Previously:

"Candice, your father and i spoke today and..."

"And what?" Candice asked, bitterly.

"And he decided to let you stay with him for a month."

—————-

15: Change

'Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.'

-John F. Kennedy

"What? Really?" Candice asked, sitting up. 

"Yes, to see how things go. So pack some of your stuff because he's picking you up tomorrow." Her mother said.

"Wow. You sure can't wait to get rid of me." Candice said, but her face lit up, anyway. 

"It was to fit his schedule, genius." 

"Whatever. Don't disturb be me while i pack. Uh...oh, maybe Bryan could help me?" Candice suggested, mischievously.

"Just go and pack, Candice." Her mother snapped.

Candice smirked, and strutted to the stairs.

Samantha sighed and took a seat on the dining table.

"Hey..." Bryan began, joining her, "A-Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Samantha looks up at Bryan and blinked, "why?"

Bryan shrugged, "I just thought you two would rebuild your relationship."

"It already fell apart. I keep telling myself that she'll appreciate me when she's older..."

Bryan did a silent chuckle, "It always turns out that way."

Samantha sighed again, "I just don't want her to lose herself."

Bryan frowned, "What do you mean by that?"

Samantha slowly shook her head, "I don't know. I just don't know who she is anymore...She used to be so...caring and...more motivated." She sighed frustratingly, "I don't know..."

She still is, Bryan wanted to say. He's seen that side of her. Caring. When Bella hurt him and Candice was the only one there for him so that he didn't have to suffer the heartbreak alone.

"Anyway, sorry i'm babbling on. Candice will be away for a month so you can have a paid leave."

"Oh, no, there's really no need for that-"

"I think there is." Samantha replied. "You got hired for a...unusual job."

"And the pay makes up for it. You really don't have to pay me for a month off."

"Bryan, you've been an angel. So it'll just express my gratitude."

Bryan felt guilt seeping in a for second "Well, you can express it by mending your relationship with Candice."

Samantha laughed, "You really have grown on this girl, haven't you?"

"N-No, it's just that- families should be close." Bryan staggered.

"Alright. I'll try. But i'm still giving you a paid leave, young man. And that's final."

You're killing me with guilt, He said in his head.

"You look like you're not happy about Candice staying with her father." Bryan said, looking at Samantha carefully.

"No, no, i am. It's just that she'd rather be staying with her father instead of me." Her phone rang and she dig inside her purse to find it. "Samantha speaking." She said, in her professional tone. She sighed and rolled her eyes, putting her elbow on the table and rubbing her temples. "Ugh. Yes. That's right." She replied to the person on the other end of the line. "No, i told you the other day." She paused, "Two separate files, Jasmine, there are two separate files." She paused again, "Jesus..." She whispered to herself. Her head shot up, "You got it? Okay. Great, don't touch anything while i'm gone." She hung up and apologized to awkward Bryan. "My new assistant is giving me hell, and i'm already stressed enough as it is since Candice's school just called me."

Bryan suddenly payed attention, "What for?"

"Uh, well..." Samantha exhaled, as if she was exhausted, "They want her back at school as soon as possible. I told them she'll attend this week but..." She bit her lower lip and shook her head, "I know i can't make any promises. Matter of fact..." She mumbled on, "I have to call her father about that..." She took her phone.

Candice stomped down the stairs with a lollipop stick in her mouth. carrying a suitcase. She didn't pay any attention to the two of them as she sat on the floor, in front of the T.V. and folded her clothes.

"Hey, Marcus, it's me." Samantha looked up at Bryan, 'Excuse me,' She mouthed, and got up, walking over to the kitchen.

Bryan stood up too, putting his hands in his pockets and slowly walking over to Candice.

She looked up at him, "What do you think?" She asked, holding a shirt up to her torso, it was a shirt that said, 'Go Dallas Cowboys!' "My dad got this for me when i was 10." She explained.

"So...you're into football?"

"Was into football...was." She said, "But i'm sure my father'll appreciate it. I mean he always loved going to the games."

"You shouldn't try to impress your own father to feel a connection with him." Bryan said, crossing his arms.

Candice stared up at him, her long eyelashes blinking. She dropped her shoulders and looked down. "Well, maybe i should." She scoffed, "You're cranky. Is it because you won't get to see my pretty face for a month?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself. I'm actually happy for you." He said, clenching his jaw.

"I'm glad." He sighed melodramatically, "But it will be kinda lonely without you there..."

Her mother came back in the room.

"Now get out of my face, i'm packing." Candice rudely said, so that her mother heard.

Samantha sighed and gave Candice a warning glare. "Maybe staying with your father is a really good idea. It might sort of your attitude."

"Oh, stop it mother, it's one of my best qualities." She said sweetly, acting offended.

—

Next day

Candice dragged her suitcase to the front porch and stopped, as she watched her dad getting out of the car.

"Okay, Candice. Be good and do as your father says." Her mother said, behind her.

Candice sighed, "I'm not twelve, you know." She moaned. She looked behind her mother and smirked. "Bryan! How i'm going to miss you!" She cried and wrapped her small arms around him.

"Uh- yeah." Bryan said, his eyes darting to Ms Harrington, then back down at Candice. "Okay..." He mumbled awkwardly.

She finally let go and smiled sweetly at her mother.

"Well, give me a hug to." Her mother said, as Candice rolled her eyes but did anyway.

Candice's dad arrived on the porch and nodded at Ms Harrington. "Samantha." He greeted.

"Hello Marcus." Samantha said.

Marcus caught sight of Bryan and frowned, but nodded at him anyway. "Marcus, Candice's father." He introduced himself, holding his hand out.

Bryan forced himself to shake it, "Bryan. Her babysitter." He said, gritting his teeth.

Marcus frowned, "Babysitter?" He asked, looking at Samantha, then at Candice.

Candice shrugged innocently.

There was an awkward silence.

"Well, a lot has been going on since you were gone." Samantha explained.

"You really think a 16 year old needs a babysitter?" Marcus mumbled, to Samantha, as Bryan secretly held Candice's hand.

"He's not a babysitter- He's just...Look, a lot has been going on and i'm sure Candice will tell you all about it. Won't you?" Samantha looked at Candice as she and Bryan let go of each other's hands.

Candice nodded and cleared her throat.

Marcus looked at Bryan and sighed, shaking his head.

'What the hell is his problem?' Bryan thought.

"Come on, Candice." Marcus said.

Candice nodded and was about to grab her suitcase, but Bryan grabbed it first. "I'll help." He said.

"No, i'll do it." Marcus said, like Bryan was an inconvenience.

"No really. It's my pleasure." Bryan said, smiling at him, almost provokingly.

Candice rolled her eyes and hopped onto the passenger seat.

Bryan slammed down the trunk and smirked at Candice's dad.

He gave him a warning look and nodded to him, "Thanks." He mumbled, and got inside the car, next to Candice.

"Why is a mother hiring a freaking babysitter for you?" Candice's dad, asked.

"She's afraid i'll get into trouble again."

"Again?" Her dad repeated, "What do you mean?"

"I sneaked out of the house to go to some party...and i also tried to run away to avoid school."

Her dad sighed and shook his head keeping his eyes on the road. "You have to go back to school eventually, Candice. This cannot carry on."

"Did you just bring me all the way out here to scold me? Because i don't need that. Mum's been doing that enough. Taking her anger out on me because you've left." Candice said, bitterly.

"I...I didn't leave. We both decided to separate, Candice."

Candice swallowed hard and looked out the window, sinking in her seat. "Is there any chance things will work out between the two of you? It can go back to the way it was."

Her dad exhaled. "Let's not talk about this. Let's talk about you-"

"Why did you change your mind? Before you said i couldn't live with you. Now you're-"

"I had a tight schedule, Candice. But i was able to make space for you." He replied. "Besides, it's only for a month."

"You was able to make space for me? Please, don't let me get in the way of your precious job that you left your family for." Candice said, crossing her arms and looking straight ahead.

"Candice, i always have time for you, okay?"

Candice scoffed, "like anyone would believe that." She said, and that was that. She kept quiet during the whole car journey. When arrived, it was like she was in a whole new different state. The neighborhood was filled with green landscape and modernized and far more bigger versions of her house.

Candice gaped as they pulled over a long driveway, the led to a garage the size of 2 living rooms.

Candice took off the seat belt and opened the car door, and jumped off.

She walked over to the trunk and opened it, taking out her suitcase silently.

"Oh, come on, Candice."

"Come on what?" Candice asked, gritting her teeth.

"You can't stay mad at me."

"Oh really?Try me." She scoffed unbelievably at him, "I can't believe you're pretending to care."

"I do because you're my daughter and family comes first."

"Your job comes first." Candice stubbornly added in.

Her dad sighed, and slammed the car door.

"You've changed, Candice. You weren't the same sweet girl you used to be. What happened?" Her father asked, looking at her with concern in his eyes.

Candice kept quiet, crossing her arms and ignoring him.

"Fine. Stay mad at me. But sooner or later, you're going to realize that me and your mother will never-"

Candice dropped her suitcase and stormed out of the garage, back onto the driveway.

"Candice!" Her father shouted. But she didn't listen. Why would he try to say that? Why would he try to say that him and mum won't ever be together again? They're just going to give up? Fuck them, Candice hissed under her breath, Fuck love.

She gasped and screamed when a van abruptly stopped in front of her, and she fell on the floor and hit the hard ground, blacking out.

"Candice!" Her father called, running up to her.

The truck door opened a woman stepped out. "Oh my god! Marcus! I didn't know she was there-!"

Candice slowly opened her eyes, as she was faced with an off white ceiling.

"Yeah...she's going to be fine... Sorry, Samantha... Okay... Yep. Don't worry about it." She heard her father's voice.

She sat up and found a woman sitting on a white desk chair, her face in her one hand, as she looked as if she was texting on her phone.

Her father looked at Candice and walked over to her. "Candice, are you okay?" He asked her, but Candice's eyes were burning onto the back of the woman.

She pushed her dad's hands away, "I'm fine." She said, coldly. "What happened?" She asked.

"You were nearly hit by the van." Her father explained.

The woman turned around to Candice and stood up. She looked like she was in her early 20s. She had dark hair, pale skin and green eyes.

She reminded her of Bella.

"Hey." The woman said, awkwardly. "Sorry we had to meet this way... I'm Catt."

Candice frowned and looked at her dad.

"I'm your father's new assistant...but not for long, now."

Candice relaxed her shoulders. "I'm Candice. And thanks for not hitting me with that van." She said.

"Oh, don't thank me. Thank the blind maniac that was driving the damn thing." Catt sighed, "They were bringing in new furniture that Mr Jeffery ordered. Not to mention, they were late so i had to get them from the damn place..." Catt trailed on.

It felt so weird that Candice's dad had a different surname from her mother...since the divorce.

"I've spoken to your mother, and Catt," Her father turned to his assistant, "Nobody's getting fired. It wasn't your fault, so can you help Candice pack since she isn't really in the condition to do so."

"Yes sir." She said, nodding.

Candice's dad left the room, leaving her and Catt together.

Catt sighed and smiled at Candice, "Mr Jeffery never mentioned he had a daughter. I guess he never mentions his personal life."

"I wonder why." Candice said, bitterly.

Catt was confused at that comment, so she shrugged, "Everyone in the workplace is nervous and scared to mess up around Mr Jeffery. He can be a bit cold...and bossy."

Candice smiled tightly, "That's my dad."

"So you're the vice chairman's daughter..." Catt trailed off.

The vice chairman's daughter...I guess her father leaving did boost his career. Candice sighed, as she looked down, sadly.

"Did i say something wrong?"

Candice shook her head. "No." She said, as she luxuriated on the comfy king sized bed with clean, fresh, immaculate white sheets.

"Thank god what happened earlier didn't get me fired." Catt carried on, "This is my first... real job since i left college this year."

Candice snapped out of her relaxed state and sat up, then scooting to the edge of the bed. The bed's mattress was so thick and high that her foot didn't even reach the floor. She jumped off the bed and grabbed her suitcase. "Working for my dad. Must be a pain." Candice murmured, opening the suitcase.

Catt joined her, "Surprisingly. Not really."

After they finished packing all of her things Candice asked Catt where dad was.

"He's probably in his office. I can take you to him if you want." Catt offered.

"Yes please." Candice said, and followed Catt outside the bedroom. They walked down the stairs across the marble floor.

Catt opened two double doors that lead to a bar area, and an office next door.

"Dad." Candice said, "I finished packing."

"Great. There's some school supplies in the living room. Get ready for school tomorrow-"

"What?" Candice exclaimed.

Her dad sighed and turned his chair to face her, "You're going back to school starting from tomorrow. As long as you're living under this roof, you are attending full time education-"

"Bullshit, i'm not going back there!"

"Oh, you're not going back to Lincoln High. You're attending a school in this town while you're staying here."