I half-expect that reaction. My dad almost slaps me, but I see him holding back. He turns his face to the TV and continues watching it. My mother closes her eyes, once again not coming to my defense. I walk into my room and find a suitcase I had hidden when I thought of running away a few times and begin to pack all my clothes, grabbing the two thousand dollars under my bed that I saved up.

Ethan is awfully supportive, I tell him how it went with my dad and he doesn’t say “I told you so!” or anything, which I appreciate because that’s the last thing I need right now. We drive in silence until we reach Mary’s. Before I get out, Ethan grabs my arm.

“Stacie, are you sure about this?” He asks. I don’t even have to think about it.

“I am.”

“Then kiss me one more time,” He pulls me in and we kiss like we did at his house. I’m going to miss Ethan so much. I’m hoping to remember the feeling of kissing him, as we kiss passionately. We pull away together.

Then I get out of the car, get my stuff and don’t look back.