Weightless

chapter twenty three

Serenity's Point Of View

Days passed and it was nerve wracking thinking that I had to go back home. I had been gone for almost two weeks and I wasn't sure how things were at home. I hadn't gotten a phone call, a text message, there was only silence. I thought maybe Marissa would give me a little insight, but she hadn't.

I, too, had been silent. I'm sure I still wasn't wanted home, but I don't think I could stay here forever. I had been going to school because I was missing way too much, but it hurt me knowing that I couldn't go home. My resources here were limited. I didn't have many clothes left and I couldn't keep mooching off of these people. I felt like I was taking advantage of them just by being here.

I sighed, nervously clasping my hands together. All I had to do was taking some deep breaths and I'd be fine. I didn't want a repeat of what happened last time to happen. The last thing I needed was to have a panic attack while Justin was driving, pass out again and give him a heart attack.

He was very supportive in my decision to go back home. We both knew that this couldn't last forever. I just wasn't sure what I was walking into. Maybe I was walking into peace and a calm terrain or I could be walking into a warzone. I knew my parents were home at this time, that's why I chose it. I couldn't be a coward anymore, I didn't want to run.

The last thing I wanted, however, was for my mom to try and forbid me from seeing Justin again. Dad liked him, Marissa liked him, why couldn't she like him? Why did she have to be so difficult?

I was making myself upset again. I didn't want to think about it anymore, but it was real. It was real and it was happening. I couldn't just hope that it'd go away.

"You'll be fine," I heard Justin's voice, ripping me out of my thoughts. "If you need me, just call me. I'll be waiting outside."

"For when they kick me back out, right?" I rolled my eyes to myself. It was inevitable to happen.

His assuring look faltered. "They're not gonna kick you back out, Serenity. I don't think you'll dad will allow it."

I looked out the window. "I don't think you should be putting that much faith in my dad.

He let it happen the first time, didn't he?"

He sighed. "Serenity, have a little faith in your dad. He's trying."

"He doesn't have a backbone. It was actually shocking to see him stand up to my mom." I shook my head to myself.

"So believe that he'll stand up to her again."

"You really like my dad, don't you?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "Well, he gave me no reason to not like him."

"I just hope things haven't somehow gotten worse since I left," I muttered.
They were having a pretty heated argument when I left. Hopefully things didn't somehow escalate.

"You have got to start thinking more positively. You constantly wallow in negative thoughts. It's not healthy."

My shoulders dropped. "I know. I'm sorry." I was probably being such a downer.

"Don't apologize," he told me softly. "I know it's not easy to just turn it off. I know from experience that it's not exactly something you can control."

I swallowed, chewing on my bottom tip. I leaned over and kissed his cheek briefly before pulling back.

He raised an eyebrow at me. "What was that for?"

"For being here," I mumbled, a little embarrassedly.

He chuckled, reaching over and grabbing my hand. He brought it up to his lips, leaving a kiss on my skin softly. "It's no problem."