Earth (Complete)

Thirty four

He played with a lock of my hair, looking into my eyes as the silence wrapped us up into a bundle of bliss. What I would give to look into those eyes every single second of every day. Slowly, I brought my hand to his face and traced his scruffy jaw as my curiosity peaked, and I asked, "What happened to your dad?"

Dylan sighed. "He's in jail."

"Why?"

"Abduction and sex with a minor." He moved then, sitting up and slipping on his boxers. "Bear in mind, the sex wasn't consensual." He slipped on his shirt and went for his pants, slipped them on and grinned at me. "I'm the product of his lovely mistake."

I let out a slow breath as I watched him, processing this piece of information. "That sucks." I said somberly. "I'm sorry."

He shrugged me off. "Meh. It's whatever."

"And... Sheldon and Kristina? What happened to their dad?"

"Don't know. Don't care. The dick skipped out before Sydney could put her underwear back on." He slipped on his boots and zipped up his zipper. I remained silent. Sydney's been through more than I would be able to handle. Don't know how she did it. And I felt a great sadness for her, regardless of how weird she acted around her son. Suddenly, he decided to change the subject. "Where did you say you'd be again? Tomorrow night?"

"At a party." I replied, twirling the same lock of hair he did. "Mom's thing. I don't really know what it's all about."

Surprisingly enough, lying had become easy for me these days. Yes, I was lying. I knew exactly what the party was about and whom it was for. But I couldn't find it in my heart to tell him. I wouldn't know where to begin. Or how to tell him without losing him. Because let's face it, that's probably what would happen if I opened my mouth.

"Sounds like fun." He sat and smirked at me. "Can I come?"

I sat up, the sheet falling gracefully down my bare chest as I pressed my lips to his, giving him a small kiss. "You know I'd stay right here with you if I could." I said. "But that's not going to happen." He sighed.

I don't know why I didn't just tell him. Why I didn't just come clean right when he told me about his family? I don't know how I let it get so far. An overwhelming sadness clouded my vision. Oh, wait. That was just tears. Suddenly, my heart ached. Because I knew, after I told him, I'd lose him forever. And that's not just me being dramatic. He wouldn't forgive me after this. Tears rolled down my face and he frowned, shifting closer to wipe them away.

"Hey, c'mon. Don't cry on me, Janie Bear." He wiped my cheeks clean of tears and made me look at him. Snorting out a laugh, he said, "We'll see each other after the party, okay? Just stop crying. You look like the fucked up version of Hello Kitty."

I swatted his arm, laughing in the process. Pulling him towards me by his shirt, I kissed him, more tears slipping. Because I knew, we probably wouldn't see each other after the party. How could I have been so fucking stupid?

We lay in silence for another thirty minutes or so as guilt ate away at me. When the clock struck twelve, he was standing outside my window, kissing me one last time before he said goodnight. I smiled despite the constant irritating ache in my chest that wouldn't disappear, and before he left, he turned, uncertainty surrounding him like a cloud of smoke as he frowned at me. Somehow, he knew something was up.

And he asked, "Why does it feel like you're saying goodbye?"

I grinned sheepishly, "Because you're leaving."

"Come on, Jane." He smiled but shook his head. "That back there – that wasn't nothing. I mean, that was like... like a goodbye. Like 'thank you for the lovely time, but I'm fucking sick of you. Get the fuck out' kinda goodbye."