left eye high || lh *rewriting in the future*

10. Idiotic

I stepped inside my house and smelled coffee, strange at 10:30 at night. The dining room light was on.

I brought both hands over my face and resisted the overwhelming sensation to break down right then and there.

My father must be up. I honestly didn't expect to deal with anything more of this god damn night - I mean I couldn't have expected this, since I haven't been home a Friday night in over a year. More than anything I wished that I wasn't here now.

I took a deep breath for what was probably the billionth time tonight and walked into the kitchen.

"Big dreams, huh kid?" His cold tone sent pangs of anger and sadness throughout my body all at once.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, knowing the answer. He read my letter.

"California's all the way across the country, Reyna. Can't remember the last time someone from this little town's moved."

"Didn't think getting into college was dreaming that big, dad." He probably could have burst into flames at the glare I was sending him.

"Going to USC, a division one college from out of state, 3,000 miles away actually, is too expensive for this family and is absolutely ridiculous. Idiotic, really."

"You're right dad, sorry for being so dumb. I must be just so idiotic to be accepted early, where less than 20 percent get in mind you, with a scholarship." I wasn't surprised that he hadn't read that far into the acceptance letter, he only needed minimal information to find a way to make me look stupid for getting into college.

His eyes tore into mine, cold and distant. He sipped his coffee and I could tell he was racking his brain to search for the perfect comment to diminish me. I didn't give him the chance.

"But if you think for a second that I was going to ask for your help to pay, you're ridiculous. And even more fucking idiotic than I am for calling this a family."

His facial expression remained the same. I can't believe he's not happy that I'll be across the country; the farthest possible distance between us would still be too close.

I stood motionless, with my fists clenched so tightly that my nails had already drawn blood in various places on both of my palms. With his cold glare against my fiery one, it was like a stand off of hatred.

I finally broke away and started toward my room.

"What about your mom." I could hear the venom in his voice.

I stopped and swallowed the lump in my throat. "She'll leave you. I promise that."

I left it at that and went to bed, hatred and confusion and sadness surging through me like a storm.

My head ached worse than I'd ever experienced when I finally laid down. I was too exhausted to cry or make sense of anything that happened tonight.

My door opened.

"I want you out of the house. Tonight."

***

I sat in my car in the driveway, not just some of my things with me, but everything I owned in my backseat and trunk. 2AM with nowhere to go.

There wasn't a motel for miles, and I couldn't go to Calum's like I would have just a week ago. Everyone else I knew, including Ashton, would probably still be at that damn party, and I couldn't go there looking like this.

I'd finally started crying, and had been the entire time I packed - it seemed to be the only alternative to sorting out everything in my head. Staying confused and numb felt better than dealing with it all.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket. I took it out and looked at the bright screen, unknown caller.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Reyna." His accent was very obvious over the phone line, but deeper and raspier than it usually is, like he just woke up.

"Couldn't even wait a whole day to call?" I joked through my shakey voice, I hadn't fully stopped crying.

"Are you okay?"

"Um, yeah. Sorry this is so abrupt but could I, um-" I closed my eyes put my head in my free hand, both surprised and embarrassed at what I was asking. "Can I come back tonight?" I bit my lip and choked down a sob.

"Couldn't even wait a whole day to come back, yeah, Buttercup?" I could picture him smirking and his sarcasm made me smile.

"Thanks, Luke."

+ a/n soz this chapter is wicked boring but it's necessary bc it really starts to set up reyna's family dynamic and stuff ((there's v much more to find out)) BUT I'M EXCITED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER SO HEY