At my Lowest

Ethan

I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard her scream.

I dropped my keys on the ground and ran to the door, it was still open.

She had mascara and tears rolling down her face. She was on her knees next to her dad.

"Coco?"

She jumped up and ran to hug me.

"She's gone" she revealed

"Who tesoro?" I've gotten comfortable with my accent and language around her so I didn't care what I said anymore.

She looked behind her and I saw her mother lifeless on the ground.

It was raining when the ambulance came. She sat in the rain not wanting to go inside and relive her trauma

I held her tight.

"It's going to be okay" I stroked her hair and watched her cry.

I felt terrible, I'd seen my mom drink herself to the floor before but I never thought she would die. Coco had to live on her toes because of this and I know it was hard.

"Thank you for being here," she said breaking the silence

"Dakota, of course, I'm here. I'm more than sorry and I'll be with you every step of the way"

In a couple of minutes, a car approached the Addams home.

Javon and Layla stepped out.

Javon walked at a normal pace while Layla ran over and fell to her knees to hug Coco.

Ava got out of the other side of the car and did the same. I got up to let them be with her and stopped in front of Javon.

"It's hard for me. To watch the love of my life go through so much pain"

After hearing me out Javon hugged me. I wasn't a crier and I didn't waste my tears on anyone, but right there and then I cried. I sobbed into Javon's shoulder

Dakota had become the most important person in my life over a couple of days.

We'd been through so much already. I couldn't watch her be in pain.

If anyone ever physically laid a hand on her I would kill them.

But the person who did this to her was the one that couldn't be hurt by anyone anymore.

Her friends cried with her for an hour and Javon didn't want Layla to catch a cold so he took her and Ava home.

"Come on amore, we're going to mine" I grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

She stumbled as she walked and tried not to break down in front of me.

I took her home and it was now about dinner time.

"Ethan! I can't believe you embarrassed me like that.
sei morto figlio di puttana!"

I heard my mother's voice scream out with anger. She now wore a white satin nightgown with slippers and her hair thrown into a bun.

As soon as she saw a crying coco she forgot all about how much she hated me.

She pulled her into a hug and looked at me to tell her what happened.

"She just walked into her house to see that her mother was unresponsive," I said trying not to show in my voice that I'd also been crying

"Oh honey!" she hugged Coco even tighter as she cried into her shoulder

Jen walked into the foyer in her pajama set and slippers and I explained to her and Dad who followed behind her.

I wanted my family to feel like a second family to her.

Jen gave her some pajamas and we laid down in my bed. She had her hand on my chest and I stroked her hair.

She stared at the wall and I could tell she was thinking.

"Coco?"

"It'll be okay Ethan, I'm okay," she reassured me. I was upset that when I should be comforting her, it was the other way around.

One month later

It had been a month since Lorie Addams had passed away. After her funeral, Coco seemed less tense.

Her brother moved back in to help through the loss but I've yet to meet him.

It was the day. It was a random Saturday but it was the day that marked history for me.

I'd gone on a couple of dates with Dakota and my family loves her and I love her.

Her car pulled up to my house and it was now showtime.

I went into my foyer and practically ran to my backyard. I had a table on my patio that looked gorgeous.

My mother let her in and I glanced at her through the glass door separating us.

I opened the door and let her into the backyard.

"Hi Ethan," she said smiling

"Hi Coco"

I took a second to really look at her. She wore a purple floral dress with white heels and a white clutch.

She looked stunning and I was prepared.

"Take a seat, Coco" I pulled out the chair for her and she sat down

"Thank you, now what is the occasion?" she asked. She raised an eyebrow and knew I was up to something.

"Well I'd make up an excuse but let's get to the point," I said bluntly

I grabbed the flowers I'd been hiding from her and finally popped the question.

No, I'm not asking her to marry me. That's step two which will hopefully happen in a couple of years.

Step one is right here, right now.

"Dakota Lynn Addams, will you be my girlfriend?"

She looked shocked and stood up to be a little more on my level. She threw her arms around my neck and I picked her up.

"Yes! Yes of course yes!!" she yelled out

I did what I'd been postponing for about a month and a half and kissed her.

I looked over to see my family peering through the door.

"I was unaware we had an audience," I said while dropping her gently to the ground.

She looked back and smiled before turning back to me.

"I should get home, call me tonight okay?"

I nodded and watched her drive off.

I was now the boyfriend of Dakota Addams and I must say, it felt pretty good.

A pretty important chapter, I loved writing it!
Thanks for reading