CHASING SAPPHIRE🔞

Chapter Seven: Goodbyes

~Vincent~

"I'm gonna miss you son, you know, college is the best time of your life. When else are your parents going to spend a several thousand dollars a year for you to go to a strange town and get drunk" Dad says, cleaning his tears as we laugh.

"Daaad. You're making me emotional, I just wanna leave quick"

"...Well son, that hurt" We laugh again

"Oops, sorry, go on" I say and he suddenly becomes serious.

"Come" he leads me to the couch.

" Son, about that girl. I know she's the reason why you haven't really been yourself lately. Know your worth. You must find the courage to leave the table, if respect is no longer being served." He says and I groan

"Daaaad. I thought we were talking about college"

"We are. I have a feeling you'll be seeing this girl much more when you go to college. I need you to do something as you go to college. Ensure that everyday, you wake up determined and go to bed, satisfied"

"Hmm"

"I know how much you hate being told what to do-that's kinda why your room is a junkyard-so study hard, build your own empire, don't be a servant of anyone else, okay?"

"Dad. I have a feeling the reason for the bags under your eyes is because you stayed up late on pinterest" I tease and he chuckles.

"Guilty. Now run along, your friend has waited enough" He says and I turn to leave. Sofia. I stop

"Dad-"

"-Sophia! Your brother's leaving, aren't you going to tell him bye?!" Dad yells, but all we hear in response is silence. I start to walk to her room, but dad holds me.

"That girl needs to keep her attitude in check. When you leave and she misses you, she'll regret not coming to say bye" he says and I contemplate. I'm gonna miss her though...

"Vincent! Come on!" Cindy yells from the car, pressing the horn, I cringe as I hear my neighbour-who I'm pretty sure is happy that I'm leaving-yell at her.

"His friends are just as manner less as himself! Little brat, you're making noise!"

"...Sorry" she squeaks and I laugh under my breath. I dejectedly turn around to walk out, when I suddenly feel a little weight on my back.

"You were really going to leave without me? That hurts" Sophia says. Jumping down from my back and crossing her arms, pouting.

"Well, I felt you didn't want to see me"

"Urgh, you can be so annoyingly dense sometimes. Just follow me" She says and drags me to the backyard.

"Tada!" She and dad yell together and I smile, they baked a cake and then there's a 'We're gonna miss you' banner."

"Aw, thanks so much guys"

"Well, we're kinda obliged to do all this. Every family does it and boy was it stre-" I hug him, cutting his rant. I carry Sophia on my hip and we all stay like that. Silent, well except dad's sobs. There are tears in my eyes, but they don't fall.

"Mr Cali, I live you so much, unfortunately can't say the same for your daughter. I'm having second thoughts on the love I have for your son. I'm happy you guys live him this much, but we should be on our way now and also, your neighbour has been shooting me daggers, I do want to leave here as soon as possible" Cindy says as we break the hug. She's standing far from us, fidgeting and I notice her give Sophia the stink eye and Sophia huffs.