For However Long

Together

Kehlani POV

"Why the fuck were you at the fucking store that late?" asks Frank.

"I was hungry" I say.

"It was my fault, please don't yell at her." says Demi.

"Let me handle this," I say making her sit down on the sofa. "This is on me"

I hear a knock at the door. My dad goes over to the door and its someone he knows.

"Say... were you just at the drug store?" says Bruce walking in looking at me.

Bruce was who my dad worked for. He wasnt a bad guy but he still would make you afraid of him. He doesn't like to be disrespected.

"Yes, sir." I say standing up.

"You see someone really special to me did something dumb,
" says Bruce sitting next to me. "my son... he shot that store guy. Its about to be on the news and everything."

"We didn't see anything else we swear," I say. "She won't say anything."

'I believe you" says Bruce patting my back. "But the cops are gonna be looking for both of you"

"What do you want me to do?" I ask.

"You gotta get out of Texas," says Bruce. "out of the country would be better."

"Are you joking?" says Demi.

"No" says Bruce. "My son isn't going to jail because the cops press you and you say something stupid."

"Can we think everything over?" says Frank.

"Yeah" says Bruce.

"I'm going to wake Patrice. I'll be back." says Frank walking to the back of the house.

"50 bands" says Bruce standing up. "For the both of you... start a new life. Maybe you won't need this."

"Where did you get that?" says Demi as he puts the plan b box in her lap.

"He was smart enough to grab that" says Bruce. "Its got your finger prints all over it. Couldn't have that."

"I'm scared" says Demi.

"I know, its gonna be ok. I have an idea" I say. "but I have to know if you wanna leave."

"I don't have anything here," says Demi. "my family doesn't even talk to me and Alina has her own life."

"We'll go." I blurt out.

"Ok" says Bruce. "Give me an hour and I'll be back with your money."

As my mom and dad come in the living room I put the pills in my hoodie before they could see. My mom was crying. I was still a little lost but I was thinking about the money that my dad and mom saved for me. I have to keep Demi safe. I feel like I got her into all of this. My dad went in my room and packed my things. I know he only did that so he could cry alone.

"Where are you guys going to go?" asks Patrice.

"I don't know mom but I wanna make sure we're safe." I say holding Demi's hand.

"I'm ok, really." says Demi.

"Hey, Bruce says his car is outside to take her to get her thing and then the airport" says my dad handing me two bags.

"Well..." I say.

I started to cry when I thought about leaving my parents.

"We'll see you again don't cry" says my mom hugging me and kissing my cheek.