She looked at the time, it was art class in her time schedule.
“Hey mom, I am gonna head back to the apartment because I just looked at the time and I want to get there before the bus comes with everyone.”
“Did you finish your homework?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Okay, yeah you can go. Say bye to everyone here first.” Luna went through the whole office and said goodbye to everyone. She slowly headed toward the door with all her homework and the letter to her dad. She was scared to have that letter with her but she knew she couldn’t leave it where her mom could find it. As she was walking back she slowly started crumpling up the letter and then uncrumpling the letter. She couldn’t tell if she wanted to keep the letter or if she wanted to destroy it, she was scared to let the letter go but also she wanted to let it all disappear.
She was scared to even think that way, all she could think of was finding out what was true and what wasn’t. She walked home slowly, she couldn't help but start crying. She stopped in her steps and just broke down crying, she didn’t know why. She didn’t want to cry but her whole body shut down. She didn’t move until she stopped crying, which felt like forever in her eyes but was only for five minutes. She continued walking back and she noticed the bus was coming which meant she might have to hide her face from Aaron because then she would have to tell him what was going on and she didn’t want that. She was not a fan of that option either. “Hey everyone! Did y’all miss me?”
“And where were you today missy?” Lucy asked.
“Today was a me day, did I miss anything?” She wasn’t lying, it was a Luna day. She didn’t want to tell anyone what was going on yet until she knew personally.
“Well, a new guy started today. He’s sooo cute like cute cute.” Luna understood what she meant but anyone listening in would probably be very confused as to what that means.
“Oooooo!! I have to meet him tomorrow and make him fall madly in love with me.” Both Lucy and Luna were laughing. Aaron came off the bus and he looked confused and she knew he was going to ask when no one else was around.
“Hey dummy, no more sick days for you. You get too much homework from your classes, I don’t even think I got this much homework from my classes last year.” She rolled her eyes to him. She decided to give him a side hug and tickle his side.
“Hi ticklish, I think you probably did have this much homework but you would do it during the day before you came home so all you did was turn it in the next day.” After she said, everyone looked relieved that whatever thing that was happening between her and Aaron was over. She waved to everyone bye, it was her signal to tell Aaron to say bye as well to be alone. They both started heading toward her apartment stairs and she questioned why she wanted to be alone with him and remembered … homework.
“So are you going to tell me the real reason you skipped school today? Does it have to do with your dad showing up yesterday?”
“Yeah, it was actually that because my mom threatened my dad with the cops so she wanted to keep me home today in case he showed up at the school.” She would rather use that line since that’s what her mom is also thinking is the reason she wanted to stay home.
“Damn, it’s that serious? What happened?”
“So long story short, my dad’s dad passed away. I didn’t want to go to his funeral because I didn’t know my grandpa but also because I don’t hang out with that side of my family. So, we told my dad that it’s a no for me because of school. When he was here yesterday it was to see if he could convince my mom to take me to the funeral and then came out of nowhere that he was going to take me to dinner but didn’t say where so my mom rejected that line too because she knew that he would take me to a far location and then try to take me to the funeral.” Even after Luna said it like that, her dad looks extremely bad.
“I have many questions, but I will start with, I am sorry for your loss even if you didn’t know him like that. Now that I said that, I am happy that your mom kept you home today.”
“Why?” Luna was scared of the next lines, she didn’t want anymore problems coming from her dad right now. She just wanted to breathe.
“Your dad was at the school today, he saw me and asked where were you? I didn’t tell him that you stayed home so I said that you were probably in the locker rooms changing for class. He tried to ask where that was, I told him that he would need to ask her to come to the front office because parents aren’t allowed back there. Then he left.” OMG! Her dad is going to be Luna’s death. He went to her school and tried to humiliate her.
“Why didn’t you call me after it happened? I was with my mom for most of the school day. I would have had you on speaker so we both could handle the situation.”
“Because I was able to handle him and I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Worry isn’t the word I am looking at. The word I am working with is frustrated. He is just annoying, and my mom just told him that I won’t be going with him during my Christmas break today so I am wondering about the timing of it all.”
“I saw him after I left your 3rd period. I remember you telling me that you had lunch in 4th period with all your ‘friends,’ which is another thing. I don’t trust them with you, like Matthew feels like he will throw you under the bus if something goes sideways. Please be careful with that crowd.” What! Too much happened just now that Luna couldn’t handle it all. It went from her finding out about her dad going to her school to then Aaron saying that Matthew and the group are going to betray her.
“Thank you for your concern but I can take care of myself. I would like my homework that you got me though.” After she said that Aaron went into his bag and pulled out a folder with all her homework with a sticky note from all teachers he went to. She was glad that Aaron did this for her. She was scared about telling her mom about her dad going to the school.
“Luna, you don’t have to hide what’s going on. I want to help you if you need help.”
“I don’t need help! Okay. All I want is peace and clearly I am not allowed to have that luxury. Thank you for getting my homework, I will find a way to make it up to you but I need to go.” Luna was at this point yelling at Aaron not because he angered her, but because she was dealing with issues that shouldn’t be a thing.
“Luna… why are you yelling at me? I just care about you and I want to make sure everything is good with you. Is that so bad for you?”
“What makes you think I want someone to take care of me? Aaron, you are my friend, stop trying to be my knight and shining armor. I don’t need that. When I am ready to talk about things that are happening around me you will know but you forcing me to tell you doesn’t make me feel great and I am already not feeling great so I am going to go home and do my homework and relax before knowing I have to go to school tomorrow.” Luna didn’t even say goodbye, she didn’t even let Aaron respond. She just walked away, went up the stairs and locked the door and collapsed onto the floor with her hands on her face and her face buried into her legs. She knew she needed to tell her mom about her dad showing up to the school. She looked at her phone and was tempted to call her mom and tell her but she knew that she would be coming home in an hour. She was stressed. She didn’t focus on it, all she focused on was the folder of homework with her name on it. She started doing it while she listened to Taylor Swift’s album that she downloaded through Limewire. As time was passing by, she was still thinking about her dad showing up at her school. Luna didn’t even know how she would have handled seeing him there. The door unlocked but it was Marc. She was glad it was Marc, but she wanted her mom to come home. She had to tell her before anyone else. Two minutes later, her mom opened the door. Luna was relieved to see her mom.
“Hey, so I found out something that happened at school?”
“From who and what?”
“My dad was at my school today. He spoke with Aaron and Aaron told me when he gave me all my homework.”
“I’m sorry! What! He should have never done that. I was being lenient about Christmas break that if he controlled himself that he could get you after New Years, but now no! No! That crossed a line, and you had this fear that he would show up at your school.” Mom was extremely upset, but Luna needed to let her know. Marc was trying to calm down her mom but even he couldn’t get through to her.
“Luna, I am going to have Lily take you to school in the morning. I will be calling the school tomorrow and to let them know that Blake is not allowed to take you out of the school without my consent.”
Marc chimed in, “our consent.” She felt bad that Marc was constantly reminded that he wasn’t her dad.
“No offense hun, but this is between me and Blake. I don’t want you involved in this mess.” And queue the argument. Luna decided to take Chewie out for a walk to clear her head from the chaos. As she was walking around, she could feel her stress about the whole thing and what made her feel worse was because all this started because she didn’t want to go to the stupid funeral. As she was walking to the last trees, Aaron saw her.
“Hey Luna, how you feeling?”
“Horrible. I caused a fight in my house about how my dad went to the school. I just want all of this to be over, is that too much to ask?” Aaron looked like he was crying.
“You okay, Aaron?”
“Well I told the whole thing that has been happening to you to Derek and he said that I haven’t been a good friend to you and that I should have been there for you but also that I need to stop with whatever is in my head when I see you.” That last part made her question some stuff but she didn’t want to question it yet.
“Aaron, this is my own fault not yours. I have been trying to even understand the whole thing since this is my first family death and I clearly am having a lot of delayed reactions about it all, which was also the reason I stayed home today because I couldn’t handle being in school and breaking down randomly again. You are a good friend, we have just had to put some distance between us because of the past summer and I don’t want to be the reason that you lose another girlfriend. Also what goes on in your head when you see me?” She knew she was going to regret that question, but she needed that answer.
“When I see you, I think of our kiss. Speaking of my girlfriend, she’s not my girlfriend anymore. We broke up because she wanted to make out with one of my friends in front of me so you won’t be blamed for me being single.” Woah! That was a lot to take in.
“Oh, I am sorry that all happened to you. I wish I could help with the kiss but I am sorry but I have enough on my plate right now.”
“How would you have helped me with the kiss?” Oh no! This was not the conversation that Luna needed right now. She wanted to calm down and not be dealing with this issue and more.
“Aaron, I am sorry but I have to go back inside with Chewie.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“Honestly, yes Aaron. You think I am in the best mood to try and be cute and flirty because at the end of the day I am not. You know I am dealing with so many issues but here you are trying to see if I would kiss you again. Right now, I am regretting the kiss more every time we talk about it, if I'm honest. You came over to this area to check on me and now I am going back to my stressful home with my anger while you are trying to see if I have feelings for you.”
“Wow, calm down. I wasn’t trying to get you to kiss me again.”
“You know what, I am just leaving. I will see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, bye I guess.” Once she heard that line, Luna left. Luna walked home and just stayed quiet. She went back inside to a quiet home which meant that the argument was over and no one was allowed to talk about it again.
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