The Ride of a Lifetime

20. Inhale. Exhale

I grimaced at the flux of missed calls and messages. The scrolling never seemed to end.

"We're here."

My breath halts. I glance up to find Max and my mother standing by our door. Their faces made me shrink in size and I almost told Javis to turn right around and fuck school.

He squeezes my thigh and the tiniest bit of strength pulses through my panicking heart.

We climb out of the car, my legs buckling slightly underneath me. I would blame it on the nervousness if it weren't for the events of last night.

Heat crawls up my neck at the unwelcomed thought.

I bite my lip, tentatively approaching the two glaring faces. My mother, a normally warm and light-hearted woman was nothing but a stern, merciless figure in front of me. She eyes Javis behind me with pure disgust.

My gut shrivelled.

"You can go now, Javis." Her tone was nothing less than demanding.

Deciding better of it, he turns to leave after planting a kiss on my temple. "Soon."

The whisper makes me shudder. With exhilaration or fear was but a confusion. 

Goddamn it, Javis.

My brother looked like he was about to scrape his guts out with a spoon at the gesture. I release a breath when Javis reverses from the driveway unharmed.

One problem down.

"I'm sorry." I mutter, searching my mother's face.

She exhales and I catch tears brimming her eyes. Oh God, what have I done?

Before I could continue my apology, she turns her heel and disappears in the house. My body sags at an invisible weight.

"What was going through your fucking head, Luna?"

My anger flared at his hostility. As guilty as I am, there's no denying the fact that they both treat me like a damn two year old.

"I'm sorry, Max. I just don't want to be seen as a helpless child anymore!"

I pushed past him, entering through the front door.

"Is that your excuse for staying out all night with your scumbag of a boyfriend?"

I throw my hands in the air in exasperation, "No! That wasn't some kind of strike for fuck's sake. I just.."

"Just what?"

I avoid his accusing stare.

"Things just happen."

Max was not more than a breath behind me as I stomp up the stairs.

"He's brainwashing you. You have to be smarter than this, Luna."

I scoff. "You think the world is some magical place? Sorcery doesn't exist."

The fury engulfing us makes us both pause for oxygen. I try to regain control of my breathing, hastily pulling on my school uniform.

And then I halt.

"Why was there packaged food on the kitchen counter?"

They're both literally ready to rip my throat out, why would they be preparing lunch for me?

He gives me a look that makes my stomach plunge miles underground.

The bitterness in his tone heightens every bit of guilt in my system.