Chapter 15

I walked back into the family room to find my dad and Nick standing there.

"Ready?" my dad asked.

"Yep," I said as we headed out the door.

"Okay this time I'm driving," Nick said. "I don't think I can handle anymore of your driving, Train."

I looked at them strangely as Nick called my dad, Train.

Kevin smiled as he saw Lily's nose wrinkle in confusion.

"It's my nickname," he replied said.

"Yeah, we gave it to him cause your dad snores a lot and sounds like a Train," Nick said.

I busted out laughing as my dad hit Nick upside the head.

"I do not," my dad said.

"Fine, if that's what you believe," Nick said.

My dad glared at Nick.

"All right, all right. That's not why we call him Train. We gave him that nickname because he keeps us on track and organized," Nick said as we walked out to the car. "Throw me the keys."

"Fine," my dad said as he handed the keys to Nick.

Nick got into the driver's seat and I got into the back. Then my dad opened the door and sat next to me.

"You should have seen your dad rive over here. He was a wreck," Nick said as he backed out of the driveway.

"Really?" I asked.

"Oh yeah. Breaking the law left and right just to see you," Nick said as he drove off.

I smiled to myself as I thought about my dad actually being anxious to see me.

"Nickolas Gene Carter!" my dad said.

"Uh oh, you must be in trouble since he used your middle name," I said.

"Nah, not really. He does that to us all of the time," Nick said.

"Who's us?" I asked.

"Friends of mine, that you'll get to meet later," my dad explained.

"Yeah, and boy do we have stories to tell you about your dad," Nick said.

"Ugh!" my dad groaned.

"What kind of stories?" I asked curiously.

"Nothing really," replied my dad.

Nick just laughed. "All sorts of stories. Like how your dad was a ninja turtle."

"You had to bring up the Disney thing," my dad said.

I giggled. "You were a turtle?"

"Yes I was. And I'm very proud of my work as a turtle," my dad said as he smiled at me.

"Turtle Power!" yelled Nick.

All three of us began to laugh.

I was laughing so hard that I began crying.

Kevin smiled as he watched his daughter laugh. She had such a beautiful laugh and her smile could brighten his day anytime.

"And believe me, there are plenty of more embarrassing stories to tell," Nick said.

I smiled at him.

"Hey Kevin. February 12th, ring any bells?" Nick asked as he gave Kevin an evil grin.

"Don't even say it," Kevin said.

"What?" I asked curiously.

Kevin remembered February 12th very well, it was when he split his pants in front of thousands of fans. He thought he would die right there from embarrassment. But he didn't know that the worst would come when he got off the stage. That was when the guys got the chance to make fun of him.

"Nothing," replied my dad.

"What is it?" I asked.

"We'll tell you that story at a later date," Nick said.

"No, you won't," my dad said.

"We'll see about that Kev," Nick said.

"You promise?" I asked.

"Yep," replied Nick.

My dad just shook his head.

Then we arrived at Peter Piper Pizza. Both my dad and Nick put on their sunglasses and hats. I didn't quite understand why, it wasn't that sunny outside. But I didn't ask them about it.

We got out and went into Peter Piper Pizza. It was 3 o'clock on a Monday afternoon, so there was hardly anyone in there. Only a couple of families that we're occupied with a birthday party that they were throwing.

My dad and Nick looked around and then took their hats and sunglasses off.

"So what do you want on your Pizza?" my dad asked.

"Um pepperoni, sausage, olives, onions, bell peppers, and pineapple," Nick responded.

"I was talking to Lily," my dad said as he glared at Nick.

"Oops!" Nick said.

"That's okay," I said. "I think I want exactly what he said, minus the pineapple."

"Cool, I can live without the pineapple," Nick said.

"All right, two large supreme pizzas," Kevin said.

"Yep," I said.

"Lily and I are going to go find a table while you order," Nick said.

"That's fine," my dad replied.

"Um, is it okay if I stay here with you?" I asked as I looked up at my dad and placed my hand in his.

He smiled at me. "Sure, pumpkin."

"Oh hey Kevin, I forgot something. I'll be back in a second," Nick said.

"All right," my dad said.

Nick quickly walked out as I stood close to my dad holding his hand.

We walked up to the counter and ordered the pizza. Then they handed us a pitcher of Coke and 3 cups.

Nick got into the car searching for the camera. He had put it in there cause he knew that Kevin wouldn't be thinking about that. And he knew that Kevin would want to capture every moment of this on film.

My dad and I walked back to find ourselves a place to sit. He picked a quiet little corner where we were hidden away by the games.

My dad set the pitcher and cups down as I sat down.

"Is it okay if I sit next to you?" my dad asked.

"Uh huh," I said as I shook my head yes.

He slid into the booth, sitting next to me.

Then he placed his hand on top of mine which was resting on the table.

I looked up at him and smiled.

Then Nick came back.

"Geez you guys. I thought you two had abandoned me!" Nick cried as he sat down.

"The thought did cross my mind," my dad said.

"Kev!" Nick said, hurt.

"You know I would never leave you alone," my dad said.

"Oh, you do love me," Nick said. "I feel so special."

"Any ways, did you get what you needed?" my dad asked.

"Yeah, I found it," Nick said. "So how long until we get our pizza?"

"About half an hour," I said.

"What?!" cried Nick. "I'm going to die of starvation!"

"Dad," I said. "You're other friends don't whine like this, do they?"

Kevin stared at Lily as he heard her call him Dad. He loved the sound of that. Him actually a dad, he couldn't believe it.

After I asked him that question, I realized that I had called him Dad. I hadn't meant to say that, it just slipped. I thought of him as my dad, but I didn't know for sure whether or not he thought of himself as my dad.

"Oh, sorry. I'll call you Kevin, if you'd like," I said quietly.

"No Lily, don't apologize. I am your dad, and I want you to call me that. I love the sound of it because it means that you are truly my daughter," he said. "Okay?"

"Okay," I said.

"So what did you ask me?" he questioned.

"I asked if your other friends whine as much as he does," I replied.

My dad laughed. "Yeah, they whine a lot, but he's probably the worst."

"Hey! That's not true!" Nick exclaimed.

"Nicky, you know it's true. There's no denying it," my dad said.

"Fine, fine. It's true," Nick said.

I laughed at him.

"Hey, you guys want to play video games or something?" Nick asked.

"I don't know," my dad said hesitantly.

"It'll keep me busy," Nick said persuasively.

"All right, let's get some tokens Lily," my dad said.

"Okay," I said as we got up.

"Wait for me," Nick said as he quickly took a drink and then followed us.

"Hurry up," I said.

He caught up to us and then we got tokens.

"Okay, so what do you want to do?" my dad asked.

"I don't know," I said.

"Oh, let's go on the carousel," Nick said excitedly as he grabbed my hand and took off.

I reached out for my dad's hand and he grabbed it. Then we ran to there.

Some teenager was standing there bored out of his mind watching the little kids go round and round.

Nick handed the guy 3 tokens and then opened the gate.

"Aren't you guys a little old?" asked the teenager.

"No!" all three of us yelled.

"All right," the teenager said quietly.

The little kids got off and we got on. I sat on a beautiful pony as my dad did the same. I giggled at him.

"What?" he asked.

"That pony is pink, and she's wearing jewelry," I said.

He just smiled at me.

The kid started it and we slowly went round and round.

"Does this thing go any faster?" Nick asked.

"Yeah," replied the kid.

"Then let's get it going," my dad said.

"If you say so," replied the kid.

He turned the knob and we began going faster and faster.

My hair was flying back as we went in circles.

"Let's race," my dad said.

I looked at him puzzled.

"You know, our ponies," he said.

I giggled as he said ponies. It was funny to see him talk like that when he looked so serious.

"Okay," I said. "But my horse is going to win."

"We'll see about that," he said, smiling at me.

We pretended that we were actually racing. Nick was behind us watching.

"You two are weird," he said.

"We know," we replied.

Then we continued with our race.

Nick sat on his horse and pulled out his camera. He knew he had to get a picture of this. They were both leaning forward as if that were going to make them go faster.

Then he got off his horse and snuck up behind Kevin. Then he hopped up on the back of Kevin's horse.

"Holy shhh...!" my dad yelled.

I laughed.

"Oh! Nice save Kev!" Nick said.

"What the heck are you doing?" my dad asked.

"Scaring you," Nick replied.

"It obviously worked," I said.

"Yeah, now get off," my dad said as he pushed him off.

"Fine," Nick said. But not before he messed up my dad's hair.

"Oh, it's on now," my dad said as Nick started to run.