I planned everything strategically, it's been two months since I was locked in my home with my parents. They are starting to trust me again but not entirely.

And since we are on Christmas break, they decided to take a two weeks holiday at grandma's house.

I agreed, otherwise they would have suspected something was wrong. I convinced them for weeks that we are going together, and in two days we are supposed to leave.

They would never leave me alone at home, unless...

My mom enters my room and she frantically looks for the baggage.

"Did you get everything?" My mom asks and locks eyes with me as I give her a fake reassuring smile.

"Yes, mom, I packed everything I need," I say happily, as happy as I can pretend to be.

"I'm excited to see my grandma and the dogs."

"Me too, sweetie," my mom says and it seems that she fell into my trap.

I acted so excited about this trip, they genuinely feel like I'm old Me.

I only got better at lying.

Not smoking anything for almost two months was excruciatingly irritating and challenging. I cried so many times at night but I didn't give up. I kept everything in, but now I'm ready to let go... and have fun.

It's almost dinner time.

I go downstairs, smiling warmly at my dad and he exchanges it.

We all sit at the table waiting for mom to grab the bread.

"I see you are doing better, Veronica, we are considering sending you back to school, maybe next semester?" my dad suggests.

I smile at him and I eat as much food as I can, fast enough to get sick.

"Y- yeah." I finish the bite, "I'd love that, dad."

Bullshit, if anything, I prefer homeschooling. The only problem is that I don't have any excuse to leave the house so it makes it harder to get coke.

I'm willing to go back to school if it means more freedom.

"Daddy... I miss school so much. I miss my friends, I fell out of touch with them," I say, giving him my best puppy face.

"You are going to get your phone back before we leave," my dad says and looks at my mom for reassurance.

"I think they assume the worst of me, I was getting closer with Nicole before t-that..." I lie and they buy it, despite knowing that I fell out of touch with Louis and Nicole many months ago.

"Oh, sweetie. They will understand. We are so happy you aren't going out with that... guy," my mom mutters. She is trying so hard to avoid saying Dominic and I wish I could roll my eyes at her right now.

She thinks Dominic is the bad guy. It's quite funny because he is probably the best friend out of all of them. Considering he takes care of me—except some occasional drugs—and James was the one giving me coke, trying to take advantage of me. Oh, let's not talk about that drug dealer.

But they don't need to know about that. My thought makes me smirk and I quickly brush it off with a cough.

This reminds me that Dominic is part of my plan, hopefully, he accepts or I'll take plan J.

As soon as I get my phone back I'll give him a ring.

While they aren't looking, dad is doing the dishes and mom is cleaning the stove, I pour salt in my cup filled with water.

I read this tip online. I'm going to make myself throw up and I hate salt, once I drink it, I won't be able to stop.

I drink all the water as fast as I can before they notice how white it's turning.

I immediately gag at the horrid taste, fuck, I might need more.

I cover my mouth with my hands to cover up the cough.

I run to the bathroom and I'm sure I have their attention.

I intentionally leave the door open and I straight up throw up in the toilet, my throat is hurting and it smells horrible.

"Are you okay?!" my mom asks worried while dad is waiting at the door.

I finish throwing up, I go to the sink, rinsing my face with cold water and they walk to me.

"I don't know what happened, I just suddenly felt so sick," II lie and take a glance at the mirror. I look so pale.

"You might have food poisoning, let's see if you feel better tomorrow, but for now rest," my dad says and caresses my shoulder gently.

We go to my bedroom and they kiss my forehead, tucking me in bed.

~

I stayed up all night thinking about what's going to happen in these two weeks without them, I'm sure I will have so much fun as I already have almost everything prepared.

It's 8 am and my parents will soon check my temperature, I went to the bathroom and grabbed a cup of hot water in which I'm going to put the thermometer.

I also put a hot towel on my forehead, as soon as I'll hear their door opening, I'll hide it.

Someone knocks on the door and I immediately put the hot towel under my pillow. I need to clean this mess as soon as I can, also the hot glass of water is on the bedside, they wouldn't be able to tell it isn't normal water.

"Yes?" I yell and my mom enters.

"How are you, sweetie?" She walks closer to me and she raises her eyebrows in surprise. "You still look so pale and sick."

I almost laugh because I know how a sleepless night makes me look.

She puts her hand on my forehead and she gasps.

"Oh my God, you must have a fever, let's check your temperature."

She goes to grab the thermometer from the bathroom.

She hands it to me and I put it under my armpit. She opens the curtains and I immediately put it in the hot water, hoping she doesn't turn around. Luckily the thick blanket over me is making everything less obvious.

She looks outside the window and it's snowing so heavily in Georgia

I almost get distracted by the snow, as soon as she looks like she is about to turn around, I grab the thermometer, drying it off on my blanket.

"Mom, look," I say and she comes to me, grabbing the thermometer.

"You have a fever. Oh, no, we are leaving tomorrow," she says as she puts her hands on her hips.

"I want to go," I lie and force my eyes to get watery.

"But... I doubt you could feel better in a day. We should call a doctor," my mom says.

Fuck.

"Let's wait and see, I'm not feeling extremely s- sick." I stutter but she doesn't catch on.

~

My plan worked.

As soon as we woke up, they realized I was still feeling sick, I forced myself to cry, acting as if I was sad about staying home during Christmas break.

They told me they'd check on me very often but luckily they didn't call the doctor.

They were also forced to give me back the phone, otherwise, how could I call them if I needed help?

I can't say I'm sick for two weeks or they'd get too worried but even if I say I feel better they won't come to get me because it's a very long drive.

It's Thursday afternoon and I grab my phone quickly, looking for my contacts but my eyes widen as soon as I notice I have only two contacts. My mom and dad.

They deleted every contact I had, even Louis and Nicole.

Fuck, I only memorized Nicole's number and I'm not stupid enough to call her.

I go to my messages and they are also deleted, panic sets on as soon as I realize.

I could leave the house and visit Dominic but it's risky, it's too soon.

I try to log in on Instagram, which I haven't used in so long but I can't remember the password.

I'm frantically looking everywhere, I need to find a way.

They all have my number, so if they call it will reach me unless... they blocked the numbers.

Yes... they blocked the numbers, I mentally laugh at how naive and bad with technology my parents are.

I go into the settings and I see more than ten numbers blocked.

The only problem is that I have no idea which number is which.

What if I call the wrong person?

I look through them, I recognize Nicole's number so I delete it. I don't need it.

I'm going to call with a hidden ID, so in case I ring the wrong number I don't have to explain anything.

I call the first number and the voice inbox message comes in.

"This number is unreachable at the moment," the robotic voice says and I roll my eyes, they will still get a missed call.

I call the second number and as soon as I hear James' voice I hang up. Maybe I should keep this number blocked unless Dominic doesn't agree with my plan.

The third time is a charm, they say.

The third number rings for a long time, I call again and someone finally picks up, not speaking a word.

"Hey?" I say trying to make my voice sound different.

"Veronica?" Dominic questions and I breathe a sigh of relief. Finally.

"You have no idea how glad I am to hear your voice," I admit to Dominic.

"Same but why are you calling now after so long and with a hidden number?" he asks and I can hear the confusion in his voice.

"Long story, but I need you to come over. We need to talk," I say and he doesn't reply right away.

"Ehm, sure. Aren't your parents still mad?"

"They aren't home," I say and hang up. A bit rude but I'm sure he will come.

After thirty minutes I hear the doorbell and I realize I'm still in my pajamas, looking like a complete mess. But it's not the first time he sees me like this.

"You look amazing as always," Dominic teases me and I invite him in.

"Suddenly, I regret calling you," I joke and laugh.

"Oh, no, you know you love me," he says and I playfully shove him.

"So, what did Veronica Reeves do these two months?" he asks as we sit on the couch.

"Let's not talk about that." I brush it off thinking back to how isolated I was, and how much I studied.

"I know you have a plan." Dominic looks me straight in the eyes and I laugh, trying to pull an innocent face.

"Home alone, no parents, no coke. Sis, I know you have something in mind."

How does he know me so well?!

"Alright, alright. I want to throw a party, well, many parties. I'd throw one every day since my parents are gone for two weeks and I want to take advantage of it." Dominic smiles at my words.

"You thought I was going to help you?"

"Frankly, yes," I admit and he laughs again.

"You are right. Let's ruin this shit," he exclaims and I push him again, laughing harder.

And it's not a fake laugh or smile like I did these months.

I make two cappuccinos for both of us and he looks at me disgusted.

"I only drink vodka," he says and I chuckle.

"Leave it for the fourteen parties we are going to have."

"I doubt people have all this free time,  considering it's holiday break," he says.

"And technically it would be a two weeks party, this house is going to be a mess," he adds and I nod, I'll think about that later.

"Do your thing, call your college friends, whatever. Just don't call James," I warn him and he shrugs.

"I haven't talked to James in months, I don't think he would find out anyway."

"Also don't bring Shanice."

"I doubt she would come unless Derek convinces her."

I almost forgot about Derek.

Who am I lying to? I remember him vividly but I didn't give him much thought. I'm better off without him and I'm not sure I'm ready to see him again.

"Oh, Derek?" I murmur.

"He is coming. Also, he brings most of the alcohol and snacks and keeps the house intact." I nod, I guess, it's not that bad.

I finish my cappuccino and we both stand up.

"It's going to be epic," Dominic exclaims and I jokingly roll my eyes.

——

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