Part 15 (1/2)
”No, I won't,” she said between sniffles.
Tia got out of the car quickly and rushed up the walkway. ”I've got to change clothes and get to work,” she said.
”Ma . . . ,” Serenity followed after her.
”It's almost two o'clock,” Tia said hurrying past a sleeping Lorenzo on the couch. ”Messing around with you and that audition's gonna make me late.”
Serenity stood in the middle of the foyer watching her father sleep.
A few minutes later, Tia came skipping back down the stairs and whizzed past her. ”I left twenty dollars on the counter,” she said. ”You can order a pizza for dinner if your daddy don't cook nothing.”
Before Serenity could reply, Tia had shut the door.
Serenity went over to the couch and shook Lorenzo's shoulder. ”Daddy,” she said. ”Daddy, wake up!”
Lorenzo raised his hand to his face and opened his eyes briefly. ”What?”
”Daddy, I didn't . . .”
He rubbed his nose, and turned to his other side.
”. . . make it,” Serenity said to his back.
She stood over him listening to him snore. Today had been the worst day ever, she thought. The one thing she'd hoped wouldn't happen during her audition had happened. She tiptoed into the den and turned on the computer. She immediately went to the chat room and signed in. Moments later a message from Saucer appeared.
iluvhotgurlz13: wat happened?
Serenity2cute_13: wen?
iluvhotgurlz13: last time we talked
Serenity2cute_13: my dad came in
iluvhotgurlz13: oh snap
Serenity2cute_13: i kno
iluvhotgurlz13: where u at?
Serenity2cute_13: home
iluvhotgurlz13: where ur pops at?
Serenity tilted her head to the side and listened intently until she heard the rea.s.suring sound of Lorenzo snorting as he inhaled.
Serenity2cute_13: sleep iluvhotgurlz13: still wanna meet?
Serenity2cute_13: where?
iluvhotgurlz13: in front of that restaurant i told u about Serenity2cute_13: which one?
iluvhotgurlz13: neds Serenity looked over her shoulder.
Serenity2cute_13: neds?
iluvhotgurlz13: yup
Serenity2cute_13: when?
iluvhotgurlz13: 2:30
Serenity2cute_13: ok, g2g
iluvhotgurlz13: don't be late