Don't Worry Mama • #Wattys2016

In Which I Hate My Father

My mother screams.

I wake up and throw the blankets off and run down the stairs behind Carter.

"Mom?" Carter asks. I jump on Carter's shoulders to see.

"Carter, take your sister, and go back to bed." My mother's voice says, and Carter looks at me.

"Mommy?" I ask, scared. Yes, I'm 17 and I still say mommy.

Grow up and deal with it.

"Riley, go-" My mother is cut off.

"Daughter, come here." A husky voice calls. I get off Carter to see what it is, but he grabs my arms and holds me to him.

"Not until you say who you are." Carter growls, and turns on the light. My mother is cowering in her chair, and the man is in the middle of the room bleeding from his arm.

I tear out of Carter's grasp and get the first aid. I run to the man and start patching him up.

I may be scary, but I can't ignore someone whose bleeding.

"Thank you, young lady." He says, when I get done. I put the items back where I found them and return. My brother wraps his arms around my shoulders, holding me in front of him.

"Mom, who is this?" Carter asks, looking at her.

"Kids, this... This is your father. John, these are your children, Carter Reese and Riley Ann." She sighs, and I gasp.

"Mom?" I ask.

"It's okay. He won't hurt you guys. I made him promise me that much." She whispers, and I barely hear her.

"Ahh. So these are the kids you hid from me." I scrunch my face at him.

"Excuse me, you haven't exactly been there for us. We've been here this entire time. And I looked on your Facebook page. We haven't been hiding, because you have pictures of us - current pictures - up on your wall." I state, grabbing onto Carter's arms so that I don't do something incredibly stupid.

"Well, I showed up this morning-" I look at a clock and sure enough its 3 AM.

"Awe, man, we have three hours before we have to get up." I complain, and Carter groans.

"As I was saying, I came here to get permission." I give him a look.

"And the answer is no!" Mom screams.

"What's the question, man." Carter orders.

"To save you guys and myself, a rival gang is offering to uh..... Marry off the younger son to one of my family members." I gasp.

"So what you're saying is that Riles has to marry some gang punk?" Carter yells at him. I'm bout ready to cry.

"Unfortunately. It's the only way to keep you guys safe." He says, rubbing his injured arm.

"You mean to keep you safe?!" Carter barks, and I turn around and bury my face into Carter's chest. He hugs me tightly, and then picks me up and carries me upstairs.

I love my brother to bits, especially when he does this. He knows that I was not in sound mind to go upstairs by myself, and takes it upon himself to be my protector.

He has his nice moments.

"Don't worry about it, Riles. Just go to sleep." He whispers and lays me on my bed, before closing my door and returning downstairs.

I fall asleep, but not very peacefully.

*4 hours later*

I'm on stage, with Charlie, Blake, Victoria, and Mark, when Miss Lisa comes in.

"Guys what's up? Why aren't you warming up?" She looks curiously.

"I don't know why these boys don't want to, but I had to wake up at three this morning, to find out I'm being married off to some dude in a rival gang. I'm not in it, my supposed dad is." I complain and drink some orange juice.

"We're mourning the loss of a virgin." Charlie says and I kick him.

"Watch it!" I yell, and Miss Lisa looks at me.

"Riley, are you going to be okay?" I shake my head.

"The only thing that would make me feel better is if we kick butt Wednesday." I mutter and stand up.

We warm up before she makes us each perform a song.

Yep, we have a band. Kind of weird seeming as, I'm one of two girls in the band but, hey, good things come to those who wait.

"Riles, can you sing Undercover for me real quick?" Lisa asks, ten minutes before the bell to second period.

"Sure." I reply, and grab the mic stand.

"I look at you, and all I wanna do, is just disappear
I got a craving for you, baby. Can we get out of here?

You're a sexy machine, you're a Hollywood dream
And you got me feeling like a homecoming queen
Let's drop out of this crowd,
Somewhere no one's allowed
I want you...

...all to myself,
I want you all to myself
And nobody else, yeah,
You don't need no other lover,
We can keep it undercover
Find me in the shadows,
And put the shades down until tomorrow
And make sure that no-nobody follows
You don't need no other lover,
We can keep it undercover

You don't need no other lover,
We can keep it undercover

I wanna find a place where we can be alone in the dark
And you can navigate me like a map that you know by heart, oh

You're a sexy machine, you're a Hollywood dream
And you got me feeling like a homecoming queen
Let's drop out of this crowd,
Somewhere no one's allowed
I want you...

...all to myself,
I want you all to myself
And nobody else, yeah,
You don't need no other lover,
We can keep it undercover
Find me in the shadows,
And put the shades down until tomorrow
And make sure that no-nobody follows
You don't need no other lover,
We can keep it undercover

You don't need no other lover,
We can keep it undercover

I wanna find a place where we can be alone in the dark
And you can navigate me like a map that you know by heart, oh

All to myself,
I want you all to myself
And nobody else, yeah,
You don't need no other lover,
You don't need no other lover
You don't need no other lover
We can keep it undercover

You don't need no other lover,
We can keep it undercover

You don't need no other lover,
We can keep it undercover" I finish the song, and she nods in approval, so we pack up and talk for the rest of the time.

The bell rings, and my phone buzzes. I pull it out, and nearly drop it.

Unknown: My dad says I have to marry you. Be at the park by 4 to meet me.