Jessica tossed, and turned that night unable to get her conversation with Stacey out of her mind. She wasn't suprised when Stacey didn't return her phone call as she said she would. The thought of loosing her saddened her to the point where she found herself crying. Stacey was the only friend she had, and now she would be left lonley again...all because of her family.

Jessica was thankful it was a Saturday, and she wouldn't have to worry about running into Stacey in school. She figured it would be akward, and uncomfortable for the both of them.

"Breakfast!" She heard her mother yell from downstairs.

Jessica dragged her feet as she headed downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. She didn't want to even sit at the same table as her mother, and she prayed to God her mother wouldn't attempt to have a conversation with her.

Jessica froze upon entering the kitchen, her worst fears were confirmed as she looked at her father who sat at the table reading a newspaper.

"I'm suprised he can even read." Erica mumbled as she walked pass Jessica, and sat at the table.

Jessica didn't anticpate seeing him so soon, she fgured she would atleast have a few days before his arrival. She needed to mentally prepare herself to deal with him, and clearly she wasn't ready.

"Well don't just stand there have a seat!" Her mother said sitting down next to Jake. "I made your favorite...blueberry pancakes!"

Jessica had never seen her mother so happy. She couldn't stop smiling as she stuffed her mouth with her famous blueberry pancakes. She wondered had her mother made those pancakes as a guilt gift for Jessica.

Jessica took her seat, and tried her best to avoid eye contact with Jake. She could feel his eyes on her, so she kept her head lowered as she ate her pancakes quietly.

"How'd you sleep?" He asked after taking a sip of his coffee.

"Fine." Jessica mumbled.

"So I figured maybe you and I could hang out today." He said sending chills through Jessica's body.

She wanted to scream no, and run out of the room but she knew she couldn't do that. 'He's the reason Stacey doesn't want to be my friend' She thought as she looked up at his smiling face.

"No thanks." Jessica finally responded.

The kitchen grew eerie silent, and she felt heat rays coming from her mother's eyes.

"What's your problem?" Mother asked. "He's really trying here and your not giving him a chance!"

Jessica couldn't believe that her mother was trying to make her feel guilty for not wanting to hang out with her father. She didn't feel comfortable sitting at the table with this man, so doing anything else was out of the question.

'Don't give in' Jessica thought. She remembered the conversation she had the night before with Stacey, and immediatly grew angry.

"I don't want to hang out with him." Jessica said firmly.

"And why not?" Her mother asked looking confused.

'Does she really not have a clue?' Jessica wondered looking at her mother's baffled expression.

"It's okay baby." Jake said. "It's no rush, she"ll come around eventually."

"No I wont." Jessica heard herself say.

She watched Jake sit down the paper he had been reading, and give her a weird look.

"You do realize that I'm your father don't you? And I wont tolerate disrespect." He said leaning in closer towards the table.

Jessica's chest felt like it was tightening, and she new her anxiety was beginning to flair. 'Be strong' She thought as she gripped the fork tighter that she had been eating her pancakes with.

"Do you hear me talking to you girl?" He barked.

Jessica's head began to spin, and images of her childhood began to randomly pop in her head. She remembered how she felt when her father gave her away. She remembered how she felt when her mother didn't protect her.

She looked into her father's eyes, and felt rage building inside of her. 'Calm down' She tried to tell herself. Her hands began to tremble so bad that she dropped the fork she was holding onto her plate.

"You will never disrespect me!" He said pointing at her.

"**** you!" She yelled suprising herself.

She watched her father sit back in his chair, clearly suprised by her reaction.

"Jessica!" Her mother yelled.

"And **** you too!" Jessica yelled turning her attention towards her mother.

"What the hell has gotten into you?" Mother asked appearing confused.

Jessica tried to tame her rage, and think happy thoughts but it wasn't working. She had a strong desire to leap across the table and attack her father...maybe even kill him.

She threw her napkin on the table and headed upstairs to her room. She figured she had better leave the kitchen fearing what she would do next. She didn't feel like herself, and she needed to get away quickly.

She layed in her bed, and took several deep breaths. Her heart was pumping fast, and she felt as if she were going to explode.

She heard the all to familar tap on her door, and cringed.

"Jess are you okay?" Her mother asked walking into her room.

Jessica tucked both of her hands behind her head, and let out a sigh. Was her mother really oblivious to what was going on? Or did she just not care?

"I'm fine." Jessica answered.

"Well...I've never seen you act that way." Mother said. "Frankly it scared everyone. What's going on with you? Why are you having such a hard time adjusting to Jake?"

"Maybe because I hate him." Jessica answered honestly.

"He's a wonderful man Jess you just have to give him a chance." Mother said.

Jessica couldn't believe her mother actually thought that of her father. It was almost as if she was in denial.

"What makes you think he's a wonderful man?" Jessica asked.

"Well...he's off drugs now and he wants to make things right with all of us." Mother answered.

"Well count me out." Jessica said before rolling over on her side, and turning her back to her mother.