Rosa's POV

A week has passed since my parents found out about my sexuality.

It's been a complicated time full of uncomfortable tension in our house that seems to be constantly shrinking in size. I can't stand it, but there's not much that I can do about it either. Honestly, it feels as if they'll hate me for forever.

In that time, they rarely exchange words with me, and whenever I try to, they ignore me. It hurts. A lot.

Today though, something is different. They actually speak to me.

"When we come back, we want this house in the best shape ever. No visitors and you can't leave the house unless you get permission from us. Understand?" My mom explains.

I nod my head, and I don't say anything. It's the first words she's directed to me in forever, and of course they're painted over in hatred and disappointment.

I look at all of their suitcases that they've prepared for their trip. They're going on a vacation without me, how nice. We usually take annual trips like those, always in some new part of the world. I wonder where they'll be going this time. Or this might be the family vacation that they had told me about. 

"Your mom asked if you understand so answer her," my dad practically growls at me.

I know not to act out when he's that angry, which causes me to lightly squeak out, "yes, I understand."

He huffs, and he takes their luggage out to the car. All I can do is watch hopelessly out the window as my mom and Adrianna head outside.

Without me.

It only takes a few seconds to turn on the car and in the blink of an eye, they're already driving off. I'm all left alone, I guess I should be used to it at this point.

They didn't bother saying goodbye. What can I do to make this all better?

I let out a deep breath, and I sit on the familiar brown couch that we've had since my childhood. Most of the furniture is the same, but the air is different. Everything is so bitter, and it's all because of me.

I notice that it's so much quieter without them here, but I think it's been strangely silent ever since they found out the truth about me. It's such an unbearable and uncomfortable feeling, with absolutely nothing that I can do.

I walk over to the only house phone left in our building, and I dial Aurora's number from memory. My parents had taken away my phone, so this is my last chance at reaching the outside world.

Thankfully, the old piece of technology still works, and I hear a human voice.

"Hello?" Aurora asks into the phone.

"Aurora, I miss you so much," I say quietly.

"I miss you too."

"My parents, t-t-they found out about me," I tell her.

I can barely say it out loud.

I've barely said anything out loud in the past week.

It feels as if my mouth has been locked shut, and it hurts to use the imaginary key to open it.

"I figured, and I'm sorry. I know you weren't ready for them to know," she says.

I never wanted them to find out. At least, not now. I was planning on keeping this part of myself hidden away from them. Just for me, but of course I couldn't even have that.

"My family hates me."

"They'll get over it since it is who you are," she tells me.

I stay silent.

I know that she wants me to stay hopeful, but those words don't seem realistic right now. I don't know how this could ever get better. It just doesn't seem possible, and her optimistic remarks feel like they're doing more harm than anything else.

"Do you want to me to come over?"

"I do, but I wouldn't be surprised if my parents installed security cameras somehow," I explain.

I mean that both sarcastically and seriously. Because truthfully, I don't think that I know who my parents are anymore. I can't be too sure of what measures they may have roan to keep me locked away from the world, like some disease that needs to be kept away from the human population.

"I'll come over," she says, "it doesn't matter if they see."

It does, but right now, I can act like it doesn't. They'll be on their plane soon, and be unable to come back or contact me about her being here.

"See you soon," I tell her.

She calmly says bye before hanging up, and that's my cue for putting the phone away. Knowing that she'll be here soon does make me feel better, since it's been incredibly difficult to deal with everything alone.

About 20 minutes later, I hear the deep ring of the doorbell, and it causes me to jump in fear. I remind myself that it's just Aurora though, and when I head downstairs to open up the door, she's there.

Smiling and shining like always. She offers me a comforting smile, and immediately gives me the best hug ever.

"Rosa, you look like you haven't gotten any sleep. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I say.

I'm not fine. At all.

"Rosa, no, no you're not, I can tell," she says.

I glare at her, and she flinches. It's such a stupid question to ask if I'm okay. How am I supposed to be okay? In this kind of situation?

I wish that I could do a better job at hiding those feelings, but it seems like she can see right through me. I used to find that cute, but not right now. I hate that she can tell, all because she knows me too well.

"How can I get any sleep if my family hates me?" I snap at her.

She places her hand on my shoulder, and leans in for what I assume is a kiss. I pull away, and she stands still, confused.

"You can't just make everything better with a kiss," I say.

If only it were as simple as that. I wish that it could be possible, but it's not. Reality is difficult, and nothing can make this better.

"I'm worried about you, Rosa."

"I'll be fine," I say.

I hope.

"Ros—" She starts.

"Just stop. This mess is your fault. I could still be dating Ben and I could be fine. I would have never have found out anything of myself and my family would not hate me right now!"

She flinches and backs away from me.

I regret the words as soon as they come out of my mouth. I hate myself for saying that. She doesn't deserve that. This is my fault. Figuring out your sexuality isn't so clear, and I'm a fool to even make it seem like it was Aurora's fault.

"I'm sorry, I just— I just can't bear with the fact that my family hates me. I shouldn't take my anger out on you," I apologize immediately.

I can't fuck up my relationship with Aurora. It's one of the few things that I have left. Other than Cameron, I don't have anyone that I can turn to.

She's silent for a moment, until she finally decides to speak again.

"Rosa, I get it. It's hard, I've gone through this before. Unlike my dad though, I know your family will eventually come around," she tells me.

"When?"

"Rosa, we can get through this together, don't worry."

I notice that she doesn't give an answer to me question, but no one can. My family has always been unpredictable, and I have to deal with it. What a mess. It's impossible to not worry. That's all I do practically every single day. I feel like I'm drowning in the idiotic thoughts of my own mind.

She gives me a hug though, and I've never felt anything better than being with her. I wish that everything could magically be fixed.

"I love you," I say.

"I love you too."

"Close your eyes," she tells me suddenly.

"Why?" I ask her.

"So I can kiss you," she responds.

She grabs the front of my shirt and pulls me in, initiating a kiss. I gasp at the sudden movement but I smile through the kiss. I sigh contently when she runs her hand through my hair; her other hand resting on my hip and pulling me closer.

The house phone starts ringing though, and, of course, it ruins the moment. I quickly pull away to answer the call, leaving behind my confused girlfriend at the front entrance.

"Hello?"

It's my father. They've already managed to get their hands on a phone somehow.

"Are you making yourself useful?" My dad asks me.

He's loud, but I can hear the sounds of multiple voices in the background. It's likely the crowds of humans at the airport, or maybe they're already at their final destination. It's all a reminder of what I've lost.

"Yes, I already cleaned the kitchen and the bathrooms," I lie.

"Good," he says and hangs up.

It infuriates me how he acts that way. I don't deserve that. At least, that's what I think.

"What do you want to do?" I ask Aurora.

"You," she blurts out randomly.

I feel myself blush intensely, and she also turns a bright shade of pink. She's clearly embarrassed, and I can't help but laugh at the sight. She's always been a confident person, so it's a rare event to catch her in a speechless position.

"I-I- I never said that. Forget that. Uh, do you have any comedy movies? I love comedy movies, they're just absolutely amazing. Right? Right," she rants.

I decide to ignore what she said, for her sake, but I let out another giggle in my own mind. I'm definitely not against the idea, but I think that now isn't the time. Everything is so complicated, and I don't know if that'll help.

"Yeah. . . I'll go get some options and we can choose the one we want."

She sits on the sofa, crosses her legs together, then places them on the coffee table. Instantly, I stop in my tracks so that I can tell her something.

"Manners," I say.

"Fine."

She takes her legs off the table, and rolls her eyes.

"Bossy boots," she comments.

"I am not," I protest.

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"You are."

I run over to her and I start tickling her, knowing exactly where her ticklish spot is.

"Stop- stop- okay- you're- not," she says in between laughter.

"I thought so," I say, and I decide to stop tickling her.

She takes a few deep breath, and then sticks her tongue out at me.

How mature.

I leave it alone, because otherwise, it'll result in a never ending fight as if we're two children fighting over a toy. I go into my room, and I grab a few movies for her to choose from. It's all from my collection of films over the years, some covered in layers of dust while others are still new.

I don't take long to head back downstairs, and Aurora smiles as I hand the items to her. With a long look, she decides on one, and hands the rest back. It's one of the new movies, but I approve of her choice.

"Good choice," I comment.

"I know."

I take the rest of the movies back upstairs while she remains on the couch with the new one. I come back downstairs, and find that the commercials are already playing. I sit next to her, and she rests her head on my shoulder.

I enjoy every second with her.