Page 492

Memory Lane

            Santos's POV
       I slowly wake, my eyes getting used to the brightness of the room. I shouldn't of woke up as early as I did. My arm is wrapped around Illi's waist, holding her tightly against me. Her head is rested against my chest and her hand is placed on my waist.
      "What the hell is this?" A loud voice asks. Marcus steps in front of the couch with an angry, confused expression. "So now your with my sister? Trying to get her in bed?" He demands.
    "No, we accidentally fell asleep after she had to take medicine for a panic attack. Her dad asked for me keep an eye on her. She's not my type, you know that," I tell him. He crosses his arms and narrows his eyes at me.
     "At least tell me your not turned on by having her pressed up against you right now," he says. I bite my lip.
    "Just a little bit." He groans and rushes back to his room.  Illi flinches in her sleep. My grip on her tightens.
     "Please stop," she says in a soft voice that sounds like a sad cry. I sit up, making her wake. She looks as if she's going to be sick. "Sorry," she says.
    "I was already awake," I say. A knock comes from the door, making me stand and answer it. My body tenses as I see my dad. He gives a smile to anyone else, would look genuine.
    "I've called you countless times," he says.
    "I didn't hear my phone," lie. He looks at my bare stomach. I've had to kid and say that I got in a fight, there's where the marks came from. He walks in, not caring that this isn't somewhere he's welcome.
    Illi stands and shakes her head violently. "I know you from somewhere," my dad says, pointing a finger at her. She looks down.
    "Um, you must be mistaken," she says, her voice shaken. Her chest rises and falls rapidly. I rush over and grab her hands. "I-I can't-"
     "You can't what?" I ask her. She looks behind me to my father.
    "Your Natalie's daughter aren't you?" He asks. She blinks away tears.
    "Like I said, you've mistaken me for someone else," she says. I run my hand up and down her back.
    "Can you leave?" I tell him. It's not a question even though it sounds like one. He shakes his head.
    "You are her daughter. Illiana Catalina Rosaline," he says, saying her full name. She runs her hands through her hair.
    "I'm sorry, my names Luisa," she says. Lying.
    "Stop lying, it's not nice to do. You know, your mother has cleaned up," he says. She squeezes her eyes shut.
    "Stop," she says.
    "Off drugs, done with prostitution," he says.
     "Stop," she forces out. She grips my arm, trying to calm herself.
    "Leave," I tell him. He smirks.
    "Who put you in charge?" He says. I push Illi behind me and walk over to him, pushing him to the door and shoving him out. When I turn around, Illi is on her knees crying.
    "I can't escape it," she says to herself. I help her up and onto the couch.
    "What can't you escape? How does my father know you?" Our eyes meet. She shakes her head.
    "Do I have to tell you?" She asks. I shake my head.
    ×××××××××
       "How are you liking it?" I ask her, looking into her room to see her reading the book. She looks up at me.
   "Its good. Your mom has good taste in books," she says. I go in and sit at the edge of her bed.
    "I just want to let you know that if you ever want to talk, about what happened to today or anything, I'm here for you," I tell her. She looks down at the book.
    "You know, your extremely two sided. You can be a jerk, or nice. Choose one," she says. I grin and take a deep breath.
    "I can't decide what side of me you'll get some days other than other. But I don't hate you, after what I seen today, I feel bad-"
     "Don't pity me, please. I've gotten that for seven years of my life," she says.
    "I'm not, I was going to say that your strong. I might not know exactly what it is you went through, but it must have been hell," I say. She looks up at me.
     "It was."

AN: How do you think Santos's dad knows Illi? Comment a side of him you want to see!!! Share! Stay Alive |-/       -Veah