Chapter 30: Helping Hand
ðªEllie's P.O.V
I chewed at the end of my pen tiredly, my eyes trying to take in the words that were printed in the book and doing my best to memorize it.
Exams were coming up this week and I had to do my best. Good thing that there were weekends and I'd rather study a few days in advance than the day before the actual exam.
Procrastinating can sometimes be in our favor but I hate doing things the last minute since I don't do well with pressure.
I've been studying since seven in the morning and it's currently two p.m. I covered most of my notes in biology II and I'm only skimming a few details in the book that might come out.
I jumped out of my seat in surprise when the door banged opened. My dad stood there in his cop uniform, a look on his face.
I felt my brows knit in confusion, Dad usually doesn't go home later than eight in the evening and seeing him in broad daylight is a surprise.
"Sweetie, it's good to see you working hard." He strolled in, taking a seat at the edge of my bed calmly.
My gaze narrowed at him, his eyes wandering around my room like it was his first time seeing it. He shuffled slightly in his seat and I knew right then and there what it was.
"What is it this time dad?" I asked, already knowing that he's gonna need my help.
Dad stood up faster than bolt and made his way towards me."I see my DNA has not failed me, I'm proud to say that you are indeed my daughter Ellie."
I let out a laugh at his words, glancing at him."You forgot that it was mom's birthday tomorrow, didn't you dad?"
Just like that, Dad's calm demeanor melted away replacing with a panicked look. His stances changed from panicking to defensive.
"You can't blame me princess! I've been working on quite a tiring case that it totally slipped my mind!" Dad defended, his eyes pleading with me.
"How many times do I have to remind you dad? You can put those reminder app on your phone to a use." I scolded him, standing up from my seat.
This was the distraction that I needed. I could use some time off the give my brain a rest and knowing dad, we'll be off to another escapade.
"I don't do well with technology darling. It hates me remember?" He reminded me, his eyes widening slightly.
How could I forget? Dad absolutely doesn't know how to work his way around his phone. One time, he had mistakenly sent a selfie of his face to their group chat at work instead at mom.
Let's not forget the time when dad accidentally downloaded a picture of a woman from the internet and mom threw a huge fuss when she saw it saved on his photos.
"Fine, I'm willing to help you on this one. What's in it for me?" I grinned cheekily, batting my eyelashes at him innocently.
"I'll buy you any food you want for a month." Dad immediately answered, earning a beam from me.
"It seems that you are indeed my dad dad, You got yourself a deal."
"Mom doesn't like jewelry dad." I pointed out, eyeing the rows of different accessories in front of me.
The only jewelry mom has is her wedding ring. She hated wearing earrings because her hair tends to get stuck in it.
"Trust me, your mom might not be girly girl as she seems but she has her fair share of jewelries." He answered, pointing to a silver necklace.
The saleslady placed it in front of us, my brows furrowing upon seeing the pendant. I glanced at dad, seeing him nod to himself and saying that he'll take it.
"Dad? I think you didn't see the pendant. It was a gun," I pointed out. It was unusual to have a pendant like that.
He chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly."I know honey, you're mom would love it. Trust me."
I shrugged knowing that he was right. Dad knew mom like no other and sometimes he could even predict the things she wants before the words could even leave her mouth.
I waited for dad to finish paying before we were walking out of the store. My hand holding unto the small paper bag that had the gift for mom.
"Are we going home now?" I asked, looking around the rows of stores that lined up.
Dad scratched the back of his head."About that sweetie, I want to surprise your mom." He said, a hint of red on his cheeks.
"What do you have in mind?"
He hummed, his head craning slightly to the side."Well, I'm thinking about giving her a well-deserved spa day. She's working harder than me you know? Taking care of your guys." Dad answered, a smile gracing his features.
A smile of my own formed on my lips. Not once did dad judge mom for choosing to be a house wife instead of accepting the job at the local hospital as a nurse.
In fact, Dad didn't miss a chance to thank her everyday for her hard work and would even throw a compliment at her for taking good care of us.
"I'm sure she'll love that dad. I have a friend who can do some reservations for us." I agreed, taking my phone out and texting Sage.
"I'd love to take her out on a date after that. Can you take care of Theodore for a whole day?" He asked, a frown marring his features.
"Of course dad, I'm eighteen and completely responsible!" I grinned, earning a chuckle from dad.
He ruffled my hair like he would always do which earned a grumble from me."I'm craving sweets. You up for ice cream princess?"
Dad let out an amused chuckle when I looped my arm around his and excitedly pulled him towards my favorite ice cream shop.
"Huh, Now that I think about it. I haven't heard the story of how you and mom met dad," I though out loud, taking a spoonful of my sundae.
The familiar ice cream shop that dad would always bring me when we were here at the mall brought a sense of deja vú and happy memories.
He chuckled, leaning back to the seat."I met your mom in senior year princess. I was a transferee," Dad started off, his eyes far away.
"So, you were the new guy huh? I bet you were famous dad," I grinned.
Dad and Mom aged like fine wine and it was probably because of the pure love they had for one another.
He snorted, pushing some of his dark hair away."Quite the opposite princess, I was bullied for being the new guy."
The smile wiped off of my face at his words. My eyes widened slightly which made dad roll his eyes at me.
"Just because you're good looking doesn't mean you are free from the criticism princess. Doesn't matter what you do or what you look, when people feel threatened by you they'll do anything to bring you down." Dad explained, a barely there smile gracing his features.
I felt my heart clench at this. Dad didn't seemed the type to have gone through that with the way he carried himself.
I gasped."Don't tell me mom was the one who bullied you and both of you somehow gotten stuck with one another and fell in love along the way." I though out loud, my eyes widening in horror.
Wow, makes me want to turn back into time and witness their lovestory.
Dad's laughter met my ears."You really got your imagination from your mother princess." He commented, his laugh lines full on view.
I huffed, taking another spoonful of my ice cream."Dad, get on with it. How'd you met mom then?" My curiosity was spiking up.
"Her bestfriend saved me one day from being bullied. Beat them to pulp and went to the principal for it." He smiled softly at the memory of it.
Mom has a best friend? How come she doesn't visit us? I never met any of my mom's friends in high school but only some of her college ones.
"Really? Then I'm guessing mom was the one who brought you to the infirmary and that was the start of it." I assumed again, wanting to know how they met.
"Nope, you see princess, your mom was on top of the social ladder along with her exclusive group. They tend to be anti-social to the people outside their group." Dad answered.
Huh, I guess mom was telling the truth when she did say she was popular. I couldn't count how many times she gave me tips on how to befriend others.
"Then why did her best friend save you?" I wondered out. I couldn't help but relate to dad with the pack of skittles being secluded.
He shrugged, his eyes meeting mine."Beats me princess, I didn't ask. Your mom absolutely hated me for it though, causing trouble to her friends and for somehow ending up friends with her group."
My eyes widening, leaning forward in surprise."What? Mom hated you for that?" I gaped, not seeming to believe it.
Dad grinned cheekily."She did, always doing this out of the world pranks at me and doing her best to scare me off. Obviously it didn't work and she got more pissed at me."
I giggled, totally imagining it. Dad was rather the rational one between the two of them. Mom tends to be the troublemaker and had a temper while dad was the one who usually kept her in check.
"Huh, who would've thought mom was an angry kid." I hummed, finishing off my ice cream.
I couldn't imagine her being grumpy nor even mad. I did see her get mad once but it was because Dad accidentally ate the smores she left for herself in the fridge.
She gave dad a glare the next morning that it made me cower in the corner. Dad had to call in a day off and went to the grocery stores to make up for her smores.
"Your mom grew up with a hard life princess and that was the outcome of it." Dad frowned, looking away at the thought of something.
I nodded, growing sad. I did not know my mother's parents considering they left her at a foster home when she was eight.
Through my childhood years, my mom was my sidekick who encouraged me to stand up in the things that I believed in and do the things that makes me happy.
She might have gone through something heartbreaking but she was a good mother to us. I wouldn't trade her for the world.
"How'd you both end up falling in love then dad?" I wondered out, leaning back to my seat.
"Something happened that made her realize it. She's a stubborn one, your mom but I wouldn't have her any other way." He said, his eyes lighting up and a huge smile graced his lips.
My heart tugged happily, feeling lucky to have them with me. My mom did have it rough but the love my dad has for her was enough to accept the scars she had.
"Mom loves you too dad." I giggled, resting my chin on my palm. Ah, true love was such a rare thing these days and I'm lucky to see a glimpse of it through them.
He chuckled,"It'll stay that way for the rest of our lives princess. How are you and Alec? Did he ask you anything?" Dad asked, earning a weary look from him.
"We're doing okay," I trailed off."And what do you mean by that dad?" I narrowed my eyes at him.
Dad chuckled nervously, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck."Nothing princess! I was just asking hehe."
I threw him a glare, Dad couldn't lie to me even if he wanted to."Just tell me dad, save yourself the trouble."
"But your mom's gonna be pissed at me." He whined, shaking his head.
"Mom wouldn't know dad unless you'd tell her. Now tell me dad," I demanded, earning a sigh from him.
I did a small dance in my mind. Dad couldn't deny me, I'm his princess and besides, I can totally blackmail him if he won't.
"A few days ago, Alec called me and we had a talk." He revealed, my curiosity spiking up.
My brows furrowed, what reason could Alec possibly have that he'd talk to my dad? I'll just have to ask then.
"What did you talk about?" I wondered out, pursing my lips.
He grinned."He apologized to me and said he'd gladly take a punch for his mistake." Dad revealed, realization passed through me.
"So, that's why he had to take a few moments before knocking the door." I thought out loud, nodding in understanding.
Dad chuckled,"That isn't the only thing we talk about princess." He said, my ears perking up at his words.
I took huge glob of my ice cream and stuffed it into my mouth, completely loving the matcha flavor that greeted my sense of taste.
"He asked permission if he could court you." And the ice cream lodged itself into the wrong pipe.
I let out a choked cough, the ice cream melting away in seconds. I breathed in, dad biting his lip to stop himself from laughing.
Alec asked permission? From my dad? Huh, who knew he'd be a guy who'd take courtship so seriously, I like it.
"You just have to say it when I had food in my mouth, thanks dad." I croaked out, coughing slightly.
Dad crossed his arms across his chest, looking rather intimidating."I'm guessing from your reaction that you said yes?"
I wiped my mouth with the sleeve of my sweatshirt."I did dad, did you say yes? Does mom know about this?"
Dad snorted."Any guy who knows his mistake and willingly owns up to it deserves a chance princess." He smiled softly.
I smiled back."That's right dad. You told me that when the girl who took my pencil apologized to me and I wouldn't accept it." I giggled, my mind replaying the memory.
He nodded, looking proud of himself."Yes and don't every forget that." I gave him a salute.
"Your mom knew about this the day before you both visited Theo. She wasn't surprise though, makes me wonder if he asked her too." Dad said, a hint of wonder in his voice.
I shrugged."You know mom doesn't like being questioned. If she wants you to know something then she'd tell you." I reminded him.
He nodded."I know princess. Just a heads up, fall but don't fall too hard. You're still a growing flower." Dad said, earning a soft smile from me.
I nodded."I will and Alec's a good guy dad. He just suffered a hard life that's all." I told him.
Dad hummed softly."I know princess, I can see it in his eyes. Speaking of, he reâ"
The little radio attached on his uniform cut him off, a person speaking urgently that made us straighten up in our seat.
Dad pressed a button on it and replied he'll be there before standing up. I took the paper bag and glanced at him.
"Emergency?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
Dad smirked, nodding his head."We have a cat to save princess." He replied, earning an excited grin from me.
"Let's get on with it then!"
Another update cookies!
So I've been seeing a lot of comments on the OG version about readers commenting 'ACAB' when Ellie's dad was mentioned as being a cop.
#BlackLivesMatter and let's continue to raise awareness about this BUT I totally disagree about this ACAB word.
Please stop defining all cops as bad people. Not everyone is racist and there are cops out there who are truly working honestly and hard.
Do not let hate and fury override your senses in being able to see the goodness that others are portraying and expressing.
There are things that the media doesn't portray and chose to portray. The reason for that is sometimes the benefit of their own.
And before you comment and get mad at me, this is my opinion and I'm merely expressing it. Please don't say anything mean because you're just making a fool out of yourself by getting angry and offended.
With that being said, I hope you like this chapter. I found it cute that their mom totally didn't like Robert from the startð¤£
Ah, what a cute lovestory they seem to have.
Question of the day:
Who was the last person you messaged?
The last person that I message was my best friend and we were talking about how stressful online classes areð¤£
Thank you for voting and reading! Stay safe and I hope you have a good dayð
Remember that you are loved, you are beautiful, you are youð¥°
-ELABEARXx