tonight. But lets be honest, we all know Chris would gladly just eat pizza.

"Dad, how do you like the salad?"

He smiled, and took another bite. He scratched his chin like he was thinking really hard. "Hmm, let me see, it's great." They laughed as she pushed his arm playfully.

"Dad, can I be serious for once?" She paused, he put his fork down and stared at her. "You know as well as I do, you'll never replace them. And I still wish I didn't lose them, and that I didn't have to feel this pain. But if I'm being honest, I am definitely glad to be with you. If I have to go through this, I'm glad that it's with you. And I joke a lot, but I will be a good daughter. I won't screw up like most teenage girls do. You know, sex, drugs, alcohol, that's not me. I joke about it, sure I do. Dad, the point is, I love you. And I don't want you to think that I'm not happy here."

"Why are you talking like this?"

"I heard you, outside my door, the night my music was blaring, I was crying, and screaming into my pillow."

"I don't know wha..."

"Dad, save it. I'm not mad that you were listening, I know you were, cause the floor squeeked. Next time, if you want to, don't pretend that you don't notice. I know it kills you, so just, hold me, you know, if you need to. Just know that I'm okay."

"Can I ask why you were so upset?"

"I got a phone call, from a detective. The one that took on my parents case. The guy took the easy way out. He didn't pay for what he did! The cop thought it would make me feel better, but it didn't. I wanted him to suffer. There was no reason for what he did!"