merely blood | ✔️

Chapter 4

Luna pov:

I took a deep breath as soon as I got home. Obviously, I knew that Ricky did not know our mom's real self, but I did not think he would be this naïve to not even believe me.

I walked into the kitchen to get a snack but froze when I saw my mom talking to my dad. Dad was the first one to see me and he smiled at me "How was school?" "Good, I'll go to my room" I said quickly to get away from the situation.

Just as I tried to walk away though my mom spoke up. "Don't sweetie, we have to talk about something with your father anyways."

I felt the tears build in my eyes that were threatening to fall. "What are you talking about Lynne?" dad asked.

I could practically see my mom smiling "Oh just that our daughter has a boyfriend. I was sure she wouldn't tell you." There was silence until dad came up to me and put his hand on my shoulder. "Is your mom telling the truth Luna?" he asked me.

I immediately shook my head "No, I would have told you dad. You know that." He smiled before wrapping his arms around me. "I know and I believe you." His words caused me to smile "Thank you dad."

A few moments later he let go of me and we both turned around to face my angry mother. "Don't lie little girl. You know the truth and you also know that you are in a relationship with someone very special to me."

A few more tears rolled down my cheek at her words.

"Is Luna not someone very special to you? Because she should be, she's your daughter after all" My dad angrily replied.

I looked at him in shock. Dad was defending me, not my mother, like everyone else. I smiled lightly at that.

"Of course, she is Mike, but I won't have a daughter that lies to her own father" She said. He sighed "I get that something made you believe that, but I know my daughter and I know she would never lie about something like that. She might not tell me or Ricky from the start but when we ask her, she would be honest with us. So, you have to have made a mistake Lynne."

Instead of answering him she looked at me with a look that said, "do as you are told." "Luna tell your father what happened in New York" my mom commanded me.

I took a deep breath before starting to speak "Nothing that I had any control over or did on my own accord."

At my words, my dad looked worried, while my mom looked furious.  "You are lying little girl" she said and then looked at dad.

"She excepted a proposal of her boyfriend. She is set to marry him as soon as she turns 18. Therefore, she will be moving to Chicago with me, so we can start preparing for the wedding and so I can make sure that she will be a great wife. Obviously, you will all be invited to the wedding, but until then you cannot see her or be in contact with her. It's what's best for her."

His eyes widened in shock and opened his mouth to say something just to quickly close it again. I started crying at that. I did not want to marry anyone, let alone until it was the one for me and I got to decided this for myself.

"Dad please you have to believe me. I did not have a choice in the matter. Please don't let me go to Chicago" I begged. His eyes did not give any kind of emotions away "Go to your room Luna." Not trusting my voice, I nodded my head before doing as I was told.

This was it. My life was gone. I would get married in a few years, well about 3 to be exact. Dad was going to let me get dragged back to Chicago without a fight.

I fell onto my bed and cried until no tears were left. When I calmed down slightly, I walked over to my nightstand to take out my lucky necklace. It was a silver necklace with a moon shaped pendant, that Ricky got me for my 14th birthday. Every time I would feel sad in Chicago, I would hold it in my hand and think of how my life could have been or how it used to be.

"No, you are lying. Mom would never do that. Luna is just a little naïve girl, who thought he found love and made a mistake that she can fix" I heard yelling coming from downstairs.

"Richard Michael Bowen you do not talk about your little sister like that especially not if none of what happened is her fault."

It was Ricky and dad fighting about me. I always thought I was everything to Ricky, obviously I knew I would have been sharing that place with Nini, but I thought I meant something to him. "Stop lying to yourself dad. Luna is just lying to get out of trouble but keep believing for all I care."

That is sentence caused me to realize something. Mom was right, Ricky never wanted me to return.

That is why he never called or texted me, even if I called or texted him first. He would ignore me or hang up. I thought it was because he was mad, but I was wrong. He did it because I meant nothing to him.

I grabbed a backpack, into which I put my favourite necklace, some clothes, a water bottle, all the money I could find in my room and last but certainly not least my diary, which I started writing in shortly before I left for "New York".

After putting on some running shoes and braiding my hair I grabbed a note pad.  Ricky did not care about me, but as far as I knew or at least hoped dad did care at least a bit.

I had to make sure to tell him that I am safe. After I finished writing the note, I placed it on my nightstand before writing dad on top of it.

I made sure that my door was locked, so that I had enough time to run away. I took a deep breath before quickly opening my window and climbing down.

When I reached the ground, I immediately started running. Where should I go?

I thought to myself. It was already getting dark, so I decided to go to Hannah's for the night. Dad would hopefully only check my room tomorrow morning and by then I would already be out of the city.

"I'm coming" I heard Hannah yell as soon as I knocked. When she opened the door, I did not even have time to react before I was pulled into a hug by her. "I'm so sorry Luna. I should not have said what I did. Can you forgive me?"

I nodded my head "Yeah, can I stay here tonight?" She nodded her head "Sure, but why?" I sighed "I got into a fight with my parents."

It was only half a lie but apparently, she knew me better than that.

"Tell me the truth, I know you are lying" she demanded. I sighed before pulling her into her bedroom and telling her everything.

As soon as I finished, she looked at me in shock. "You were never in New York, but instead you were in Chicago?"

I nodded my head as an answer. "Your mother is crazy.  Promising her own child to someone, who is ten years older and "training" her to be the perfect wife. Thank god for your father, but Ricky is just as dumb."

There was a moment of silence until Hannah spoke up. "You are staying with us until Ricky calms down enough to realize your mothers' true colours."

I tried to tell her that it was fine, but she insisted on me staying with her, so I gave in.

———
This turned extreme rather quickly