Scandal

1. Home

Eve

Some people look forward to going home.

Not me.

Not now.

The second I walk through the door I'm filled with a sense of dread. 

I'm home for good now. No more college.

Dad isn't back yet, he'll still be at the rink, so I make the most of the empty house and go straight up to my bedroom, that doesn't look much different from the day I moved out, throw my bags down and go into the en-suite to run a bath.

I pour in some peach and white lily bubbles and go back to the kitchen to pour a glass of wine. It was a long drive and I'm expecting an argument with Dad when he gets in so I really need to relax now.

After removing my clothes I sink into the hot water and take a deep breath, trying not to think about the shit show that was the last few months of my life.

How could I have been so naive? So stupid?

It's not like I'm a child, I started college at 21 after I struggled to find out what I wanted to do but in the almost four years that I've been there I've found my love of photography. I was doing so well too.

The sound of the front door opening and closing brings me from my thoughts.

"Eve?" Dad's voice echoes through the house.

"I'm in the bath, I'll be down soon" I call back.

He doesn't respond so I assume he heard me. Knowing he's down there makes it impossible to relax so I take a drink of my wine and climb out, pulling on my sweatpants and hoodie before treading downstairs.

Dad is in the kitchen, his laptop open on the counter as he types away.

I clear my throat to make him aware of my presence and when he looks up I see the disappointment in his eyes.

Slowly, he closes his laptop and shuffles on his feet. Dad is a big guy, it's not often he looks uncomfortable but that's exactly what he is now.

"How was the drive?" He asks awkwardly.

"Not too bad"

Dad bends to check the oven, "I made some lasagne"

"I'm starved" I say honestly, watching as Dad removes it from the oven and sets it down at the small table with two seats.

"There's some salad in the fridge" he says, going to a drawer to get the cutlery.

I get the salad and we both sit down to start eating.

After several minutes of unbearable silence, where I know he's dying to ask me about what happened, I ask, "How was practice?"

"Good" he takes a bite from his food, "we had a rocky start but I think we are going to do well this season"

I nod. I don't follow hockey so I have no idea how his team are doing.

More silence.

"Eve" Dad starts, placing his cutlery down, that's a bad sign, "We have to discuss your next moves"

"Right now?"

"Did you have another time in mind?" His tone is sarcastic, not amused.

"Tomorrow?" I try but Dad shakes his head.

"Getting kicked out of college is serious Eve" I can hear the anger and disappointment in his tone, along with the usual judgement I've received when talking about this.