human // teen wolf

33. dad

Riley spent the next week by herself. She didn't feel like going to school, or seeing anyone. All she did was stay in the town library, finding books about the founders of Beacon Hills. She tried to find clues or anything that would link her ancestors to her ability. Maybe the Bestiary is inaccurate. Maybe she was looking for something that wasn't there. She wasn't ready to talk to her parents; she didn't want to scare them away. They already hardly talk to her anyway. She had to do something about it; at this moment, she could really use the comfort of her family.

She was on her way to her car, as she dialed the number of her dad's phone number. They talked maybe a couple times a week,  but lately, they haven't really been speaking. His phone rang a few times, before he finally picked up.

"Dad." Riley said, and she could hear him breathing on the other line.

"Riley, is that you?" He asked, and Riley smiled as she reached her car.

"Yeah, it is. It's so good to hear your voice." She replied, where she unlocked her car and jumped inside, resting the books that she had just borrowed on the passenger seat.

"You too baby, you too. Lucky you caught me on my lunch break, how are you?" He chuckled, and Riley continued to smile as she looked at her hand in her lap.

"I'm okay. I miss you and mum though." She mumbled, swallowing the lump in her throat. Lately, she's felt so vulnerable. Even though she had this protection, her emotions felt bare.

"We miss you too, darling. What have you been doing lately?" He asked again, and Riley sighed.

"Dad, please come home. I really miss you. I need you and mum here. I lied about being okay. I need my family." Riley urged, as her eyes started to well up. She heard her dad sigh, and it sounded like he was rubbing his forehead.

"I know darling, it's tough. But mum and I are very busy people and lately it's been--"

"No, no, I understand. You'd rather surround yourself with work than your own daughter. It's okay. I'm getting used to being alone." Riley interrupted, as her sadness became replaced with anger.

"Riley, that's not true. You know it's not--"

"Then prove it! Come home with mum, now. Show me that you still care about me because lately it doesn't feel like it!" Riley shouted, the tears slipping from her eyes and running down her cheeks. She removed the phone from her ear and ended the call, throwing her phone on top of the books as she started to cry. She didn't know what was going on. Her life was falling apart. Her friends are enemies, they're all werewolves and some of them even wanted Riley dead. She couldn't comprehend it; she wanted to leave forever and never have to deal with her life anymore. She had to get out of Beacon Hills. She had to know everything that she could know about herself and others. As soon as Deaton told her what she was, when she realized, it was like this heavy weight was put on Riley's chest and it was a struggle to breathe everyday. Maybe it was the shield; maybe the shield was weighing her down. She needed to control it; she still knew so little about it.

But that was going to change. She was going to do something about it, no matter what.