CHAPTER TWO

I give the Uber driver 28 $ and climb out of the car. The car drives off and I'm left, staring up at my house.

I walk up to the front steps and ring the doorbell. How funny, I have to ring the doorbell to be let inside my childhood home now. I stand there for a few seconds before I hear loud pounding footsteps nearing the front door. I smile slightly.

Dad always felt the need to make lots of noises when going to open the front door to announce to the person at the door that he was coming, I don't know why he can't just scream he's coming?

The door swings open to reveal my old, graying father. I grin. Dad's brown hair is standing up in all directions with hints of grey here and there. He has dark circles under his eyes but looks cheerful. His blue eyes are twinkling as if he knows something I don't and as if he can't wait for me to come inside, he probably does and suddenly, I'm wary of going inside especially since he's grinning so widely. He can't be that happy to see me, surely?

"Please, do come in."'

Suddenly all thoughts of his mischievous intent disappears, replaced with a half-amused and half offended frown.

"Oh? So am I a guest now? Do I have to come in if you let me in only?"

"Of course! You haven't visited your home in five years! No child of mine has manners like that!" Dad says in a duh tone. I'm already tired of him, knowing what he's planning on doing during my stay here. I mentally curse myself for agreeing to come to this stupid wedding.

I roll my eyes and smile, "Sure, dad. Sure."

He laughs, "It's good to see you, kid. I'm glad Cara's getting married, it means my baby girl has come home"

I push past him, annoyed that I'm even here. Dad picks up my suitcase on the front steps and closes the door behind him. It takes him a moment to register the rainbow stripes. He snaps his head to look at me with wide eyes.

"Don't you dare laugh" I grind out in a warning tone.

He opens his mouth and closes it, pursing his lips tightly in an effort to stop laughing. Taking a moment to compose himself, he finally says, "I was just gonna say, Nice suitcase."

Suddenly he's trying to hold in his laughter once again, small tufts of giggles escape his mouth and I narrow my eyes at him. He slaps a hand on his mouth to stop himself from laughing.

I sigh dejectedly, "You can laugh."

Dad bursts out laughing, "Where'd you get that piece of rainbow crap?"

I squeeze my eyes shut "Max gave it to me, something about being a girl? I don't know? He's a hard man to understand."

"Why're you using it, though? It's so depressing, it screams I'm so desperate and alone, and I wanna die! So I'm using a rainbow suitcase so I can be happy!"

"I know, right!? Max said it was creative and unique and I honestly just wanted to save money"

"So you chose embarrassment slash shame over comfort? How sad."

"Dad!" I whine.

"Sorry, sorry, I can't wrap my head around the fact that my only daughter walked around with this rainbow poop behind her!"Dad starts laughing at his own joke while I stare at him, unamused, he stops laughing when he sees the look I'm giving him right now.

"Sorry, but I thought you were smart, kid! Not stupid! Oh, wait! You became stupid the day you told me you-"

"Ahh! I don't want to hear it! I know I'm a disappointment to you."

Dad shakes his head in amusement. I walk down the hall and open the lounge door. As soon as the door opens, I'm drenched in some sort of red liquidy substance. I turn around in a flash, starting at dad who's holding up his phone, guffawing loudly.

"Wha-w-why-why would you-Dad!"

"I'm so sorry, kid but I couldn't help it! Surely, you didn't think I won't prank you when you get home? Now, isn't this such a warm welcome?" Oh, it is on.

"Now I'll have to shower, dad!"

"I know! That's why I did it, I knew you would be too tired and would go to bed without showering. This was perfect. Plus, I've missed playing pranks and jokes when you weren't here. You're the only one that understands my sick humor!"

"God! How I wish I didn't understand-wha-what is this?" I swipe my finger on my arm and bring it up to my mouth.

"Shit! Dad! Is this ketchup?"

"Yeah, I was thinking paint first but it's hard to get that stuff out" And this isn't?

"Now I'm going to smell like fucking ketchup all week! What is wrong with you! Oh, my god! I'm already missing New York. And it hasn't even been 2 hours since I've been in Sacramento!" To be honest, I'm secretly enjoying this but the day I admit this to dad would be the day hell freezes over.

Dad just laughs, "Go shower, kid. You stink." And he laughs some more. I take that back, I'm not enjoying this.

I rolled my eyes and bounded upstairs.

"Be careful, okay?" Dad calls out to me." I just had the carpet in your room washed!"

Oh, I'm definitely getting ketchup on the carpet.

"And before you think of getting ketchup on the carpet on purpose, remember it's you who has to live with its smell in your room!" He hollers from downstairs.

Shit. I hate it when he's right.

***

My room looks bare. It's clean, even though I haven't been here in five years. I'd have thought dad cleared out my room, he always talked about turning my room into a gym of sorts, and yet everything was just the way I left it as far as I remember. I shake my head and head into the shower. Dad has put fresh towels, new shampoo, and soap and even bought me pads and tampons in advance. Back when I was a teenager, it was he who bought me this stuff then I just got too embarrassed and started shopping for these things on my own. Mom was too busy sleeping with everyone at her workplace to even care.

After washing off the ketchup and rubbing myself with the soap repeatedly to get the ketchup smell out, I quickly change into shorts and a large grey hoodie. I make a quick mental note not to wear this hoodie out of this house. Can't have anybody recognizing who's hoodie it is. Much less the owner of this hoodie. I sigh. I am already worried about seeing him here. This wedding is not worth the trouble.

A/N:

Woah. Things have changed a lot since the last time I have published the last chapter. specifically bad and good stuff both. But, I'll focus on the good for now. Times are still hard. I got covid and made it through, my grandma didn't. Even if it's a new year, don't forget, covid is still there. Before I wasn't really serious about it but now I've lost a loved one because of it so remember, stay safe.

xoxo

Sal. (This is my new pen name, it comes from a shortened version of my little sister who passed away when she was 4 months old. I was too little to remember her, but it does not make me love her any less still, so in memory of her I have this new pen name.)