Joaquin

Chapter 23

When I woke up I rolled over on Joaquin's side but he wasn't there.  I sat up and I smelt something burning.  I quickly got out of bed and walked into the kitchen and I see Joaquin with a oven mit trying to get something out of the oven while smoke is everywhere. Instead of trying to help him I decide to laugh him.  He finally gets the pan that was in the oven and it was burnt bacon "son of a bitch" He says looking at his handy work and I wouldn't help but laugh.  Joaquin heard me and turned him head my direction with a smile on his face "oh so you think this is funny." He says as he puts the pan on top of the stove. "Maybe just a little bit" I say as I walk over towards the front door and open it to try to get that smokey smell out.

"there is some toast in the toaster if you want to get that out while I clean this mess up" he says as he throws away the bacon.  I walk over to where he was and grabbed two plates and put the toast on them and get them on the table.  He put the pan in the sink and grabbed the orange juice and jelly out of the refrigerator and I walked back over and got two cups and a butter knife and we say dow at the same time.  I was pouring my orange juice when I remembered the homecoming dance "So listen" I say as he looks up from putting jelly on his toast "at my school homecoming is tonight and it's totally alright if you dont want to go I mean I really never wanted t-" I say before I could finish he already answered my question "I will go to the dance with you."  he says with a toothy smile and I realized that this would be the perfect time to trick him.  What? no." I say to him with a confused face.  "I was going to ask if you wanted to be a chaperone." I say with a straight face trying to get him.  His smile immediately went away and he was about to say something but my smile was starting to show and he knew I was joking. "You almost got me."  he says with a smile. "What do you mean almost? you looked like you were about to have a stroke." I say chuckling "Ok yeah maybe a little" he says as his face was getting red "Ok but all kidding aside will you go with me?" I ask him "Absolutely" I nod my head "are you going to have to go buy a tux?" I ask already feeling kinda guilty if he were to say yes. "No I have something in the closet. "What about you? I know that you didn't pack a prom dress." he asked taking a bite of toast.  "Yeah I will have to run to my place and get mine real quick." his eyes got wide when I told him and I knew they would.  I don't like the idea of going there either. "No we can just go get you one from the store." he tells me as he swallows his food "I am not going to go buy another dress when there is a perfectly good one waiting in my closet.  And plus I am going to have to go back there sooner than later." I tell him.

  It broke my heart admitting to myself that I am going to have to move back there.  I mean really I should have already have moved back in since my ribs are fine now. "Ava you don't have t-" he starts to say but I interrupted him before he could say anymore "you said that I could stay until my ribs are healed and my ribs are fine.  Trust me I will be fine there especially since he knows that Fp knows what's going on now."  That last part was a complete lie.  I really have no idea if that will make things better but I really don't know how they would since he always told me if I ever told anybody what happens it would be worse. "If you want to go back to that house then be my guest."  he says angrily as he gets up and tosses his plate in the sink this caused me to flitch by the loud noise as he grabbed his coat and keys and walks out the door.  When he left I let go of a breathe that I didn't know that I was holding.  A tear quickly started to run down my face and I wiped it off with my sleeve.  He has no right to be mad.  I am just trying to do the right thing.  I got up and started cleaning the table and put the toast that we didn't eat in the trash can and washed the dishes.  I put on some nicer clothes and get ready for school.  

"Hey you alright?" somebody asked who was standing next to me.  I look up from my day dream and I see Betty.  "Yeah sorry I was just thinking" I say as she sits next to me in her seat "Look, what happened at Jugheads party. Are you alright?" she asked with a sympathetic tone.   "Honestly, no" I say with a small smile while I was fittiling with my fingers.  "Ok tell me"she says and I take a deep sigh where do I even start?  "My big one would be Joaquin right now." I tell her "Did you guys break up?" she asked with her eyes wide and I quickly shake my head no "It's just a fight right now.  I told him that I should start thinking about moving back in with my dad." I tell her "Ava why would you do that?" She asked "He told me that I could stay until my ribs are healed and they are healed. " I tell her trying to make her understand my reasoning "and he got mad when you told him this?" I shook my head yes "Sound like he doesn't want you to leave" I shake my head no at this idea " no it's not like that I am not going to be one of those people who stay for longer than they are welcomed.  And besides it's not like we are going to last."  I tell her "Ava, if he didn't want you to stay he wouldn't have gotten mad when you talked about leaving and besides you never know.  and from what I have heard you two are great together." this caused me to laugh.  Even if what she was saying is right I am going to have to face my dad at some point.  

When I got back from school Joaquins motorcycle was in the drive way.  I took a deep breathe before I got out and walked inside.  Joaquin was sitting in the couch watching tv and he didn't even look my way as I set my stuff down.  I laid my bag on the kitchen table but I didn't turn around to look at him when I started talking  "I don't want to be the person who stays longer than they are welcomed so you have to tell me the truth now.  Do you honestly want me to stay or is it just because you feel sorry for me." I was still looking down at the table when I heard him walk towards me.  I turn around and he was within conversation distance.  "I really want you to stay."  I did my best to make sure that my facial expressions didn't move as I nodded my head "And you will tell me when you want me gone?" I ask him "That will never happen." but I wasn't going to take that as an answer "Joaquin please just promise me." I say almost begging.  He slowly nodded his head and then pulled me into a long hug that was long over due.