Finding Me

chapter twelve

The drive back home from the restaurant is a silent one. Everyone left to their own thoughts, Daniel's thoughts were occupied by Sahara. Daniel knew he was out of line, probably came off as cocky. He insulted her family's business, basically her entire life. He wasn't too sure how he would make it up to her. Does it really matter, he thought. It's not like she's my girlfriend or anything. He shook his head to rid of the mild queasy feeling that was building up within him. Honest mistake. It happens, he thought. He didn't find it necessary to have to apologize to Sahara. A small sneeze was made that tore Daniel away from his thoughts.
"Bless you,"
"Thank you," Amelia replies softly.

&&&&

"Why? Why Amelia," he asks one more time, this time in a firm, ominous tone. Anger and tension began to boil and burn within Amelia, Daniel could feel it from his grip on her forearm. She snatched her arm from Daniel, her grey eyes storming.

"Why what?" She snapped crossing her arms, glaring at him. Daniel furrowed his eyebrows at his sister. He begins to walk to the door, in defeat, knowing she wouldn't answer the question.

"Mom. Dad," he calls out. He hears her quicken footsteps from behind him and then found her standing in front of him, blocking his passage to her door.

"Don't," she whispers.

"You need help Amelia."

"I am getting help," she says, placing a small hand in between them, Daniel waited as she walked to her purse on the bed. "Here," she says shoving a little, white card in Daniel's face.

Daniel takes the card that read Dr. Milton, psychiatrist. He looks at his sister, as her eyes plead for him to keep quiet.

"But we need to tell my mom and dad, so it doesn't happen again."

"No Daniel. I'm a grown woman and it's my choice on whether to tell them or not. And right now, I'm just not ready."

"But-"

"Daniel! No."

"Fine," exasperates Daniel, as he tries to walks around Amelia, she goes in the same direction, straightening her stance.

"I need you to promise, you won't tell them until I'm ready," she says firmly. Daniel nods, his eyes boring into the wall behind her.

"Daniel, I need to hear you say it."Daniel huffs, rolling his eyes, shifting his body weight to his right leg.

"I'm promise I won't tell them."

"Thank you," she says smiling weakly. Daniel walks out of her room but turned around to say one last thing.

"But I'm giving you three weeks," he says before slamming her door.

&&&&

"Daniel, we're home," Mrs. Rio says, softly nudging her son. Daniels stares absentmindedly at the house, before shaking his head now realizing where he was.

"What's on your mind?" His mom peers at him with concern. He smiles, shaking his head.

"Nothing ma." He climbs out of the car, closing the door behind, then wrapped his arm around his mom's shoulder as they walk together into the house.

Once Daniel is in his room, he takes off his blazer and button up shirt, taking a couple of breaths, as if he just release the weight of the world off his shoulders. Regret began to surge through his body. He was feeling something he hasn't felt in a really long time and he hated himself for feeling it. He gets up off his bed, making way to his drawer for his stash of marijuana and he grabs his cellphone from his blazer's pocket before exiting to his balcony.
The cool breeze and the tiles underneath his feet calms his overheating body as he rolls a blunt. He takes a hit, while dialing on his phone and he puts it to his ear.