tattoo boy

[31]

Vinnie's POV ☆ |

The holidays were finally here. Everyone was in their spirits, yet I selfishly didn't check on Angelica. Of course, I regretted leaving her alone, but I was too unsure about ruining her time alone.

"Bags ready?" Reggie slapped me on the shoulder, interrupting my thoughts as my luggage laid on the floor waiting to be packed.

Of course, my parents decided for us all to go traveling for the holidays, but she constantly roamed my mind. I wondered what she was doing, how she was feeling if she feels like I betrayed her.

Angelica's POV ☆ |

I didn't want to bother Carma for the holidays, so I let her and her family hang out. It was only me, myself, and I. The whole day felt numb and neutral. Yes, the thought and guilt surfaced in my mind, but I didn't cry. Instead, I stood tall and forced a smile like I was held at gunpoint.

Somehow...that day surfaced in my mind randomly. It was like I was taken from the present time and taken back to when I had zero tattoos (that I thought my parents could see ), zero piercings, and zero control.

I was sitting on my newly ordered couch and the phone with my mother who was in the passenger seat. In fact, we were on...facetime. I missed her bright cheerful smile when she propped the phone up.

"I cannot wait to see it!!" she squealed, showing the camera at both her and dad. His eyes were on the road but took a double look at me.

"he-hey Gem," his eyes went back and forth from the road to the phone.

"Hey, dad,"

"wait is that-" his eyes looked closer at the phone.

I was scratching my hair but sadly exposed my wrist tattoo.

"is that a tattoo, gem?" his eyebrows furred, and returned to the road with an attitude.

"Andrew, it isn't that bad. she's 22. let her live." she defended me with her soft and passive tone.

"22 but still immature." he sighed under his breath. but I was tired of it. I was never enough for him. I was never the one he was proud of.

"dad I'm so tired of you still trying to control me. if I was able to move into a house 2 times, I'm an adult," I argued back, slightly raising my tone.

"you're not fully an adult. trust me, ill notify you when I feel like you've reached that bar. but now, you haven't." he huffed.

"Andrew-" my mom screamed out after tires screeched.

my fingers were glued and frozen to my phone as I saw it all happen. I couldn't talk, scream, or move. I was paralyzed. I couldn't end that call. I heard all the screams, yelling, glass, and crashing.

I even heard my father screaming my mother's name out, trying to wake her. Soon, a realization made my eyes dry and tears, lots of tears fell. I went through shock, denial, emotional outbursts at work, panic, loads of guilt, depression and I'm quickly fading off of it.

I didn't even want to think about Vinnie at the moment. I was so jealous of the fun he would have in Hawaii. The Christmas station played on my radio and Mariah Carey played along with it as a few tears dribbled down my cold skin.

"Make my wish come true" she sang in the background of my thoughts. Somehow I dreamed off into walking on the balcony and him being there. I didn't get to say goodbye...but I assume that would be weird...right?

My courage took over, and I tip-toed to the balcony hoping he was out there waiting for me. Quickly and most naturally, I slid the balcony door open and glanced to look at his balcony.

But he wasn't there.

His lights looked to be off and it looked like he already left. The warm part of my heart quickly dropped when the crisp wind hit my rich brown skin. My feet quickly got cold and so did my spirit.

"I just want you for my oOown"

I closed my balcony door and locked it, feeling so disappointed. Why did you look, Angelica? Why do you feel like you two are-

Unexpectedly, there was a knock at my door. A little aware, I slowly walked to the door, ready to curse out any carolers that wanted to make my heart even colder.

"Hey, I came over to borrow some sugar." his voice lit my soul again. His eyes looked so kind with him dressed in his turtleneck. He had his luggage attached to him but I didn't mind it.

My heart took over and as soon as I fully opened the door, I threw my arms around him, pulling him in for a tight hug. Tears of joy seeped from the edges of my eyes, before I quickly wiped them, letting him go.

I tried to smile so he couldn't see, but everything felt so...warm again. My smile cracked and after I allowed him to walk in, I chuckled and let my tears roll through.

I was overwhelmed with emotions and fear that it all spilled. But Vinnie didn't just stand there, he reaches out for a hug and held me as I joyfully cried in his arms.

"To think you'd skip a trip for me." I joked, trying to wipe my endless tears. He hugged me tighter, smiling and kissing me on my forehead.