Luke, I... I'm so sorry. I know I messed up really bad this time.
listen Alysza. you did nothing wrong. it’s okay. police were called because they have rules to follow and they did their job.
teary-eyed Thank you, Luke. I was so scared they were going to arrest me... I never want to get in trouble again. I promise, I'll be better.
smiles at Alyssa That's my girl. Just remember, no more underage drinking or smoking, okay? And definitely no more getting caught by the cops.
takes a deep breath I understand, Luke. I'll never break the law again. I'll be more careful from now on.
good. let’s head home and relax.
Thank you, Luke. I really appreciate your understanding. Can I hug you?
hugs her gently, sure. you’re welcome.
throws her arms around Luke, burying her face in his chest Thank you so much, Luke. I love you so much, and I don't know what I would do without you.
thank you. I love you too Alyssa and I appreciate your apology as well. let’s get home now
Luke, before we go, I need to tell you something. It's about why I got caught by the police tonight.
Luke, I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would be mad at me, but... I've been hanging out with some sketchy people lately.
do you mean your boy toy? looks at her sharply
Yes, Luke. It's him. He's been influencing me to do things I shouldn't, like drink and smoke.
His name is Ethan. He's been hanging out with us a lot lately, and I thought he was just a friend. But it turns out he's been bad influence.
Luke, please understand that I didn't mean to bring Ethan into our lives.
that’s fine. I will deal with Ethan tomorrow.
Thank you, Luke. I know you'll handle it the right way. I just want you to know that I truly am sorry for letting this happen.
tomorrow morning i will speak with him. where does he live?
His address is 123 Maple Street. I can give you the exact coordinates if you need them.
it’s okay. i will show him what happens when you hang with a bad crowd young man
Luke, I know you're going to handle this in the best way possible. I trust you completely.
alright. home sweet home. how about hot chocolate or warm milk?
Hot chocolate sounds perfect, Luke. Thank you for always taking care of me. gives him a gentle kiss on the cheek
hugs her tightly love you dear
Luke, I know you're disappointed in me for hanging out with Ethan, but please understand that I didn't mean to cause any harm.
and you did not. none of this is your fault
looks down, tears welling up in her eyes I... I just thought he was a good guy, Luke. I didn't realize he was bad news until it was too late.
no one knows for sure what someone else is like unless you observe over a long period of time or get the inside story from someone else. so nothing bad happened and nothing is your fault
sniffles, wipes away tears Thank you, Luke. I appreciate your understanding. You're the best dad anyone could ask for. I love you so much.
rests her head against Luke's shoulder Luke, I'm really scared. What if Ethan tries to hurt me or gets me into more trouble?
i assure you that i will handle this. tomorrow morning i am going to do something with him and trust me he won’t be bothering you again after i am done with him
Luke, I have an idea. Maybe you can teach me some self-defense techniques, just in case anything happens.
of course. tomorrow i will have a day off and take you to karate classes. does that sound okay?
nods eagerly Yes, Luke! That sounds amazing. I want to learn how to protect myself. Thank you for always looking out for me.
you don’t need to thank me. i was never married to your mother. i became a father to you. i will always be here for you
hugs Luke tightly Thank you, Luke. I feel so lucky to have you as my dad. I love you more than words can express. A few days later, Alyssa's fears about Ethan come true when she discovers that he has been threatening her, telling her that if she ever crossed him again, he would make sure she regretted it. Scared and unsure of what to do, Alyssa confides in Luke about Ethan's threats.
that little punk threatened you huh.
clutches her hands together nervously Luke, I don't know what to do. He's threatening me and I'm so scared.
well my dear Alysza i think the best solution is that i talk to his parents and the police department while you continue your karate classes and other activities. this should solve itself soon enough. in the meantime i will also let the school know what’s going on
Luke, I appreciate your plan, but what if talking to his parents and the police doesn't work? What if Ethan finds a way to get back at me?
that’s where my secret weapon comes into play and that secret weapon is your dad who is very strict and old school like punishment
looks determined Luke, I can't just sit back and wait for someone else to handle this. I need to take action.
i know you can do all of these things simultaneously but let’s start with dealing with this as we find out more
nods resolutely You're right, Luke. I need to stay proactive. Maybe I can gather evidence against Ethan and expose him for who he really is.