Phoebe

Are you Serious!

These past two weeks seemed to have dragged by much slower than normal, but thankfully they are over, and I can finally get my phone back. My mission this rainy Saturday morning is to catch my father before he leaves for work. I walk into the kitchen hoping to find him there, but nope, it's just mom drinking some coffee and chatting with Gail. Sighing, I plop down next to mom knowing that if she is in here alone, that dad must have already left. 

“What has gotten you all worked up this morning? Gail asks, placing my own cup of coffee in front of me.

“I was hoping to speak with dad before he left for work, but I’m taking it he has already left.” I state looking at mom for confirmation.

“That he has.” She replies, sitting her coffee down.

“Did he happen to say anything about when I can have my phone back?” I question hopeful that maybe he left it with her.

“Actually, yes he did. You have to wait until he gets home to get it back. It is at his office.” Mom informs me.

“Why is it there?” I responded, confusion evident on my face.

“He took it to his office so you wouldn’t be tempted to search for it and sneak it back.”

“What! I would never do that.” I shout, appalled at the thought.

“Well, with your recent behavior, your father wouldn’t put it past you and wasn’t going to take any chances.” She states looking at me remorsefully.

“ So, your saying he doesn’t trust me. Great.” I groan, as I flop my head down on the table.

Instead of letting mom reply, I get up from the island and make my way back towards the grand staircase. The whole ascent up the stairs I cannot help but to feel deeply hurt and offended by what dad now thinks of me. I really f****d up and now I don’t know how I am going to fix it. Yes, dad can be very overbearing an intimidating, but I still love him and definitely don’t want to permanently damage our relationship.

Once at the top of the stairs, I turn and start the journey down the long haul to my bedroom. Since today is a rainy day and I’m now upset, I can’t think of anything better to do than read. Yeah, that may sound boring, but when you don’t have a phone or TV you make do. About fifteen, maybe thirty minutes into reading, there is a knock on my bedroom door.

"Come in." I yell.

"Just bringing your clean clothes up." Gail informs me as she enters my room carrying a full laundry basket of folded clothes.

"I can put them away, Gail." I say getting up and taking my clothes from her and putting them away myself

………..

Around dinnertime I put my book down and look out my window. Sighing contently, I stretch and rise from my position on the windowsill. Knowing that Gail is probably getting ready to start cooking or already has I make my way downstairs. Dad tells me that I don’t need to, but I really enjoy helping her cook. Plus, I have to learn how to cook for myself at some point, I mean I won’t be living here forever.

Entering the kitchen, I see that Gail is getting some ingredients out. As soon as she notices me, she instructs me to start chopping some vegetables. Normally she wouldn’t just tell me what to do, but since dads not here she is a bit more relaxed. I swear she sees me as a daughter. She is always so sweat and willing to help me. I’m also the only person that she doesn’t question when I offer help or to do something myself.

About Halfway through making a mess in the kitchen dad comes and takes a seat at the island carefully watching us. Once I finish chopping the onion I was working on I make my way over to him with an expectant look on my face. With knowing eyes, he smirks at me reaching into the pocket of his dress pants retrieving my cell phone. He reaches out like he is going to hand it to me, but quickly snatches it back before I can grab it.

“Really dad.” I sigh in frustration.

“You can have this back, but if you pull any more stunts like you did this time I will promptly disconnect the line and you will have to prove to me and your mother that you deserve it back. Am I understood?” he stated with a stern look on his face.

“Understood.” Is all I reply as he hands me my phone.

All giddy and happy to finally have my phone back I rejoin Gail for the final touches of the dinner making process. As Gail begins to set the table, I swiftly jump into help ignoring the disapproving eyes of my father. Once everything is all set to perfection, I take a seat across from my parents.

We are not even fifteen minutes into the meal when dad starts talking about the annual coping together benefit that the family puts on. It has always been such a big deal for dad, but I find it boring and annoying to attend. I mean yeah it does support a good cause, but there is nothing that I can really do at the benefit besides sit at the table and get the third degree about my love life from my aunts and grandma.

“Phoebe, did you hear me.” Dad states breaking me out of my train of thought.

“Oh uh, no sorry. What did you say?”

“You will be attending the benefit this year. I get that you find it boring, but you are eighteen now and you need to start making regular appearances with the family.” He informs me.

“What! No, I don’t want to go. Why do I need to make appearances?” I groan.

“Because the media likes to constantly question why you are never present for anything. I can’t have the media painting us in a bad light. That being said, since you are now eighteen here is your own credit card. Use this to get a dress for the event.”

“Holy fu-“I barely get out before mom interrupts.

“Phoebe Mae, language.”

“Sorry! are you serious!” I squeal.

“Yes, just don’t make me regret this by getting something you know I won’t approve of.’’ He responds.

“Thank you thank you!” I squeal as I rush to hug him.

......

Laying in my bed I turn the platinum card over in my hands admiring how beautiful my name looks printed on this card. Having this small card means that I can really make a statement at the benefit even if I don’t really want to go. However, I am not very good at super girly things like makeup and dresses, so I definitely need Maddison to join me on a shopping trip. Retrieving my phone from my pocket I quickly dial her number.

It rings twice before I hear her voice ring out. “Hey girl.”

"Hey, by any chance would you want to go shopping tomorrow. My dad just gave me my own credit card." I brag to my best friend.

"Um.... Hell yes!" She shouts in excitement.

Our conversation doesn’t last for much longer after that. We just decide a time and then a knock on my door forces me to end the call.

“Come in.” I call out

“You seem pleased with your new card.” He chuckles lowering himself onto the corner of my bed.

“I am.” I grin.

“There is no spending limit, but again I am going to reenforce the whole don’t make me regret giving that to you thing.”

“I know dad.” I groan as I roll my eyes.

“No, I am serious. A credit card is a big responsibility. I am going to be paying it off for now, but if you max it out then you will be the one paying it off.”

“I have no intentions of maxing it out. You know I don’t tend to buy super expensive things.” I laugh

“I know honey. I just have to remind you for your mothers’ sake. It’s the only way I could get her to agree to this.” He laughs.

With that he gives me a hug and a kiss on the head before excusing himself from the room to go do go knows what.

.....

"Morning bish!" I say jumping into the front seat of Maddison's Mustang.

" Hey babe, where to first.” She giggles excitedly.

"First things first.... Starbucks!" I yell as I buckle my seat belt.

The drive to Starbucks then the mall is filled with a lot of key singing, but neither of us care as we are just enjoying the time we get to spend together. However, once we do pull into the packed mall parking lot, we do turn the music down and stop singing so people don’t think we are totally insane. It is a Sunday, so the mall is always bound to be packed with teens. Luckily since we chose to go to a higher end mall, we won’t run into anyone from school. Most of the teens who come here go to private schools.

As we step inside the front doors Maddison immediately begins dragging me in the direction of Victoria secret, but I put a stop really quick to that and pull her in the opposite direction towards a dress store.

“I’m here for a dress not lingerie.” I giggle.

“Aww, come on. Who knows you may meet a sexy man at this event and finally lose you v- car-“

“Okay that’s enough.” I laugh poking her side.

Walking into the door of the store my nostrils are immediately assaulted with a million different over sprayed perfume scents. Fighting my urger to cough we make our way over to the first row of dresses. When nothing sparks my interest, we move onto the next.

In total it takes all of three hours to find a dress. As soon as I saw it I new it was the one. The dress is a rural blue in a satin fabric with a slit that goes almost dangerously high. The neckline is simple and straight across with tiny little straps to hold it up. I almost didn’t buy it because I know damn well dad will not approve, but after some convincing from Maddison I bit the bullet and bought it.

 Now that I have a dress, I just need some shoes and makeup. I do own makeup but it’s not a lot since I don’t really know what I am doing. Luckily that’s what YouTube tutorials are good for.

With makeup and shoes in hand we make our way out of the mall and back to my house. I try to invite Maddison in for dinner, but she insists she has to be home tonight. Shrugging I hug her goodbye and head inside. Opening the front door, the smell of pizza wafts into my nose and I feel myself walking towards the kitchen. However, I stop in my tracks when I remember I’m still holding all my bags. So, I quickly turn on my heels and run upstairs to deposit the items into the back of my closet. before heading back downstairs I swiftly throw a hoodie over my crop top so that I don’t have to listen to dad b***h about it.

"Look whose finally home." Teddy says as I enter the kitchen take a seat next to him.

"Since when do we eat pizza on Sundays?" I ask

"Since I picked it up on my way over here." Teddy smirks.

"How was your shopping trip honey?" Mom asks

"Great. A lot of fun."

"Can we see your dress?" Dad asks

"Nope, not until the benefit." I smile

"Phoebe-"

"Relax dad, I'm sure you'll be fine with it." I reassure even though I in fact know he will not be okay with it.

We spend the rest of our dinner joking and laughing. Its not often that Teddy comes to visit so it is a nice surprise for the whole family. Sometimes I miss when we were younger, and he still lived here. We have always been pretty close, but it seems as if we have grown apart some since he moved into dad’s old penthouse at Escala in the city. I mean I get it he is twenty-two and works for dad full time so its easier, but it sucks for me. I no longer have someone around to constantly joke with and play pranks on.