Ryane's POV

After the final bell has rung I am beyond ready to get home. It had been a long day full of stares and weird questions. It's like people around here don't know how the real world functions, granted I might not be the best judge of that either. I text my mom that I'm on my way home and pull out my other phone, the one that she doesn't know about.

"Hey daddy," I say as I step onto the sidewalk away from a group of kids waiting for the one school bus for the town.

"Hey, princess," His voice is calming. I think back to when Greyson called me princess and smile. "How was your first day?"

"It was great. I made a friend and I talked to a cute boy." I say and then regret it. I shouldn't have told him about Greyson. He hates me talking to boys when I'm with a family member let alone by myself. "Don't worry. He was just nice and I'm trying to fit in." I assure him before he can get upset.

"I think that's great, princess." He says to my surprise. "And how was your visit with Kellin?"

"Not long enough." I pout. "I wish I could tell him that we're talking. I hate lying to him. And if he knew we could move to the college town and live closer to him."

"I know it's hard, sweetie, but it's all part of the plan." He says and the line crackles a bit. "Speaking of the plan, I have a name for you."

"Okay," I nod even though he can't see me. I turn and can see the house ahead of me where my parole officer is waiting not patiently.

"Gunnar O'Keefe." He says and my stomach hardens.

"What do you want me to do?" I ask him, staying calm just like he trained me too.

"Nothing yet," He tells me and once again I nod, "just befriend him like you already started on today."

I shouldn't be surprised that my dad has someone watching me. I just wish I knew who it was. I take a breath and then calmly respond to him, making sure to hide all traces of annoyance. "I will, Daddy."

"There's a party tonight. You should go and be careful. Take your friends along." I can tell from his voice that he's smiling. He's proud of himself mostly but there is a hint of pride that I have been staying smart.

"I'll try my best."

"Don't just try."

"I know, Daddy. I will." I tell him and then say goodbye just as I get to the porch where my parole officer is sitting, bouncing his foot. "Hey, Officer No-Fun."

"How was school?" Officer Novak asks as I unlock the door and let him inside.

"It was great," I say and throw my backpack into my room before heading to the kitchen. "Anything else you want to ask me?"

"There was a car in the neighborhood earlier that I didn't recognize." He says and we both know he's talking about Kellin.

"I'd say, someone who watches his neighbors that closely is asking for trouble," I say as a warning. He nods his understanding.

"You know, you were only supposed to have the ankle monitor on for a couple of weeks and this attitude is keeping it on. At this rate, you'll never be free of it." He walks to the door.

"Officer No-Fun, I'd worry more about whether or not you'll ever be free," I say as he walks out the door.

After he leaves I start to make dinner for my mom and me. She wakes up an hour later just as I'm mixing together the spaghetti and homemade sauce. The garlic bread is cut and wrapped with a cloth and the salad is chilling in the fridge.

"Morning, honey," She kisses my cheek and steals a bite of the spaghetti. "Smells great."

These moments with her are the hardest for me. She tries to act nice and like a normal mother, but she isn't one. She is the queen of the Beasts of Promise. She watched her son slice the throat of her own brother and now she's trying to act like that never happened. She's weak, just like my dad told me she was.

"I already ate so I'm going to head out," I tell her even though I have no idea where I'm planning on going. I just know that I don't want to be here. My dad might be a terrible, frightening man, but he's honest about who he is. My mom is such a good faker that I never know what to believe.

"Stay and tell me about your day," She pleads with her eyes as she scoops some food onto her plate.

"Call Kellin if you want to talk." I grab my purse and go to the door. "I'll be back when you're gone." I let the door slam behind me and try to think of where to go. I only really have one place that I ever go so I decide it'll work. I start walking to the diner when I see Olivia on the other side of the street walking alone.

"Hey, Olivia!" I wave to her and she beams at me. She waves back and jogs across the empty street.

"Hey," She gives me a tight hug. "Where are you headed?"

"Anywhere but home," I admit. "I heard there was a party tonight."

"There's a party every Friday," She links her arm with mine and turns me so we're walking back towards my house. "It's not for a couple of hours so we can go to my place first. Get you something better to wear." She looks me up and down with a shrug. "No offense, but that is not a party outfit."

"I would love some advice." I let her lead the way to a house that's about the same size as the one my mom and I are living in.

"This is home," She unlocks the gate and walks down a gravel path to the front door. "Don't judge me for my brother's terrible decorating."

"I promise I won't," I hold my hands up in surrender. "Is it just the two of you?"

"Yeah, he's a good brother, but has terrible taste." She finally opens the door and I understand. There is a comfy, but very ugly looking brown couch with an even older blanket draped over it, a light brown, torn recliner, and an enormous TV with a whole set up of gaming consoles, surround sound, and other things I don't recognize.

"That's a huge TV," I state the obvious.

"Yeah, I hated it until we watched a movie on it. The actors are almost life-size and it makes them that much hotter." She swoons and then takes my hand. "Now, I'll show you my sanctuary."

She leads me past a room that I assume is Greyson's but it's closed so I'm not sure. Her room is past the bathroom and the door is painted purple. "I love color!" She opens her door and I have to blink a couple of times to adjust to the amount of color in her room. Her bed is messy and covered with clothes among other items. A laptop is balanced precariously on the edge of the pink and orange comforter. I want to grab it before it falls but stay still. I don't know if that would offend her.

"It's a mess, I know." She blushes. "Every time I try to clean it up it just gets worse." She thankfully picks up her laptop and gently tosses it to the middle of her bed. Then she shoves a pile of clothes off a red chair. She motions to it. "Go ahead and take a seat."

"Thanks." I sit down as she digs through another pile of clothes to find another chair. This one is teal. I motion to the many piles. "You have so many cute outfits."

"A Dayton Girl should always look her best," She says and I nod. I understand needing to look your best at all times. That's how my life always was until moving to Daytonville.