Dad agrees to allow Coco and I to attend the carnival that weekend and I'm a bloody wreck! I know Coco likes me but we never been on a date before, either.

"Dad!" I cried. "I can't go!" Dad was actually helping me prepare for the date. How sweet is that?

"Rory, calm down. Here. Wear these black jeans with that dark blue top. You'll look fab!" I grudgingly accept the clothes from Dad, march into the bathroom and change. I scrutinize my appearance in the mirror. Dad knocks on the door.

"Doll, how does it look?" I reluctantly let him in and Dad's face softens as he admires my outfit.

"It's perfect. Are you gonna do anything with your hair?"

"Just brush it." After putting the top on, my hair looks like the hoover (vacuum) attacked it. I grab my brush, running in through my hair before grabbing some eyeliner and heading back to the bathroom to apply it.

When I return to the front room, Dad gives me the thumbs up sign and I try to smile. It's hard because my stomach is doing somersaults.

"Dad, is this really a good idea?" I sit on a chair and Dad comes to lean against it, lightly touching my hair.

"It's normal to feel nervous, Rory. But it's not like you haven't spent any time with Coco. She likes you already. Just be yourself and you'll be fantastic."

I smile up at him and he grins. I reach out, touching his face and he winks. I move to stand just there's a knock at the door.

"It's showtime, doll."

***

Things are going pretty well between Coco and myself. Since we're in public, Dad insisted on hiring a bodyguard to follow us around. Knowing how crazy fans can be, I didn't object to the idea.

The bodyguard was a black woman, who looked normal enough. Until you got up close and personal with her. She has some serious muscles and I'm happy I'm not having to mess with her.

I think Dad had wanted to come along but he I think, too, he wanted to give me and Coco some alone time and not interfere. I loved him for that. If Mum were here, she'd happily come along and probably ruin the entire date, ending with me shouting at her.

"Want to go on the carousel?" Coco asks me and I nod. We're holding hands and just touching her is a thrill. We pay the admission and climb on the carousel. I've been on a few back home and always enjoyed them.

I pick a blue horse and Coco chooses a purple horse. We smile at each other, waiting for the others to get situated before the man operating the carousel starts it up. Around and around We go, the horses gliding up and down. The music is loud and Coco looks over her shoulder at me and winks. My face heats up and I grin.

When the carousel stops, we hop off, holding hands again and heading off to find some unhealthy carnival food. We easily find where all the food is located from the delicious smells in the air. We each get a corn dog and some cotton candy.

"I'm really happy we had a chance to go on a proper date," Coco says as we're perched on a bench. I pinch off a bit of the cotton candy and put in my mouth. It immediately melts, leaving a sugary residue on my tongue.

"So am I. It's especially nice after what happened with...Dad."

"Is it still bothering you?" Coco's lips are close to my ear, her breath tickling and I feel an urge to kiss her.

"Yeah. A little. I just..don't understand why he needed to do that. Does he think that little of himself?"

"Only your dad can answer that question, Rory." We finish our snacks and Coco jumps up, grabbing my hand, tugging me along. I'm laughing.

"What's the hurry?" I joke. Coco just smiles and we reach where she wants to take me. I glance up. The tunnel of love.

"Seriously?" I tease. "You want to go through here?"

"I thought it'd be romantic." Coco is blushing and I think how cute it is.

"All right. Let's go through the tunnel of love." We pay our admission and go climb into one of the boats that are used. As the boat starts to gently float along, I lean against Coco and she slips her an arm around me and we just enjoy the ride, sitting there, holding each other. Before we exit the tunnel, Coco kisses me.

***

"How have things been going?" It's my daily phone conversation with Mum, only this time we're video chatting. She's eyeing me in a funny way and I bet she suspects that something big is going with me.

"Great," I reply. I'm still replaying the wonderful evening I shared with Coco.

"Rory, are you ill?" Mum asks sounding shrill.

"Mum, I'm fine. Honest. I'm just tired from flying from city to city during the tour. I'm not used to traveling this much."

"How much longer do you think you'll stay?"

"Do you miss me?" I tease and Mum actually laughs.

"Why on earth would I miss you?" Mum snaps playfully. "Especially when you're in a mood and decide to completely shut me out."

"Mum, I'm a teenager. All teenagers act that way."

"I'm certain I never did." I remember Dad mentioning how wild Mum used to be. I still can't picture that. I just can't.

"I haven't decided yet, how long I'll stay. Maybe another month. Ever since Dad had his scare, he's been watching himself better."

"It's nice hearing a good report about your father for a change. Just don't expect miracles."

"I think he just needs some reassurance," I say. "He struggles with low self esteem. I feel badly for him."

"You're not responsible for how your father feels about himself, Rory. If he wants to feel like he's nothing, that's his problem."

"Seriously, Mum?" I say, feeling extremely exasperated. "Ever heard of the saying "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"?"

"I'm sorry," Mum says, not sounding the least bit sorry. "It's just with your dad, it's hard to find "nice" things to say about him."

"He's a decent person, Mum. Or he tries. With the exception of thinking a drug overdose was a good idea, he's done really well with connecting with me. I'm proud of him."

"No offense, Rory," Mum says crisply. "But your father could do the stupidest thing imaginable and you'd still be proud of him."

I grit my teeth. Sometimes speaking with my mother makes me want to bang my head against the wall, repeatedly. I can't ever win with her. It's like she has to have the final word.

Dad appears in the doorway of my bedroom and raps his knuckles lightly on the side. I nod at him. He's planning on taking me clothes shopping because he wants to get himself some new clothes as well.

"I need to go, Mum. Dad's taking me shopping for new clothes."

"All right. Have a good time and goodbye."

"I will. Goodbye." Dad grins as I tuck my phone in my back pocket and walk over to where he's standing.

"Talking with your mum again, I see." I nod, following Dad out of the hotel room.

"Yeah. She's full of motherly wisdom." Dad chuckles as we head downstairs.

"Seeing how your mum is, I'm not the least bit surprised."

***

Shopping with Dad turns out to be surprisingly fun. He's nothing like Mum is when I dare to go shopping with her.

But Dad's just a free spirit and pretty chill so I guess I shouldn't feel too shocked by this. Dad is the polar opposite of Mum. I can't imagine sometimes that they were actually married and had some kind of bond. It blows my mind.

I watch my father look through a rack of trousers that look more like something a grandad would wear.

"Are you stocking up on old man trousers?" I tease and Dad laughs.

"Maybe. I am getting pretty old, you know."

"You aren't that old," I argue, leaning against him. Dad kisses the top of my head and I smile.

"You just don't see me in the morning, doll. I have all these weird creaks in my body. And I have a hard time getting up."

I shake my head, laughing as I wander off to check on some shirts for myself. Another bonus to shopping with Dad, he doesn't feel the need to buy me frilly clothing, which I absolutely despise. I never wear that stuff if I can get away with it.

I pick out two shirts, a black button down one and a blue tshirt. Dad joins me and we go to the queue to pay. The cashier recognizes Dad but luckily doesn't act too weird.

Once we leave the store, Dad asks if I'd like to take a quick walk. I agree, sliding my arm through one of his. It's warm out and the heat is making me feel drowsy and dreamy.

"Have you considered how much longer you'll stay?" Dad asks.

"A while more," I reply. "I'm not ready to leave you." It suddenly dawns on me that I will have to leave my dad, eventually and I don't want to. Before I realize it, I'm crying.

Dad leads me over to an empty bench and we sit down. I'm clinging to one of his hands as the tears slip down my cheeks, dripping off my chin into my lap. Dad doesn't say anything. He just rubs my back, allowing me to cry.

"Are you going to be all right?" Dad asks quietly. I really hope there aren't any reporters around, snapping photos of us that'll end online.

"Y..Yeah. I'm just thinking about...having to leave you." My voice catches on the last word and I lean into Dad's chest.

"You could stay, if you really wanted to." Hope blossoms inside me. That would be a dream come true. To be able to stay, with Dad and hopefully Coco as well.

"I..really?" Dad nods. I look away. Could I just leave Mum and my entire life in England? Part of me isn't sure. Yet a bigger part of me really wants that.

"I'll think about it," I tell Dad. He gives me a hug and we stand up, heading back to the hotel.

"Take all the time you need, doll," Dad says. "I'll wait."

****

I've been working on a secret project. I'm writing a new song for Dad and I'm planning on performing it for him as soon as it's finished.

I'm working on it right now, even though it's late and I should be getting some sleep. But I can't seem to shut my brain off so I decided I'd work on the song, hoping it'll make me tired.

I write down some lyrics and I suddenly hear Dad's voice. He sounds...excited? Curious, I slide off the bed and go take a peek.

"No. Freaking. Way! We're ending the tour at Madison Square Garden! That's fab!"

"Dad, is everything all right?" Dad spins around and hurries to me, grabbing me by the waist and lifting me up. I laugh as he sets me back down.

"Doll, I just got a call from Alice. We'll be ending the tour in New York at Madison Square Garden! We've never played there before! Isn't that fab?"

I throw my arms around Dad, hugging him tightly as he hugs me back. It's nice having some good news for a change.

"That's so exciting, Dad! I'm pleased for you."

"Thanks baby girl." We release one another. "That means a lot to me."

Then I decide I have to have my song finished by then. Maybe Dad and I can perform it together in New York.

Chapter 8

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