KARINA'S POV

That night, I never did get anything out of Meg, but the fact that she kept dodging my questions gave me all I needed. I knew, finally, that something serious was wrong. I didn't bother wasting time about feeling hurt that she couldn't confide in me, I just rattled my brain to think of what the matter was. Even though I could have completely misinterpreted her texts, I was certain that she wasn't well.

Flipping my textbook shut, I buried my face in my hands. I hated being grounded. I hated not knowing what was going on with Meg. I hated-

"I'm going to the store," my dad said, entering my room without permission. "I might stop by Carol and John's, too. I do not want you leaving this house, or this room, alright?"

I nodded, giving him a flat "yes" before watching him turn his back to me and exit. Leaving the door open ever so slighty, as well.

"Fuck sake," I grumbled, getting up and marching over to the door. I wanted to slam it shut, I wanted to scream, but I could do neither.

Shutting it softly, with a massive sarcastic expression, I stuck my tongue out at the wood. I then flattened by palms out on it, letting my nails fall into the grain. I imagined what my life would have been like in my mum was still alive, if I had siblings, if my dad remarried, if I'd never met Tony.

Hearing a loud clunk, I quickly stepped away from the door and looked toward the window. Nothing. Furrowing my eyebrows, I moved closer to it, watching the pane carefully. After a few seconds, a small pebble flew up and made contact with the glass. Clunk.

Figuring it was my annoying neighbours, Hunter and Drew, I stormed over to the window and yanked it up. When I went to shout, though, a familiar pair of eyes caught my attention, along with a beaming smile.

"Hey," Tony waved.

Sighing, I let my shoulders drop as I smiled at him. He was in beige shorts and a black top, one hand in his front pocket. As I looked him up and down, I noticed something on his arm. It looked a hell of a lot like a tattoo.

"One minute, I'll let you in the door," I said, slamming my windows shut and racing through the house. You could say I was a little happy he'd came.

Diving towards the door, I hurriedly unlocked it and welcomed him in, my eyes instantly locking on his bicep. Across it was indeed a tattoo - a beautiful one at that. It looked perfect on his tanned arm, and the art itself was brilliant.

"You like it?" He asked, following my gaze.

"Hell yeah," I said, turning my attention to his face. I went on my tip toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "When did you get it?"

"Last weekend," he answered, placing his hands on my waist. "Mike was ill, you were stuck in here, and I was bored."

"Fair enough," I giggled, placing my hands on top of his and curling my fingers. "Wanna go up to my room?"

Tony nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. He knew I was still grounded, and it probably scared him more than it scared me, but it also made everything feel a little more exciting.

Entering my room, Tony instantly went over to my desk and took a set, whirling round on my chair. Laughing, I grabbed on to the back of it and wheeled him across the room. He threw his arms over his head, yelling and howling like he was on a roller coaster.

"You're crazy," I laughed, kissing his forehead. He pushed the chair round using his feet and placed his hands on my thighs, guiding me on to his lap. He bit down on his lip, sliding his hands up my body as I sat down.

"Mike's having a party next weekend, do you want to come with me?"

"Mhm," I replied, draping my arms over the back of the chair. "Will it be a big one?"

"Yep," he said, "so no bailing on me, asshole."

"Wouldn't dare," I mumbled, kissing his neck. As I went to plant a trail across his collarbone, the sound of the front door shutting rattled the house.

Getting off Tony, I darted to my door and slammed myself against it. He got up, eyes wide and jaw on the floor. "What the fuck?" He whispered, flailing his arms as he dashed to my closet and tried to squeeze himself in. "Why is there-" clatter "so much shit-" thud "in here?"

"Karina!" My dad roared. "Do you mind explaining to me why the front door was unlocked?"

Feeling my dad push against the door, I stepped away and took a sharp breathe in. He wasn't angry, he was absolutely furious.

"I told you not to leave," he said loudly, storming over to my desk. His eyes roamed the surface, like he was looking for evidence - an empty beer bottle or a bag of cocaine. He didn't find any, but he did spot something else: a framed picture of me and Tony.

The moment his hand reached for the picture, my heart stopped. I'd taped a packet of cigarettes to the back of the frame, some of them filled with more than just nicotine.

"Who is this?" My dad questioned impatiently, his fingers inches from the packet.

My heart tore itself apart, some bits thudding against my skull and some sinking to the tips of my toes. I shut my eyes, silently wishing that Tony had somehow left my room, that he couldn't hear everything.

"That's my boyfriend," I told my dad quickly, fumbling with the hem of my shirt.

"Him?" My dad laughed darkly. "You know, part of me knew that Owen guy wouldn't stay with you." Feeling my throat close up, I stared down at my sock-covered feet. "Why would he? You're just a stupid hippy-punk piece of shit."

Feeling rage boil up inside me, I took a deep breathe and kept my gaze fixed downward. Lashing out would only make it worse. Don't add fuel to the fire, I told myself.

Hearing a harsh tear, I looked up to see my Black Sabbath poster half hanging off the wall. "I want all of this down! All of it gone!"

Biting my tongue, I nodded formally.

"And as for that waste of space you're dating, I want you to leave him. I want you to leave him and change until a real man likes you. One that'll get you into shape, make you a good woman."

Something inside me snapped. Something that had been begging to break for years. "No," I said sternly, my voice even and calm. "I'm not breaking up with Tony."

"Oh really?" He said, yanking the droopy half of the poster off the wall. "If you want to keep any of your priviledges, I suggest you do, madam."

"I don't care," I answered. "I'm not breaking up with Tony. That's not happening."

"Oh, yes i-"

"No, it won't. Dad, I'm a straight A student. I do everything you ask me to, and I don't get in trouble. All I want in return is some freedom, and for you to let me date who I want to."

My dad looked over at the picture, which he'd carelessly tossed on the floor. Walking over to it, he paused - demeanor warping - and then slammed his boot down on top of it.

"He goes, or you do!"

With that, he walked out of my room and slammed the door behind him.

Forcing back the tears, I covered my neck with my hands and breathed out. I let the anger simmer away, and the tense feeling in my hands slowly fade.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," I said quietly, turning to face my wardrobe. Tony awkwardly fell out, along with a few boxes, and told me it wasn't my fault. I couldn't help but think about how much that must have hurt for him. I noticed that the skin of his knuckles was white, and that his chest was rising and falling at an abnormally fast speed, and that he was biting on his lip so hard it looked like he could have drawn blood.

"I'm proud of you for not kicking his face in," I whispered, sitting down next to him on the floor. His eyes flickered up to me, and then back down - his mouth open a little all the while, letting me see his raw lip. I removed Lucia's bracelet from my wrist and took his hand, gently prizing it open. His palms were marked with little curves from his nails, but I hid the red lines with the bracelet.

"Thanks," he mumbled, not daring to clench his fist anymore. His anger may have been controlling, but there was nothing he loved more than Lucia. Not his parents, not Bertie, not his guitar, not me.

"It'll be okay," I told myself aloud. "It'll be okay, we'll be okay."

Notes

SUP.

So, thoughts?

ALSOOOOOOO, it's ten days until i sit my first exam and I am royall shitting myself .-.

love you guys!<3