After the talent show incident, everyone around us calmed down. The school assumed they started dating, but they both decided that it was best to tell the big mouths of the school the line, “Luna and Oliver aren’t dating,” was said around the school. Everyone left them alone to be themselves, but they used that alone time to get to know each other more. She wasn’t afraid to be around him. They started having inside jokes no one understood. As school was coming close to an end, she knew she would see her father, but also, her father would meet Oliver. She was terrified at that moment. All she could think about was what could he possibly say to make Oliver hate her forever? That wasn’t the only thing. It was also what her father wouldn’t say that would make Oliver hate her for good. She was constantly thinking about it.
In the blink of an eye, it was Spring Break; she had to spend the week with her father. She wasn’t as excited as she usually was whenever she knew she would be with him. As she slowly packed her bag, she felt herself having a moment as she was watching herself pack. She knew she wasn’t packing, which made her more concerned about her own mental health. She didn’t know what was going on with her at that moment.
“Luna, your father is here.” That line made her shiver. She knew she’d have to tell him. She remembered her father moved across the field from Laurissa’s house. Which meant she could have her big sister close by. Even though she wished she would not be with him for the time, she was excited to see Laurissa and Sammy. Luna was missing Oliver already. She’d have to tell father about him, and that’s the last thing she wanted to do.
“Okay, tell him to wait. I’m not ready yet.” She knew that was a wrong answer because she knew her mother would come in and ask ‘what’s going on?’ and then give her the option to not go with him. The weird thing is, she wants to see him but for maybe a day… but an entire week, she doesn’t think she can last all the way to the end without having a major breakdown. As she predicted, her mother came into her room to see a half packed bag.
“Luna, what’s up? Your father is waiting for you.” Wow, she was close to the predictability of her parents. Luna was at a crossroads she didn’t like.
“Sorry, I thought I had more time to let myself figure out what to wear for the week.”
“Well, can you hurry? I don’t want him here longer than he needs to be. Just choose whatever and get going.” That was hard for Luna to hide the fear of getting in his car. She knew she wasn’t scared of her father, it was just the emotional damage that comes with him. She didn’t like that he took Luna’s energy and then would leave her in this vulnerable state of mind then to drop her back off at her mother. It’s unfair for him to do that to her.
“I am hurrying. Just tell him to just wait. I thought he was coming a bit later, like usual.” In Luna’s eyes, she wasn’t wrong. He usually came later in the evening, but he must have gotten out of work early (if he had a job to come out of) to get her this early.
“Okay.” As Luna watched her mom leave her room, she released the heaviest sigh that she felt creating inside. She went to the closet, picked out random things that she would normally wear whenever she was with her mother. Threw it all in the bag, knowing that it was going to be a hot mess when she took it out of the bag to wear. Ran to the bathroom, grabbed her toothbrush, comb, and some random things she knew she wouldn’t use, but she didn’t care. She was stalling for as long as she could before she had to get out of the house.
“See you in a week.” She said as she was hugging her mom. Her mom was confused, but Luna knew her mom wanted to ask if she was okay, but her mom just squeezed her tighter and said, “See you in a week.” Luna let her mom go and walked toward her father. He was waiting outside, leaning against his car.
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