Black Ink || Harlena a.u.

18.

S e l e n e ' s  P.O.V

Being away from Anne made me homesick. It was kind of funny to think that this felt more of a home away from home.

I went downstairs to get some breakfast, my parents were already making something.

"Morning," my dad was the first to greet me. He was sitting at the table, reading a small book with a red cover. "How'd you sleep?"

"Morning," I replied. "I slept pretty good, thanks. Feeling better?"

"Much better," he smiled and returned to his book.

My mom was making eggs, putting some bread in the toaster before setting the coffee machine. "Need some help, Mom?"

She looked over at me with a smile, "I got it, thank you."

Needless to say the atmosphere was awkward. Which wasn't at all surprising considering how much time we had spent apart. It wouldn't be something to throw under the rug, but no one wanted to say anything about it. Perhaps if my dad hadn't had a heart attack, then I would brought up the topic that made everyone seem so tense.

As I was making my way over to the table from the door way, I noticed three tickets on the kitchen countertop.

"What's this?"

Both of them looked up to see what I was talking about. They shared a look before my mother spoke, "They're tickets we need to cancel."

I frowned in confusion. The tickets were for a trip to Oregon, they flew out this Tuesday. "Why?"

A sigh emitted from my mom, "We were going on a trip, you know, a vacation. But then your dad had that heart attack and well..."

I nodded. I guess I felt a little bad that they would have to cancel it, "Maybe this will be good for you, Dad."

"What do you mean?"

I shrugged, "You should go. Get away from home and relieve some pent up stress."

They shared another look before my mom set breakfast down. "She's right. We could still go."

This was starting to get better. I'd be able to go with my parents on a trip, hopefully mend our relationship.

Not too long after, my dad responded, "We're not gonna kick Selene out just so we could leave."

What? If I had checked properly, there were three tickets.

My mother looked disappointed, but nodded nonetheless. "Yeah, you're right. Justin wouldn't want to leave without her."

My mouth propped open. After all these years, they hadn't changed. Neither of them had. It was sad, really, but it was more sad to think that these two people were my parents.

"Okay," I began. "I would have thought that you were going to take me. You know, your daughter." I felt so stupid saying it out loud. Perhaps it was because I wasn't supposed to remind them of it, but it seemed like they had no clue otherwise. "Everyone's pretending to be all happy and whatnot because you two don't want to admit how bad you messed up," there was anger bubbling up inside me. "You kicked me out, but welcomed him in. You gave him Grandpa's car, my grandpa. Then you plan a trip without me? And worst of all," I continued. "You couldn't even take two minutes from your precious time to call me and say 'happy birthday, Selene.'" I whispered. "Two years in a row." Blood boiling, I turned around to march upstairs, but accidentally ended up crashing into Justin.

He looked sad and offended, "You say that like it's my fault."

Embarrassed, I knew it was too late to go back. "Yeah, it is. Why are you here, Justin?"

"Selene," My mother scolded. "Not another word."

"Marlene," Dad interjected.

"No, Jair," she argued. "She will not get to do this a second time."

"Do what?" I snapped. "Defend myself because you still don't know what side to take?"

She stepped closer to me, hand in the air, but it never made contact with my skin. I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of knowing how bad she was really hurting me.

Everyone stared at me in silence. Waiting for me to make the next move.

I mustered enough of the dignity I had left and continued my way upstairs.

"It's for the best that she leaves."

My body froze midstep, hands balling and jaw clenching.

***

There was a knock on my door two hours later. I had already booked a flight that left tonight, it was expensive because it was last minute, but after texting Anne and explaining to her what happened, she paid for half in a heartbeat. It was a good thing that I hadn't unpacked any of my clothes.

I didn't even last a whole twenty-four hours.

"No one's here," I mumbled.

The door opened and Justin came in. My eyes instinctively rolled, but then I closed them and pretended he wasn't in the room.

"We need to talk," he began. The bed dipped and my teeth bit my tongue so that I wouldn't lose the little sanity I had left.

My head shook.

"Selene," he sighed in annoyance. "Look at me."

I gave him a pointed look.

"I know you're angry at me right now, but I want you to know that since you left," he swallowed. "I never stopped hoping for the day you'd come back. And when I heard that you were coming, I just knew that I had to let you know because I won't get a second chance."

I felt kind of bad, but I wasn't going to give him any hope.

"I really want you to be with me, Sel."

My body sat up, legs crossing on front of me. "Justin, listen-" he scooted closer. "I've never had feelings for you in that sense."

He looked taken back, frowning as if what I was saying was wrong.

"I don't know even know what I'm doing half the time," he was looking at the carpet. "Being with someone right now is just really not ideal for me, Justin. Thats why you need to find someone who is really going to be good for you."

Telling someone to move on was hard. The more you tried to let go, the harder you kept holding on.

"But I really wanted you to give me a chance- that's all I need," he pleaded. His eyes were desperately begging for me to oblige. But what kind of person would I be if I led him on?

"I'm sorry," I declined. We both sat in silence, staring at one another.

Then he kissed me.

My eyes were opened in shock, his tongue shoving itself inside my mouth. I pushed his chest, successfully detaching him from me.

I took a deep breath, "What the hell, Justin?" I whispered yelled.

"I thought that's why we were staring at one another-"

"No," I deadpanned. "I literally told you I didn't want this, like, ten seconds ago."

With a huff, he got up, "Whatever, Selene."

I remained on the bed, dumbfounded.