Let the Light in - T.C x FEM!R

Leave That for the Adults |4|

You didn't realize just how long it's been since you heard your mom's voice; you wish it was under better circumstances. She checked in with you before making sure your father told you he was going to be in town—as vague as he was—and she also told you that her and your younger brother, Stephen, would be joining you and your father for dinner. You didn't have any complaints, the last thing you needed was to be left alone with your father.

After about ten minutes, you stepped out of your room and walked into a living room full of people you completely forgot about. You stopped in your tracks, their heads turned to you for a brief moment. Tara was biting her nails, but dropped them once she saw you, quickly looking towards the television.

"Great. You're all still here," you retorted unkindly before sitting down in the loveseat. Your blatant comment earned you a kick to the feet by Anika.

"Be nice," she mouthed.

You lifted your legs, resting them on the loveseat's armrest; you had no idea why you were sitting out here, anyways. Originally, you came out of your room thinking they had already left. You definitely weren't in the mood for company.

"'But when are you ever?" both Anika and Henry would remind you.

"Oh, um, Tara. I'm not gonna make it tomorrow," you said after a few minutes of silence.

"Why?"

She sank further in the couch when she heard just how disappointed she sounded.

"Getting dragged off to this dinner thing—but I'll make it up to you," you answered. You wore that same stupid expression she could never put her finger on, that small, stupid smile that she was convinced she would miss if she blinked. In this case, it seemed you were using it to be... reassuring.

You got up from your seat and went to your room, Tara's eyes never pulled from you.

Mindy looked between the both of you with raised eyebrows, a smirk playing on her face by the time you were fully out of the room.

"What?" Tara asked, her tone bored.

"'I'll make it up to you...'" Mindy dramatically mocked you, cupping her hands together by her cheek.

"Shut up," Tara mumbled, sinking even further into her seat and hiding behind a nearby pillow. Mindy would never let her live down the foolish grin she was wearing right now.

—

You haven't seen your father since you moved to Woodsboro your sophomore year. He didn't even come to see you after everything with Ghostface, not that you expected any more from him. This was just the type of man he was.

When you get to the restaurant, your mom and younger brother are the first person you see. She greets you with a kiss to the cheek, and you and your brother settle for a simple nod. Once you're all settled in your seat, you ask the question that's been on the tip of your tongue since you walked in.

"So, where's Dad?"

Your mom sighed a sigh you knew all too well. "He's on his way, there was just a little traffic. Stop worrying, honey. Leave that for the adults." She looked at you with a gentle smile in an attempt to ease her words.

You exhale through your nose, moving your index finger against the glass cup in front of you. I am an adult, you wanted to say, but this wasn't the place for that. Not now.

"What's college like?" Stephen asked, pulling you from your train of thought.

You continued to burn holes into the glass in front of you, half zoned out. "Still there," you said. You could hear your mom clear her throat, causing you to glance at her for a second before glancing back at the glass. "Some of the classes are worth looking forward to, I guess that's something."