To Love Preciado

"I have to go back home, Jaime."

"But why?" Jaime pouted. "I don't want you to leave. I don't want you going back to your heartless father." Jaime leaned over the kitchen counter and placed his hand on my cheek. "You'll be safe here with me."

"Jaime, my parents are probably expecting me home by now."

"It's been almost two weeks and they haven't said anything." he said, trying to counteract my statement.

"I guess you're right." I softly said.

"I am?" he asked as if he heard me wrong. He took a step back, acting like he would never hear those words come from my mouth. His reaction made me giggle.

After laughing, the two of us got quiet. I sat there in silence, staring at the ground and twiddling my thumbs. I hate trying to make decisions, at this point I have no idea what I should do. Do I return to my house which I refer to as hell? Do I continue to stay with Jaime? I mean, what if my dad calls the cops and reports me missing or as a runaway? All these different questions kept popping up, but then it finally hit me.

"You know," I started, "maybe my dad wouldn't mind if I were to move out." I paused, letting my words sink in.

He took a few seconds to reply. "So you're saying there is a possibility that you will be able to live here with me?"

"If that's not a problem with you, yeah."

He smiled, lighting up the room. "A problem? Of course not! You're welcomed to stay here with me, Baby!" he enthusiastically said. He became squirrelly thinking about the idea of me moving in.

"Alright! Well I need to go home and talk to my parents about it." I stood up from my chair and began to walk towards the front door. Jaime ran ahead of me to take care of his gentleman duties. He handed me my hoodie and keys, opened the door, and walked me my truck.

Before opening the door to my truck he pulled me into a hug. "Don't take too long." he murmured into my hair. He then kissed me softly on the lips.

I climbed into my truck, sitting behind the steering wheel. "I'll try to be back in a bit." I slammed the door shut and rolled down the window before pulling out of the driveway.

"Drive safe, I love you!" He spoke over the roar of the engine.

"I love you too, Baby!" I blew a kiss towards him, then sped away.



"Rosaline!" My mother exclaimed as I walked through the door. She sprung up from the couch for an embrace.

"Hey, Mom." I kissed her on the cheek. "Is Dad at work?"

"No, he didn't go in today. He's upstairs showering."

"That's new." I snickered to myself. She smiled in response to my comment.

"When are you coming back?" my mother asked.

"About that." I was hesitant about proposing the idea of moving out.

"Oh man, I don't like the sound of that." She took my hand and led me over to the couch. We sat down and she requested an explanation from me.

"Well. I want to move out, Mom."

"Are you sure? Why?" Worry was revealed through her voice.

"Well, uh." I couldn't find the words to back myself up. "I can't keep living in this house, Ma. It's torturing and as a teenage girl it's overwhelming. And well Jaime." I stopped to take a breath. "Jaime offered me to move in with him." Before letting my mom shoot the idea down I added, "I know it seems like a bad idea but he makes me so happy. Jaime makes me feel safe."

My mom stayed quiet, which frankly, is quite heartbreaking. I know the idea hurt her, I knew it would from the beginning. I sat there and stared at her, trying to read her mind. I watched her face; studying, analyzing. I couldn't tell if those were tears forming in her eyes or just a glare. "I understand, Rosaline." she finally said in a hushed tone. Then she laid her hand on my shoulder. "Although that makes me a bit sad, I support you. I understand that living here is too stressful for you." She sighed. "I want what is best for you, Honey. If you're happy with Jaime, then I'm happy too." She then forced a smile and pulled me in for another hug.

As we sat there hugging, I could hear footsteps traveling down the stairs, approaching the two of us. Here he comes, yippee.

"Oh look who's back." my father said as he spotted me.

"Yup, I'm back, not for long though." I replied.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well." I stood up to face my father. "I'm moving out." I simply stated which took a lot of guts.

He laughed in my face then said, "If that's what you want, go ahead. It's your choice, not mine." He shrugged his shoulders and walked into the kitchen. After grabbing a beer he went out back.

I was left standing there in the middle of the living room, speechless. I looked over at my mom, the two of us extremely confused. "Well, that was easy. I guess I'll get all my clothes and get going."

"You will visit, right?" she asked me.

"Mom, of course I will." I bent over and gave her a quick hug.

She nodded. I could tell she was trying really hard not to cry in front of me. "Okay." she mumbled.

I ran up to my room, creating a mental list of everything I need to bring with me. There's not much I have to grab; just clothes, hygienic products, and school work. Along with that, jewelry that was passed down to me, a photo album with pictures of my family and I, and a couple other special items. I grabbed several heavy duty trash bags from the bathroom and started to fill them with my possessions.

As I was throwing the bags into the back of my truck I suddenly thought about my guitars. "Shit, how could I forget." I thought aloud. I ran back inside to retrieve my two guitars, bass, amps, and my songbook. With several more trips in and out, my truck was finally loaded.

Saying bye to my mother was hard, even though I'll probably stop by tomorrow. It tore me apart seeing her cry and to know I'm the reason why. I can't help but to think I'll never spend another night here in the house I grew up in. Am I ready to move out? I'm only 16 after all. Well, it's not like I'm buying my own house and living by myself. I'll be living with Jaime; I'll be safe, I'll be happy. Besides, I think I could get used to waking up next to Jaime every single morning.

Notes