(REWRITING) The Skylar Experiment : Coveting

Chapter Thirteen - Recovering

"Oh, great. And are you awesome enough to get back on your own?" 

"You bet. We run faster than cars," he'd added and motioned at me to start the engine. I hadn't wanted to until he answered that. It's not like I was going to be okay with him coming back alone if I shouldn't be doing it, either. "This forest is my playground. If they ever make it back here, they'll be crying blood."

It reassured some dark part of my mind, and we rode down the hill in a sinister silence. 

When I pulled over, the porch lights were turned off, but the living room window shone bright. Dad's figure paced through the curtains. I locked my car, counting my last seconds of peace in the darkness outside.

Luc shoved his hands in his vest pockets. "Good luck with your father. You look like you'll need it."

I cracked a cynical grin. "Not even you can charm him now and get me out of trouble."

"I'll call the police if I don't hear from you tomorrow."

The police surely wouldn't be of any aid for all this. With one last stare, Luc flashed out of sight the next second, stirring my hair in his path. I zipped the jacket all the way up to cover the marks. I consciously climbed the stairs and entered the house, finding my dad glowering. It was almost midnight.

"Riley Jane Addison..." He seemed on the point of actually yelling at me. "How did you not see the time pass with all my missed calls?"

I recited some made-up story of forgetting the silent mode on my phone. He assaulted my ears with a moralizing sermon, pointing out that this was the second time I'd scared the crap out of him and going on about grounding me. 

What was there to punish, though? Keep me from leaving the house? I barely left it. I'd just have to sneak out for the training with Tony. Chores? Sure, whatever.

Suddenly, I couldn't stand the buzzing monologue after being restrained with literal torture chains. Dad's punishments were welcome in comparison. Yet I was unable to listen to him a sentence longer, wanting only to crawl into bed and try to cope with tonight.

"Look, I told you that's what happened. There's no curfew to break." I walked toward the stairs and rubbed my eyes. "Just get off my back."

He looked utterly floored. I never acted like this, and I hated doing this to him, but my limits were wearing thinner than chiffon. I didn't want to burst in front of him.

"Young lady, watch your tongue."

I raised my hands and turned away. "Fine, whatever."

Today, I passed this close to skipping the entire school morning. Because of Dad, who was now watching me like I was under a microscope, I had to prove everything was normal. But going to school was one task. Being awake was another.

Mr. Kennedy even had to wake me up during his lesson, and I detected a trace of sympathy in his gaze but also helplessness as he walked along the desk alley. He had no choice. It was only natural he hadn't been in the field yesterday since he was the only teacher able to keep tabs on Spencer.

Luc had been absent during the first half of classes. Emma wasn't there, either. I considered telling her how awfully wrong she was about Miles, but I didn't know how to break it to her. She obviously liked Miles, and I didn't want to take that away from her. Moreover, he hadn't been in the field, so what would I be proving?

Still, I'll never warm up to the guy. He was a part of it just like his father. I'd do Emma a favor, but I couldn't force her to leave him, either. I've tried talking to her and now she avoided me.