Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Dakota's Point of View

I was still standing alone in the parking lot. I didn't expect him to actually leave me here. I looked around me. I must've looked incredibly dumb to whoever was bystanding.

"Dakota!" I heard someone call.

I turned around and there stood Max, the girl that Nathan had such a strong hatred for.

I walked over to her, "Max?"

"Hey, I noticed you've been hanging out with Nathan. I think you should just be careful. I know we don't know each other but, he's not all that great."

"He's got some issues but, he's working on them," I said putting my hands in my pockets.

"No, Dakota, you don't understand," Max started. "He's a serial doser."

"Serial doser?" I asked.

"He just.. drugs girls, I don't know why but I'm getting to the bottom of it," Max said. "Has he ever been violent towards you?"

Now that I was thinking, he's been more violent than he's ever been kind to me. Was Max onto something? Was I getting myself into deep trouble with this boy?

"Dakota?" She asked again.

"Sorry, um, I don't know," I said fidgeting with my hands.

"It's okay to be afraid," Max said grabbing my hands. "Chloe and I can help you."

She looked over to a girl with blue hair who was standing against an RV, she waved to us.

"I should get going," I said. "Thanks for the warning though."

"Just please let me know if you can talk about him," She said. "It would help us out a lot. And Kate Marsh."

I nodded my head, "Sure."

I put my hands in my pockets and turned around, walking away from them and the diner.

It took me a while to walk back to campus, but finally I made it. As I walked around I noticed dead birds all over the grass. First snow, then an eclipse, and now dead birds? Maybe the world is actually coming to an end after all.

I sighed and continued walking to my dorm, when I opened it, Nathan was sitting on my bed.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I asked him.

"I get why you're upset with me," He said.

"Mhm," I nodded. "Go on."

"And I'm sorry."

"And how are we gonna fix this problem?" I asked shutting the door behind me and sat next to him on my bed.

"I'm gonna be.." He trailed off. He seemed confused and scared. I could tell he wasn't used to being this sweet. "More upfront."

"About what?" I asked him, staring at him.

He would look at me, he kept his eyes straight ahead, focusing on the wall, "My.. feelings..?" He let out a deep sigh, "I don't how to do this."

"I get it," I said putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let's just put this behind us. Okay?"

He nodded his head, "Please Seattle."

Hearing him call me Seattle actually made me smile.

"Let's just stay here," I said quietly.

I lied back in my bed, scooting to the edge, making room for him.

"The parties tomorrow," He said lying down next to me.

"Damn already?" I asked.

"Yeah," He breathed out. "And then we're leaving, right?"

"I forgot about that," I said.

"Is that a no?"

"I don't know.."

"Don't be scared," He said.

"I know but.. it just feels wrong. To leave without saying anything to anyone. What about your mom? And Amelie?"

"They'll live," He said. "You don't understand though Seattle, I really gotta fucking go. I've done really bad things here. And I- I wanna change. I wanna get help and be a better person. I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. I never meant to hurt anyone in the first place."

"Shh," I said realizing how emotional he was getting. "I understand Nathan."

"Tomorrow night after the party, we'll go. Okay?"

"You can get help here," I said in a soft voice.

"No, no," He repeated. "No, no."

"Nathan," I said. "If you seriously believe you need to leave town to get help, I'll go with you."

He nodded his head, "Thank you Seattle. Really."

"Of course Nathan," I said leaning my head on his shoulder. "I care about you a lot."

"You're the only person ever," He said. "To actually give a fuck about me."

"What's the plan to leave town?" I asked.

"I'll leave Amelie a note. She'll understand. Then I'll just take the money out of my bank account. Clean it. And we'll go."

"Seattle," I said. "Home."

"You think I can find a home in Seattle?" He asked, his voice shaky.

"Of course," I said. "My family is super warm and kind. You wanna meet my dad right now?" I asked.

"How?" He asked confused.

I sat up in bed, "I'll Skype him."

"I'm nervous," He said placing a hand on his heart.

"Don't be," I said. "My dad's a real sweetheart. Plus, I haven't called him since Monday night, he's probably worried sick about me."

I got up and went over to my desk. I unplugged my laptop from its charger and brought it over to my bed. Nathan sat up just as I sat down next to him.

I input my computer password and logged into Skype. I began to ring my dad, I could tell just how nervous Nathan was getting. His leg kept twitching.

I put my hand on his leg, "Relax."

The call went through and my dad picked up, "Mija! I was getting worried!"

"Told you," I said to Nathan.

"Who is this?" My dad asked in reference to Nathan.

"This is my friend Nathan," I smiled.

"Hello Sir," Nathan said trying to smile, but his nerves weren't allowing him to.

My dad greeted him back and asked how I was doing.

"I'm doing good," I smiled. "I was thinking of visiting you. I'll be home Thursday night. I'm just really homesick."

"Of course," My dad said. "You should bring your friend. I must meet who my hija is hanging out with."

"Perfect," I said.

"What do you study?" My dad asked Nathan.

"Photography," Nathan answered. "I major in photography."

"That's cool," My dad said. "I'm just an old mechanic. I wish I would've went to some academy."

"Dad, you're doing better than most people who've attended prestigious schools," I reassured him. It breaks my heart that my dad has always been so insecure about not having a good education and becoming a mechanic rather than a doctor, or a lawyer, but my dad did an amazing job just by being a mechanic, so I never minded.

"Is that Kota?" I hear my six year old baby brother ask.

"Yes it is," My dad responded.

He leaned off-camera. But when he leaned back, he placed Daniel on his lap.

"Hi Daniel! I miss you!" I said excitedly.

"I miss you too sissy. When are you coming home?"

"Soon actually," I said. "I'll be home really late in the night tomorrow. So probably Friday morning."

"I'm gonna stay up all night Kota!"

"If you say so Daniel," I laughed at how cute my brother was.

"Where's Sean?" I asked.

"With Lyla," My dad rolled his eyes.

"Of course," I said. "The two of them are inseparable."

My dad and I talked for a little while longer until eventually we said our goodbyes and I shut my laptop.

"It's insane how you have such a loving family," Nathan said.

"I'm very grateful for my dad, he's been through a lot. I think that's what makes him such a good father."

"Do you think I'll be a good father one day?"

"One day," I said to him.