"I was gone for weeks, I haven't slept enough and I am very hungry. This is just my mind playing tricks on me," Dad whispered to himself. "There is definitely not eight boys in my house."

The boys were all on the stairs, staring at my dad then me.

I was pretty sure I would collapse at any moment. "Dad," I said. Then when the fact that eight dudes were in his house sunk in his head, his eyes widened. "What is going on?" he said then slowly looked at me.

"I... I..." I tried to explain but the words wouldn't come out. "What?" I gave up.

"So I assume you not freaking out is that you already know about this," Dad sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alyssa Heart, please tell me why you have them over?" he said calmly, though the look on his eyes had said something else.

"Uhm... I- I invited them over to w-watch a mov- movie with me," I stammered, looking down. I couldn't look at my dad eye to eye. His face started turning red, he let out a sigh and started tapping his foot against the floor.

He was trying to let himself cool. He looked up at the boys, most specifically at Marcus. "What..." Dad let out an audible breath. "Are you doing here, Sawyer?" he shoved his hands in his pockets.

Marcus cleared his throat and ran his fingers through his hair,"I came to watch a movie--"

"No, no, no," Dad interuppted letting out a fake chuckle. "What are you doing here? With my daughter? In my house?"

"You see, Sir. Your daughter and I... are..." Marcus said, his voice a little bit shaky.

"You and my daughter are what?" Dad interuppted once again.

"We're sorta, kind of... together," Marcus said slowly, slightly whispering.

"What?" my dad said. "I don't understand."

"We're dating, Sir. We have been together for a while," Marcus said and my dad slowly nodded then looked down. He took a beer from the couch and opened it after taking off his jacket.

He took a huge gulp and I sadly looked at him, biting my bottom lip. I noticed my whole body was trembling in fear because of dad.

"Hey, my beer..." Cameron murmured and Ian shushed him.

"Let me tell you this, Sawyer," Dad said and looked at Marcus. "I don't want to go to jail. At all. So let me just think that what I heard wasn't true."

"It's tr--" Marcus said and Dad shot him a glare.

If looks could kill.

Dad looked at the boys,"And... what are you guys doing here? To watch movies, yes, but what are you doing here? With my daughter."

The boys looked at eachother, somehow scared to answer. "Well?" Dad said impatiently.

"We are close friends with your daughter, Sir," Ian replied, his voice also a little bit shaky. He ran his fingers through his hair which fell back to cover his left eye.

Dad nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. He chuckled,"It's..." he had struggled to speak as well. He just couldn't believe this. "It's hard to believe that your own daughter who you thought was innocent is dating a fucking criminal and is friends with a gang!" his voice rose. "Really, Alyssa! Really?" he shouted.

I flinched and looked down, away from my father's heavy gaze. "I'm gone for a few weeks and you invite guys to my house? Not to mention, they are criminals!"

A tear ran down my cheek as my face started to heat up. "And what did I hear, that you are dating one of them? Marcus Sawyer, mhm? Are you?" he shouted. "Are you?"

I nodded, more tears falling freely from my eyes.

Dad's eyes widened,"He's been to jail. He's dealt with drugs. He's slept with countless girls. You pick him?" I wiped my tears away and sniffed. I looked at Marcus who was staring at me sadly.

"I didn't want you dating at the first place but now this? He's going to play you like the others and when he breaks your heart, what are you going to do?" Dad exclaimed.

"I'm not going to play her," Marcus spoke and Dad paused and looked at Marcus. "I love her. I would never do that."

"Bullshit! Do you even know what love is? You heartless manwhore!" Dad shouted.

"Don't call him that," I whispered, my voice raspy and shaky.

"He is going to try and get into your pants and the next thing you know, he is gone!" Dad said.

"He wouldn't," I stammered.

"Yeah? Really? How do you fucking know? He has done it numerous times and he will do it again. What makes you think that he is going to stop all his ways because of you? Huh?" Dad shouted.

I was silent. If I told him that Marcus had already gotten in my pants, he would kill both of us. I used my hoodie sleeves to wipe my tears away.

I heard footsteps come towards me and arms wrap around me. It was Marcus. I didn't hug him back though.

"Step away from my daughter," my dad said slowly to Marcus. Marcus didn't do so, he was still hugging me.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Step the fuck away," Dad shouted and pulled Marcus away from me.

"What is your fucking problem?" Marcus said calmly.

"What is my problem?" Dad chuckled. "What is my problem! The fact that you are with my daughter, under my roof, is my problem. The fact that you brought your gang here is my problem. Marcus Sawyer, you have caused enough damage everywhere. I don't want you doing the same thing here."

Marcus said nothing, staring at my dad. They were both glaring at eachother. Dad was an inch shorter than Marcus in height. Dad got closer to Marcus, until there was little space between them. "I want you to stay away from my daughter and go to some other dumbass you decides to date you. I don't want you anywhere near my daughter or there will be hell to pay."

I stared at them in shock. My body was still though my heart was pounding hard.

"I'm sorry but I can't do that," Marcus said and quirked his eyebrow.

"Excuse me?" my dad gritted his teeth.

"You heard me, sir. I could not leave her even if you wanted me to. I love her," Marcus said.

"No, no. You are not listening to me clearly, I want you to stay away from my daughter," Dad said sternly.

"I heard you, Mr. Heart and I'm saying I am not going to do that," Marcus said.

"Alyssa," Dad turned to me after glaring at Marcus. "If I find out you were around him, you spoke to him or so even as look at him... you will regret it," Dad said seriously.

"Though, I will be around her, I will speak to her and I will look at her," Marcus said. "Stare... I mean."

"Dad, can't we just talk?" I begged.

"What is there to talk about? I have criminals in my house and my daughter is dating one. What... tell me... what in the hell is there to talk about?" Dad shouted.

I had almost forgotten about the boys, they were still sitting by the stairs.

"And they are wearing unicorn onesies. If you guys are criminals, you might as well act like one's," Dad backed away from them and gulped his beer. "I want you all out of my house, except Alyssa and Sawyer."

The boys stood up and Dad opened the door for them.

"I hope you liked my cake, Mr. Heart," Xavier murmured as he walked past my Dad. He glared at the boys as they walked out the house.

"Bye Marlyssa," the boys said in unison, purposefully. Marcus smirked and looked down.

I nodded at them and Dad shut the door hard. "Marlyssa," he murmured to himself. "What the fuck."

Marcus stood next to me and intertwined my trembling hand with his one and my hand stopped shaking.

Dad saw this and rolled his eyes, "That's the last thing I want to see right now."

"If I were you, I'd get used to it," Marcus quirked his eyebrow.

"But luckily for me, I am not you. I wasn't arrested five times. I haven't delivered drugs to other people. And I haven't slept with countless ladies. Sawyer, you're in a gang. And my daughter is part of it," Dad said. "She might be in danger for all we know."

"She's not," Marcus lied. "And even if she was, I'd protect her. I'd put my life on risk for her."

"I don't care about you, Sawyer! I only care about Alyssa. She was innocent and sweet when I left this house. When I come back, I see eight men wearing unicorn onesies with you. Not to mention, that you are dating Marcus Sawyer," Dad said and sighed. "Just what I need. Just what I fucking need after a weeks of work."

I looked at Dad,"That's all you do," I said and he looked at me.

"What did you say?" Dad glared at me.

"Dad, you are always busy with work. Always. You come back home for a week or two then you leave," I said. "You've always been busy to even notice I wasn't happy about school. That I had a freaking bruise on my lip when I looked at you for a straight mintute. You were always too busy. But I get it... it's work," I said.

I looked at Marcus then back at Dad,"But why I need Marcus Sawyer in my life is because I love him. Very much. He was the first one to be with me when everyone was against me."

"What are you talking about, Alyssa?" Dad asked.

"Dad, I got bullied in school," I said hesitantly and he furrowed his eyebrows. I squeezed Marcus' hand tighter and sighed,"I got bullied everyday. Ever since the fifth grade. Everyone swore at me. Hated me for just basically doing nothing. Then it got physically, anyone who didn't like me punched me. Kicked me."

Dad was utterly shocked,"What?"

"That's why I stayed at aunt's. She also didn't know about it but she wouldn't ask me too much questions when I arrive home. I hated every moment in school but I still went... I don't know why but I went," I said. "Everyday, somehow, became worse and worse... until... I met Marcus."

Dad looked at Marcus, giving a once-over before looking back at me.

"Marcus helped me in front of everyone. He wasn't ashamed to be around me and made me smile. I didn't think that I would be in love with a guy I thought was an asshole," I said and Marcus chuckled. "We hung out and he bought me gifts for Valentine's Day. Everyone found out and asked if Marcus and I were dating. I said yes. And thus began our fake relationship as a couple. Trust me when I say this, I didn't mean to like this guy or anything."

Dad stared at me and Marcus, narrowing his eyes. "Is this true, Sawyer?"

"One hundred percent," he nodded and my dad eyed him before looking at me.

He sighed,"I'm sorry, sweet Heart. I didn't know... and I'm sorry about that." He hugged me and I hugged him back.

"I'm so sorry. For not being there, for not helping you. I'm sorry for everything," he said softly. "I love you, sweet Heart."

"I love you too, Dad," I said.

"I love you, Mr. Heart," Marcus said too.

"Fuck you, asswipe," My dad sneered and Marcus held his arms up in defence.

"I love you, Alyssa," Marcus said.

"Stuff you, asswipe," I joked and Marcus frowned though he knew I was joking.

"It seems I am not wanted here," Marcus said jokingly and walked to the front door. My dad turned to Marcus and when they met eyes, Dad nodded at him and Marcus smiled.

Finally.