Project V (Clementine X Male Reader Book 4)

Trouble... Of Course

Marina

I told Dad stories until we were both ready to go to bed. I told him about my encounters with the old alliance, how I trained myself, how we found more people, about that boy when I was seventeen that got a little too handsy, so I kicked his ass. He liked that one. Although, if he was around when that happened, I'm sure the boy would have been beaten within an inch of his life or killed.

I don't want him to leave my side. I feel like if he does, he'll just... Disappear. Eventually, I assume that's what is going to happen. When his time is up, will he just disappear? Or will he drop dead, and I'll have another one of Dad's bodies to bury?

I convinced him to sleep in my bed. It's better than the couch, I can keep him close, and he's my Dad; why can't I sleep with him? I'm not used to sleeping with other people, so it was kind of different. I ended up stealing the blankets a few times, to which he woke me up, taking some of them back. It's my fault, but it still angered me. He seemed ok with it. He's probably used to it.

When I wake up in the morning, he's gone. I tap the bed where he used to be for some reason. It's not like he'd be invisible, right? Right? More likely that he just vanished into thin air, returned to his world.

I get up, rub my eyes and stretch, put on an extra layer of clothes, and shuffle out of the room. He's probably just somewhere else. Sure enough, I find him sitting on the porch, reading a book.

Me: Good morning.

I lean against the door frame.

Dad: Good morning.

He looks up, closes his book, and smiles at me.

Me: How long have you been up?

I walk out and over to a chair on the other side of the table.

Dad: I don't know... I hope you don't mind, but I did a little exploring.

He holds up the book.

Dad: This was your mom's favorite.

Me: Yeah.

I keep it next to her old hat.

He sets it down on the table.

Dad: So, what are we doing today?

Me: I don't care. What do you want to do?

He looks out at the street. People are walking by, staring.

Dad: People have been staring at me all morning.

Me: Not surprised. You're a strange man that showed up and then stayed the night in the leader's house. We're two years apart from their perspective.

Dad: That's... Yikes.

Me: Definitely the rumor.

Dad: Maybe you should say something.

I shrug.

Me: That's time wasted. I can tell them after.

He shrugs.

Dad: It's just... Weird.

Me: Who cares? We aren't, so what's it matter. Eventually, it'll spread around who you are, and that won't be a thing anymore.

Stanley: Marina?

He peaks around the beam holding up the overhang over the porch. I didn't see him coming.

Me: Hey, buddy. What's up?

Stanley: Dad hasn't come back yet.

Me: I'm sure he's fine.