Westvillesburgh

Celeste

  I walked up and knocked on the door to Nat's house and her dad answered. "Natalie's upstairs," and he opened the door more so I could walk through. "Kandace will be home for lunch, so she'll make you girls some food. I'll be heading for the lumber yard shortly."

"Ok Mr. Riften."

I walk up to Nat's room and she's sitting in her chair reading her current favorite book series, Harry Potter. When she heard the door close she jumped up and came over and hugged me. I picked her up and spun around. She loves when I do that. I set her down easy and she wrapped her arms around my neck and leaned up (I'm taller) and kissed me. We kept it a casual kiss cause her dad was still in the house. When he leaves, we'll do more, but she knows the rules. She seems to be exceeding them though. She's not slowing down. I pull back a bit to show her to stop but she moved closer and pushed me toward the wall and was really close to taking my shirt off and I pushed her back.

"No, calm down. When he leaves. You know the rules."

"Yea ok." She says as she turns around and walks back to her chair next to her desk, she laughed and walked over to her windowsill and smiled at the rain. "It's funny how we have to hide this all behind smiles and friendship. We've been together for 5 years and we haven't broken up. We actually love each other but my mother and father have to be so homophobic and brainwashed that we can't show how we feel. We have to wait till they're both gone to even hold hands. Why are we punished for our feelings? It's dumb." Her eyes were full of tears and one escaped.

"Yes it is, but you know exactly what will happen. He already beats you, do you think that will help anything?" I walk over and hug her. I wipe the tears away. I hate how her dad treats her and that I can't be there for her when he does it. Worst of all, the police in this town don't even take it seriously. I hate this town. I just want to take Natti and run away, but sadly I'm only a freshman. My older brother can go to Matt's house at 11am and not have a curfew.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I love you Lesty." She's sad, and I feel bad. I hug her tighter.

"I love you too Natti. I hope you know that."

"I do know that. I'm just worried that something might happen, and we might get caught."

"We haven't for 5 years, and we're good at hiding. We'll be fine."

"Are you sure? I'm just scared..." I walk away from her and pick up my bag and move it over to where it was in front of her closet. I sit on her bed with my laptop and pull up a picture I saved for her. It's some cheesy romantic picture but it's cute. She loves the dumb cheesy romantic pictures. She sends me them all the time. I couldn't possibly see my life without her. She has made herself a comfy little home in my heart and I will never ever let her go. I show her the picture and she smiles and I (staring at her rather than the picture) say, "Yes I'm sure."

"Ok. I think my dad is gone. I'll go see." She got up and went out to the loft area (I followed) to the window that overlooked the front yard and the street where his truck is usually parked. It wasn't there. She walked to the stairs and I followed. We went downstairs and I followed her to the front window which is huge. His car is gone so I walk into the kitchen.

"Mom said no sweets till after 1, and then none till after dinner."

"Ok ok. I'm not hungry." I say too scared to let her know I still have anorexia. She thinks I quit.

"You're gonna eat." She's right...she never lets me go without eating.

"I already ate." She knows I'm lying.

"I wish you wouldn't lie about your anorexia."

"I wish you didn't know me so well." She smiled at that, but it quickly changed to a frown when she realized I still hadn't eaten. She really wished I ate more often, and she wishes I wouldn't lie about it.