Chapter:13

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***Ali's POV***

Just as Violet said my mom called at noon.

I was also surprised to find out that she was crying.

She kept crying and as I predicted begged me to come home.

I refused.

She stopped crying and yelled at me through the phone.

"Ali! California isn't safe for you! Your depression is at its worse! Come home so we can help you."

"Mom, I know i'm not at my best but I can change. I'll change, This is just a rough patch. I can do this!"

***

We argued on and off and my mom, she said something that broke my heart...

"If you don't come home, your father and I, we're done. We will call and we will always love you, but you can't come home. You can't come crying at us. We won't support you or give you money. You will be on your own."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Parents don't do this. I haven't needed their help. Just one mess up, one nasty depression freak out and now they are done with me?

This is just like leaving your child for the lions. I am trapped in the lion's den.

I closed my eyes and answered.

"Then, i'm sorry. Thank you for being my mom. I wouldn't do this to my own daughter, but you know what i'm just 21. I haven't felt love. I don't know how to raise a child. I just have depression and miss my family."

I don't know why but I am determined to stay. I can do this. 

My mom was crying again.

"Then come home! Let us help you!"

She didn't get it.

"Mom, don't you understand! This is my life! I have a job, a home, I pay the bills! I just needed you and dad to understand. Be an option. I guess that won't happen.... But I won't bug you. It will be just like i'm dead."

Before she could answer I hung up.

They didn't know how much I wanted to come home, I should be home. But this my life. My life. I'm in too deep. I love being by myself but the damn depression is ripping a giant hole in my chest, one not even they could understand.

I cried on and off for the rest of the day.

***Nate's POV***

"Wake up!" I opened my eyes to Lexi standing over me.

"What are you doing?" I asked still sleepy. Lexi handed me my phone and I saw the time read 8:30AM.

I yawned and turned to a already dressed Lexi. She was wearing the same clothes she came here with.

"Didn't you already wear those clothes?"

She rolled her eyes

"Yeah, but I only packed for 5 days! I'm all out!"

"Then do laundry. I have a roll of quarters and its right around the corner from here."

She stared at me like I was crazy.

"What!" She sighed. "We are going shopping! I want to buy new clothes!"

"How much money do you even have?" By this time I was already grabbing a towel and some clothes from my dresser.

"Enough! Just take me to the mall! Please!" She gave some puppy eyes.

"Fine. Just let me shower."

"Yay!!!" She skipped out of the room and I took a shower.

All through the car ride to the mall I was thinking about Ali. I wasn't listening to Lexi ramble on. I just stared ahead and thought about her. Ali was everywhere.

She was in the sun, the wind, even in Lexi.

Fuck.

***

We got to the mall and I left Lexi in some store while I walked over to Sears and met my best friend Max. He and I have been friends since our freshmen year in high school but unlike me he came to California  to stay permanently.

I saw him and waved while he walked over.

"Hey Nate!" He was always cheerful and yes, gay. Still a joy to have as a friend.

He rushed over and hugged me.

"Hey Max."

"Whats happening?" Max has blue eyes and blond hair. Hes shorter than me but strong and built up. He could have any girl but men don't really turn their heads in his direction.

We were the dorks sitting in the corner of the cafeteria and after getting pushed into him, we became dorks together. He straight up told me he was gay and that he might crush on me. I shrugged it off cause quite frankly I still hadn't hit a growth spurt, had no girlfriend, and had an acne filled face, A gay friend was better than no friend.

He hasn't made a move and we've grown into our looks since then.

"Nothing much." I called him on Friday and told him everything about The whole Ali and Stella thing and before then he knew about my meeting with Ali at the market.

After some light chat about whats hes been doing he got to the point.

"Hows Stella? Have you heard from that bitch?" Turns out he hated Stella.

"Nope. Although she has texted me once."

"Really? What she say?" Max started to jump up and down.

"I don't know. I deleted it."

"Ugh. Don't do that without showing me!"

"Sorry."

"How about Ali? Have you seen or heard about her?"

"Yeah, I saw her yesterday!"

"Really?"

"Yup."

Max took his break and I explained everything. By the end  he was in tears.

"Its true love! I'm so happy for you Nate!"

We were sitting by the mall fountain and he leaned over and hugged me earning glances from anyone nearby.

***

After talking some more and meeting Lexi, I said goodbye to Max and Lexi and I made our way home.

Once in the car I saw Ali again, in the streets, in the clouds, behind my eyelids...

I can't wait to talk to her tomorrow. One date is all I need to make her mine.

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