What the actual hell.

Why would he lie about dying? Why would he kill me? His own daughter.

Maybe it didn't hurt as much because I never knew him, but it was still shocking.

The screaming was subtle in the back, I thought it was normal, until I heard a boom.

What was that?

I looked over the balcony and people were running out of the house. The booming sound happened again. Was that a gunshot? I started to hyperventilate. Did I try to leave the house? What would happen if I did? Would the shooter get me? Did I jump and hope I'd be okay?

Florencio! Where was he? I needed him more than ever right now.

I looked for his car from my view on the balcony and when I found it he wasn't there. I should've listened to him. Stupid, Parker, stupid Natalie, and stupid feelings for getting me all jumbled up.

The screaming intensified and more gunshots were heard. I didn't know what to do so I stood there and tried not to cry.

A hand grabbed mine and I pulled back.

"Parker, come on!"

I let out a breath of relief. It was Florencio. I let him drag me downstairs. We were going so fast I tripped a couple times. Florencio was there to pick me back up, whispering encouraging things to keep me going. Walking through the first floor, Florencio pushed my head to his shoulder and spirited. All I heard was booming and our heaving breathing.

When we got outside, I was shoved into the car. Florencio didn't waste time going around the car. He crawled over me and I yelped as his knees dug into my thighs. He started the car and drove so fast, I was afraid he would hit the people also trying to get out of there.

"I'm not sure where to begin," he said, the veins in his hands bulging as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Should I be pissed at the fact you didn't go straight to the car, or that you just stood there?"

I gaped. "I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was so dumb but I don't know what you wanted me to do!"

"Something other then just standing there!"

"Well, tell me then! What was I supposed to do!? Sorry I stood there while the house was getting shot up! I'm sorry you got me mixed up in this mess!" In my rage, I punched his shoulder. "I'm so mad at you!"

He swerved, trying to get away from my punches. "If you had just gone to the car like I said—"

"Stop it! Stop it! It's not my fault because of you my own dad and Rudy wants to kill me!" My throat felt raw from all my yelling. "Just shut up, Florencio."

A few deep breaths. "Who told you?"

"Natalie. Yeah, she told me everything. It sucks that you know everything about me, stuff I didn't even know, but it's even worse that Natalie knows. When she told me I felt so little. So horrible." I started to cry. "How could you not tell me? H-how long have you known?"

"I didn't tell you because your father is some shit head who doesn't give a crap about you. I mean, he's the psychopath who started to shoot up the place because he didn't see you. Why would you want to know him?" He kept looking at me, waiting for an answer.

"I don't want to know him. I was living blissfully ignorant until you came along and screwed it all up. My dad never wanted anything to do with me. It's all because of you!" I huffed, trying not to blow up on him more.

Florencio let out a shaky breath.

"Are gonna just sit there? Tell me how long you've know." I was being harsh but I was done being nice. Being nice and patient didn't get me anywhere but hurt.

He started to slow down. "When you wrote me that note, apologizing for denting my car. I saw your last name and Tyler was the first person I thought of. It wasn't hard since he's the only person I know with that name."

I wracked through all our memories together. "That was like five months ago. Were you ever going to tell me, or were you just going to keep poking around with him?"

"I didn't think he'd find out about you and me."

I stopped talking.

"Honey, please... you need to understand."

"No," I choked out. "No." I was in serious danger now because of Florencio. I've already almost died because of him but I overlooked it. Now the threat was more real. I could die and so could Florencio.

Accommodate. Be good. Trust him.

I did all of those things, but I was still getting the short end of the stick. Florencio wasn't good for me. I loved him, but that didn't change what was happening. If we had never been together this wouldn't have happened. If I had been a little stronger, I could've avoided all this. I was angry at myself for being so stupid. I got caught in the thrill of being with him and was ignorant to what was important.

He kept secrets from me, put me in a situation I wasn't sure I could escape.

Was this how my mom felt with Tyler?

When we got to my house, I had stopped crying but something told me I would start again.

I got out of the car and Florencio followed me. I stopped in the middle of the lawn.

Do it. It won't change the current situation but you can maybe get back to normal if you do.

"Florencio," I said, my voice cracking. My stomach churned and the look on his face made me stutter. "I-I don't think we're good together."

His eyes burned into mine. He turned his body slightly so he wasn't facing me entirely. "You... you want to end this?" His usually strong voice was now unsure.

The crickets chirped and the moonlight made Florencio look so beautiful I forgot what I was saying.

"No." I blinked and fat tears fell down my cheeks. "But we just get hurt when we're together."

"How's breaking up gonna stop your dad, huh?" He prompted. He turned to me, took a step closer and held me. "I want an answer. I can give Tyler and Rudy every dollar I own and they'll still want to kill me and you. You understand me?"

I shook my head frantically. "I don't know. I don't know. I'm sorry."

Slowly, he let me go and took a few steps back. The bridge we built together was crumbling. I wanted to take my words back, but the damage had been done.

I'll be here one day and when I'm gone, you'll beg for me to be back.

He said that to me once.

And he was right. I was going to miss him, but maybe this is what we needed. What I needed.

"I'll do anything, Parker." The desperation in his voice stabbed at my heart. "Tell me what I need to do to fix this. Please. Honey, I can't let you go."

"Florencio," I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Leave. I can't keep hurting myself because I love you."

He took long, quick strides to me, gripping my jaw and kissing me with such passion, I couldn't move. His hands touched me roughly, like he was trying to remember what I felt like.

"Imagine that," he murmured. "Sweet girl like you, loves me?"

He made me look him in the eyes. He didn't bother to comfort me as I continued to sob.

"I'll try my best to keep you safe. I'll try my best to let you go." His fingers pressed so hard into my jaw it made me cringe. The vulnerability in his eyes was gone now. "I'll see you around, Parker."

Florencio didn't look back at me as he got in the car and started to drive.

No. No. No.

"Florencio!" I screamed, running after him. "Wait! Please!" I got to the end of my street when I realized he wasn't coming back.

-

Later that morning when I woke up, I got up and looked out the window. The sky was bright and the sun set a perfect 80 degrees.

I didn't notice the tears until I tasted it on my lips.

"Parker?" My mom questioned.

I whirled around. "How long have you been standing there?" I didn't even hear her open the bedroom door.

"A while." She picked at the doorframe. "It's Florencio, isn't it?"

I nodded.

She hummed. "I knew it."

"What?" I croaked.

"He's young, rich, handsome." Her back straightened. "It's what men do. I'm sad you didn't see it earlier."

My face contorted with anger. "We weren't you and Tyler." The realization that Florencio wouldn't do to me what Tyler did to my mom made me want to beg for his forgiveness until he took me back— but he was done with me.

"You know what, Parker? Maybe you could've saved the relationship if you weren't so insecure." She held a fist to her chest. "I gave up everything for your father. I had to be confident and strong for the both of us." Her eyes turned red. "If you really don't want to be like me, learn how to pick yourself up after this. What you're feeling now isn't the worst it can be. So fucking stop crying and forget about Florencio because he probably never cared about you in the first place."

My shoulders shook violently with sobs. "D-don't. You're still comparing us to you. He cares about me. I know he does."

"Then why'd he leave? You gave him everything and he still left."

I waved her off. "I left him."

"Then you're a coward."

"Argh!" I pulled my curtain and it ripped off the rod, falling to the floor. "I left because I don't want to be like you! You were right! Happy!?"

I wasn't strong enough for Florencio's life, and for him. I was going to break and be just like my mom.

She didn't say anything for a minute.

"Well, you're not me, Parker. I don't know what happened for sure, but leaving Florencio wasn't the right choice."

When I didn't say anything, she left, closing the door so harshly the walls rumbled.

-