Always the Mysterious Ones

Chapter 1

I unlocked the door and walked into the house, confused as to why my dad had locked the door when he was home. "Dad?!" I called. No response.

I thought I heard noises coming from upstairs. I went upstairs and straight to my room, throwing my backpack down on my bed. Second day of high school and I already hated it.

As I flopped down on my bed, I heard another noise come from my dad's room. I started getting worried, so I decided to go check on him.

"Dad, are you ok in there?" I asked as I lightly knocked on the door. All I heard was louder noises, and they did not sound like my dad. I opened the door and was not prepared for what I saw.

"Dad, who is that?!" I asked frantically. He quickly pulled the covers over both of them and looked at me.

"Phee, hey. I thought you didn't get out of school until 3:15," he said nervously.

"That was last year. I'm in high school now, I get out at 2:30. But dad, you never answered my question. Who is that?" I repeated.

"Don't tell anyone. She goes to school in another town."

"Dad! What are you doing?! This is illegal as hell!! We already lost Mom, Lark would be heartbroken if we lost you too!"

"Then she doesn't need to find out. You can't tell anyone, especially your sister. Not only could I lose you guys, I could lose my job and go to jail."

By this time the redhead had gotten dressed and started to leave. Before she could walk out the door, I whispered a threat in her ear.

"Stay away from my family, or you'll regret it. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

I startled awake from the dream, panting. I looked around and sighed when I saw light streaming from a gap in the Panic! at the Disco curtains hanging in front of my window. I looked around. Those, my comforter, one of my pillows, my air mattress, and an outfit for me to wear today were the only things in my room.

Today was the day my sister Lark and I moved to Riverdale. My parents had grown up in that town, and we had had many a vacation there because of it. Even though my dad wasn't too keen on camping at Sweetwater River, we did it every summer. I even had a friend there already, a boy named Jughead Jones whose dad had gone to school with my parents. That was why we were moving to Riverdale. We needed to leave Brooklyn, and we already had roots there. It was perfect.

I quickly got out of bed, deflated the air mattress, got dressed, and started packing the few things left in the box next to my door. By the time I was done, Lark was already out by the moving truck. "Are you ready to go?" she asked as I put the box in the truck and closed the door.

"Is it ok if we stop by Lizzy's house? I want to say goodbye one last time," I said.

"Of course. Come on, let's go," she said, ruffling my hair and getting in the driver's side of the car.

In a few minutes we pulled in front of my BFF Lizzy's apartment. I quickly went up the steps and knocked on the door. Her little sister Rosie answered, and immediately hugged me. Lizzy and I had known each other since kindergarten, and her little sisters adored me.

"Do you have to leave Phee?" Rosie asked me.

"Yeah, I have to leave. Sorry," I said.

Just as she let go, I saw Lizzy and her other younger sister Katherine walk into the living room. Kat walked up to me first. "I'll miss you Phee," she said, and I nodded.

"I'll miss you too."

She stepped back, and Lizzy walked up to me. I smiled, trying to hold back tears, and she closed the door, giving us some privacy. "I'm really gonna miss you," I said.