Ok people, this one gave me some trouble but I hope it's worth it. This one came with the help of an awesomely patient editor! FYI, just got a second job and class starts in a few days. So I ask for a little patience from you guys too! Thanks a million!
As always tell me what you think! I LOVE feedback!
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"What the hell were you thinking?!" Richard Earnest bellowed so loudly Christina was sure it could easily be heard over the football game in the next room. She was sure her brother and his friends could hear her getting yelled at. "The girls called you for hours! They were terrified! When they called us, we didn't know what to think either!"
"I just needed a minute Daddy." Christina responded softly as she hung her head in shame.
That response. Oh that response. Christina knew if she played her cards right this whole fiasco would just be swept under the rug. All she had to do was play the magic words; "I just needed a minute".
Her Father sighed audibly; it was working.
"Christina, you just can't go disappearing like that. The girls worked so hard on your party and you never showed up. We were so close to alerting the authorities. It was Carmen who suggested that you were on one of your "minute" runways." Sighed her Father in defeat.
She made a mental note to thank Carmen later, in a big way.
"I know Daddy, I should have said something." Christina started, "It's just this whole wedding has been so stressful and it has been one party after another. I wasn't sure if I could handle another."
Her Father's shoulders dropped and he saw the stress in his daughter's eyes. He had to agree. His wife had indeed gone above and beyond with these plans and parties from the moment Jackson had slipped that ring on Christina's finger. He himself would need quite a few "minutes" when the bills for these lavish celebrations came in. He never did understand why it took so many little parties to prepare for one big party but he never believed his little girl deserved anything less. He had caved in.
"Christina, I understand. Just the next time you decide you need a minute; just tell me. I'll send you somewhere myself. I just wanted to know you were safe." Richard gave his youngest daughter a small smile and she returned it.
She felt terrible for slightly bending the truth, especially to her daddy of all people.
But the truth would have broken his heart.
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**7 years earlier**
"I just need a minute!" Christina screamed down the hall. It was 3 AM in the morning and her mother was sure her daughter's shriek would wake the neighbors.
It had all been too much. Too soon.
I can't breathe.
Christina thought to herself.
What the hell is happening?!
It hadn't been 24 hours since they had buried her grandmother and now they were throwing this in her face?! They were completely changing her plans! They had agreed to her taking a year off and now they change everything on her!
She recalled her parent's words. "Start college in August or pay for it yourself."
She knew she was screwed. She had saved money but that was for her traveling expenses. They switched everything on her. She knew it was because they thought she'd spiral back down her hole of self-destruction if she didn't "properly focus herself".
But God! Shouldn't I know what's best for me?!
Christina knew exactly what to say to make her parents stop in their tracks and give her space to breathe. I need a minute. She'd been saying it since she was in elementary school. It was how she told the world she needed a break. From whatever was going on at the moment, from life.
She ran into her room and shoved some clothes in a bag and walked out the front door. Her mother wanted to chase after her but her father knew better.
"She'll be back Marion," He assured her, "and she will make the right decision."
Christina ran to the only place she knew she was welcome to this late at night.
Carmen's house. Her best friend of 13 years. Carmen lived about a mile down the road and it was a run Christina made often. She jumped the fence and walked over to the biggest tree in the huge backyard. Making sure her backpack was on secure she climbed the worn but sturdy rope ladder into their old tree house. Pulling off her backpack she looked around and found what she needed: a flashlight.
Christina peeked out the window of the tree house and pointed the light directly into a window at the back of the home, right where she knew the bed was. She flashed the light on and off for a minute until there was a light that shined back.
Christina smiled and turned her light off and sat back and waited. It wasn't long until she heard the back door slam and her friend climb the rope.
"Dude! What the fucking hell!" Carmen exclaimed in her thick southern accent, which always made her laugh considering she was Puerto Rican. "It's three fucking AM Chris!"
"My parent's canceled my ticket." Christine said without an apology for her abrupt drop-in.
"What?!" Carmen's eyes widened suddenly. "Why'd they do that?!"
"They changed their mind about our plan." Christina started, "They want me to go straight to school. No traveling. At least not until I have my law degree."
Carmen let out a frustrated sigh. "That's bullshit; we've been planning this for the past two years!"
There was silence. Christina wanted to cry, this had been her dream, the trip she'd promised her grandmother she would take. To discover the world and more importantly herself.
"Well I guess I'm not going then." Carmen said breaking the silence.
"What?" Carmen shrieked with annoyance, "Why?"
"Chris the only reason I even booked this flight was to do this with you! We were supposed to do this together!" She looked at her best friend expectantly, "What the hell do I look like traveling the world by myself?"
"No! You have to do it!" Christina fussed, "Especially now that I can't."
Carmen thought for a moment, "Well what are you going to do?"
"What can I do?" Christina said looking down at her lap. "I know I won't be able to afford school by myself. I don't have a choice."
