Athena

55. Nascha Benally

Cruz stares back at me with a sucker-punched look on his face. An intense sequence of emotions flits across his face.

Shock. 

Hesitation. 

Distress.

He must think I'm insane, and I don't blame him. I know we're minors. I know neither of us possesses a steady income. I know what I've suggested is borderline crazy, stupid, and full of risk, but it feels like a better alternative than letting Cruz stay with his dad. Without Aunt Katrina or me around as their buffer, I'm almost certain that Ron will take out his aggression on Cruz. I've already seen Ron get verbally abusive with Cruz multiple times, and, just now, shit got physical. There was literal blood and actual broken bones. I'm scared of what might happen to Cruz when Ron comes back.

"Come with me," I beg, "please, baby."

Quietly, he asks, "Where would we go?"

"Anywhere but here."

Cruz laughs humorlessly. "Believe me, Athena, there's nothing I want more than to run away with you. But we have to plan this shit out. Carefully. Or else we're gonna fuck up our futures before they even begin."

"I know," I mumble, "I know..."

"We're not old enough to rent an apartment," he points out. "We'll be homeless."

His point is valid, but I try to stay optimistic, foolishly so, and supply, "I have a fake ID. I also have some savings from my, ah, side hustle. Maybe you could get a part-time job. Being on our own will be a grind, but we could make it work."

Cruz glances away. "I dunno..."

"What if we go to my dad's house?"

His gaze returns to me. "I thought you needed to wait for him to call you back?"

"Well, technically, he's still my legal guardian," I reply with a grimace. "If we show up at his doorstep, then it'll be hard for him to turn us away. Harder than saying 'no' to me on the phone, for sure. I'll try to convince my dad to let us crash at his place for a week or two. Until we can figure out a better solution."

Cruz's eyes pop out. "You want me to crash at your dad's place?"

I chuckle nervously. "Yes?"

He looks doubtful. "I'm not sure if he'll take me in."

Doubt sinks into me as well, but this seems to be our only option at the moment. "But we gotta try. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?"

Cruz frowns deeply at my remark, and he stays silent for a few heart-clenching beats.

Is he about to reject my idea?

I wait with bated breath, predicting the worst. But, then, he surprises me and gives in, "Alright, then. Let's go find your dad."

My mouth parts in shock. "For real?"

I wasn't expecting Cruz to get on board so quickly.

He nods. "My dad's psychotic. At least, your dad just sounds like a selfish prick. I'd rather take my chances with him."

My dad definitely seems like the lesser of two evils in this scenario. "I can't disagree with you there."

"Right?"

I give him a small, scared smile. "So... are we really doing this?"

Cruz eyes me with trepidation. "I think so?"

My nerves start flailing like an overturned turtle. Anxiety shoots into overdrive. I resent being at my dad's mercy. I hate putting Cruz in this position as well. I don't know what the next few days have in store for us, and this big looming question mark weighs on me like a motherfucking truck.