Vic and I started dating, and I'm pretty sure Karina was happier than we were. We went to Karina, us holding hands, and she screamed, "Oh my god! Finally!" We laughed, and Vic hugged me close and kissed my cheek. Life was perfect; school was out, I had my best friend Karina, and I was dating Vic. The only thing was that my parents were fighting more and more each day, and it was tearing me down, but I didn't tell anyone. I kept everything bottled in, and I distracted myself with Vic. It was a late July evening, our two month anniversary, and Vic and I were laying in the middle of a field, wishing on the first stars we saw. "What did you wish for, babe?" He murmured. "Nothing... I already have everything I want here." I turned and kissed him, and he held me close. I closed my eyes, and I was getting drowsy. I fell asleep, with my head on his chest and his arms around me. When I woke up, it was pitch black. I looked around and panicked. I quickly woke up Vic and said, "Vic! Wake up! My parents are going to kill me!!" He stood up abruptly, grabbed my hand, and we ran all the way home. We got to my house, panting, and Vic walked me to my door. Before I opened the door, my dad opened it. "I'm so sorry for bringing Mona home so late, we lost track of ti-" My father cut him off and said, "That's enough. I don't want excuses, you should have brought her back home on time. Go home, I'm sure your parents are worried." Vic looked at me worried, and mumbled sorry before walking off. I walked in, and my dad slammed the door shut. "What the hell, Mona! What are you doing out so late?! I want you home early, not out with that boy! You hear me?" I looked at him, shocked. He had never yelled at me, much less talked to me like this. "But Da-" He shouted, "No! I don't want these stupid excuses. Go to your room, now!" I walked away, barely holding in my tears. I sat in my room, looking up at my ceiling and trying not to cry. I pulled out my bag that I hid under my bed. I hadn't done it in such a long time... But things were getting worse and worse at home. They were always fighting, and blaming each other for all our problems. I closed my eyes and did it. It stung, and I felt relieved. I did it over and over and over again, and I stared crying. I climbed out my window, and went to my backyard. I leaned against this huge tree that was there, and out of pure sadness, I just started climbing it. Maybe, just maybe, if I climbed high enough, I could escape my problems. I found a comfortable little ledge, and sat and watched the horizon. God, why was all this happening? Everything was amazing when we lived in L.A, and now what was happening? I buried my face in my hands, ignoring the tears running down my arms and the stinging they caused on my arms. I heard rustling, and then a strong pair of arms enveloping me in a hug. I cried harder, and let Vic just hold me. "I'm so sorry, my beautiful doll." He grabbed my arms, but saw what was on them. He gently stroked my arms, and looked up at me with tears in his eyes. He held me tighter, his voice shaking. "I'm so sorry, Mona..." I cried until I couldn't anymore, and we sat next to each other on the tree, watching the horizon for the rest of the night. The sky was getting light, and we saw the sun peeking out. We sat in silence, only with Vic occasionally kissing me, my arms, my cheeks, and only saying, "I'm sorry..."
