Spinning ● Twilight

real people

Reconsider.

George's words were burning fresh in Charlie's mind as he readied himself for another hour with Riley in the car.  The first hour was filled with silence, and he wasn't upset; it was actually the logical thing.

Riley has lost her parents merely hours earlier, and he figured she was still thinking about the fact that had she not exited the car to explain the situation to the waiter, she'd be dead too. Or maybe she was thinking about how she's just lost her only blood relatives.

But then she opened her mouth, marking the longest twenty-five minutes in Charlie's life.

"Jordan said I am going to be living with you," was the first thing she said.

"Yes, I, err-" Charlie stammered. "As I said, I'm Charlie Swan, Chief-"

"Yeah. I don't care." Riley gave a tight smile. "Look, I have been thinking, and I can give you seventy-six reason for why I can live on my own and an exception should be made."

Charlie gaped at her openly for a few minutes as she started listing off said reasons. It seemed like forever passed by the time he turned to the road leading to Forks eventually- after Riley would have enough time to finish the list and begin again.

"Reason sixty-four," Riley continued easily, "I will be nothing but a nuisance to you, as I will only be occupying space. Plus, as said on reason forty-two, I will not tolerate living with a stranger, and will make your life a living hell."

Charlie's eyes flickered to his watch- Bella recently bought him one, sending him via mail for Christmas. Couldn't she even come to spend one evening?- there were about fifty minutes left for the ride.

Charlie sharply turned to the gas station on their left.

"Wow," Riley breathed. "You don't drive safe?"

"Riley," Charlie breathed, tired from her blubbering. "I stopped listening at your third reason, and I'm gonna say just one thing. My name is Charlie Swan, my daughter is married and is away with her family, my best friend is tied to his wheelchair, my girlfriend lives half an hour away from me, and I spend most of my time at work. You will have the house to yourself most of the time, and it is only until we find you an adopting family. So stop blubbering. It's really hard to concentrate like that."

"Oh, umm." Riley couldn't think of a reply. "Okay," she said in a tiny voice.

Charlie breathed out and drove off from the gas station.

"Maybe we could listen to some music?" Riley offered with a grin, and he nodded.

"Sure," he mumbled, turning on the radio and listening to whatever was playing. It was a station full of older songs, mostly Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, and Elvis. Riley hummed along, and Charlie did as well.

After a while, Charlie decided to try and strike up a conversation, but when he turned around he saw the blonde fast-asleep, looking peaceful and not annoying in the least.

Smiling softly to himself, he turned back to the road. He remembered him and Billy riding back from Port Angeles one day, Billy's three kids at the backseat. Billy smiled fondly at them, happy with his place in the world-- Charlie never got to have that with Bella, not until she was much older and not as purely as just a small girl, tired from the day.

Maybe living with Riley wouldn't be all bad, Charlie reconsidered as her soft, sleepy smile shone at him through the window.

He'll be there for her as long as she needed, he decided.

That much- he'll do.

::

Yawning and pulling the coat closer around her body, Riley followed Charlie into the house, she couldn't make out much in the dark, but it was brightly colored- probably white- and two stories high.

"That's the house, I only have one key-- the others are with my daughter and my girlfriend," he noted, making the girl nod as they entered the house, escaping the cool air outside. He turned on the lights, Riley admiring the house around her. "I'll make sure that tomorrow on my way to work I get you one, and, err... You've taken everything you need from your old house, right?" Riley bobbed her head up and down, the duffle bag on her back.

"So, I'll show you to Bella's room- make yourself comfortable."

"I'll do my best," she smiled, and suddenly Charlie liked her a bit more. She was ought to have hard time, and he was gonna be there for her.

"I will do my best as well," he assured. "I'm here for you, kiddo. Even when you're out of my car, I will be here for you."

"Thanks Charlie," she mumbled, face red.

"Sure," he looked away, awkward just as much.

"We should probably head to shower and bed..." Riley muttered, and he nodded.

"Err, right, right. Come on."

Taking a deep breath as Charlie started to climb the stairs, the girl readied herself for her new life.