New Boy | Miguel Diaz

Dad

"Dad?" I shut the door, dropping my bag.

"Hello, Ava."

"Why the hell are you here?"

"I've missed you."

I scoff. "It's been 7 years."

"I know I'm sor-"

"You need to leave." I saw my gi on the counter and my eyes widened.

"You still do karate, huh? I thought your mom told you not to do that anymore."

"That's none of your concern. Seriously, what're you doing here?"

"I have missed you. And your mother. And there are some things we need to discuss."

"What things?"

"Things. But, first, I'd like to meet this karate teacher of yours."

"No. If mom sees your here-"

"Where is your mother? Is she even here? Has she been for the past week?" I look away. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow."

He walks up to the door, putting his hand on the knob and glances over at me. "You've grown so much." With his final word, he walks out the door.

I throw my bag on the floor and grab my gi. Will he tell my mom I'm doing karate? I was busy in my thoughts when another knock came at the door.

"I told you to lea-" I opened the door to Miguel. "Oh sorry I thought you were someone else."

"It's okay. Can I come in?"

"Sure." I move out the way letting him in. Thank god I cleaned up.

"Um who did you think I was when I knocked at the door?"

"Um no one. Some guy got the wrong apartment. Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Oh! Right, well my mom's working late and my grandma is somewhere doing whatever she's doing so I thought I'd come over and ask if you wanted to sleep over at my place."

"Um sure. My mom isn't home so I don't think she'll care where I'm at. Lemme just go pack some stuff."

He nods and takes a seat on the couch. I grab some pajamas stuffing them into a bag along with new clothes to wear tomorrow since we still have school. I grabbed my hair stuff and toothbrush and threw them in the bag. I left the room seeing my gi still on the counter so I grab it and walk over to Miguel.

"I'm ready." He nods and we walk over to his apartment.

"Wait even if your mom isn't home, are you sure she will be okay with me sleeping here?"

"Of course she loves you don't worry."

We walk in and head to his room. I can see he finished unpacking since there were no more boxes laying around.

"I'm gonna go change. Where's the bathroom?"

"Oh follow me." I follow him down the hall making our way to the nicely cleaned bathroom.

"Thanks." He leaves and I change out of my clothes. The bruises on my arms have finally healed from being hit by my mom last time I saw her and the fight with Kyler and his friends. She hits pretty hard so not surprised that they didn't heal fast.

I finally change and go back to Miguel's room. When I walk in, I see Miguel laying down on his phone.

"Where am i sleeping?"

"Here obviously." He slaps the spot next to him on the bed and we both laugh as I lay down next to him.

He puts his phone down and turns off the light. He pulls me closer laying my head on his chest and his arm around my waist. I felt safe in his arms. I realized that no one has ever made me feel this comfortable or safe so I tried to savor this moment for as long as I can.

"Goodnight, Ava."

"Goodnight, Miguel."