She had better things to be doing then standing here listening to him, and she proceeded to tell him so. “You know, Dad, I’ve better things to be doing.”

As she pushed away from the counter to head to the front door Mr. Kinadle grabbed his daughter by the arm, effectively stopping her in her tracks. “This has got to stop Brianna. I mean it. Your mother and I didn’t raise you to be like this.”

“No, you raised me to be a, a, a Daddy’s little girl, expecting me to be that my whole life. Well guess what Dad, I grew up. You just can’t accept the fact that I’m an adult now.”

“Well then act like it, damnit!” They both were too shocked to say anything more. Her father had never used profanity towards her before.

Feeling the heat of the staring contest Brianna caved and moved first. “You know what? Screw this. I don’t need this from you. I’m outta here and don’t be here when I get back.”

Storming out of her apartment she heard her father’s reply even through the slammed door. “I still pay the bills here. Don’t you forget that!”

Who the hell does he think he is to come to my apartment, where I live, and tell me what I should and shouldn’t be doing with my life? Can’t a girl take a break for a little bit? Do I always have to be number one in everything I do? Can’t I just have fun for a while? Is that so much to ask?

She was seething. School had become difficult and her grades where definitely suffering because of it. She was tired all the time and just wanted to get away from everything and everyone. On top of that she was more than just a little confused over Nick. After their night of shared Ecstasy it was if he lost interest in her. She was ‘just Bree’ again. What ever had been building between them seemed to dissipate in the early morning light, and she couldn’t figure out why. And of course she’d been so busy with school and fighting with her parents she hadn’t had the time to go visit him anymore or even really talk with him.

Well, screw them all. I know who to go to who will make me feel better.

Thirty minutes later she was knocking on a familiar door. When it opened the face on the other side just smiled and opened the door a bit further, allowing her entrance into the house.

“I was wondering when I’d see you again.” He stated with a smile and his arms crossed leaning back against the door.

“Well, you know how it goes, John. Busy.” Brianna answered as she sat down in one of the overstuffed chairs.

John crossed the room, placed one hand on either arm of the chair, and leaned close to Brianna. “Always too busy. But you always know who to come to when you need to relax, don’t ya?” He had a grin the size of a Cheshire cat.

She was stressed, tired, and frustrated, but not crazy. Pushing him back to a standing position she simply said, “Just tell me what you have.”

<~ Chapter 46 or Chapter 48 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003