𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒 || atsv - miles 42

𝟏𝟐.

𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙨.

The car ride to my house was completely silent and excruciatingly long, except when he asked for my address. There was an awkward aura in the car. I'm not sure if it was because of what happened last night or something completely different. I exited his car swiftly and raised my hand as a silent goodbye. He pulled off, and I was left alone in front of my house.

 I took a deep breath before walking up to my front door. I had to prepare myself to ring the doorbell because I knew I would be met with an incredibly pissed mother. Finally, I raised my finger to the doorbell and pressed it. My heart was pounding in my chest as the door slowly creaked open.

"Iris?" Amari, my older brother, said. I let out a sigh of relief as I saw his face peek through the crack in the door. I gave him a sheepish smile as I began twirling one of my dark curls. "Hey.."

"Where have you been?" He asked, "Ma's pissed." He opened the door further to allow me inside, and I walked inside, careful not to bring attention to myself. Amari closed the door behind me and stood in front of the now closed door. He looked me up and down before asking, "And whose hoodie is that?"

I felt my entire body heat up with embarrassment. "Uh, I was at this boy's house after a party," I replied softly, still twirling my hair with my fingers. "I woke up in this, I'm assuming it's his."

Amari gave me a look that said, "Are you serious?" I had to avert my gaze from his piercing eyes. I didn't expect him to react this way, especially because he didn't have a problem with anything else I did with a boy, so why this time?

"Listen, he had good---" I tried to explain, until my mom came into the room--her voice booming.

"Iris Mae Sanchez!" She yelled. I was fucked. I squeezed my eyes shut and slowly turned around.

"Yes, mamá?" I asked, opening my eyes and looking at her.  She was glaring at me, hard. Her expression was so intense that I'm not even sure if it could be considered a glare; it had to be something more.

"When did you ask to go to a party, hm?" She asked, her hands on her hips. Her eyebrow was slightly raised, as always when she was mad. "Let alone go to a boy's house?" I could hear Amari quietly shuffling away from behind me.

"Mari, did you hear anything about this?" She asked him, making him stop walking. I looked out the corner of my eye at Amari, who shook his head and continued walking away.

"Ma, listen," I said, raising my hands. "The boy asked me if I wanted to go yesterday and--"

"AND he asked if you wanted to go?" My mom repeated. She mumbled something in Spanish under her breath while pinching her nose bridge. "Why didn't you think of asking me?"

I didn't quite have an answer for that, to be honest.

Well, no answer that she wouldn't be mad at. I didn't tell her because I felt she would be upset that I wanted to go to a party instead of studying. Maybe she wouldn't be mad at that answer, it wouldn't hurt to try... right? Right...?

"I thought you would get mad at me for wanting to go to a party instead of doing homework," I replied quietly. My heart was racing like it was earlier. A sigh left my mom's lips as she looked up at me.

"You're right," she paused, tilting her head in agreement. "I would be mad at that. But, I wouldn't be as mad at this whole situation if you had asked beforehand, mija."

Hearing that made me inwardly sigh with relief. I knew I was still in the wrong, but it felt good hearing that she wasn't completely pissed.

"I just want you to be safe, Iris. And not mess around with the wrong crowd," she continued.

After that, she walked into her office, leaving me alone in the main hallway with my thoughts.

"Oh, Isla," she called out, "qué quieres comer?"

-kelpnseaweed