January 1, 2018~

I've done many things in my life before.

Bad.

Stupid.

Crazy.

Mistakes.

But all had a purpose.

Now I don't know if what I was about to do was stupid, bad, crazy, or a mistake. All I knew was that I was going to do it.

And it was going to start by escaping through my window.

Parents go to a party,

Dani goes looking for her boyfriend.

*****

"Now what would you like to do first? Video games, movies, or make out?" Damian smirked.

"Movies." I laughed.

"Dang it I was hoping the last one." He chuckled as he turned the TV on and placed a DVD.

"Chips?" I read the DVD case.

"Last option is still available if you change your mind."

"No I'm good." I made myself comfortable on his bed as the movie started to play. He snuggled next to me and together we watched the movie.

Even so we were more entertained with each other at the end.

*****

Time goes too fast.

During my stay with Damian, my parents called me twice. I answered once and told them I was watching a movie in my room when they asked me what I was doing. Second time I answered I told them I was okay and asked them at what time exactly they were coming back. All my dad said was soon and that 'soon' made me loose my track of time.

Never underestimate time because at the end time always gets here faster.

And one's lies always catches up.

My eyes were closed as my head rested on Damian's chest, listening to the soft beat of his heart. He was softly humming a tune making me mentally swoon over and over. He had me in his arms and for the first time I felt safe. Safe from what the cruel world can throw at me. If only this day could be forever. I let my confidence get the best out of me making me forget that I had to be back at home before my parents arrived. We ended up taking a quick nap when suddenly my phone blared its ringtone. I got startled and quickly sat up as Damian got up and looked for my phone that was sitting there on his desk. He handed it over to me and I felt my world snap in two when I saw the caller ID.

"Oh heck is my father!" I pressed my teeth tight together as I felt my heart was about to jump out from my chest.

"Answer him Princess." Damian had panic written all over his brown eyes.

I accepted the call and put my father on speaker.

"Dani where the hell are you?!"

My hands started to shake and my voice went dry.

Are they really at home already????

I checked the time and it was already 9:30pm. I should have been at home at at least 7:30 when my father said soon but no...

I let it slip by.

"...here..." I tried hard not to make my voice crack.

"Where is here, Danielle?! We are home already now tell me where YOU are!"

"Where's mom?" I didn't answer my dad.

Damian casted me a worried look and gave me a small kiss on my forehead. This is just so frustrating and overall embarrassing. I gave him a small weak smile and finally decided to just face consequence and get it over with. If today was meant for me to die then so be it. I was going to die but knowing it was worth it because the last person I was with, was with Damian. 

"I'm coming home." I calmly replied.

"Now Danielle!"

"Yes..."

A lot of background noises were heard on my dad's side when suddenly my mother was at the other end of the call now.

"Where are you?"

"...here..." I said the same thing I said to my dad.

They don't need to know where I am and who I am with.

"Come home and quick. Your father is angry. So am I."

"Yes mom."

She hung up on me and all I could do with give out a dry laugh.

I'm so dead meat.

"This is my fault." Damian looked down.

"What? Of course this is not your fault." I placed a hand on his cheek. "It's mine because I didn't take responsibility by checking the time."

"But you're here with me. Because of me you are now in trouble."

"No Damian." I ran a hand through his black hair and kissed him on the tip of his nose. "It's okay everything will be okay." I gave him a quick kiss and started to gather my things. He grabbed his hoodie I got for him and helped me straighten out my messy hair as best as he could.

"Call me when you get home okay? Or when you get the chance."

"Okay." I smiled but then it quickly dropped as I felt tears threatened to fall out. "I don't know how I'm going to live." My voice slightly cracked.

Damian quickly hugged me and held me in his arms for a minute.

"Then escape with me Princess. We will run off together."

"To Mexico?"

"Anywhere love."

"Yes. Whatever happens I'll tell you okay."

"I love you."

"I love you too." I gave him one last kiss and ran all the way to my car.

That's when I let the tears fall.

How am I going to get away with this?

*****

I've never prayed so hard in my life until tonight as I drove my car back home at 80 miles per hour. So the speed limit was 55 but living out in the country had its advantages. I blasted my car with music and tried hard not to focus the punishment I was going to get.

The last time I got hit by my parents was one year ago. My father almost lost control because of all the anger. That last time I got hit was because of Ana.

...Gotta love Hispanic punishment traditions...

I finally arrived home and slowly walked up the steps of my porch and opened the door. It was already opened for me so I just casually walked in to see Steve and my mom waited on the living room couch with their arms crossed over their chests.

"Where were you Danielle?" My mother's brown eyes were cold and dangerously followed me as I kept on walking.

"Went to the movie theater." I lied.

Almost to my room....

"With who?"

The question of the year 'yay'.

"Somebody."

"I. Said. Who."

"I'm going to bed." I gritted my teeth and stormed off to my room. I was in no mood for interrogations.

Nobody knew about Damian.

Just Rose and Selina who I had enough trust to tell.

And Steve.

The idiot saw my phone's wallpaper a few days ago. He hasn't said anything about it which I'm surprised until today.

"It's a guy." I heard him say it to my mother.

Idiot forgets that I have good hearing.

That little snitch!

"I bet that's why she likes to stay home alone now because she probably goes see him every time we are gone. I told you it was a bad idea helping her get a car."

"What guy? From school?" My mother asked.

I slid down against my door and covered my ears tying not to yell in anger. I rocked myself back and forth hoping this was just a nightmare and that I was going to wake up eventually and realize my mistakes.

"No that was Juan. I hated him. Now she is with a different guy. I don't know where he came from but I can guess where. I also told you guys it wasn't a good idea to let her get a phone."

Times like this is where I wish I was an only child. Better yet, I wish for a better younger sibling. Unlike some siblings that help each other out and keep secrets of one of another, Steve was the worse there is. He sabotage for a living and made his sins look nothing when really he has a few ugly skeletons hidden in his closet.

A few ugly girls actually making my life complicated.

They know what I know and now they are poisoning his little mind with lies about me just for their own goods. Specifically Serena now.

And she asks why I don't like her...

Damian: Princess?

My phone buzzed from my pocket only to see a text from Damian.

Me: I'm here.

Damian: all good? What happened?

Me: nothing much. I locked myself in my room. My dad is so angry he locked himself in his own room and is sleeping while my mom and my brother are out talking about me.

Damian: whatever happens I'm here for you. Don't ever doubt that okay?

Me: I love you.

Damian: I love you more.

I smiled and crawled into my bedsheets and just closed my eyes. Whatever my parents were about to do to me, I didn't care. It was worth it and if I had the chance to do it again, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Secret is now out and now I'm going to face it.

Unlike the other times, this time I was going to stand up for it.

Whatever it will take.