ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ | RAFE CAMERON

07

THE WILSON HOUSEHOLD was bursting with music when Tori walked through the door. Not the kind that one would hear at a modern day club, but more a nineteen-forties jazz club.

The brunette had come home from the pool, ready for some much-needed alone time. Her hair was still soaked in chlorine and her nose was still engulfed with the smell of sunscreen. Her clothes were stuck to her like glue, since her brother had not given her enough time to dry off before dragging her out of the club.

He had been insistent that Tori took him to the annual Outer Banks Summer Movie, explaining to her that he had been invited by his kook friends, not giving names. Without any other description, it was clear to his sister what "friends" he had been referring to.

She pestered him on the drive there, describing how the movie was intended for families or pre-teens. He had no hesitation to snap back, putting his anger into words since Tori was never afraid to degrade Hayden with the word "kid" before that current moment.

With that, Tori stayed silent the rest of the drive.

Now, she wanted nothing more than to take a long shower, hoping to scrub off the feeling of being in a hot tub with people she could not stand. Before she could, she was interrupted with the sound of her father's laughter over the slow music.

Turning the sharp corner into the kitchen, she almost ran into the marble counter when her eyes landed on another figure. The person next to her father was shorter, yet his smile was large, and much less proportionate compared to the rest of his body. She recognized him right away.

"Tori! Did you not see my text about having company over?" Her father gleamed with an awkward laugh, his hand patting the back of none other than Ward Cameron.

"Um, no I didn't. Sorry dad." Tori coughed out, her hand coming to her mouth. It was as if she couldn't get the words out. "Nice, seeing you Mister Cameron." An awkward silence surrounded the kitchen, the kook girl clearing her throat.

"I will leave you two to it then."

She turned her back to the duo, her hands immediately going to the oversized t-shirt that covered her tan body. She scrunched the soft fabric in her hands, the leftover water dripping onto the cold tile floor. 

"I was just leaving anyways." Ward smiled, his feet walking quick before his hand met the girl's shoulder. "Nice seeing you again, Tori. You have grown so much."

The teen lifted her head up, mentally rolling her eyes as she covered her sneer with a grin.

"Thanks again for having me over." The older man redirected his attention to Tori's father, silently walking out of the house.

The brunette waited until she heard the click of the mahogany door, indicting the disappearance of Ward. She turned around, stalking to the fridge for a glass of water.

"You never texted me." She spit out, aggressively grabbing a tray of ice cubes from the freezer. Her hands were so wet they were starting to prune.

Her father groaned, putting a hand to his forehead, he walked over to his daughter, stopping beside her. He watched as she struggled to get the ice cubes out of the silicone piece and into the cup.

"I know, I wasn't sure what to say in the moment. I am not trying to hide anything from you, but for some reason I just... panicked." He grabbed the tray from her, helping her with her drink.

Tori felt her frown turn into a smile in seconds, knowing she could never be mad at her dad for a long time. "I know, I know." She forced out, giggling to herself. She continued. "Why was he here, though?"