found you ; mattia polibio

10

kavia's pov

"hi, do you have a phone i can use? mine won't work and i need to let my dad know i made it here safe," i said calmly to the man working the register at the gas station. i glanced at mariana walking into the bathroom and she gave me a small thumbs up.

"um, we don't have a store phone but you can feel free to use mine if you want," the man answered.

"that would be great, thank you," i said with relief. he handed me his phone that was open to the keypad and i typed in my dad's familiar number. my hands shook as i pressed call and brought the phone up to my ear, slightly keeping it away from my face because of covid germs. it rang only once before my dad answered, startling me because he rarely answers random numbers.

"hello?" i stated, my voice sounding small.

"kavia?" my dad asked nervously. he sounded panicked.

"dad?" i answered back. i heard him release a breath on the other line and i did the same.

"oh my god kavia you had me worried sick. are you okay? where are you?"

i sighed, knowing this couldn't go well. "i'm sorry," i said quietly, glancing at the register man who was trying to sneakily eavesdrop on my conversation. he looked away when our eyes locked and i continued. "i'm okay, dad, i'm fine. i-i don't know exactly where i am." i said lying. we were in west virginia.

"well can you find out?" he said slightly frustrated. all confidence i once had left my body.

"did you talk to alana?" i questioned changing the subject.

my dad sighed. "yes i talked to alana," he said with his voice a little louder this time. "i can't believe you ran away kavia." he sounded disappointed.

my eyes started to water slightly and i swallowed hard. "is it still considered running away if i'm planning to come home?" i stated bluntly.

my dad let out a laugh. "you know, i think it is. what were you thinking? taking my car? and one of my debit cards? and kidnapping your friend to go with you?"

i looked at the floor and felt angry tears coming up to my eyes. "did you not read my note? i feel like i made things pretty clear."

"i did read your note actually, and yet somehow, i'm still confused how my 17 year old daughter thought it would be okay to sneak out in the middle of the night with her best friend to drive halfway across the country to see her sister in college." he said with a tone.

i scoffed and spoke louder. "i didn't think it was "okay". maybe if you were paying any attention at all and thinking of anyone besides yourself you would've realized that i've been struggling for months and this escape is the only thing saving me right now. but of course, my feelings don't matter to you as much as grades and chores do they?" i spoke as tears of frustration fell down my face.

"kavia-" my dad started before i cut him off.

"look, i called because i wanted you to know i was safe and that me and mariana are driving the rest of the way to new york city. i know you talked to alana so i'm hoping that you will try to understand me at least a little bit. i've never done anything wrong, i have good grades and i told you i will keep up with them. i cleaned the whole house before i left. i have never given you any reason not to trust me ever. already, getting out of the state has made me feel so much better mentally and you bringing me home now would only make it come crashing down. so if you really care about me, please let me do this. let me stay for a week, it's all i'm asking. and if you tell mariana's mom, which i know you will, please just tell her that we're safe and that mariana is staying with me and alana for a week in new york city. please don't make us come home." i spoke, the last sentence softer than the others.

my dad sighed and mumbled something i couldn't make out. i looked up and saw mariana coming out of the bathroom and giving me a questioning look. the register man had gone into the back, giving me some privacy.

"fine, kavia. you're lucky. we're going to have a lot of talking when we get home, don't think there won't be consequences for this. i expect you and alana to communicate with me daily, i expect your school work to be kept up with, and i expect you to be safe. i'll handle mariana's mom. me and alana will decide how you will get home. text me when you get to alana's apartment, and please, please be careful." my dad said with a heavy tone.

i smiled and wiped the tears from my cheek. "thank you, dad, so much." i said sniffling.

"i love you," he said softly through the phone.

"i love you too," i said before ending the call.

word count: 905

authors note:
wow i'm tired. go check out my new imagines book! i love you all and thanks for reading, don't forget to vote <3
-Lindsey ❤️