Huffing Eric stormed past them back into the building, the boys following him.

“Well, you’ve got timing kid, I’ll give you that!” Alice said laughing at the events of the evening.

“You ok Tina?” Dana asked

“Yeah Dane, I’m good.” I responded smiling, “Listen, I’m going to head home, don’t feel like getting the death stare all night, plus I’m sure this has somehow already reached mom.”

“You want us to come with?” Al asked

“No, I’m good. You two go back in and enjoy the rest of the dance. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I said, pulling them both in for a group hug. “Now, go, go!” I said shooing them back towards the doors.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Floating high on dumping Eric, I barely noticed the walk home. Walking through the door I was greeted by my parents, dad was reading his paper, whilst mom was engrossed in her latest romance drama on the television. Noticing my arrival home earlier than expected pulled both their attentions away from their tasks.

“Christina, why are you home so early?” mom questioned as she leapt up from the sofa, looking me over for any signs of trouble

“Nothing mom, just fed up and wanted to come home.”

“Don’t be silly child, no one gets bored at their winter formal, and what of poor Eric, you can’t just leave him there!”

“What’s the problem?” asked dad as he finally engaged in the conversation “Are you ok Christina? Did he hurt you?”

“God no dad, nothing like that. I was just bored and wanted to come home early,” I responded, exasperated with the conversation

“Is that all?” he asked turning to face mom “what’s the big deal?”

“All? Big deal?” mom stuttered a response clearly in disbelief that neither of us understood her point of view.  Giving up on her argument, she huffed and returned to her drama.

“You really ok kiddo? Dad asked.

Shocked at the sincerity behind his question and still riding the wave of emotion from this evening, I hugged my dad, for the first time in what felt like years, I felt connected to someone in my family.