The Guy Who Gave Up His Jersey (New Version)

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Part One:

I looked up to him. I thought he could love me a little more than the man who turned his back on me when I was younger. I wanted him to love me as if I was his daughter, he was dad-figure I had, yet he failed me as the man who walked away. He made me feel like a fool for believing a man could possibly love a person who isn't theirs.

As much as I love him, tonight he failed me, who knew how much this day meant to me. Instead of turning off his phone for once he continued to let his work consume his life. I guess I wasn't important enough to put me first-I never was good enough for anyone.

"He doesn't hate you." Alejandro kept saying over and over again. He thought if he repeated enough times he doesn't hate me I'd calm down, but nothing at the moment would calm down the little girl inside of me. She was broken.

"I want to leave," I whispered, pushing myself away from him.

"Juliana...your mom spent so much money for this party, you cannot leave."

"The party can continue without me being here," I reassured him. Deep down I knew if I left the party my mother would be heartbroken as well. She brought family out of town to come celebrate my day. If I caused a bigger scene everyone would go home talking about how screwed up our family is. Although my mother is a strong woman and she could've raised me on my own, I can't continue to fight her battles anymore.

Truth be told she doesn't love Xavier's dad anymore, they stopped loving each other a while ago. For months now, Xavier and I have endured the war they have inflicted on our family as well as our souls with their constant fights. Xavier leaves the house and comes back a day or two later when the atmosphere has calmed down, while on the other hand, I have to convince my mom she has to be patient with a man who doesn't value her anymore.

The happy little family my younger-self imaged isn't as happy as I imagined them to be. By trying to save their marriage, I am spiraling down to a bottomless pit of self-destruction. My binge eating is caused by the stress they give me, I can't do this anymore. I can't keep pretending as if we are happy because we aren't.

"She'll understand," I responded. I turned around and started walking out the garden, Alejandro called out for me.

"Wait, I'll drive you."

I turned my head to the right and looked up. He had tucked his hands in the front of his slack and his brown eyes were looking right at me. He didn't have to tell me anything, by the look in his eyes I knew he was on my side. We walked together quietly towards his truck. From a distance, I could hear my name being called by numerous people. I almost turned back—I was going to make an excuse for the man and pretend as if he didn't embarrass me in front of my family. I almost went back, but when I found myself stopping Ale grabbed onto my hand.

"You don't need to keep being strong for them. You want to leave, let's leave." He tugged on my arm.

"Far away from here?" I asked him.

He nodded. "As far as you want us to go. I'll take you anywhere." He gave me a small smile.

"Okay," I whispered and got inside the truck.

The ride back to my house our phones kept going off. My mom kept calling me nonstop and Xavier kept sending me text messages. We ended up turning off our phones and let the silence consumed us.

When I arrived at my house, we got off and quickly went inside the house. I went straight to my room and packed a duffle bag with a few outfits, shoes and other necessities I was going to need. I got on my knees and took out a show box from underneath my bed.

"I think you packed enough shoes." I heard Ale say from behind me. I glanced at him and shook my head.

"It's not shoes." I opened the box and it was full of money. Since I was fourteen I have been saving money from working at the café. With the checks, my mom gives me and the tips I receive I had over a two-grand in the box.

"A part of me believes you've been trying to leave for years now." He said jokingly.

"When I was younger I imagined leaving everything behind, especially when I started binge eating. I thought if I left no one would come looking for me, I thought disappearing was the best thing for everyone." I confessed.

"I would've gone to look for you...I would've missed you."

I closed the box and chuckled quietly. "No, you wouldn't." I grabbed the duffle bag from my bed and proceeded to head out the door when he stopped me. My face made contact with his chest, forcing me to look up.

"I would've. Why do you think I am going with you now? I won't let you run off without someone protecting you...I want to protect you." He whispered the last part.

My eyes teared up. "Why?"

"It hurts to see you cry. I hate when someone hurts you or does something to make you feel worthless. I know a man broke your heart since you were a kid, but not every guy that walks into your life is going to turn their back on you. I haven't. I never will, even when you ask me to."

By then I had tears rushing down my cheeks. He took a step towards me and cupped my face and with his thumbs' he wiped away the tears.

"Let's go. We can make a pit stop at my house and we can leave the city."

After making the stop at his house we were on our way out the city. I have never done something like this before—leave home. I never thought I'd run off with Alejandro either. I guess life pairs you up with the person you least expected to be there for you. I wouldn't want any other person running off with me—he was the right one, he was a little messed up as I was.

I didn't know where I wanted to go or when he should stop. The entire drive I stared at the window watching how the building turned into farms, and farms turned into pitch black. We stopped for gas once we were about three hours out of town and Ale grabbed himself a cup of coffee. I could tell he was tired.

"We should stop soon," I told him tiredly.

He turned on the truck and shook his head. "I am trying to get out of the state before sunrise."

"Another state?" I shrieked.

"If we are going to get ourselves into trouble we might as well do it big, right?" He smiled. "Plus, you said you wanted to go as far as away from there as possible. Why not another state?"

Scratch that out, he wasn't a little messed up, he was insane. Alejandro Rodriquez was insane and truth be told I like it.

"Where is our destination?"

"Panama, Florida." He grinned.

//

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