In and Out

6

                                       WREN
After the chaos at dinner, dad was quick to scoop me up and take me to my room.

"I'm so sorry honey, are you ok?" He rushed to ask after sitting me down on my large bed.

"I-I'm okay, really. It was just the y-yelling and-" I cut myself off, Xander's words really hurt.

"And Xander, I know honey. I'm going to talk to him and he will be punished, don't worry," dad says and I immediately feel horrible. I don't want Xander to be punished. I know how bad punishments are, I would never wish them on anybody.

"P-please don't punish him! He d-doesn't deserve that, please. It really is o-okay, he doesn't have to like m-me," I state and he looks at me oddly. I don't know what he's thinking, but I'm not sure if it's good.

"I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but if I can promise you one thing, it's that he will come around," I nod, even though I don't believe him.

"I need to bring you a change of clothes, I'll be right back," he leaves the room quietly and all of the sudden I remember about the stab wound that my mother gave me before I left for school. I must've just gotten used to the nonstop throbbing that overtook my leg. Dad quickly comes back with a large t-shirt and a pair of sweats.

"These are going to drown you, but I don't have anything close to your size unfortunately," I smile and shrug and he leaves the room again to let me change. He was right. Due to all of their over six foot frames, and my whole 4'6" height, the shirt reaches all the way to my knees and I had to roll the pants at least four times in the waist and the legs. The wound that my mom so graciously gifted me wasn't as deep as I thought and luckily, it had stopped bleeding. No one had asked me about the bandage, and I'm grateful for that. I would've felt bad lying to them. Brushing those thoughts aside, I open my door back up for dad and he walks in.

"You're just the cutest little thing I've ever seen," He picks me up and twirls me around and I giggle. He puts me down and walks us towards my very comfy bed.

"Get on into bed, I'll tuck you in," he smiles and I'm left confused.

"Tuck me in?" I tilt my head slightly and dad looks at me in shock.

"Has no one ever done that for you before?" I shrug, maybe they have and I just don't know the proper name. Quickly dad pulls my covers back and motions for me to climb into bed. He smiles and smooths the fluffy comforter over my body and plants a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Have a good sleep my precious girl, I'll come wake you in the morning," he clicks my lamp off and begins to walk out.

"Wait!" I call out, and through the darkness I can see him turn around.

"I-I'm scared of the d-dark," I say quietly, honestly, I'm embarrassed. But he has been nice so far, and I feel like I can tell him.

"Aw, don't worry sweetheart, I'll go get you a night light," he smiles, and turns my lamp back on before walking out. I feel bad making him get me the light, I could've just slept with my lamp on. My door creaks open slowly and I get frightened.

"Baby? Are you still up?" I recognize the voice as Alex.

"Y-yeah I'm up, y-you can come in," he comes in quickly and sits on the side of my bed.

"Why is your lamp on silly goose, it's much too bright to sleep with it on," he laughs slightly and looks down at me. I suddenly feel very embarrassed, I don't need my big brother knowing I'm afraid of the dark.

"Um, I-" I start but then dad comes in with the light perched in his palms.

"I got it honey, which plug do you want it in?" Dad asks and Alex looks at me knowingly. I silently point to the small plug by the scary corner of my room. After plugging it in, dad comes by and says goodnight one more time before leaving my room.