I Dare You...

Chapter 9

My mom had led me into her bedroom. It is a pearl white that looks like it belongs in a ballroom. The room is full of a cold air that contributes to the seriousness of the conversation I fear we are about to have. I sit in a gold claw foot chair and she stands in front of me with her arms crossed. I take in her features. She has cold, pale blue eyes and is frowning. Her gold ball earrings match her gold necklace perfectly. They shine bright against her long, plain burgundy dress. Her heels are dyed to match and her blonde hair is around her shoulders in short curls.

          She starts pacing back and forth across the room in front of me. Her heels click against the floor making it seem so much more serious. I try to keep from shaking but the cool of the room doesn’t make it any easier. I breathe in slowly and look for Matt in the doorway but, he isn’t there. He must have been scared upstairs by my dad. I really don’t blame him for leaving. I want to leave this room and join him upstairs away from my suspecting parents and their cruel judgment too.

          “So, how is everything with you and Matt?” she asks trying to get me into the conversation. I realize now that there might not be any way out of this. I hope Matt won’t be kicked out but chances are he will be. I hope Matt and his family will still be safe from their stalker. I honestly don’t want him to get hurt by some creepy stalker. I haven’t told him yet but, I love him.

“Fine,” I reply

“Just fine,” she says suspiciously.

“Always.”

“Well. Are you and Matt anything more than friends?” she asks. The question I had been dreading that she would ask is finally here. I don’t know how to reply or how I am even breathing.

“Why do you ask?” I reply quickly. I don’t know if that is the right answer to this question or if that will save Matt any trouble. I just blurt it out and hope it is the answer to my problems.

“Well. You have been acting way differently. Not as proper as I raised you or, thought I raised you. Shouldn’t you be wearing your dresses and tying your hair up? You are dressing more like a hooligan these days.”

“Mom, I am not who I used to be. I am not going to act like your ‘proper princess’ anymore. I am my own person now. The act is over. I am not going to pretend I like dressing like I am from some 60’s movie. I want to dress like any other girl who is living in 2012.”

“Well, no you won’t. I am not allowing my daughter dress like a whore and go dance in the streets. You will show respect to this family. Be like your brother and dress like a presentable person and not a stripper.”

“I am not a whore. Quit comparing me to someone who only acts that way because you expect us to stay on guard all the time. I wouldn’t have to represent our family if you acted like a decent person and not a bitch.”

“Watch your mouth!”

“Watch your judgment!” I scream and then stand from my chair. I am not going to keep pretending that this is ok. I am tired of being judged by my own parents. I should just be me and not some study crazy fake. I stomp to the door and slam it closed behind me. I am almost sure I will regret this all later but I hope I won’t. I want to be free and be the person I really am. I walk up the stairs, eyeing my parents’ bedroom door, and walk down the hall to Matt’s room.

“I heard the door slam.” He says when I walk in the room. I sling myself across his bed as he turns to face me in his desk chair. I groan from his bed as I lie face down in a pillow. He laughs a little and then comes to sit next to me.

“That bad?” he asks, rubbing my back.

“Oh yeah.” I say and close my eyes. I want to forget everything that had just happened with my mom. I want to forget everything that is going to happen. I can hear my parents arguing downstairs.

“Can we leave for the night?” I ask Matt as I roll over and sit up.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere but here.” I reply as I stand up. I walk to the door to get my stuff for the night. Downstairs I can hear my parents yelling louder.

“Kick him out!” my dad yells.

“It’s her fault!”

“Kick both of them out!”

“You do it!” my mom yells back. I take this as my opportunity to leave. I grab a backpack from my closet and fill it with a couple days’ worth of clothes. I grab my chargers and all my electronics. I grab everything meaningful and put it into a backpack. I don’t know if I am coming back but, I am not leaving anything I love behind. Matt meets me at the doorway.

“You ready?” he asks showing me his keys. He smiles at me and takes my hand. We walk down the stairs and ignore my mom and dad’s comments. We just walk out the front door, and don’t look back.

6 hours later

Matt’s P.O.V

I held her hand. I held it tight and promised I wasn’t going to let go. I looked down at her with tubes in her nose. I should’ve seen her. I should’ve seen the truck. I should’ve seen Kimberly. It all happened so fast. One minute, Marissa and I were driving down the road in my truck. The next minute, we’re in the hospital and Kimberly is downtown. How could I have dated someone so evil? She just crashed us because she was jealous of Marissa. Now, I have to worry whether or not my baby is going to stay unconscious. She is just lying there silently, trying to fight her problems. Nurses rush in every five minutes. If this is how it all ends, I wish it never started.

1 Month Later

Matt’s P.O.V

The coma is killing me, almost as much as it’s killing her. Her parents haven’t even showed up to visit her. She just lies here day in, day out. I hear her breathing. I hold her hand. I hate Kimberly. She is in court today. I have cried so many tears, missed so much school, and hoped for so many days that she would just wake up and kiss me. I want her to be okay. I wish it was me who was riding shotgun, not her.

2 Months Later

Marissa’s P.O.V

I can see the light coming towards me. For a split second I feel like this is the end. Is this heaven? Am I dying? Is this it? I can’t let this be it. I have to fight. For me. For Matt.  Just like that, I am back in a hospital room. I look over to see Matt holding my hand and crying into his other hand. I can’t believe I have put him through all of this.

“Ma…Matt.” I say trying to get my voice back. His eyes shoot up and the look on his face is priceless.

“Oh my god! Marissa! Are you okay? Are you well? I have missed you so much!” he says as he kisses me multiple times on the cheek. I smile a little and look over to see the room is empty.

“Did my parents come?” I ask Matt softly. He frowns and shakes his head.

“What’s the date?”

“July 27, 2012.”

“Three months?” I ask softly. He nods and kisses my hand.

“What happened?”

“Kimberly crashed her truck into mine and hit the passenger side. You have been in a coma for three months. Kimberly went to trial and is in a mental health institution.”

“When can I leave?” I ask. A nurse had walked into the room.

“Whenever you’re ready.” She replies and asks me to sign papers. Matt gets my stuff and I change clothes. We get in the elevator and click the lobby button.

“You stayed with me all this time?” I ask Matt when we reach the lobby.

“Yeah. Of course” he replies, waving to the secretary.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because. I love you.” He replies and we walk out of the hospital doors, hand in hand.