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twenty three

"I'm going to miss you guys so much." I squeezed my sister tighter.

After two more months of being in California, I'm ready to get on a plane back home.

Being in Cali has been amazing for the past three months but I'm beginning to get home sick. I need to see my now six months pregnant mother, my father who has probably forgot my name, and crazy ass best friend... plus Myles.

I actually missed him a lot. I didn't hear from him at all while I was in California, which is upsetting and makes me worried.

He is a loyal guy, so if he likes me he won't go date and sleep with other girls...

*Cough cough* Parker Hood.

Anyway, I'm super excited about seeing everyone and being home. But that means going back to reality where I can't stay hidden from all my problems. I need to face them and solve them.

But do I have the strength to do that?

I guess I'll just have to hope I do.

Well, I'm off to reality.

* * *

Damn, my legs hurt.

I feel like I've been an acrobat for the past five hours (even though they felt like ten), and I'm finally in New York.

Home.

I grab my suitcase from baggage claim which took an eternity. I started looking for my dad.

He was casually leaning against the car waiting for his favorite daughter to arrive. Hehe.

"Dad!" I jumped in his arms and squeezed him tightly.

"My little baby! How I've missed you." He put me down, kissed my forehead and hugged me once more.

He grabbed my suitcase and put it in the trunk of his car.

"How are my parents?" He immediately asked.

"Grandma is good, she has a very busy schedule like her book club every morning, she gardens and gossips with her friends every day at one sharp, and watch old soap operas with Papa every night. She keeps Papa young. Papa is his usual self. Addicted to sports and coffee, but what man isn't?" I giggled.

Dad chuckled and nodded. "Sounds like my dad."

My dad wanted to get some ice cream and I mean even though I'm not hungry, I'm always in the mood for some delicious cookies and cream ice cream.

My dad would always take me to this exact ice cream parlor, even when I was younger.

There was a little park right in front where I used to play up until sixth grade.

F L A S H B A C K

"Leo don't you dare yell at me!  Firstly, we are in public and secondly, our son is nearby, don't you think you've hurt and embarrassed him enough." Anne said sternly.

"Shut up you worthless piece of shit. I don't care about you, your precious Parker and every idiot here." He spat as continued to drink out of his bottle of liquor hidden in a brown paper bag.

Parker was swinging on the swing by himself. Trying to ignore the argument happening behind him, I wanted to help him but every person who'd go up to him would simply be ignored or yelled at.

There was no in between.

He began to wear darker colors around town (if he ever came out of his house), you could see the dried tears on his cheeks, the frown constantly on his lips, his emotionless but red eyes. And some of the bruises on his arms.