Riel picks up me later and we both walk into the house.
Dad is lying on the couch, watching TV.
I go over and kiss his cheek.
"Hey Dad."
"Hey yourself."
"You feeling ok?"
"Never been better."
I check him out, seeing the dark half moons under his eyes and the way he's lying down, like he's a halfway crumpled piece of paper.
I sigh and give him a half-hug. I go into the kitchen where Riel and Mom are talking.
"Riel, I know it's a lot to ask, but this is important. Your dad can't work and can't help with the traitor issue. And since you're part of the reaping team......"
Riel nods slowly, pulling at his hoodie.
"I-I got it. No problem."
Mom sighs. She leans in to hug him.
"Thank you. Thank you."
She plants a kiss on his head and walks out.
"What was that all about?"
Riel turns towards me, his hands still messing with his hoodie.
"I'm, uh, taking Dad's place, per se."
"What?"
"Basically, I have to do Dad's job until he gets better."
I nod. "I'm impressed they picked you."
Riel rolls his eyes. "I'm probably not gonna be home a lot though. So no more trips to see your boyfriend at the library."
I blush. "I actually study unlike you. How you got into college will forever be a mystery."
Riel rolls his eyes again. "I gotta go talk to Dad about what I'm gonna be doing."
He walks out of the kitchen, tousling my hair as he walks by.
I grab a bag of chips from the cabinet and walk upstairs into my room.
I crawl into bed, crunching on my chips.
YOU ARE READING
Prep School
Viễn tưởng15 year old Aria is not your ordinary teenage girl. She's not exactly normal but she doesn't stick out either. She has powers. Powers that mortals like you and me can't handle. When she moves to a new school, she has to learn how to control her powe...
