CHAPTER 3: THE ONLY OPTION FOR CELIA CELHART 

I woke up at 12 in the morning. I yawned. Remembering what happened before, I tried to go back to sleep. After a while, I gave up and got ready for absolutely nothing.

I went to the kitchen to see my mum eating breakfast. She looked at me and smiled. But she wasn't happy at all. Her eyes were tired. And her hair was messy. 

'Morning.' I said happily, trying my best to cheer up the gloomy atmosphere.

'Morning, Ce.' She said, trying her best too.

'So Mum, you going work today?' I said making cereal for myself.

'Not really, There something I need to tell you.' She said. 

I frowned. Whats going to happen? Will she make me get a job or something? Wait, I can't. My grades are lower than the happiness level here.

'Whats up?' I said, sitting down with her at the table.

'About yesterday-'

'Listen Mum, Ive learned my lesson. I'm going to change. I did a lot of thinking last night and I made a decision too.'

'She was shocked by my reaction. 'But Darling-'

'I'm not lying Mum. When I say I'm going to do something, I will do it.' I said happily. 'I'm going to look for a school that will help me. And any school will do, I just want to get high grades and make you happy.'

She sighed. 'Darling, thats not possible.' She said tiredly.

'Why not?' I said confused. 'I understand that I have a massive history but Its not impossible, is it Mum? And you've always told me that anything is possible if I try and I will. Promise..'

Her face didn't change. It stayed the same. She looked down like she couldn't meet my eye. My smile went upside down. Something is wrong and shes not telling me.

'What is it, Mum?'

'Darling, Ive found you a school.' She said.

I smiled. 'Thats great!' But from her face, it seemed that it wasn't great at all.

'What is it?' I said.

'CeCe, remember I told you that you dad is a headmaster,' She said. I nodded.

'Well, I told your dad about what happened and he got you a place in his school.' She said.

'What?' I said, shocked. 'But dad lives in scotland.'

'I know.' She said. 'Look, schools these days will not let you in with even a bit of an history. To be honest, no school school will let you.'

'So, your saying, that I should got to Scotland.' I said slowly.

'Yes! And its only for a few months, till you get your grades up.'

I can't believe this. I am going to Scotland. To be with my dad. MY DAD? The guy who I haven't met for years. The guy who left my mum and started to see his career as his only importance. The guy who promised to come at christmas but never came. 

'No.' I said angrily.

'What?' My mum said. She was actually shocked. SHOCKED! She didn't even like my dad so why is she acting like I said I hated chocolate.

'Mum, what the hell? Your telling me to spend a few freaking months with a guy who doesn't even care to meet his only daughter.'

'Darling, hes changed.'

'And how do you know that? He might just want me because he feels sorry for me.'

'Look, when he was with us. He used to be in all kinds of mess. Drugs, gambling and his emotions were messed up. He did the right thing to leave because he was messed up and he didn't want to hurt us.'

'And your not mad at him?'

'Mad at him? He did us all a favour. If he was here, you would be twice as naughty as you already are.' She said. Her eyes were nearly in tears. 'And I didn't want my baby to get hurt.'

'I can't believe this! I am already hurt! He left me since I was 10, I don't even remember him much. Why the hell does he want me now?'

'Because hes ready. When he left me, he promised me that he will come back. And he has.'

'Actually, he hasn't. I have to come back to him because I'm the one moving to Scotland.'

'Sweetheart, hes changed. Hes like the other dads. He is a headmaster in a boarding school. Who ever thought of that? A druggie could be such a success.'

I nearly laughed. 'Your seriously thinking of taking me to Scotland.'

'Yes. You told me you would love to travel.' She said nudging me.

'Traveling isn't staying in one place for a long time.'

'Well its a start. Then you could get money and go all over the world. You should go France. I heard its great there.'

'Yeah, France is great. Them beguettes sounds awesome. OMG! Why have we changed the subject?'

'She shrugged. 'Please darling, it will be great there. You never know, you might have fun.'

'Mum-'

'Please, for me.' She said. 'Just a few months. Just have a little bit of bonding time with your dad.'

I sighed. 'Fine.' There was no point arguing. No option for me left. And maybe Mum is right, there is no other school otherwise she wouldn't have chosen this annoying option.

She happily hugged me. 'It means a lot to me, CeCe.'

'So when?' I said. 

'Any day you want. But sooner the better.'

'Okay.' I said. We went quiet for a second. And then I said something that shocked the both of us. 'What about tomorrow?'

Her eyes opened with amazement. But she didn't seem happy. 'CeCe, when I said sooner the better, I didn't mean-'

'I know I know. I just want to get over and done with this.' I said. But that wasn't really the reason. The real reason was because a part of me was excited. Excited to meet my dad. Yes, Ive never heard from him from a long time but I had a feeling that it was going to be great.'

'Okay then. Tomorrow I'll get you ticket and everything.'

'No, I mean get ticket today, and I will get there tomorrow.' I said. She bit her lip. Okay, I guess it was really freaky that I wanted to go so early. But I just did.

'CeCe, are you doing this because your mad at me?' She said.

I screamed. 'I HATE YOU SO MUCH! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!! FINE, I WILL GO. JUST TO GET ME OUT OF YOUR FREAKING WAY!' She looked startled. I smiled.

'Thats what I would have said if I was mad.' 

She laughed. 'Wow, you really scared me.' She said. I laughed too.

'I guess, I'm known as a good actor.' I said babbling about myself. We both burst into laughter. And then, we both stopped staring at eachother, both thinking the same thing. Wow, Its been ages since we laughed together. It felt really good. We were always far apart and the closest we got was when grandma died. But this, it was real. I was actually laughing with my mum. The same mum who didn't understand me, the same mum who taught i misbehaved for attention and the same mum who was sending me to Scotland.

Was I ready for a world of confusing accents and green clothes. Okay, thats not what Scotland is about but for some reason, its the only things I knew. But Scotland, its so...... different. And the school seems okay. If no one knows me there, I could make my own personality. Or just be by freaking self. 

So this dad who my mum says has 'changed.' Has he really? The last time I remember him was when he had a talk with me about how much he loves me. And that could only mean that he was just saying all that to me because he was leaving me. He didn't come once. He phoned but never talked to me. I was hurt. And why did I want to go here? To make my mum happy and to solve this thing with my dad. And even thought he hurt me so much, I still wanted to talk to him, hug him and tell him things. I just wanted to be with him. 

CHAPTER 4: A Hard Goodbye

'You got everything?' My mum said for the 6th time. I would have complained about her worrying but how could I when I'm worried myself. What if I made a bad decision? What if something bad happens? Just.. What If?

We were at the airport and this was my first time travelling alone. But that was the least of my worries. Will Mum be okay? My mum looked inside her bag and kept on looking at the time. We came half an hour early because Mum thought something might have happened in the way.

'Mum.' I said looking at her. She looked better now with her makeup and her blond hair tyed back. Since my dad left, I didn't understand why she didn't date. I mean, she was beautiful and even my maths teacher had a crush on her. And hes married. So I didn't understand. Its not like I couldn't tell her because I didn't know if I was ready for a new step or even just a guy living with us for a while. It just didn't seem right. Maybe thats how Mum felt.

'Yes CeCe.' She looked at me and then stopped fidgeting. She must have noticed the gloominess on my face because she came and sat next to me. 'Look, I know its a big thing. But look at it as a big to do list. Number 1, go on a plane on your own. Number 2, meet your dad. Number 3, fit into the school that you would do great at and Number 4, get your grades up. And you can leave the rest on me. Okay?' 

I smiled. It was hard to keep a straight face when this was the best heads up my mum could give me. But it did help. A to do list. Yeah, I'll do it. But that wasn't the think I was worrying about.

'Mum, forget about me. Will you be able to do okay on your own at home?' I said looking at her. She looked distanced for a while but she then smiled. 

'How can I be alone? I have lots of friends and they could come and have a sleepover at my house any time they want. No one is old enough for sleepovers.' She said to cheer me up. But it wasn't working. Me and my Mum never worked out but her just being there was a great comfort. But when I'm going to go to Scotland, how will I know?. 'But don't worry about me. Just don't pressure yourself. Have a bit of fun at times.'

I nodded. 

'Can the people who will be travelling to Scotland, please come to their gates. Thank you.' I heard the speaker blare out. We both looked at eachother. Well this is it. The first ever time I'm going on a plane. The first time I'm ever going to leave Mum. This is it.

'You'll do great, honey. Just remember to be nice to your dad. You may be a bit angry at him but not too much that you will make him end up in hospital.' Mum said half joking and half serious. I sighed. 

Don't forget to lock your door and make sure you don't let your friends in my room.' I said. I had to say something. Rules are something too. 'I may be gone for a while but I'll be back. And come visit sometimes and don't eat too much junk food or you will end up on The Biggest Loser.' She laughed and then I saw a tear fall down her cheek. Is she crying? I can't believe this. So much firsts in one day. She hugged me tight. Another first. I hugged her back, taking in a mummy smell that I could never work what it is. 

'Please can the people boarding to Scotland as soon as they can. Thank you.' I heard it again. 

'Bye Mum.' I said when she stopped hugging me. 'Take care.' 

'Bye Cece. Be careful.' She said and then that was it. I went to the gate. I could see her in the distance waving at me. I waved my back and smiled. Who would ever know? I miss my mum.