chapter twenty-two:
❛ beginning of a new era ❜

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Arizona sat on the couch, the dim glow of the TV barely illuminating the dark living room. It was late, too late for Diego to still be up, so she had sent him to bed hours ago. The silence of the house gnawed at her, the emptiness weighing heavier with every tick of the clock. She hadn't spoken to her mom in what felt like ages, at least not a real conversation. Daniela was usually locked away in her room, either passed out or lost in her drunken haze. Arizona had been playing the role of caretaker, both for her younger brother and for herself, for five long months now.

The knock at the door was sudden, sharp, and insistent. Arizona's heart lurched in her chest. She wasn't expecting anyone. For a moment, fear spiked through her, the idea of some stranger outside in the middle of the night setting her on edge. But when she peeked through the window and saw who it was, fear gave way to a slow, simmering rage.

It was Alexander. Her father.

She hadn't seen him in five months. Not since he walked out of the hospital that day, leaving behind a trail of broken promises and disappointment. And now, there he was, standing on her doorstep, swaying slightly in his drunken stupor.

Arizona opened the door, her heart racing but her face set in a cold, hard mask. The smell of alcohol hit her immediately, a pungent reminder of the past months of misery.

"Arizona..." Alexander's voice cracked, his eyes bloodshot and swollen, tears streaming down his face. "I'm... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything. For leaving again... For what I said... I was wrong. I called you a disgrace, and I didn't mean it. Please..."

He collapsed to his knees on the doorstep, his body trembling with sobs. Arizona stared down at him, her throat tight with the overwhelming mix of anger and sorrow that had been building for so long.

"You're sorry?" she snapped, her voice shaking. "You think that's gonna fix anything? You're always the reason why Mom starts drinking again! Do you even get that?!"

Alexander looked up at her, his expression broken. "I didn't mean to-"

"She was sober!" Arizona shouted, cutting him off. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms. "Mom was sober! Then you waltz back into our lives and everything falls apart! Do you have any idea what it's been like? I haven't had a normal conversation with her in five months because of you! She's been drinking every single day since you left. Every single day, Dad! And guess who has to clean up after it? Guess who has to be the parent for Diego? Me! I'm only seventeen, and I have to be the adult because you screwed everything up again!"

Alexander's sobs grew louder, his head hanging low. "I... I didn't know. I'm sorry..."

"I hate you," Arizona whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of the words. "I hate you for doing this to us. To Diego. To Mom. I hate you."

For a moment, the only sound was Alexander's sobbing, his broken apologies barely coherent. He eventually stood, staggering back, wiping his face with the sleeve of his jacket. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." he mumbled, turning away and stumbling down the street into the night.

Arizona stood frozen at the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt no relief from the confrontation, only a deep, hollow ache. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the weight of everything was crushing her.

She couldn't do this anymore.

Arizona closed the door and grabbed her phone, her hands shaking as she scrolled through her contacts. She found the number she needed-one she had dreaded using-but it was time. She was done. It was time to get help for her mom. She dialed the rehab facility, her fingers trembling, and after a few rings, a voice on the other end answered.

"Hello, I need someone to come... for my mom. She's been drinking... a lot. I need her to get help."

Within the hour, the rehab facility's van pulled up outside their house. Two men and a woman stepped out, walking toward the door. Arizona let them in, her body tense with anticipation, knowing what was about to happen. She led them to her mother's bedroom, her stomach twisting with guilt and anger.

Daniela was lying on her bed, the familiar smell of alcohol filling the room. When she saw the people in uniform standing behind Arizona, she bolted upright, panic flashing in her eyes. "No, no! You can't do this!" she shouted, stumbling to her feet.

"Mom, you need help," Arizona said, her voice breaking. "Please, just go."

Daniela shoved past Arizona, trying to push her way out of the room, but Arizona blocked her. The workers moved in, trying to restrain her, but Daniela fought back. "You can't take me! Arizona, stop them! Stop them!" she screamed, thrashing wildly.

Diego came running down the stairs, his eyes wide with confusion. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice small and scared.

Arizona grabbed Diego, holding him back as Daniela tried to break free, her mother's wild eyes locking onto her. "Diego, stay back," Arizona whispered, her arms tight around him as he struggled to make sense of the chaos.

"No! Let me go! You can't do this!" Daniela screamed, her voice hoarse, as the workers finally restrained her, dragging her out of the house. "Arizona, how could you?!"

Arizona's heart broke as her mother was pulled away, her desperate screams echoing in the hallway. She felt Diego trembling in her arms, his confusion and fear palpable. "It's okay, Diego," she whispered, her voice thick with tears she refused to let fall. "It's okay."

As they took Daniela away, a worker from Child Protective Services who had come along turned to Arizona, looking at her and Diego. "Do you have anyone who can watch over you two? Any family or friends?"

Arizona hesitated for only a second before nodding, forcing a lie past her lips. "Yes," she said, her voice steady. "I have someone."

In her mind, the image of Miguel flashed before her eyes, and for the first time in months, she felt a deep pang of regret. I wish I hadn't messed things up with him.

Arizona moved swiftly around her small, cluttered bedroom, tossing clothes into a suitcase without much thought. The events of the night had left her shaken, and she was running on pure adrenaline now, trying to pack as quickly as she could. Every time she threw another piece of clothing into the bag, the image of her mother being dragged out of the house flashed through her mind, making her stomach churn. She had to get out. They both did.

Diego, standing in the doorway, watched her with wide eyes. "Arizona... what's going on?" he asked, his voice hesitant, confusion written all over his face. "Why are you packing our stuff?"

"Diego, please... just be quiet for a second," Arizona snapped, her tone sharp as she zipped up the suitcase. The words had come out harsher than she meant, and she winced, immediately regretting it. She paused, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice softening as she turned to face her younger brother. "I didn't mean to yell at you."

Diego stayed silent for a moment, then asked the question that Arizona had been dreading. "Why did they take Mom away? What's happening?"

Arizona clenched her jaw, her hands shaking as she grabbed the next bag to pack. She wanted to shield Diego from the harsh truth, but there was no more hiding it. Not anymore. "Because, Diego... Mom needs help."

Diego frowned, still not fully grasping the gravity of the situation. "Help? Why? I don't get it."

Arizona stopped what she was doing, turning fully to look at him. Her heart ached seeing the innocence in his eyes, the confusion in his face. He didn't understand-how could he? She had tried to protect him from it for so long.

"Diego," Arizona began, her voice quieter now, more fragile. "Mom... she has a drinking problem. She's been drinking a lot for months, and it's because of our stupid father."

Diego's face twisted in a mix of realization and disbelief. He had seen some of it-he knew something wasn't right-but the full weight of what she was saying was only now sinking in. "Wait..." Diego's voice trailed off as he pieced things together. "You mean... Mom's been... because of Dad?"

"Yes," Arizona said, the words coming out cold and bitter. "Our dad is a piece of shit, Diego. He only cares about himself. He came back into our lives, messed everything up, and now this is where we are." Her voice shook, filled with anger and frustration. "This is what he does-he comes in, ruins everything, and then leaves."

Diego stared at her, his mind racing, the weight of everything Arizona had been carrying finally starting to make sense to him. He shifted on his feet, struggling with what to say. "So... where are we going now?" he asked, his voice small.

Arizona zipped up the last bag, slinging it over her shoulder. She turned to Diego, her face hardened but tired, her eyes rimmed with the exhaustion of someone far older than seventeen. "We're going to Miguel's," she said flatly.

Diego's eyes widened in surprise. "Miguel's? Wait-are you guys... back together or something?"

Arizona exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "No. We're not." She picked up her keys, avoiding Diego's gaze. "Let's just go, okay?"

Diego hesitated for a moment but nodded, following her out of the room. The house felt heavier, emptier now, as they left behind the remnants of the chaos they had been living in for months. Arizona tried to push away the guilt and pain, but it clung to her, unshakable.

As they stepped outside, Arizona glanced back at the house one last time, her heart sinking. The road ahead was uncertain, but she knew one thing for sure: they couldn't stay here anymore. Not with the ghosts of their broken family still haunting every corner.

Arizona's hands tightened on the steering wheel as she parked outside Miguel's apartment. The drive had been a blur, the weight of everything pressing down on her like a boulder. Diego sat quietly in the passenger seat, still processing everything that had happened. She glanced over at him, her heart aching at how much her younger brother didn't fully understand.

"Stay here," she muttered, unbuckling her seatbelt.

Diego's brow furrowed. "But where are we going to stay tonight?"

"I don't know yet. Just... stay in the car, okay? I'll be right back."

Without waiting for a response, Arizona stepped out into the night, her feet feeling like they were moving through quicksand as she approached the apartment. Her heart pounded in her chest. She hadn't even spoken to Miguel in months, and now she was about to show up on his doorstep, unannounced, and desperate.

When she reached the door, she hesitated. Her hand hovered over the wood, her breath catching in her throat. *Just knock,* she told herself. *You don't have any other options.* With a shaky breath, she knocked.

Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Miguel. His face lit up with surprise, and then confusion. "Arizona?" he asked, his voice full of concern. He was holding a plate, and Arizona could see inside: his mother, Yaya, and Johnny were sitting at the dining table, clearly in the middle of dinner.

Arizona's throat tightened. This was a mistake. She shouldn't have come. "I'm sorry," she whispered, trying to steady her voice. "It's nothing. I shouldn't have come."

Miguel frowned, setting his plate down on the counter behind him. "No, what is it, Arizona? You don't just show up here for nothing. What's going on?"

Arizona bit her lip, trying to hold back the flood of emotions building up inside her. She could feel the tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but she shook her head, stepping back. "It's nothing, Miguel. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. Go back to your dinner."

Miguel stepped toward her, his concern growing. "Arizona, talk to me. What happened?"

She shook her head again, the lump in her throat growing unbearable. She couldn't do this, not now. "I can't," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry."

Before Miguel could say anything else, she turned and walked quickly back to the car, her hands trembling as she opened the door and slid into the driver's seat. Diego was watching her, his face filled with questions.

"What happened? What did Miguel say?" Diego asked.

Arizona started the car, her heart racing, her mind spinning. "Nothing. Just... please, Diego. Let me think."

Diego fell silent, sensing the heaviness in her tone. He looked out the window, leaving Arizona alone with her thoughts.

As she drove aimlessly through the streets, the weight of everything came crashing down on her again. Her dad showing up, her mom being dragged off, the constant pressure of having to be a parent to Diego... it was all too much. She thought coming to Miguel's might help, but the second she saw him-saw him with his family, his stability-she knew she didn't belong there. Not like this.

Her mind drifted, and she found herself thinking about Dylan. She hadn't thought about him in a while, but now, in this moment of absolute chaos, she wished he were here. Dylan always knew how to calm her down, how to make things feel less impossible. But Dylan wasn't here, and she had no idea where to turn.

The silence in the car stretched on, and Arizona's grip on the steering wheel tightened. The road blurred before her, the world outside feeling distant and surreal. All she wanted was for everything to stop-just for a moment-to give her space to breathe. But life kept moving forward, and she was caught in its relentless current.

Arizona's hands gripped the steering wheel as she pulled up in front of Dylan's house. Her heart was pounding, her mind racing with everything that had just happened. The weight of her father's return, her mother being taken away, and the responsibility of caring for Diego felt suffocating. She had no plan, no idea what to do next, but somehow, she found herself here-at Dylan's.

She got out of the car, wiping the tears from her eyes as she made her way to the front door. Diego stayed in the car, still quiet after the chaos of the night. Arizona knocked, her hand trembling, her breath coming in short gasps. She didn't even know why she was here, only that she needed someone-anyone-who wouldn't judge her.

The door opened, and Demetri stood there, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of her. "Arizona?" he asked, concern flooding his voice. "What... what's going on?"

Arizona couldn't speak; she was crying too hard. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold it together, but the weight of everything was too much.

Demetri didn't ask any more questions. He turned his head and called back into the house, "Dylan! Get over here, man!"

Footsteps pounded down the stairs, and a second later, Dylan appeared. He took one look at Arizona, his face filling with alarm. "Arizona? What-are you okay?" His voice cracked with that familiar nervousness, the one that came whenever he didn't know what to do.

Arizona shook her head, barely able to get the words out. "No, I'm not okay, Dylan. I'm... everything is messed up. My dad showed up, and he was drunk and crying, and now my mom's gone, they took her, and I don't know what to do!" Her voice broke on the last word, and she buried her face in her hands.

Dylan shifted awkwardly, unsure how to comfort her, but he stepped closer. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I mean, it's not okay, but... uh, do you need to stay here? For the night, or... I don't know, as long as you need?"

Arizona shook her head again, wiping at her eyes as more tears fell. "No, I can't stay here. I have to get out of town. I'm going to try and find my grandma. We're gonna stay with her for a while."

Dylan blinked, his brow furrowed. "Where does she live?"

"Riverside," Arizona replied, her voice trembling. "It's a few hours away."

Dylan's eyes widened in concern. "Riverside? That's far. Are you sure? You just... I mean, it's late, and everything's already so crazy. Maybe you should wait until tomorrow or something?"

"I can't wait, Dylan," Arizona snapped, the desperation clear in her voice. "I need to go now. I can't... I can't stay here anymore, okay? Everything's falling apart, and I just need to get away."

Dylan looked at her, his eyes searching her face for something-some sign that she was okay, that she was thinking clearly. But Arizona couldn't meet his gaze. Her mind was already somewhere else, racing through the night, on her way to some distant sense of safety.

"Okay," Dylan said quietly. "Okay, I get it. I just... I don't want you to do anything dangerous, alright?"

Arizona nodded, swallowing hard. "I'll be fine. I just need to get to my grandma's."

Dylan hesitated, then reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. It was awkward and stiff, but it was something. "If you need anything... anything at all, just call me, okay?"

"I will," Arizona whispered. "Thank you, Dylan. I'm sorry I... I'm sorry."

Dylan shook his head quickly. "Don't be sorry. You don't need to be sorry."

With a final glance at him, Arizona turned and headed back to the car. She opened the door, sliding in beside Diego, who looked at her with wide, questioning eyes. She didn't say anything, just started the car and pulled away from the house.

As they drove into the night, Arizona's mind was spinning, the weight of everything crushing her. She didn't know where she was going exactly, but Riverside was the only place that seemed far enough away from the chaos of her life.

Diego, sitting quietly beside her, finally broke the silence. "Are we really going to Grandma's?"

"Yes," Arizona replied, her voice tight. "We are."

Diego looked down at his hands, silent for a moment. Then he asked, "Do you think everything's going to be okay?"

Arizona gripped the steering wheel tighter, her knuckles white. "I don't know, Diego. I don't know."

ASH SPEAKS!

will arizona ever catch a break?

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)