“Tell Alice it was nice meeting her,” I ran out of the house, ignoring any lingering feelings to keep fighting with Donovan.
I sighed and swallowed hard. I wanted to have the willpower to straighten up and walk away from Donovan and Alice. But I couldn’t.
He was going through a shitty time, God, I know better than anyone how bad those moments can make you feel. And I also know how much you need someone to tell you that everything will be okay or at least show interest in what could happen to my mother or me.
I did the unthinkable for me and for Donovan. I bought ice cream with the little money I had. There’s an ice cream shop a block away from here. I saw it when Donovan tried to abandon me in the middle of the night. Then I went back into his house, completely setting aside my pride.
He was exactly where I left him, still defeated, and this time I know he won’t yell at me.
I hope he won’t.
“I brought ice cream. I don’t really know what flavors you like, so I got a little bit of everything.”
Silence.
“My mother loves ice cream. It cheers her up in an instant.”
More silence.
“Look, if you’re going to kick me out again, do it now. Just… if I were you, I wouldn’t want to be alone. I won’t say anything to Jessi or anyone, Donovan. I would never be capable of doing that.”
He straightened up immediately and started pacing around me, nervous. Running his hand through his hair, he asked, “Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“You belittle me all the time. Why wouldn’t you be able to tell everyone if I’m a complete idiot half the time with you?”
“Because I know what you’re feeling. I know you don’t believe me, and I won’t say anything to make you believe it, but now, it’s your choice. You can stay alone, drowning in your misery, or…” I took the bucket of ice cream and showed it to him. “We can eat while you share your misery with me.”
“You’re weird,” he stated, taking two spoons.
“And you’re worse.”
“I know.”
After that, we talked, a lot. We saved half of the ice cream for Alice when she woke up.
Donovan told me about his responsibilities before I even asked. He tried to answer everything I might ask him at some point, as if he had rehearsed what he should say in case he forgot.
“Who is he?” I dared to ask once he fell silent.
Den ran his hands over his face before taking a deep breath. He pondered for a while, contemplating whether he should answer or not. Honestly, I wanted him to. “The man who impregnated my mother and then left.”
“Your father?”
“He’s not my father.”
“I’m sorry, you know what I mean.”
“The few memories I have of him are seeing him hit my mother or spitting on my face when I tried to help her.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Don’t always say you’re sorry. Don’t pity me. Now I’m fine, she’s fine, everything is fucking fine.”
“I don’t pity you. If I pity you, then I’d have to pity myself too. My father is also a fucking asshole, and my mother is also sick.” His posture became curious, so before he asked, I continued, “You’re a good son, taking care of your mother all by yourself no matter how shitty your father and childhood were. It’s commendable, and you should be proud of what you’re doing.”
“Yeah, well, I know,” Den started to say with an air of superiority. Here we go again. “I mean, I’m awesome.”
I wrinkled my nose disapprovingly and said, “I take back everything. You’re an idiot.”
“It comes with the package, darling. Awesome, beautiful, talented, and a little bit of an idiot. Yeah, girls love it.”
I can’t believe that five minutes ago I was cursing him, and now, as if nothing happened, he’s joking with me. He must be bipolar.
“Very funny. Now, can you take me home? My aunt must be going crazy.”
“Yeah, I will. I’ll just call Alice’s babysitter. Give me a minute.”
And besides joking, he’s accommodating. That’s how I like Donovan. I should give him ice cream more often.
“Where have you been, Celina?” It was the first thing I heard when I entered the house. “The police are looking for you! You haven’t been to school for two days! What happened?”
“I… I fell asleep at my friend’s place, and my phone died, I’m sorry,” it was all I could say, and it wasn’t enough.
“Sorry? My heart was in my throat, young lady.” My aunt hugged me, and I could almost say she was about to cry. She wiped away a solitary tear from her cheek.
“I’ll call the police to let them know you’re here. There’s someone waiting for you in the living room,” she told me and then gave me a look she had never given me before. “And you’re grounded.”
“I know, I deserve it, and… someone? Who…?”
“Just go and see.”
He must be looking for Jessi, or it could be April, although I don’t think so because she wouldn’t stand being in the same room as the witch.
I approached the living room, and what I saw left me frozen.
“Beautiful,” Travis whispered when he saw me. He smiled and stood up from the couch.
“Travis, what are you doing here?” I asked, astonished.
What kind of crazy person in this world keeps insisting after being rejected thousands of times? Is he so desperate to get laid? Or is he really interested? Even if he is, I said it, a boys’ diet forever.
“Well, you didn’t show up at school yesterday or today, and I got worried,” he announced, and I didn’t believe a fucking word of it. He barely knows me.
“How do you know where I live?” I was on the defensive, it was obvious.
“I came to pick up Jessi a couple of times,” his cheeks turned red, he didn’t want me to know that. Let’s see… did he mess around with Jessi? And then he has the nerve to shut her up in front of me at school? Wow, he’s so sweet with his exes.
“Listen, Travis, this isn’t going to work,” I went straight to the point.
NO. INTERESTED.
“Just agree to go out with me tomorrow. Just one date, and if after that, you don’t want to see me anymore, I’ll leave you alone,” he practically begged me.
My desire to say no won, but if I think about it… I need to go out. The only good thing that happened to me here was April, and I don’t even see her every day. Then I have to deal with Jessi, and I have to spend the day arguing with Donovan, although this afternoon was quite enjoyable. I enjoyed talking without wanting to kill each other every two seconds.
I enjoyed being with Donovan.
And it shouldn’t work like that.
The idea was not to get too involved, and that’s what I’ve been doing since I got here. I’m getting too involved with Donovan.
I need to know if it’s just with Donovan that I feel this way.
“Just one,” I replied, making a face. I forgot about my terrible appearance. My hair must be wet, my shirt wrinkled, and my face a mess. Hasn’t he run away from here yet? Why?
“Okay, thank you,” he grinned from ear to ear and sat back down on the couch… Didn’t he understand that it’s over?
“Look… I have to study and catch up on the classes I missed, so…” It was a subtle hint to say, “I want you to leave, I need to be alone.”
I’m a shitty person to this guy, today more than ever, but the truth is that it was a day of pure drama, and I’m not exactly in a good mood, so it’s better for him to leave before I bite him.
“Yeah, sorry. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven, although I think I’ll see you at school tomorrow,” he chuckled suddenly, looking at me for a few seconds to see what his next move would be, and it turned out to be a kiss on the cheek.
Instantly, I felt awful for treating him poorly.
As he was about to leave the living room, I turned around, and it was up to me to decide my next move. I’m not sure if what I was about to do was right, but I didn’t entirely dislike the idea.
“Hey! Do you want to stay for a while and have something to drink?”