Forever Rain

Chapter 10

Rain

I try to pack my bags, but what more can I possibly bring? My pajamas, toothbrush, two extra outfits, and that's pretty much everything. Ok, I'm ready. I leave my room and head towards the front door. Turning the corner, I spot my mom sitting on the bile-green couch that has countless cigarette holes in it. ​

"Mom, you scared me. I didn't know you were home." She looks so tired, the dark circles beneath her eyes more prominent than ever before. I've never asked or even wanted to know what kinds of drugs she was using, but it looks like she's been on a substance much worse this time around.

"You're heading out, honey?" she asks me weakly, barely lifting her head. Even on her worst days, you can see the beauty beneath her, the potential she has if only she has taken a different turn in her life, if only she hadn't got pregnant with me.

"Yes, and I might not be home tonight. Going to spend the night at a friend's. But if you need me, just call, alright mom?"

"That's good. It's good to have a friend. It's good to have someone..." she trails off into gibberish, and I knew it was pointless to stick around for what will come next.

I rush out the door and lock it behind me, but then unlock it again just in case someone needs to get in if there was an emergency. No one in their right mind would want to rob our house, so that's not something I need to worry about.

I climb on my bike and ride towards the dirt patch. It's the day of prom, and as much as I have quarreled against it, Damon and the bickering couple have demanded that I attend it to complete my second to last "senior tasks".

The black BMW comes into view and I pedal a little faster, Damon already waiting for me outside the car. He's just gotten a haircut and shaved. I adore his face when it's smooth with each graze of my fingers, but I also appreciated the tickling of his stubbles when we kiss.

"Hey," he greets me once I got off the bike, holding me against him. I take a whiff of his smell, a new cologne that has a scent of lemon and sandalwood. "Get in the car. If we're late, Lila's gonna have my head."

I enter the passenger side as Damon hitches my bike. There's so many nerves that's running through me right now. The last time we were at a party, things ended pretty badly. But prom will be filled with teachers and chaperones, so nothing like that could happen again, right?

Damon holds my hand through the drive, and I love the way he caresses my knuckles with his thumb.

"Remember, whenever you want to leave, you tell me and we're gone," he reassures me for the umpteenth time.

"You sure you don't want to stay for the after party? All your friends will be there." I feel as though he's giving up the party for my sake, and I don't want to be the reason that he is missing out on part of his senior year experience.

"I'm sure. I just need to be with you. It's already April." We both go silent, knowing very well the end is drawing near. I've already accepted my admissions to Duke University, and I would be leaving a month after graduation. Damon still hasn't decided what he wanted to do, but it has nothing to do with the east coast.

"I'm staying over. We'll have all night." The mention of staying over at his place makes me blush, both of us well aware what the sleepover indicates.

"I love the color of your cheeks right now," he chuckles, then brushes the side of my face with his thumb. "All night."

I've debated this night for a few months now, not knowing if this is what's best for the both of us. There was no doubt we both wanted it, and I knew Damon was the one I wanted to spend it with. It's foolish and preposterous, this I also know, because our relationship is nearing a dead end, yet, we are heading for it at full speed.