Changing the Stars

Chapter 18: Kiss Me, You Fool

(Pre-Chapter A/N: I don't know what will give you guys the feels more; this song or James. This song feels perfect and it makes me want to cry- in a good way. It's Perfect by Ed Sheeran if you wanted to know.)

After the fight with James I was feeling down for days. I knew he would be mad that I talked with Daniel, but he would be happy that I broke up with him. James should have stayed to listen.

Three days had passed with no contact or run-ins with James, and each day my heart broke a little more. He even missed our one class that we had together to ignore me.

Care was off at her only class because it was already Tuesday and I had a huge break in the middle of my day. I already popped open a new canister of my favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream, and I was re-watching Gossip Girl. Yeah, yeah. Typical sad girl eating junk and watching GG.

I was just getting to the part where the gang was going to find out who was the secret person behind the drama when my phone rang. I didn't even care enough to check the caller ID when I answered.

"Hello?"

"Dri, it's Dad."

"Dad? What's up?"

"I'm going to cut to the chase. Your Mom has been acting really weird," he says quickly.

"What do you mean weird? Like she started having mood swings again?"

"No. She won't talk to me anymore and it all started Friday. We just got home from a date night, and she got a call from a weird number," he starts.

"Was it a threat? What did the person on the line say?" I say starting to panic. I jumped up to pace around, not even caring that my ice cream made a mess.

"That's the thing. She wouldn't say. She was talking to them for about a half an hour around eleven p.m., and when I asked she said it was a wrong number. Alexandria, she was shouting at the other person. There's no way it was a wrong number. I'm afraid she's keeping things from me," he responds in a sad voice.

"Why didn't you call me earlier?" I demanded.

"I thought it was just a quick misunderstanding, but again on Saturday she got a call around lunch. I tried to listen through the door, but all I heard was muffled yelling from the other end," he concedes.

"Oh, Dad. I'm sure everything will work out. Just keep an eye on her. Is she home now?"

Before I could even ask him the last part I heard yelling.

"Who are you talking to?" I heard my Mom shout.

"Calm down. It's our daughter, honey," he said in a soothing voice to try to calm her.

"Do you want to talk to her?" he continued after she stopped shouting.

"God, no! I need to get out of here for a while," I heard my Mom tell him.

"Don't leave me, Veronica. We can work this out. I love you," I heard my Dad plead as his voice broke.

"Dad, what's going on? Where's Mom going?" I say, trying to get his attention.

"It's okay, sweetie. She's just going to stay at her friend's house. I must go talk to her. I love you, Alexandria, and stay safe," he whispers and hangs up.

My heart broke. My parents were always loving and cared deeply for each other. My mom was leaving, and she was hurting Dad.

I decided to skip for the rest of the day to sit in my room. Care found me a couple hours later sitting in the dark and staring at the wall. She came running in with a huge smile until she saw me. I had hoped I didn't look as devastated as I felt.