Friday morning. Fuck. How do I tell my parents that I’m going on tour with Pierce The Veil? Or should I not say a word to them and just leave? No. I have to at least say goodbye to Alex and Gemma. God dammit. This is so conflicting!
From upstairs, I can hear my parents talking and walking around in the kitchen. This is my chance. I get up quickly and run downstairs, in a pair of spandex shorts, a pink hoodie, and running sneakers. As I near the kitchen, I start to feel nauseous. I can’t even imagine how my parents are going to react to this. I envision my mom’s head exploding.
“What’re you doing awake at six-thirty in the morning?” My father looks up from his cup of coffee.
My mother then turns away from the stove and stares at me, as I open my mouth to speak. “I…um… I wanted to talk to you guys about something important.”
“You’re moving out?” My mom smirks and swats her blonde hair out of her eyes, as she moves toward the fridge.
I want to go over and punch her square in the face, but I know that’s socially unacceptable. Especially when it comes to the behavior regarding a mother and her daughter. Instead, I take a deep breath and laugh quietly. “Actually… I am.”
My father clears his throat. “Um… What? No… No you’re not, Lana. With what money? You have no job.”
“Well…” My eyes move to the ceiling. “I’m not exactly moving out. I met someone at the concert I went to on Wednesday… He’s actually the drummer for one of the bands I love.”
“So you’re living with him then?” My father stands up and walks over to the kitchen island. “Do you hear yourself, Lana? Guys like that aren’t good for girls like you.”
“Like me…?” I scoff. “What do you mean girls like me? What kind of girl am I?”
He stares at me. “You’re too trusting.”
I’m not quite sure what he means by that, but I don’t have time to think about it, because my mom opens her big mouth.
“Is this a joke, Lana?” My mother laughs and slams a glass container of orange juice onto the countertop. “You’re just going to go travel around for the rest of your life? Please… Don’t make me laugh too hard.”
My head snaps to hers. “Look. Anywhere on this fucking planet is better than here… You have managed to make the past seven years of my life a living hell! I don’t think you’ve smiled or said one nice thing to me in years!” I snap. “I don’t care what you have to say, because I’m leaving tomorrow.” I yell, before turning around and striding toward the back door. “I’m nineteen and legally allowed to do whatever the fuck I want!” Then I slam the back door and start jogging, down to the beach. Before I reach the wet sand, I slow to a walk and pull out my iPhone.
‘Hey, babe. Everything’s set. Play good today xx’

“Lana bear, what are you doing?” Gemma climbs onto my bed and opens the top of my black suitcase.
I continue folding a few dresses, as I look at her. “I’m going away for a little, Gemma bear.”
“Going away? On vacation?” She unzips my makeup bag and pulls out an eye shadow brush. “We only go on vacation together. You can’t go by yourself!”
“It’s sort of like vacation.” Sighing, I push my suitcase onto the ground and then flop down next to her. “It’s a little longer though.”
“How much longer?” She pouts. “Who’s going to take me swimming if you’re on vacation?”
I reach over and tuck her blonde hair behind her ears. “I promise that I’ll be back to visit before you go back to school.”
“Just visit?” She asks angrily. “I go back to school in three months! You’re not going to be home for three months?”
I roll my eyes and think for a few seconds, trying to come up with an easier way for her to understand. “Okay, so, remember that boy Charles that you had a crush on?” I grin. “You went to his birthday party…”
She blushes a bit but nods. “You’re going to a birthday party?”
“No!” I giggle quietly. “But I have a crush on this one boy… And he lives here in California, but he plays the drums for a band.”
“One Direction?” Her eyes widen.
“You know I hate One Direction!” I bare my teeth playfully and reach over to tickle her. “You’re not allowed to mention them in my room, silly goose!”
Gemma bursts into laughter and rolls onto her back, trying to frantically shove me away. “L-Lana! Stop it!”
“Never!” Smirking down at her, I continue to tickle her.
“Lana! I’m telling! I-I’m…t-telling…” Before I can even comprehend what’s happening, Gemma erupts into tears. I freeze immediately and move my hands back, expecting her to run out of the room and tattle on me. But she stays on my bed and covers her eyes with her hands.
“Gemma…” I lean over and run my fingers over a few of her tears. “Gemma what’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
“I-I don’t want you t-to leave!” She sobs, staring up at me and rubbing her eyes. “No one is going to play with me! Mommy is never home and when she is, she isn’t fun! Alex doesn’t care either!”
This is honestly one of the most heartbreaking things that has ever happened to me. I’m making my own seven-year-old sister cry. “Hey!” I grab her chin and stare into her eyes. “You’re going to be fine, Gemma. I’m not leaving forever. And if you’re bored, you can call me on Alex’s phone. It’s not as bad as you think... I promise.”
She nods and sits up, wrapping her arms around my neck. I smile faintly and pull her onto my lap. “Will you pinky promise?”
Smiling innocently, I hold one of my pinky fingers out for her and she quickly wraps her pinky around it. “Love you, Gemma bear.”
“Love you too, Lana bear.”
Gemma sits on the bed silently, as I go back to packing. Occasionally she hands me a pair of shorts, but she mostly just watches. I can’t help but feel sorry for her. I really am the only one who pays attention to her, and now I’m leaving her to be alone. What a good sister I am.
But it’s not fair to think that way. I only get to go through life once. There isn’t time to just lie around and mope in my own sorrows of a bad relationship with my parents or an ex-boyfriend. I’d like to think that Mike and I met for a reason. And I’d like to think that going with them on tour would make me happier than I have ever been before.

The doorbell rings around six o’clock. I freeze, with my toothbrush hanging out of my mouth and some of the paste dripping off my chin. Attractive. I spit the toothpaste out quickly and wash off my lips, before running down the hall.
“I’ll get it!” Alex yells from the family room.
“No! No! I got it!” My feet move so quickly down the stairs that I’m surprised I don’t trip. I jump from the last step and then grin, as I make my way over to the door. Then my fingers wrap around the knob and I swing the door open, my eyes connecting with Mike’s. I squeal happily and he smirks, before I jump up to him. My arms wrap around his neck and his wrap around my body, coaxing my legs around his waist.
“Well hello, beautiful…” He says through a playful smile and steps into the house, still carrying me.
“I missed you.” I move back enough so that I can look into his eyes.
“Eh, I guess I did too...” Mike smirks and then presses his lips to mine. My smile widens immediately, as I slightly tilt my head to the right.
His lips are so unbelievably smooth, and the feeling of the cold piercing in the middle of his lip just drives me crazy. Just in one day of separation, I missed the way he made my heart race or the way he made my legs tremble. I missed how carefully he touched me; like I could break into a thousand pieces if he moved the wrong way. But I don’t have to miss any of those things anymore, which I couldn’t be happier about.
After a nearly two minutes of kissing, I slowly pull away, forcing our lips to click slightly. Mike smiles and sets me back down. “Are your parents home?”
“I think my mom is, but I don’t expect to see her again.” I shrug. “I told her how I felt about her this morning.”
He nods slowly and walks past me, heading down the hallway. “Damn…” He laughs and stops at the kitchen entrance. “I think your kitchen alone is bigger than my house.”
I smile and walk over to the fridge. “Want something to drink? We have everything.”
“I’ll just have water.” He follows me and gently wraps his arms around my waist. Smiling to myself, I lean back against him and sigh. It’s still so hard to believe that Mike Fuentes is the one holding me.
“Who is that, Lana bear?” Gemma stands at the kitchen entrance, staring at us curiously. Mike unwraps his arms from my waist quickly, making me laugh. I reach for his hand and pull him toward Gemma.
“Gemma… This is my good friend, Mike Fuentes.” I smile, looking down at her. “This is the boy I’m going on vacation with.”
“Oh.” She crosses her arms and stares up at him. “You’re stealing her.”
Mike laughs quietly and bends down to her level. “Are you mad at me?”
“Yes.” She sticks her tongue out at him.
“Do you hate me?”
She nods.
He gasps playfully. “I honestly thought we could be friends. You’re breaking my heart!”
“When are you bringing Lana back?”
Mike smiles. “If I promise to have her back in September will you consider being my friend?
Gemma thinks for a few seconds and then eventually nods. “I will think about it.”
“Oh, you’ll think about it?” He starts to laugh again and then turns to me. “Damn Lana, she’s sassier than you.”
Gemma points to him and covers her mouth. “You said a bad word.”
“No I didn’t!” He reaches over for her hand and then holds it in his. “Damn isn’t really a bad word.”
“Really?” Her eyes widen.
“Oh, please don’t…” I sigh and lean back against the counter. He was actually doing good with her until now. Guys who are good with kids are truly the best.
Mike smirks. “Hell isn’t a bad word either. You can say that one if you want! It’s just a place.”
“You’re going to hell for telling a seven-year-old that it’s okay to curse.” I mutter.
“My personal favorite…” He holds on of her hands up. “Is to stick your middle finger up.”
“Gemma, don’t listen to him.” I say through my laughter.
“No, don’t listen to Lana.” Mike lets go of her hand. “You can only hold your middle finger up if someone is being mean to you, okay? I give you permission to do it.”
Gemma giggles and holds her middle finger up at me. “Lana, stop being annoying.”
“Jesus Christ…” I roll my eyes and push her hand down. “Go put your bathing suit on and leave us alone.”
Grinning mischievously, Gemma turns and runs out of the room. Mike sighs and stands up, before turning to me and smiling. “She’s a cutie.”
“I hope you know that she’s going to go around flipping everyone off now.” I smile as Mike runs his fingers through my hair. “She thinks everyone is mean to her.”
“Oh, stop…” He murmurs and leans in, pressing his lips to mine. Then his one hand moves to my hip and he pushes the edge of my shirt up, slowly stroking my hipbone. My cheeks suddenly feel warm. I press my palms to his chest and hold the material of his black t-shirt between my fingers.
“I’m ready!” Gemma screams as she runs downstairs.
Mike and I both flinch from her voice, but he pulls away and smirks. “Are we going swimming too?”
“If you want. Do you have something to wear?” I murmur, before pecking his lips once more.
“Duh, Lana! You live on a beach. I have clothes in the car.” He shakes his head dramatically and reaches one of his fingers into my shorts, before snapping the string of my bikini bottoms.
I bite down on my bottom lip and then look back up at him. “Go get changed then. Unless you want to go skinny dipping…”
He smiles childishly. “We can save that for after hours. Plus I brought something for you to smoke…”
My eyes widen. “You’re the best.”
“I know I am.” He pats my butt before walking down the hall.