Chapter Five

The house is two stories, I note as I walk through the front door and into the spacious foyer. "Wow, Dad. You went all out." He really did. All I could do was stand and stare with my mouth wide open.

"Nothing but the best for my girl. Go check it out, Riles. Pick your bedroom, whichever one you want." If I were being honest, nothing about this felt right. This just wasn't my dad. But what could I do?

   I step from the foyer into what I assume is the living room and stop to take a look around. The vibe of the place is rather cold with its dark and neutral tones. One look at the black and white leather furniture tells me that it was made more for fashion than comfort. I do note the television is freaking huge. Which is a plus in my book, Zak Bagans' face will be that much bigger.

   I look towards the back of the room and my eyes explore the sleek spiraling staircase. I make my way up and start second guessing myself halfway through. Do I really want to climb up and down this monster every day? Can't I camp out down there with the big tv? I sigh and force my legs to carry me the remainder of the way.

   I opt to go left and admire the view from the top to the bottom living area. I keep walking past the first two doors and open the one at the very end. I walk straight through and I know this is it. It's beautiful. Most of the walls are made up of glass so the lighting is remarkable. There's a television nearly the same size as the one downstairs on the wall facing towards the amazingly comfortable looking four post queen size bed. But the best part of all? The French doors on the far wall. I open them and my breath is taken away by the view.

   I step out onto the balcony and am thrilled to see the swimming pool that never seems to end at the bottom. The beautiful rose garden behind it, and the tennis court not far behind that. I am speechless. Amazed, even. But mostly I am unsettled because everything in me is telling me something's not right.

My dad has never been a man of materialistic things. He's always been so simple and basic. As lavish as my new surroundings are, it isn't home.

I look to the right and notice the top of a house peeking over the hedge wall. I wonder what our neighbors will be like. Probably snobs.

"I knew from the pictures you would like this room. You always did like a good view." I turn around to face my smiling old man.

I want to tell him that something doesn't feel right but bite my tongue. I said I would do this for him and I will. He deserves this.

"It's beautiful, dad. I love it." I watch his face relax as he lets out a relieved sigh. He comes on in to what is now my bedroom and joins me on the balcony.

"I'm so proud of you, Riles. You have always been such a trooper- so strong. Even at a young age you always did what you felt you had to. Thank you."

I don't know what to say because it's something I had never really given much thought to. Instead I just turn my head.

"Well, come on then. We're going to dinner at a nice place downtown tonight and you need something to wear." I watch in horror as he passes me his credit card.

"Oh and uh, Riley since you're starting school tomorrow anyway, go ahead and get a few outfits."

"Dad, come on, we just got here. Can't I have time to adjust?" He has got to be kidding me. Change is not my thing, I need time! We head back inside and towards the stairs.

"You'll have plenty of time to adjust. At your new school. In your new desk. While learning new things. Now go."

"But Dad. That's a big scary world out there, are you sure you want me exploring it for the first time all alone? Why don't we just order takeout and call it a night?"

I don't feel an ounce of guilt at my attempt to fiddle with his heart strings. Okay, maybe just a little, but still. He just shakes his head.

"Riley, I want to go out and I want to have a nice dinner. Just do what I say for once and go find something decent to wear. NOW." I can't help the sudden breath I take in.

For once? How about all of my life? He's talking to the girl who irons his clothes, wakes him up, makes sure he's eaten. He's talking to the girl that has had to turn every single offer she's had to go out and be an actual teenager down because she knew she needed to go check on her Dad.

I turn on the navigation in the car and start browsing through the shopping centers. I'm so angry, so shook right now, I can't even think straight. But more than that, I'm scared. He's never spoken to me like that. And aside from that, the sudden move, the big fancy house, and just his entire new demeanor.

The more I think about it, the more my body begins to shake and I can barely hit the buttons on the screen. Without even seeing what I'm doing, I hit a random location and start the car.

It only takes about ten minutes for the GPS to announce that I've arrived at my destination. I park the car and look up to see where I've wound up. "Peaches." Interesting. From the outside looking in I couldn't tell what kind of clothing they sold. Hopefully nothing too stuffy.