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Chapter 5: Dad, I'm in Love!

I hopped off the bus, and ran inside. I wondered what I was to do with this new feeling. "Dad!" I yelled as I rushed into his room. He was sleeping again.
"Agh! What is it this time, Tarrant?" he asked.
"I have to tell you something!" I exclaimed.
"Can't it wait 'til later? I'm really tired, dear. Just let me sleep another hour, okay?"
"Okay." I said. I walked off to my room. I couldn't stop smiling! I flopped down on my bed and squealed in excitement.
"Be quiet!" Dad yelled from his room. I wanted to tell someone, so I wrote in my journal about it.
"Dear Diary, I think I've finally fell in love! Her name is Ash, and she is beautiful. She's very nice to me, but no one else seems to like her. Even Alice is mad at me because I like Ash! I know I'm in love because I feel sick whenever she's around, but in a good way. I finally have my first crush at 14! How delightful! The only problem is Ash only likes me as a friend. But it's okay. I was probably never going to get a girlfriend anyway. All that matters is that I like a girl, so I know I'm normal. I'm so happy! Love, Tarrant Hightopp." I always sign my name in perfect cursive. I took calligraphy class for three years, and I practice every day. I think having small, feminine hands helps me write easier. I didn't want to have to wait another hour, so I took a nap. I had to first find my toy bunny. I cannot sleep without it. I've had it since I was a baby. Once I found it, I went to sleep. I dreamt in rainbow colors, like always. I woke up about an hour and a half later. I ran to Dad's room again. "Okay, Tarrant. What did you want to tell me?" he asked.
"Oh yes. It's really important. Well, to me anyway." I said.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I wanted to tell you...Dad, I'm in love!" I said.
"What?"
"I have a crush on someone!"
"Their name?" "Ash. Ashley."
"A girl? You like a girl?"
"Yup."
"Ooh, I'm so glad! I was so worried!"
"You're not mad?"
"No, it's a good thing! Why would I be mad?"
"Well, I'm only 14. Is that too young?"
"No, it's too old." I got really worried when he said that.
"Oh no! Is that bad?" I asked. I thought that maybe there was something wrong with me.
"No, no, it's okay! You just didn't find anyone you liked until now! Don't worry about it." he said.
"Okay." I said. He hugged me. "I mean, you did learn to walk when you were 1. And you did learn to talk when you were 1 and a half. And when you were 3, you stopped sucking on a pacifier. Then when you were 4, you stopped sucking your thumb. You still haven't grown out of that baby toy!" he said.
"Dad!" I yelled. I backed away.
"What? I'm just saying that you like to do things a little later than expected. You were born a week late..."
"And I'll probably be married by the time I'm 20, or even younger!" I said. When I grow up, I want to get married and be a hatter, or a designer. I don't know if I want to have kids. They seem troublesome. Especially if they're anything like me. I cause so much trouble for my dad; I think that's why he's been sleeping a lot lately. He must be exhausted from looking after me all the time! I thought about what he'd said. Maybe it is weird how I reach achievements way later than everyone else. Most boys in my grade have already had crushes when they were 10 or younger. Maybe I should've already had my first kiss. I went to the bathroom to deal with either happy tears or sad sobs. I opened the medicine cabinet for an Aspirin because I had a headache after crying. "A week late. Who cares? I turned out fine!" I told myself. I gasped as I noticed a box of black hair dye in the cabinet. I love my hair just the way it is! I don't care if everyone else in the whole world thinks it's ugly. I like it. It's one of the few things I like about myself. Why does Dad want to change it?