chin up

danny bennett. 43. U.S. Marine father of three.

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“[..] Alright. Good night, Dad.”

“ Good night, babygirl. ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“[…] Maybe I’m not the soldier you think I am, Dad.”

“ [..] Speak to your mother about it. Her call. ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“I wouldn’t let that happen. I love Nancy, I wouldn’t ever let anything bad happen to her. Or to me. Or to Lance. He’s been my first friend. I’m not going to give him up because he’s struggling. Wasn’t it you who taught me not to leave a soldier behind? Lance has never done anything to put me in danger. Not once in my life did I feel unsafe when I was with him. He’s not like that. He wouldn’t lie or deceive. I was with him in Vermont. I came back safely. Nothing happened. And if we went to California and Vegas now, still nothing would. I know what choice he’d make, Dad. It’d be us.”

“ You’re speaking like a little girl, Bella. There’s a difference between giving up on or leaving someone behind and knowing when to look out for yourself. That phrase is based on trust. You leave no man behind so you can trust you won’t be left behind. Quid pro quo. And it is always considered a risk. It may not be worth the loss of others. A soldier knows that difference. As for Vermont, John and Marisol were with you. Another difference. Blinded as they are I trust they looked out for you. You can’t know that he won’t or isn’t lying to you. And that’s the danger. ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“No, Dad. You think you know Lance. He’s good person who’s made some dumb choices but that’s in the past. What about all the good things he has done? I know what you’re thinking but we are planning to look at the sights. I don’t even care so much about Vegas. We’ll only be staying there for two days. You know I always wanted to go to Cali and now there’s the opportunity to spend it with people I care about. Some of them, anyway.”

“ Right. I don’t like how quick you are to defend ‘some dumb choices’ that can endanger someone’s life, Bella. That can endanger you or your sister. Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on this house. I know you’re not at risk as much as Nancy, Bella, you’ve got your own strong set of morals. You would not put yourself in a stupid situation like that. But your sister might with the influence of a boy who gambles with his own life like that. And even you.. Dismissing it as dumb choices. Someone who nearly overdoses does not. Think. Straight. You don’t have the needed life experience yet to be able to judge the situation clearly, Bella, so I’m telling you. The problem is that these people are not only a risk to themselves. They lie and they deceive and you know why? To get more drugs. Are you absolutely certain what he would do if he had to make a choice between you or your sister and drugs? The fact that John and Marisol are pretending their son isn’t very sick is worrying but I also find it worrying that you’re pretending the same. ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“They aren’t, no. But Charlie’s going! Charlie Sullivan, you probably remember him from family gatherings at Jill’s and Tom’s. And Dani, Emma and Chelsea, you know them. Nancy’s friends.”

“ And you and Nancy are wanting to go to Vegas with them? To do what, see the sights? Bella. I do remember Charlie, of course, and I know Lance. You know exactly what kind of trip that is looking to be. ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“He’ll be there too, but we’re a group of twelve people altogether.”

“ Do I know these twelve people? Maddie, Felix. Are they going? ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“Nancy and I were planning a roadtrip to California and Vegas with some friends. We already brought the idea up to mom, but she said we should talk with you about it first.”

“ Ah. And am I right in assuming Lance.. is one of those friends? ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“I’m good, thank you. I actually do got something on my mind that I’d like to talk with you about.”

“ And so I thought. And what’s that? What can I still tell you that my smart girls haven’t already figured out for themselves? ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“We just watched some movies. How’re you doing, Dad?”

“ Movies. Yeah. Yeah, I’m doing okay, babygirl, thank you. How are you? ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“Can a girl not come by to see her father anymore to simply ask how he’s doing? Lance just dropped me off.”

“ You were with Lance. Your mom didn’t mention that. ”

[danny--bennett]

bella--bennett​:

“Pretty sure that was you, Dad. Can I take a seat?”

“ Please do. Did your mother put you up to this or how is it my pleasure? ”

[bella--bennett]

tuesday, 8:55 pm, in the bennetts master bedroom

“You should switch to reading books for a while, Dad. Your eyes will thank you in a few years.”

[danny--bennett]

“ Did you come here just to make smart comments? Who raised you, babygirl? ” 

[theliarsdaily]

[tobyquinns]

[danny--bennett]

clarissabennett‌:

“I don’t think I’d condone that if you did. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t blame her if she did. I’m a very sharing woman, but with my dates I draw the line. I’m positive the flowers and the note were reliably delivered to my dorm. To be safe, you can tell me what the note read. Just. In case it isn’t there.”

“ A real woman of principle. I’m very happy about that because I’d much rather take you on your date than.. Sharon? Is that her name? Blonde, cute face but maybe a little too small for her head? Just in case, huh? In case Sharon didn’t come through for me here. Well, for one, the note would’ve told you that I’d like to take you for dinner in the city tonight and that I’ll be expecting to pick you up at 7 o’clock, sharp. And it also might have mentioned that this is in no way a, well, fancy dinner, so comfortable clothes. Ones that might even make it possible for you to climb a little. ” 

[danny--bennett]

clarissabennett‌:

“Calling it a date sounds good to me. Do I get to know what you have planned?”

“ Well, should the flowers and that note still exist somewhere, then it would have sketched a pretty clear picture for me.. Gosh, now I’m just hoping there wasn’t a big misunderstanding with the girl I left them with. I’d definitely have to take her on your date if she’s all made up and waiting on me tonight. ”

[danny--bennett]

clarissabennett‌:

“Hello to you, too. Flowers.. and a note? I don’t think that message has reached me yet. Then again, I haven’t been in my dorm since 7am. I’ll have a look when I get upstairs. You planned a date?” 

“ A date. Or whatever else you’d want to call it, really, but I was kind of thinking of a date. ”