White to Red

Peace and Family

"Rowen. I was wondering if you could spend the night at my place?" Diana asks me as we walk out of school. "I don't know. I have to pick up Charlie and then watch over him." I regretfully tell her. "Why can't he come with us? Mom loves toddlers and she'd watch over him. She knows how tough you have it." Diana squeezes my hand. "I guess, let me text mom and see what she says." I text my mom hands shaking because I so badly want to go sleepover at Diana's. Mom responds promptly and says yes as long as Charlie is taken care of, I tell Diana this and she assures me he will.

"Miss Rowen! You're later than usual." Miss. Cherry teases. "I'm sorry, we're going to my girlfriend Diana's," I tell her as I grab Charlie's hand. "Oh?" Miss. Cherry holds out her hand to Diana. "Hello, Diana. I'm Miss. Cherry and I take care of this daycare." Miss. Cherry cheerfully shakes Diana's hand. "Hey, Miss. Cherry." Diana nods. "Well, you better be off, me too." Miss. Cherry kisses Charlie's head and gives me a curt nod as we part ways.

The bus ride is quiet, as I and Charlie eye the city with awe. We live in the poor suburbs and Diana lives in the middle of the city where we could only dream to live.

"Diana!" A short pudgy woman hugs Diana firm. "Rowen, Charlie baby!" She then hugs Charlie and me. "Rowen, this is my mom Robin." Diana smiles. "Here let's get some tea, and for you munchkin let's get orange juice." Robin ushers us down the hall full of family photos to a bright happy kitchen. "This is my Dad, Adam." Diana waves her father Adam over. "Hello. You must be Rowen?" He asks examining me. "Yes, sir. A pleasure to meet you." He nods. "I best work on my meditation book." He then leaves humming.

"Here's your tea." Robin ushers me and Diana to sit down, handing us two teas. "And for you! Munchie!" She gives Charlie some orange juice. Two twin girls toddle over, eyeing Charlie suspiciously. "Wynter, Brynn." Diana points them out, "my sisters." They are by far the cutest twins I've ever seen! They look like mini Diana's.

"My glove! I need my glove!" A boy bangs into the kitchen interrupting the peace. "This is Elliot." Diana sips on her tea some more. "My brother."

Later that night as we snuggle together I think over how dinner had been. Peaceful was the perfect word for it, her mom Robin had served us heaps of food and Adam entertained us with stories. Her parents were fine with our relationship and let us hold hands all dinner, her brother shoved food into his mouth and her twin sisters Wynter and Brynn giggled together with Charlie. Overall a perfect family scene. I feel Diana's breath on my back and feel calm. This is the family I wish I had. I snuggle into Diana wishing she were awake so I could talk to her and kiss her.

I hear a little whisper; "Y'know I'm awake right?" Diana turns on her side towards me. We then kiss and collapse together, "It will be okay Rowen, you hear me? I love you and maybe you can sleep over with Charlie more often. I think Wynter and Brynn are in love." She chuckled. "I definitely wouldn't mind that. But I know it will be so hard to return 'home." I sigh. "Your mom is so sweet and you have a dad." She nods, "you deserve so much more." She looks heartbroken for me and seeing her face makes me want to cry. "Don't worry. You already help me enough, I mean frick! I have the prettiest smartest girl as my girlfriend I couldn't want for more." Diana starts sobbing, "You make me feel so perfect." She spits out. "You are so forgiving! I had past friends, when I had issues I would get mad easily and mess stuff up. Usually, she forgave me, but one day she wouldn't I didn't realize how lucky I was, it broke me that I hurt her. That was before I moved here. I corrected myself and became less angry. Rowen, you would forgive anybody no matter how many times they messed up, and I respect that so fucking much. I wish that friend could've forgiven me again though she probably did it for the best." Diana rubbed her eyes. I let her kiss me.

We fall asleep on top of each other, I taste the kind words she fed me. I don't deserve Diana I don't think anyone really does, I think about school tomorrow, the Nolsen boys, the Kiera bunch. I am forgiving but it's hard. I try to pretand i'm OK, but it's so hard to be me, but at least I have an angel by my side, Diana.