Crooked Young
In Time
KARINA'S POV
Mike shifted awkwardly in the driver's seat, tightening his grip on the device. "Uh, Tony... she can hear you."
Cringing as a string of swear words came across the line, I shrunk into myself and looked at Mike with great worry. I knew Tony had a temper on him, and I knew that we should've told him I could hear the conversation.
"Dude, can y-" The line went dead.
Covering my hand with my mouth, I let my eyes well up with tears once again. As easy as admitting defeat would have been, I refused. I wasn't going to give up without a fight.
"Take me to his house," I told Mike sternly, putting on my seat belt. He gave me a look of disbelief, eyebrows creasing under his hat, but said nothing.
I had no idea what I was going to say to Tony. I could barely label my own emotions, never mind trying to pick apart his. The car continued to speed along in silence: I guess neither me nor Mike really knew what to say.
Pulling up at the side of the road, Mike killed the ignition and exhaled deeply. "Do you want me to come with you?"
I shook my head, telling him that he could go home if he wanted to. It was my battle to fight. Getting out of the car, I momentarily admired the dark sky - which was littered with a million twinkling stars - before concentrating on walking towards his house, hands fumbling with each other as I did so. My heart was racing, and I could already hear myself stuttering and stumbling as I spoke to him.
Knocking on the door, I took a step back and puffed out, thankful I'd gotten that far. After a minute or so of someone shouting, the door opened. Tony's mum stood before me, knitting needles in one hand.
"Hey Mrs Perry, is Tony in?"
"Call me Rosa, Mrs Perry makes me sound old," she laughed, "he's in his room, do you want to come in?"
I nodded, smiling falsely at the ground as I entered. Rosa told me he was with Lucia, and that I should just head on up. Part of me wanted to rewind time and ask her to just call him down, but I'd missed my chance.
Walking up to his door, I hesitantly let my finger touch the handle. On the other side, I could hear muffled voices. I felt like I was invading again.
"What are you doing?"
Jumping out of my skin, I slammed against the wall I was standing next to. Bertie squinted at me, rightfully so, and repeated his question.
"I, um, I was.. eh..."
"Karina!" Yelled another voice. Before I could look down, I felt a little body collide with my leg. Lucia.
"Hey princess," I smiled, kneeling down to meet her gaze. In all honesty, I was just trying to avoid Tony. I didn't want to look up and run the risk of making awkward eye contact.
"Are you here to make Tony feel better?" She questioned, twirling my hair round her little fingers. "He was crying a little bit earlier but I told him that it's okay because even big people cry sometimes and it just means that-"
"They wish their little sister wasn't such a snitch," Tony finished, lifting her off the ground and spinning her round. At the sound of his voice, I felt myself go weak. I wanted to be strong and determined - strutting up to him and saying exactly what I wanted - but it all shriveled away.
"Bert, can you please take Lucia downstairs for a while?"
Groaning, Bertie grabbed his sister's hand and stomped away. I watched them both, still trying to avoid Tony. I just wanted to hold off the conversation in case it was going to be our last.
Sniffling, Tony took my hand and pulled me up. I tried to engrave that moment into my memory so I'd never forget the feeling of his soft hands against mine. Even though every tsunami wave I'd wanted to say had reduced to nothing more than a faint ripple, I was still determined to hold on to what we had.
"I should've told you about Meg," he said, caressing the back of my hand with his thumb. His eyes fixed on the ground. "I wanted to tell you everything, but I felt like it wasn't my story to tell. I hated keeping it from you. I hated having to lie."
I shook my head, gently squeezing his hand. "I shouldn't have listened in. I should have just told Mike to take it off speaker, I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he said, turning to face me now. His eyes, confirming what Lucia said, were a little red, but they were also soft and calming to look into. "At least you know now, I guess," he chuckled.
"How romantic," I scoffed jokingly, dramatically rolling my eyes. Tony laughed, placing his palm on my jaw, and leaned in, but didn't touch my lips. He stopped a mere centimeter away, like he was unsure of whether or not it was okay to kiss me.
Placing my hand on his neck, I eliminated the gape between us. It was a kiss built from a new found trust: it tasted like intimacy and, as kisses often did with Tony, mints.
"I was only angry because I didn't want you to find out that way," he said lowly.
"How did you want me to find out?"
Tony paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "Pretend I never said it, and you'll soon see."
Smiling, I wrapped my arms around his neck and we toppled back on to the bed. I rested my head on his chest, tuning in to the rhythmic thump of his heartbeat. I wondered when I'd made it fluctuate, and I thought about all the times he practically gave me a heart attack.
Running my fingertips down his arm, I stopped when I felt the beaded bracelet on his wrist. I hooked one finger around it and fiddled with the beads, shutting my eyes and pretending I was a little girl again. Pretending the bracelet was my mum's, and she was holding me in her arms.
Feeling my phone buzz in my pocket, I groaned and rolled off him as the moment fell apart around us. I unhappily yanked it out of my pocket to see an incoming call from my dad. Shit, my dad... I was suppose to be home hours ago!
Running my hand through my hair, I nervously answered the call.
"Karina!" He roared. "Get home now! Where are you? Where have you been?"
"I'm sorry," I rushed. "I was at a friend's house and lost track of time. I'm really sorry, dad. I swear."
"I do not care what you are," he growled. "Get home now. We'll talk about the consequences then."
"Okay," I said, adding another "sorry" in the hopes that it would calm him a little. I hung up and shoved the phone back in my pocket, staring at Tony's sheets as I did so. I just wanted to crawl underneath them and hide from the world. Hide from my dad.
"I really need to head," I said glumly, rolling off the bed.
"He sounded pissed, are you okay?"
I nodded meekly, "I'll be fine."
Tony stood up, approaching me with a confident stride. He lifted his wrist and slipped the bracelet off. With a straight face, he took my hand and pushed it into my palm, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek.
"Just in case," he whispered.
Pulling my sky blue blanket over my head, I cried into my white pillow - making it blotchy with black smudges and smears. My dad had grounded me for two weeks, but that wasn't really why I was crying. I was crying because I'd had a big day. I was crying because Tony was falling in love with me. I was crying because I felt like I was loosing my best friend. I was crying because my dad seemed more disappointed than ever.
Curling up in a ball, I clenched my fists and pummeled the mattress below. I wasn't even that angry, I was just frustrated. I felt so hopelessly lost.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I went on to my conversation with Meg. I began to scroll up, searching for a sign that something was wrong. I reread messages again and again, desperate for a clue, for a sign, that would allow me to help her.
From: Meg
Hey, are you up? I can't sleep
From: Meg
I'll pass, had a giant lunch! Ughhh.
From: Meg
Hey Kit Kat, are you busy? I'm wide awake still xD
From: Meg
Can i get some aspirin off you please? my old ankle injury is acting up :(
From: Meg
Haha:p well i would like to unsubscribe from life atm
From: Meg
Nah, I had a massssssive breakfast.
From: Meg
Psst, you still up? I can't sleep :/
From: Meg
Can I steal some painkillers off you? got a headache and im all out
I swallowed thickly. Have I really been this blind? Wiping my cheek, which was now rough with dry tears, I scooted up my bed a little and opened a new message to her.
To: Meg
Hey :) How are you?
Mike shifted awkwardly in the driver's seat, tightening his grip on the device. "Uh, Tony... she can hear you."
Cringing as a string of swear words came across the line, I shrunk into myself and looked at Mike with great worry. I knew Tony had a temper on him, and I knew that we should've told him I could hear the conversation.
"Dude, can y-" The line went dead.
Covering my hand with my mouth, I let my eyes well up with tears once again. As easy as admitting defeat would have been, I refused. I wasn't going to give up without a fight.
"Take me to his house," I told Mike sternly, putting on my seat belt. He gave me a look of disbelief, eyebrows creasing under his hat, but said nothing.
I had no idea what I was going to say to Tony. I could barely label my own emotions, never mind trying to pick apart his. The car continued to speed along in silence: I guess neither me nor Mike really knew what to say.
Pulling up at the side of the road, Mike killed the ignition and exhaled deeply. "Do you want me to come with you?"
I shook my head, telling him that he could go home if he wanted to. It was my battle to fight. Getting out of the car, I momentarily admired the dark sky - which was littered with a million twinkling stars - before concentrating on walking towards his house, hands fumbling with each other as I did so. My heart was racing, and I could already hear myself stuttering and stumbling as I spoke to him.
Knocking on the door, I took a step back and puffed out, thankful I'd gotten that far. After a minute or so of someone shouting, the door opened. Tony's mum stood before me, knitting needles in one hand.
"Hey Mrs Perry, is Tony in?"
"Call me Rosa, Mrs Perry makes me sound old," she laughed, "he's in his room, do you want to come in?"
I nodded, smiling falsely at the ground as I entered. Rosa told me he was with Lucia, and that I should just head on up. Part of me wanted to rewind time and ask her to just call him down, but I'd missed my chance.
Walking up to his door, I hesitantly let my finger touch the handle. On the other side, I could hear muffled voices. I felt like I was invading again.
"What are you doing?"
Jumping out of my skin, I slammed against the wall I was standing next to. Bertie squinted at me, rightfully so, and repeated his question.
"I, um, I was.. eh..."
"Karina!" Yelled another voice. Before I could look down, I felt a little body collide with my leg. Lucia.
"Hey princess," I smiled, kneeling down to meet her gaze. In all honesty, I was just trying to avoid Tony. I didn't want to look up and run the risk of making awkward eye contact.
"Are you here to make Tony feel better?" She questioned, twirling my hair round her little fingers. "He was crying a little bit earlier but I told him that it's okay because even big people cry sometimes and it just means that-"
"They wish their little sister wasn't such a snitch," Tony finished, lifting her off the ground and spinning her round. At the sound of his voice, I felt myself go weak. I wanted to be strong and determined - strutting up to him and saying exactly what I wanted - but it all shriveled away.
"Bert, can you please take Lucia downstairs for a while?"
Groaning, Bertie grabbed his sister's hand and stomped away. I watched them both, still trying to avoid Tony. I just wanted to hold off the conversation in case it was going to be our last.
Sniffling, Tony took my hand and pulled me up. I tried to engrave that moment into my memory so I'd never forget the feeling of his soft hands against mine. Even though every tsunami wave I'd wanted to say had reduced to nothing more than a faint ripple, I was still determined to hold on to what we had.
"I should've told you about Meg," he said, caressing the back of my hand with his thumb. His eyes fixed on the ground. "I wanted to tell you everything, but I felt like it wasn't my story to tell. I hated keeping it from you. I hated having to lie."
I shook my head, gently squeezing his hand. "I shouldn't have listened in. I should have just told Mike to take it off speaker, I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he said, turning to face me now. His eyes, confirming what Lucia said, were a little red, but they were also soft and calming to look into. "At least you know now, I guess," he chuckled.
"How romantic," I scoffed jokingly, dramatically rolling my eyes. Tony laughed, placing his palm on my jaw, and leaned in, but didn't touch my lips. He stopped a mere centimeter away, like he was unsure of whether or not it was okay to kiss me.
Placing my hand on his neck, I eliminated the gape between us. It was a kiss built from a new found trust: it tasted like intimacy and, as kisses often did with Tony, mints.
"I was only angry because I didn't want you to find out that way," he said lowly.
"How did you want me to find out?"
Tony paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "Pretend I never said it, and you'll soon see."
Smiling, I wrapped my arms around his neck and we toppled back on to the bed. I rested my head on his chest, tuning in to the rhythmic thump of his heartbeat. I wondered when I'd made it fluctuate, and I thought about all the times he practically gave me a heart attack.
Running my fingertips down his arm, I stopped when I felt the beaded bracelet on his wrist. I hooked one finger around it and fiddled with the beads, shutting my eyes and pretending I was a little girl again. Pretending the bracelet was my mum's, and she was holding me in her arms.
Feeling my phone buzz in my pocket, I groaned and rolled off him as the moment fell apart around us. I unhappily yanked it out of my pocket to see an incoming call from my dad. Shit, my dad... I was suppose to be home hours ago!
Running my hand through my hair, I nervously answered the call.
"Karina!" He roared. "Get home now! Where are you? Where have you been?"
"I'm sorry," I rushed. "I was at a friend's house and lost track of time. I'm really sorry, dad. I swear."
"I do not care what you are," he growled. "Get home now. We'll talk about the consequences then."
"Okay," I said, adding another "sorry" in the hopes that it would calm him a little. I hung up and shoved the phone back in my pocket, staring at Tony's sheets as I did so. I just wanted to crawl underneath them and hide from the world. Hide from my dad.
"I really need to head," I said glumly, rolling off the bed.
"He sounded pissed, are you okay?"
I nodded meekly, "I'll be fine."
Tony stood up, approaching me with a confident stride. He lifted his wrist and slipped the bracelet off. With a straight face, he took my hand and pushed it into my palm, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek.
"Just in case," he whispered.
Pulling my sky blue blanket over my head, I cried into my white pillow - making it blotchy with black smudges and smears. My dad had grounded me for two weeks, but that wasn't really why I was crying. I was crying because I'd had a big day. I was crying because Tony was falling in love with me. I was crying because I felt like I was loosing my best friend. I was crying because my dad seemed more disappointed than ever.
Curling up in a ball, I clenched my fists and pummeled the mattress below. I wasn't even that angry, I was just frustrated. I felt so hopelessly lost.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I went on to my conversation with Meg. I began to scroll up, searching for a sign that something was wrong. I reread messages again and again, desperate for a clue, for a sign, that would allow me to help her.
From: Meg
Hey, are you up? I can't sleep
From: Meg
I'll pass, had a giant lunch! Ughhh.
From: Meg
Hey Kit Kat, are you busy? I'm wide awake still xD
From: Meg
Can i get some aspirin off you please? my old ankle injury is acting up :(
From: Meg
Haha:p well i would like to unsubscribe from life atm
From: Meg
Nah, I had a massssssive breakfast.
From: Meg
Psst, you still up? I can't sleep :/
From: Meg
Can I steal some painkillers off you? got a headache and im all out
I swallowed thickly. Have I really been this blind? Wiping my cheek, which was now rough with dry tears, I scooted up my bed a little and opened a new message to her.
To: Meg
Hey :) How are you?
Notes
I HATE THIS CHAPTER KINDA BUT MY MUMS BOYFRIEND IS IN THE ROOM AND WATCHING ME TYPE LIKE HE THINKS I DONT KNOW HES WATCHING BUT I CAN FUCKER I CAN SEE YOU
anyway, there ya go :)
love you all! xo
OMFG <3
7/6/15