Lies 1-50

I blew my hair out of my eyes as I painted Levi's room. I finished off a huge heart with a black crack right through the middle and a quote of thorns wrapped around it that said, "Can You Fix This?" numerous times.

The doorbell rang and Skinner screamed, "I'll get it!"

I took no notice to the voice at the door until I realized it was familiar. It sounded like... but it couldn't have been. I hadn't seen him since the day he walked out on us. I had talked to him a few times over the phone but he was always tired or worn down by something.

"Is Charlotte here?"

That's when I knew it was him. How did he find me, I wondered.

"Dad?" I called hesitantly out to the other room. My brush fell out of my hands and my feet guided me to where he was standing.

"Charlotte!" His voice was happy then, there wasn't any pain or anguish. He was thinner than I remembered and he was balding slightly. His hair went from a deep copper to grey. I wished I hadn't of missed that transition.

"Hi..." My voice was quiet. He looked at me like something was missing and then stepped forward. His fingers reached for my hair and suddenly I was a little girl again. I was fragile and ready to cry.

"What did you do to your gorgeous hair sweetie? It was always so... Long."

"I cut it dad. It reminded me too much of the past."

"The colors... they don't fit you darling."

"They don't fit the old me. You don't know the new me."

I looked down at my feet and waited for him to say something more. When he didn't, tears formed in my eyes and I had to do all I could to keep them from pouring out salt onto my paint-stained cheeks.

"I suppose I don't... But I would like to." He whispered the last part.

I lunged forward and buried my face into his shoulder. "Daddy, I missed you! Why didn't you ever come see me! The phone calls were not enough for me." The little girl inside came out again. She had waited for this day, and I couldn't deny her the feeling of grief that swept over my body. I just wanted him to love me for who I was.

He wrapped his arms around me and calmed me with, "It's okay sweetie. Daddy's here."

I felt like curling up and dying right on the spot. I trembled like I did when I was four and afraid of the thunder. He said the same thing to me then. The realization of that brought on fresh tears.

"Dad I..." I was at a loss for words.

"Shhh, it's alright. We can talk whenever you're ready."

His touch was welcomed, unlike my mother's. He was always warm with me... I was his golden child, Markus was mother's. Our sister always had the happy medium between the two.

"Dad..." The sniffles stopped and I pulled back. "I want you to meet someone."

He smiled brightly and I noticed the wrinkles around his mouth widen.

"Noah!" I called.

I suspected my father thought it was a grandchild, after all a boy I lived with opened the door.

"Yes?" My father's smile was still present as Noah walked out.

"Noah, honey, this is my dad."

My dad shook Noah's hand sternly. His smile went away after that.

"If this is... Than who's...?" He trailed off and I explained.

"This is my fiance... The other two guys are his band."

"Oh." A look of confusion pressed itself into his forehead.

"Um, Dad? Do you want some coffee?"

I wiped the remains of the tears off of my cheeks, along with the paint specks.

"Sure, sure."

He sat down on the couch and I went ot the kitchen. Noah started up a conversation with him as I was walking away.

I wondered if my dad knew about Alex... He must of, mom probably told him. I wasn't going to bring it up though, just in case.

The coffee poured out easily into the coffee cup and I went to give it to him. He took it greatfully and smiled at me.

"Thank you." His words flew out of his lips between sips of the hot liquid pouring down his throat. "So Noah. You want to marry my daughter, eh? What makes youi think I'll let you?"

He let out a hearty laugh. It was one I remembered from childhood. It was genuine too, like it was before mom and his relationship went sour.

I smiled and gave Noah's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Things with my dad were always so much easier than things with my mother.