#rivervale_lodge

"Just helping you see that you've got a lot less to worry about than you might. I'm being helpful." Bright smile.

"HA! Helpful she says. You're busting my chops and I know it. Fine fine. I'll try to keep my nose out of the suggestion box. Happy?" a beat "How'd you do today? You like it?"

A pause. "Yeah. I'm good at it. And I found something out...the only reason I didn't get on A squad is because I haven't done cheer before, Some girls did it in middle school. Otherwise, I'd have been in. And I can get switched up if I learn stuff really quickly." Okay, so that's not exactly what she was told, but it's what she heard.

"Nice. " he says "Though I'm sure Luci appreciates you being there to help her out for now. You get there, you get there. I ain't gonna lie, some of the schoalrships you can get from cheerleading surprised me if this becomes a thing. I'll let your mother know that you've chosen cheerleading over HER old thing" he pulls up to the lodge

"Her old thing? What was her old thing?"

"Pole Dancing, of course." Straight faced, at least long enough to see if HER eyes twitch or bug out

Oh, they do indeed bug out, then she realizes she's been pranked. "DAAAD!"

"Serves you right, you're young, your heart can take it" that said, he smiles, opens the door for her "Go on , tell your mom about practice and stuff."

"Oh, you know what else I'm going to tell her about." She makes a teasing face at him, then says, "Thanks for the ride, Dad." She gets out and heads up the path quickly.

"I figured, love you, rugmonster" He smiles as she goes on. Yup. He's going to hear about this, but if it brings a little joy into his daughter's life, so be it. Sides, his wife can take a joke...

usually. He amends.

And his little girl is not quitting. That's a win! Even if he doesn't dare gloat about it. And even if she's going to freeze her damn knees off. He makes sure he's wife's jeep isn't a mess, clearing out extra trash from the floorboards, and then makes his way in too.

(End scene)