Can You Help Me?

AJ frowned for a split second as he told her to keep her mouth in check, but a grin followed as she realized that he wasn’t being completely serious. His mood seemed to brighten up, she noticed happily. The man regained his composure quick. Good, he’d need that ability, she thought, trying not to snort with laughter. It was probably wrong to find this so amusing, but the girl couldn’t help it. This day was going to be interesting and she looked forward to it in a way. She knew it wouldn’t take him long to figure out who her dad was. Hell, the eyes were a dead give away. She had been joking with her mom about a year ago about how much they looked alike. “’Cept the eyes, I got jipped on that one.” she frowned. AJ loved her mother’s eyes, but instead had these boring brown ones. Her mother had looked at her and AJ knew that it was the first time she had noticed her daughter’s eyes, and really noticed them. “You’re eyes are beautiful, don’t you ever think otherwise.” her mom had told her, cupping her face and speaking seriously, tears in her eyes, before abruptly exiting the room and leaving AJ confused. After finding the wrinkled picture in the shoe box under the bed, AJ had smiled. Puzzle solved.

Falling back into the seat, AJ caught the panic that spread across Dillion’s face for a brief moment. “And here it comes ..” she thought. “Is your mother here?”

AJ sighed, looking like the bird that ate the canary.

“Um…not exactly.” she said, biting her lip and hoping to look sweet and innocent. That always made it easier to get away with things. “Actually, she doesn’t know I’m here…” she said slowly. This fact obviously didn’t bother her much, she was just afraid of his reaction, really. One hurdle done. Well, she was more like in midair above the hurdle, her half completed, it was just his response she was waiting on now. However, she guessed that he would be mad. To say the least. It was the appropriate response, after all. “Now, before you go all crazy…” she interrupted before he could speak, “I really need to see you, ‘cause you’re the only one who can help so hear me out before you chew me out.” she frowned, sitting up in her chair.