while we're young - teen fiction

Departure- Prologue

A/N: welcome... to something ive been wanting to do for a while now. so incredibly excited to be able to share something that i created with others. please enjoy and let me know what you think ! much love (3 and please stay safe ! hoping my story can provide you a much-needed distraction during these uncertain and annoying times. love yall. - lyss

DANI POV :

"Common, please?" Stranger boy cooed. I cringed and backed away slowly.

Hi- I'm Daniella. Daniella Easton... Easton-Gallo. And, honestly... my life has never been any sort of what would appear to be "normal". That's why I've ended up in situations like this for the past few years, and every time I think I've learned my lesson- well, this happens. But let's get back to my current situation

I manage a small smile. "I'm good, really," I say, and back away slowly. "Now, I really do have to go-"

Before I could finish, though, he cut me off and continued with what he was saying, seemingly dismissing my comment completely. My breath caught in my throat as his eyes looked over me again.

"But why?" He asks me, smiling. The boy broadens his chest and flexes his arms, trying to impress me. I rolled my eyes and backed away until my hand from behind my back found the doorknob leading to the outside.

"My room- it's just up these stairs," he says. "How about I just pick you up and-" he pauses and winks, reaching for my hand. I turn the knob quietly and forced myself to keep up the dialogue. What the fuck was this guy on?

"How about no?" I said, my hand tightening around the latch. The boy frowned and reached his hand forward, latching it onto my waist. "Common," he whispered, his eyes locking with mine for a millisecond, then lingering down to my bottom lip.

I squirmed out of his grasp and snarled. "Get off, you pervert!" I backed away even more as he stepped forward, enclosing almost all of the space between us. My lip curled as he looked at me, hunger in his dark brown eyes. Definitely not my type.

He looked taken aback as his frown deepened. "You're cute," he said. "And," he continued to add with a devilish smirk on his lips. "You'd look even cuter if I just..." His eyes glanced over at my shoulder where my tank top strap was exposed. His hand reached for my shoulder and I froze. A second later, girl instincts kicked in and I did what I had to- my leg reached his crotch as I kneed him and smiled as he crumpled to the floor. I did feel a little bad for him- all he wanted was someone to love, right?

Nah.

I instantly shrugged the feeling off. He wasn't in it for a relationship- he just wanted to touch me. But even if he was- we just met. He has to be a little more realistic.

I stood above him, my worry line in the middle of my forehead fading. I put my hands on my hips and smirked. "I really am cute, aren't I?" I grabbed my coat and purse from the coat rack by the front door, slipped on my boots, and quietly slipped out of his dorm and down the hallway, departing from the building. The bitch- thought he could just seduce me like that. Not gonna happen tonight, my friend.

Although that went a tad better than I thought it would, I still didn't feel good about it. About any of the "it" that seemed to be happening to me almost every other weekend, now. Previously- a few hours ago, was it?- I had gone to a club after studying for exams, wanting to treat myself to a nice weekend (what was my definition of "nice," though?). Why not celebrate by yourself when you aced your exams? It's not like I didn't have friends, I just wanted time to myself.

Wait; haha- no. I didn't have any friends. I wrapped my arms around myself, attempting at a reassuring hug. I trekked down the dark dorm hallway, not daring to make a noise. I didn't want to make a bigger scene for everyone to see than what just happened in there- although it would've been nice for someone to be there and protect me. I shook my head slowly, again, tears threatening to spill out from my eyes. Sniffing, I walked to the end of the walkway and took a left, heading for the elevator.

My thoughts clouded over as I waited for the elevator doors to open. I've been really closed off ever since.. Dad. When Mom passed away 9 years ago- I was what, 9 or 10?- Dad went dark. Mean. I don't mean the whole "mid-life crisis" sort of thing. I mean, heck, he was only 42, or at least 43. He went from the father I always looked up to, to one of the most hated people in my life. My parents had never really gotten along, but when Mom got really sick Dad went crazy on everyone. Cussing Mom out, throwing stuff- they argued 24/7. My brother and I would always spend the night at my Grandparent's house- even on weeknights- just to get away from him. I remember hugging my younger brother Ethan as we cried and cried, screaming out for Mom's help. Nonna and Nonno were always there to protect us, but eventually.. I turned out to be like this. Like me, I guess.

I tucked a stray hair back behind my ear, shivering at the thoughts that ran through my mind more often than not. As I slowly shook my head in defeat, the doors opened and the dim lights of the elevator greeted me. I tiredly climbed in and pushed the bottom floor number. I just wanted to go back to my stamp-sized studio apartment and sleep on the floor with my blankets.

The rest of the night was a blur. I hailed a taxi and the driver politely left me alone for the drive- I think he knew, somehow, that I was having a rough night.

I hopped into the back of the car with a tired sigh. The taxi man turned around, twisting his neck and arms to rest it on the seat. "So, Miss," he began. "Where to?" He had a kind face, and he was maybe late 50s, early 60s. He reminded me of my Grandpa- he looked generous and big-hearted, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Um," I whispered to myself. "Main, please. To the apartment complex right by that little coffee shop?"

He nodded and faced forward again. The rest of the ride was quiet, but I appreciated that.

At the end of my ride, I paid him an extra 5 dollars, the last of my money that I could spare. My last memory of the night was me, walking into my home and curling up by the door with my pillow and blanket, locking it and falling asleep to the sound of silence and the taste of salty tears as they slipped away from my eyes and onto my lips before I drowsily passed out.

A/N: thoughts ? im having fun writing again. please make sure to vote on this so more people can see it (: thank you babies. - lyss