Dear Dahlia // B1

[45]

I walk home after school and go straight into the house, avoiding the garage. I figure Luke would be in there and there's a conversation that I'd rather not have waiting for me when we come face to face again.

I go up to my room and put some music on, picking up my sketchbook. I run my hand over the cover and sigh, "Oh, how I've missed you ole girl."

I opened it up and flipped through the pages. Until I reached one that makes me pause. I run my finger on the edge of the paper, holding my breath. I can feel my eyes brimming with tears.

"Hey," a voice interrupts my thoughts. I look up and see Alex standing at the foot of my bed.

"Hi," I force a smile, closing my sketchbook.

"Don't do that," he shakes his head.

"Do what?" I ask.

"Act like you're okay when I know you were just looking at a picture of Lu-"

"Please," I cut him off. "I don't wanna think about it, okay?"

Alex nods before sitting down on the bed next to me.

"I'm supposed to hang out with Tyler tonight," I say quietly.

"I hope you have fun. I won't tell," he pauses. "Him."

I look over at him and press my lips together, "Thank you, but I feel terrible thinking it's something I have to hide from him."

"You already broke his heart," Alex shrugs. "I think he's pretty much at rock-bottom now."

"Alex," I furrow my eyebrows. "Was that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Uh-" Alex glances around the room. "What? Did you hear that? I think Reggie needs something. Love you! So sorry! Bye!"

He vanishes before I can say anything in response. Jerk.

*****

I run down the stairs when I hear a car door shut. There's a knock on the door and I whip it open.

"Hey," I smile.

"Hi," Tyler says.

"Hello there," a deep voice says from behind me. I wince and turn my head slowly.

"Papa," I fake a laugh. "This is Tyler. We're hanging out."

My dad crosses his arms and glares at Tyler. "She'll be home before 9," he says.

"Yes sir," Tyler nods.

"Okay, let's go," I grab Tyler's arm and pull him back toward his car.

He resists for a second and pokes his head inside the house. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Mol-"

I rush to Tyler's car, throughoughly embarrassed. He follows and gets in the driver's side.

"Your dad seems-" he pauses. "Nice."

I put my hands on the sides on my face, shielding myself. "Yeahhhh, we can go now."

Tyler laughs before driving down the street. We go to In amd Out and grab burgers and then drive around through LA, city block after city block. The sky is starless, a sad con of living in a place full of neon lights.

We talk and drive and listen to music and eat and laugh, but there's a lingering feeling over me of how I'll feel when I go home and Tyler leaves. I try to push it away, but it's a lot stronger than me.

I smile over at Tyler, as he tells me a story about him and his friend Brandon. I only catch about half the details, but he seems happy.

"I should probably take you home," he says once it gets closer to 9.

"Just one more song," I smile.

"Just for the ride back," he says, handing me his phone thats connected to the bluetooth. I quickly look up the song Airplanes and turn the stereo up.

I start singing along, not very well. When I look over at Tyler, he is laughing and shaking his head. I don't care. I keep singing and the song ends right as Tyler pulls up to my house.

I sigh, "I had a lot of fun."

"Yeah, me too," Tyler smiles.

I lean over and kiss his cheek. "Thanks Ty."

He nods and even though it's dark, I can tell he's blushing. I get out of the car and walk up to my house. I hear Tyler drive away as I shut the door behind me.

"Home at 10 to 9," I hear my dad say from the living room. "I like this boy."

I laugh and shake my head.

"Goodnight Papa."

"You're not even going to tell me how your little date was?" He asks.

"Not tonight," I say, walking up the stairs.

"Well, then," Dad sighs. "Goodnight Mija."

A.N.

Howdy!

I hate the chapter. With a passion. But I don't know how AND don't want to rewrite it soon this is the final product.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

-Redd