Bertinelli Family

Chapter 18- Irys

Riley's POV

The elevator bell rings as I follow Oliver and Dad out. Dad grabs my hand and drags me to his office instead of the safer option, Oliver. We enter his office I take a seat on the couch in his office while he sits behind his desk. 

I sit down not looking at him. I have my phone in my back pocket but I don't think he would appreciate me pulling it out after I got suspended. In all fairness it's only for the rest of the week I can return next Monday. 

Every person's response to my school records is that I'm the problem. When in reality I've never started the fight I'm just the better one so I end up getting in the most trouble. I sit on the couch glaring at the wall across from me thinking about the earlier events. 

"So you want to explain." Dad's voice rings out in his office. 

"Why? You're not gonna believe me anyway." 

"Try me."

"Fine, we were sitting in Algebra when the boy came over and sat next to us. He started to hit on Wendy and when she said she wasn't interested he continued so I said something. So he slapped me and then well you saw him in the office." I told him smirking at my red knuckles. 

"The principal said the fight was unprovoked." I scoff and shake my head looking around the room. 

"Yeah how bout you check my school records. The last principal I had every fight was my fault despite the witness. The one time I didn't get suspended was because the family of the girl needed the camera footage for insurance then they saw that she hit me first. Every fight I've been in has been self-defense but no one gives a damn about a rebel teenage girl. After all, it's only a phase right?"

He looked shocked by my revelation. I moved to lay down on his couch, turned away from him, and closed my eyes ready for this day to be over. 

"Riley wake up. It's time to go home." I roll over and open my eye to see Dad standing over me. I look around to see we are in his office, when did I fall asleep. I know I closed my eyes but I never intended to actually sleep. 

I rub my eyes and sit up, following him out of the office. We walk down towards the elevator. He clicks the button and steps in clicking the 'P' button. 

"Where's Oliver?"

"He went home with Jessica an hour ago." He replies while looking at his phone. How long is it gonna be this awkward? 

We sat in silence until the elevator binged and we entered the garage. Walking to the car I sat in the front seat. Before we started driving he checked his phon end put in the cup holder in front of the radio.

"We're getting fast food, what do you want?"

"Umm, pizza?"

"Sure." He began driving through the city taking us further then I had been. We drove into a quieter section. A few mom and pop shops lined the road all with their lights off, the streets almost deserted the occasional car passing us.

After a few more minutes of the quiet streets, dad pulled up in front of a cute diner. The light up sign read pizza. I followed dad out of the car and inside.

We sat in a booth in the back of the diner. The menus were already on the table, the sun had started to set.

I flipped through the menu deciding on a plain cheese pizza.

"Are you two ready to order?" A middle aged women came over with an apron and notepad and pen at the ready.

"Yes, can I have a water?" I asked her as dad simply said water. She nodded and wore it down on her notepad and left for a few minutes before returning with two glasses. She takes our food order, dad got a some weird combination not really sure.

A few other people had come in while we ordered.

"Why are we out instead of eating at home?"

"Milo and Levi have friends over, and Jake is out with friends."

"Still not making much sense."

"If I can delay hanging out in a house with extra teenagers I'll take it." I smiled at his explanation.

"You have any friends yet?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Looked at you school records while you took a nap. Your conselour noted you were mostly by yourself."

"Friends aren't all they crack up to be. Most of them thought I was Rory or Ruby. And the other ones would want to get closer to them through me until they realized I'm not the nicest."

"Huh." Huh. That's all. Most people pity me and try and make to better when it's fine. The waitress comes back over with our food and sets them down.

Most of our meal is left in silence until we back to the car.

"Don't tell your siings we went out to eat.?

"Does this mean I'm your favorite."

"I don't have favorites." He winks at me and begins driving.