The whole way home, AJ avoided eye contact with Valencia and she didn't seek it. AJ thought for a moment and decided he had enough.
"Ok, so I snuck out to hang with my best friend. What's the big deal?!"
"That is just it! You snuck out! Not letting anyone know where you were going or anything! You just left!"
"Well maybe if I had my freedom, I wouldn't have to resort to sneaking out! Damn, I feel like a friggin' teenager! And you guys treat me like one, too! I'm an adult, dammit!"
"We treat you like one because you act like one! What if something happened?! No one would've known!"
"Nothing was gonna happen! Besides, I was with Toni!"
"And what would she have done if you, let's say, came face to face with the Daemoniacusian army?!"
"She woulda---she coulda---I certainly could---I don't know! But we wouldn't just stand there and take it!"
"Alex, you don't know what you're up against! I do! That's why I'm doing this! I'm doing it only because I care!"
"Well, don't care! I don't! I hope they get me and take me away from, from, from this Hell! Anything's better than being a prisoner for eternity! Even a long, excruciatingly painful death!"
"Alex, don't say that! No mother wants to hear that from her child!"
"You're not my fuckin' mother!"
AJ ran into his room and slammed the door shut. Valencia stood there shocked and heart broken. She was only trying to protect him and in doing so she was pushing him away.
"I love you, Alex," she said to the empty hallway while the tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
Meanwhile, AJ paced back and forth in his room.
"What am I gonna do?! This sucks major ass! I'm not a fuckin' child! She's not my fuckin' mother! I can't stay here trapped like an animal! I can't stay here! I'm gonna fly the coop!"
He scurried about gathering some personal belongings.
"I'm gonna run away! Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do!"
He was about to throw in his boxers when he realized…
"Yeah, I'm running away, but where the hell am I gonna go?! I can't go home and I can't stay with Toni cuz her clan will murder me!"
He collapsed onto his bed and closed his eyes.
"Aaaaarrrrrrggghhhhhh!!! This is sooooo frustrating!!!"
He made a mental list of all and very few options he had. There was only one that seemed foolproof. He walked over to his backpack and pulled out a stake. 'Fast and painless. Just one quick thrust and it's all over. Peace at last.' AJ walked to the middle of his room and raised the wooden stake directly over his heart. '1…2…thr---'
"AJ!"
Inacio walked in. AJ put the stake behind his back so he wouldn't see his suicide attempt.
"Oh shit! Don't you ever knock?!"
"Sorry. What's behind your back?"
"Umm, nothing. What is it?"
"Valencia told me to give this to you."
He handed AJ a folded piece of paper. He opened it up. It was a note.
"Why didn't she give it to me herself?"
"I don't know. She just handed me that and told me to give it to you, then she left."
"Where did she go?"
"She didn't give me the chance to ask any questions. But she seemed very upset."
AJ felt guilty.
"Oh. Thanks."
Inacio nodded his head then left. AJ sat down and read the note.
Dear Alex,
Those words you said to me hurt me greatly. I only felt that pain before when I lost my Nicholae. Now I feel I am losing you. But you are absolutely right. No one wants to be trapped for an eternity and I know I am not your mother. Please forgive me. I can't live with the knowledge that someone who I adore dearly hates me in return. And please forgive me for not handing this to you personally. I couldn't gather enough courage to face you. As Inacio probably told you, I have gone. I need to think. I don't know when I will return, but I assure you that I will. I know that I can't tell you what to do. You are a young man. And a fine young man, at that. You're mother did a wonderful job. If I could, I would tell her. I can't stop you from doing what you want, but I want you to know that I am leaving it all up to you. I hope you chose the right path, for your sake. And I want you to know that no matter what road you take, I'll be there on the passenger's side. Forever. I love you, Alex, even if you don't love me. Understand that I will always be there for you. Good-bye.
Sincerely,
Valencia
Now that made AJ feel like the lowest scum on Earth. Even lower than scum. He felt like he gave scum a good name. ' *sigh* I think I hurt her enough. No more life-ending schemes for me.'
It had been a whole week since Valencia had written that letter. She still hadn't returned. And AJ didn't sneak out. He didn't want Valencia to think that she had risen a selfish, rebellious delinquent, even if it was true. Besides, he was anxious for her return.
Once again, he found himself pacing back and forth in his room worrying. 'Oh my God. Oh my God. Why isn't she here yet? What if something happened? I would never forgive myself if something happened to her. And neither would the clan. She's not so bad…after a while.'
"Why thank you!"
AJ spun around and found Valencia staring at him, grinning.
"Val!"
He ran over to her and hugged her.
"Where the hell were you?! I've been worried sick! Don't you ever do that to me again!"
"Yes, father! Now you know how I feel!" She slapped his arm.
"Yeah, yeah, ok, ok. I get your point. But what happened? Why were you gone so long? Was I that bad? I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything I said!"
"Alex, don't worry about it! It wasn't you! Well, actually, it was a little bit of you, but not completely you."
"Oh."
"Do you forgive me?"
"What?"
"Do you forgive me for being such an over protective and possessive wench?"
"Of course! And do you forgive me for being such a snotty and rebellious asshole?"
"Of couse I do!"
They hugged once again. All was forgiven.
"So Alex, what did you do all week while I wasn't here?"
"Besides worrying about you, nothing much. I couldn't sleep or eat, I felt so guilty!"
"Haha, so my little note worked!"
"Oh yeah!"
"I'm sorry, did I make you cry?"
"Hehe, it wasn't THAT good!"
"Oh, you!"
She punched his arm lightly.
"Stop with the abuse!"
"Be quiet, you you you mutineer!"
"Am not! What does that mean?"
"It means rebel, silly!"
"Oh come on, I only snuck out once! ONCE! Are you going to hold that against me forever?!"
"Once?"
"Yeah! After you left, I didn't go on anymore forbidden rendezvous. I swear!"
"I taught you well!"
"I guess. But I feel sorry for Toni. She must have gotten in major kick ass trouble! I'm surprised her brother didn't beat the living crap out of me! Cause when he looked at me…ooh, if looks could kill!"
"Is that how you young people solve your problems nowadays, beating the crap out of each other?!"
"Basically."
"Tsk, tsk, what has this world come to?!"
"Haha, we are the future! Scary, isn't it."
"Very much so. Well, I have to go take care of some business. Behave yourself. See you later."
"Bye-bye, Val!" he said in a little boy's voice and waving.
"Ooh, you're SOOOO cute! I just want to eat you all up!"
"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
He put his head under a pillow. Valencia left laughing. 'Hey, I'm not suffocating! I don't breathe! No more morning breath! Yes!' AJ felt all giddy and silly. His random thoughts were interrupted by a tapping sound on his window.
"I'm three stories up! What the hell---"
AJ walked over to the window and opened it. A pebble hit him in the forehead.
"Ow!"
"Oops!"
AJ looked down and saw Antonia standing there trying to restrain laughter.
"Are you ok?" she hissed loud enough for AJ to hear.
"Hold on!"
AJ looked out the hallway to make sure no one was there. Then he ran back to the window, jumped out, and floated to the ground.
"I'm really sorry, AJ! I didn't mean to hit you!"
"It's ok, no brain damage was done. What are you doing here?"
"I have to tell you something! Actually, two somethings!"
"It must be pretty important for you to come all this way and risk your tail and mine!"
"It is, believe me!"
"Ok, what is it?"
"Well first of all, I can't see you anymore!"
"What?!"
"This is too complicated! I can't disappoint my brother anymore! I'm sorry, AJ, it's for both our goods!"
AJ felt his heart sink. He both found and lost his best friend in the past few days.
"B-b-but you said you'd always be there for me!"
"I'm sorry, AJ! This is bigger than both you and me!"
AJ had to accept it. She made up her mind. Family is more important than friends. Besides, he learned to live with lonliness before, he could do it again.
"Ok, fine! What's the other thing?!"
"Umm, uh, I don't know how to put this so I'm just going to spit it out! The Daemoniacus are planning to take over your home!"
"What?!"
"They're in Florida, right now! More specifically, they're in your town! My brother was talking about it! He said that they migrated there about a week and a half ago and your clan is trying to---"
"Thanks!"
He kissed her on the cheek and flew into his room.
"AJ! W-w-what are you doing?!"
"I have to pack!"
"Where are you going?!"
"Home!
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