The ride home from the examination hall that evening was a blur, she didn't even eat dinner, just went straight to bed.
They decided to skip breakfast since it was a three hour journey by car so Azalea only managed to grab some snacks before they had to leave.
It was decided that Joan would drop Janet to her school while Michael would take Azalea since their schools were in the opposite direction.
There were no farewell hugs and kisses, no sad goodbyes.
Just a sense of relief that all her worldly possessions managed to fit into one large suitcase.
Finally Micheal broke the unnerving silence after a few miles and took the initiative to speak when the car came to another lonely stoplight.
"You might not be my seed but you are still blood and I raised you as my daughter. Remember all of the discipline I have tried to instill in you and don't embarrass the Blume household name."
Azalea couldn't understand her usually reserved father's feelings.
This was the first time in eighteen years that she would live away from under his thumb and that was all he had to say?
Contempt flashed across Azalea's face as she was irked by his cold and indifferent attitude.
Even with just the two of them alone in the car her "father" still acted like he was at a political rally addressing the crowd.
Every statement he made was coached to perfection and yet he had the nerve to look upset.
Shouldn't he at least pretend to be happy for her?
She had done the impossible and gotten into an academy on her own merit and that still wasn't enough to please Michael.
Her stomach growled.
"I'm hungry if there is nothing else you want to talk about, can I grab a bite to eat now."
Michael had a hang up about people eating in his car, leaving crumbs behind and attracting insects.
Still, he would rather Azalea eat something than pass out in his car and delay his busy schedule even further.
Besides if her mouth was busy she wouldn't question him about the truth behind her parentage and why he kept it a secret for so long from Azalea.
Reluctantly, he said, "go ahead and eat."
Before Michael could change his mind Azalea reached for her lunch kit.
Then took out a decadent chocolate pudding with extra rainbow sprinkles and brought the cup close to her mouth.
This action was necessary to prevent the slippery confection from falling off her spoon and making a mess of Michael's precious car.
After that was done she opened a tray of fudge brownie cookies and polished off the entire row not even bothering to ask her father if he wanted any.
She washed it down with icy cold milk tea with vanilla tapioca balls.
Michael looked at Azalea with an expression of sympathy; he fondly recalled that Azaleas even liked the same brand of cookies as her deceased mother.
When Flora's life had been spiraling out of control and she sunk into depression.
Flora also used sweets to cover her misery from not being able to be with her true love Mikhail.
Despite Michael's doting and catering to Flora's every need her sugar cravings were excessive while she was pregnant with Azalea.
She spurned Michael's affections and did not cover up her sadeness from falling out of love with Mikhail.
He remembered internalizing this behavior and after Flora's death during childbirth he passed on this indifferent attitude to her child who was the splitting image of her mother.
Now he regretted his behavior and he didn't know how to cross the divide that now sprung up between father and daughter.
With Flora gone his political ambitions had taken over his life, his role as a single father had been amped up to win more votes from the public.
Even in the pictures where father and daughter posed for the spotlight the facial expressions were happy but the eyes were cold.
It was rare for Michael to have a sudden panic attack but as he looked at Azalea sitting across from him with her head lowered he didn't know how to tell her he still cared.
Someday she would grow up like her mother and fall in love, would she take her future boyfriend home to meet him, his has tightened around the steering wheel.
"You know I didn't mean to strong arm you into doing the marriage lottery or force you to attend Mercy Academy but the last thing I want is a repeat of your mother's situation. When she became idle, and gave up on the world, she sunk further into depression and I couldn't reach her. When I came home and saw how you alienated yourself, Joan and Janet. I figured that maybe some time away from us would probably be the best thing for you."
Micheal turned to look earnestly before honking at the car in front, thinking, was the driver sleeping, the light is on green fool.
This was the first time Michael spoke to her for so long, normally he was very curt with Azalea and a man of few words but when in public he was charming and could talk for hours on end.
"Azalea, I don't believe you just inherited your mothers looks. If you are anything like her, then you can study hard to get good grades, stay out of trouble and your four years at Mercy Academy will pass quickly. You can come home for the holidays and I will try to be available and spend more time with you…"
Her father was definitely trying so hard that she lost her appetite to eat the bag of animal crackers and put the unopened snack back into her lunch kit.
In the corner of her mind she thought it was a little too late as he had eighteen years to spoil and pamper her.
Did he think a simple speech would excuse all his past actions and behavior?
"I will do my best, father," she responded loudly as a dutiful daughter should.
Her father had been watching her face with a wistful expression and Azalea squirmed in the car seat.
When Michael returned his gaze to the road it was just in time to slam on the brakes.
It was too late, the car shook from the impact as the car collided with a human and sent the person flying into a nearby ditch.