Revealed

20. Solane

Jeremy seems surprised that I hadn't called the police or ran away yet. It's so entertaining to watch him try to figure his life out.

"So what are we doing today?"

Jeremy looks really confused by my actions. To be honest, this is the most fun I've had in my entire life. I kind of don't want to go home.

Kind of.

"Um... we can do anything you want, I guess."

A huge smile spreads across my face. It's bigger than I intend it to be.

"Get up and start driving! I want to go cliff diving," I admit I'm a little too happy, but it makes Jeremy feel better about himself. Then he replies by saying, "Sure. Anything."

Before I know it, we're back on the road. My ice cream begins to melt inside the cup so I offer some to Jeremy. He takes the cup from my hands and takes few spoon fulls.

There's a place to go diving not too far from where we were. While the time passed, I turn on the radio.

"Sweetie, if you can hear this. Please come home. I'm so worried. I just need to know that you're okay." Is that Mama Dee?

"Eighteen year old Solane Royal went missing two days ago. She's an African American girl with curly black hair. She has a scar along her back. If seen, please notify your local police department. On other news topics, today is going to be a great day in the 90's..."

Jeremy turns the radio off. "Solane Royal?" he asks.

I plaster a fake smile across my face and try to avoid answering the question.

"That's not gonna work with me. Solie, I told you the truth. You have to tell me the most basic truth too. Like your real name." Jeremy seems hurt I didn't share this information with him.

I take a deep breath and make no eye contact. Deep down I know he's right. But I didn't think knowing my real name was a big deal.

"My real name is Solane. My friends call me Solie for short."

"Your last name is Royal?"

Ugh, why does he even care? Now I'm gonna have to explain everything to him. Something about him just makes it impossible to lie. So I tell him a partial truth.

"That's not really my last name. It was given to me when I was found as kid."

Jeremy's facial expression becomes shocked. Then he asks, "So how do you know Solane is your real first name?" I pull out my necklace which had been hiding inside my shirt and show it to him.

"It was on this bracelet that I had when I was found. 'Dear Solane, It's Forever' I can only assume that it's my real name. Over the years, I outgrew the bracelet, so I made it into a necklace. It's all I have left of my real family." I try so hard not to cry, but a tear falls down my face from the thought of my mom abandoning me and my father dying before I could really meet him. I've always known it wasn't his fault that he died, but a part of me can't help but think he did it on purpose.

Jeremy must have noticed my tear because he tries to comfort me by saying, "If it makes you feel any better, my parents are trying to ruin my life too. They were gonna send me to a military college in Texas. They know I don't want that. That's why I left."

To my surprise, his confession actually does make me feel better. Although, his situation is not the same as mine, it makes me feel brighter that he was opening up to me.

A few minutes later, Jeremy parks the car. We're here. I jump out so quickly that I almost trip.

"Are you okay?!"

I find it so cute that he cares about my safety.

Nodding my head, I take off my shirt. All I had on now was my tank top and my shorts.

Jeremy can't stop staring and I notice it.

"Staring is rude." I joke with him before biting my lip and strutting away.

He catches up to me and we just joke around some more. He's so fun to be around.