Cover Your Tracks [HS][2014 VERSION]

5. Papercut

"Why does it feel like night today? Something in here's not right today . . ."

We get home at a quarter to ten, and I'm completely exhausted. The only thing on my mind is the desire to collapse on my bed and go to sleep. Today's events left me physically drained to the point where it was getting hard to keep my eyes open. I had school today, and tomorrow I would have to do this all over again.

That thought caused me to sigh to myself as I trudged inside my house, shutting the door behind me. I watch my father disappear into the kitchen, and it is then that I realize this is my chance. I rush over to the stairs and tiptoe my way up, getting nearly halfway to the top when my father calls me.

"Lyza, get down here!"

I freeze mid-step, mentally cursing.

Making my descent down the stairs, I roll my eyes. I'm tired, exhausted and definitely not in the mood for a lecture at this time of the day. This could wait until tomorrow, couldn't my father understand that? Apparently not.

"Yes dad?" I ask as I enter the kitchen, doing my best to not sound annoyed. My eyes land on the table pushed against the far wall where my father sits, reading a newspaper. He looks up it before gesturing for me to sit across from him.

I walk over and pull the chair out from under the table, lowering myself onto it a moment after. My eyes meet my father's, and in that moment I just know this isn't going to be fun.

"I'm disappointed in you," he says, shaking his head. "You know the rules I've set in this house, yet you chose to break them. On a school night, no less."

His words frustrate me, I don't think I did anything wrong. My friend called me up, completely wasted, and I went to pick her up. Sure, I broke a few rules in the process, but I had good intentions. That should count for something, right? I don't know why my father was getting so worked up about this.

"Dad, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was trying to help Naomi, I didn't know-"

"I understand where you're coming from, Lyza. But you should have let me handle it instead of barging into a party full of people you didn't know." He pauses, his features softening. "I'm not mad at you, I was just worried that something could have happened. You put yourself into harm's way, and even though you're here, and you're safe, I still feel uneasy about the whole situation. You have to look at it from my perspective as a father, I'm just concerned for your safety."

I consider this and realize that he's right. I nod my head and send him a small smile, which he reciprocates. His arms extend towards me, and I get out of my chair and walk over to him before entering his embrace. We stand there for a few moments, slightly rocking back and forth in silence until he breaks it.

"I already lost your mother, I don't think I could survive losing you," he says quietly. My heart aches for him and myself, the pain of losing my mother suddenly resurfacing, making itself known. Usually I try to distract myself from thinking about it, but right now it was impossible.

My father pulls back to look at me, moisture pooling in his eyes. "You're all I have left. Lyza, you have to promise me you won't do anything reckless like that again." His expression is serious as he stares at me, waiting for my answer.

"I promise," I tell him, although I wasn't sure if it was one I could keep.

"Alright." He steps back, taking a deep breath whilst running his hands over his hair. "It's late, you should get to bed." The serious atmosphere lifts, disappearing into thin air at his words. He doesn't have to tell me twice.

"Goodnight," I call as my feet carry me over to the base of the stairs.

"Love you," is his reply. I stand there and smile to myself, content with the fact that this had turned out a lot different than I had imagined.