Missing Romero | On Hold

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 9

Jay's pov

I walk out of the group home with Matias and Emiliano behind me. Me and Emiliano get into the back while Matias sits in the passenger seat. The driver picks up my duffel bag and places it in the trunk. I hear the shutting of the trunk and then the driver gets into the car as well. I turned away from Emiliano who's eyes would not stop observing me. I sighed and looked out the window, my palm placed underneath my chin.

I have to ask them to stop by the gym and the restaurant so I can pick up my last checks from them. There's no way I'm leaving without my money.

We slowly started driving down the block when suddenly screaming from behind the car causes all of us to snap out of our thoughts and freeze up.

"What the-" The driver says, looking in the rearview mirror. I look at what he's looking at and my lips part in shock. They came.

"Stop the car." I demanded.

"Jas-"

"Stop the car, please." I all but begged. The car screeches to a halt and I jump out of the vehicle, not hearing whatever Matias or Emiliano were going to say. As soon as I stepped out of the car, two bodies tackled me, almost causing all three of us to fall onto the dead grass.

"How dare you not pick up our texts? And how dare you try to leave without saying goodbye!" Lynn all but screamed, tears cascading down her pale skin. I stiffened, guilt eating me up inside. She's right, I was being selfish. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't go through this goodbye. I couldn't say goodbye to Theo or Lynn without crying and I couldn't let them see me cry.

"That would've been a dick move, Smith. Be grateful Lynn is keeping me from beating your ass for almost pulling this stunt." I nodded, hiding my teary eyes in Lynn's hair, not having the strength to look at Theo, my best friend since childhood. The guy who's been more of a brother than me than those I'm related to by blood.

I don't say anything as I just continue hugging Lynn and Theo. They don't say anything either, we just share our last hug for a while, basking in these last few moments.

"Where are you going?" Lynn asked, pulling away first. I sucked in a deep breath.

"California where my dad and older brothers live." I answered. Their eyes widened and Theo finally looked behind me, to where Matias and Emiliano were sitting in the car. His jaw clenches and his fists turn white from how hard he's clenching them.

"Theo, calm down." He shook his head and looked at me.

"I'm sorry Jay." He apologized, knowing immediately that I don't want to go with them. I shrugged.

"I don't have a choice bro." I whispered weakly. I've never had much of a choice with anything and now, I still don't get a choice to decide where I want to live and who I wanna be with. If it were up to me, I would stay in Vegas with my sister Lynn and brother Theo, and support myself. I make enough money to pay bills, I've been paying bills since I was 13. It wouldn't be any different now.

"Fuck." Theo says under his breath, his teary eyes looking directly into mine. "I've known you forever Jay, I can't-" His eyes shut.

"I don't know what to do without you in my life. How am I supposed to make it anywhere without you?" He whispers. My eyes softened. I haven't seen Theo cry since what happened with his dad.

"I'll visit and if not, you can visit me. And I'll call you guys every day. You'll always have a place with me Theo, I'll never replace you. And if you ever need anything, anything, I'll be there. You can call me, or just show up and I'll listen, okay?" He nodded, going in for another hug.