The Lie Behind Her Eyes

Hailey stood in front of the mirror trying to cover up the black eye Cooper gave her. He'd been hitting her for months, but Hailey was convinced he loved her.

Mike knocked on his daughter's bed room door. "Hailey baby, dinner is ready."

"Hailey breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't come in and pulled on her sweater to hide Cooper's fingerprints on her neck. "Be right there daddy," Hailey drawled softly.

"Can I come in?" Mike hadn't wanted to barge in on his baby just in case she was doing some girly thing he knew nothing about.

"Hailey pulled her hair out of the sweater. "Go ahead," Hailey said, putting the makeup away.

Mike came in and smiled at his daughter. "Hey sweet heart." He sat on her bed after he pecked her cheek. She had been holed up in her room so much lately and Mike didn't like it. "What have you been doing baby?"

"Just practicing for my next audition daddy," Hailey said. "You know how much it means to me."

"You don't need any help?" Mike wanted to spend more time with his baby.

"I don't wanna bother you," Hailey said. "It's a musical, you wouldn't like it."

"I happen to like musical's." Which he didn't but he would do anything to spend time with his baby.

"still......" Hailey said. "It's kinda hard to practice with you when you don't know anything about it......"

Mike sighed. "Hailey baby, you can tell e about it." he frowned. "You never spend any time with me any more."

Hailey sighed. "I'm sorry daddy," she said. She walked over and hugged Mike.

"And how come you don't spend anytime with me anymore? I know im not as fun as that boyfriend of yours but I am your daddy."

Hailey sighed. "Cooper just doesn't like to share me," she laughed humorlessly.

Mike frowned. "Im sorry but I don't give a damn about what he wants, I want some time with my baby."

Hailey slowly nodded. She knew what Cooper would do if she ignored him.

Mike didn't like this new boyfriend. Every since she had been with him she had been so distant and he did not like it one bit.

"We'd better get to dinner before Dad comes looking for us," Hailey chuckled.

Mike hummed and got up, going into the kitchen and sitting down. He didn't know what to do.

Jeff raised an eyebrow when his daughter came into the room. "What you wearin' a sweater in the house for Hales?" Jeff asked. "I'm just cold Dad, you know I get cold easy," she lied.

"Its hot it here." Mike pointed out, eying his baby suspiciously. He wondered what Jeff thought.

"You know how cold I can get," Hailey said. "Would you rather me be in pain cause I'm cold?"

Mike blinked and turned his head. He didn't know why but that had stung a bit.

Jeff's eyes narrowed. "Watch your tone young lady," Jeff said sternly. Hailey looked down. "Sorry daddy...."