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"Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality" - Alice in Wonderland

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💫 Maya 💫

After Daniel and I made the planner, I went upstairs and listened to some music. Dinner without Álvaro felt really weird. Waking up and not seeing Álvaro in the morning felt weird. Knowing he is not in the house makes me panic a little. 

He has been more of a father the past five days than my step-father has ever been. 

When I was walking out with the twins and Hugo to go to school I walked past the home office and heard Daniel say something on the phone, "She is good, everyone is good. You will be home before they get back from school right? We need to talk about something that happened yesterday."

Shit, did I do something wrong yesterday? I knew I shouldn't have broken down with Daniel, now they probably think I am too weak for this family. I just hope they don't sell me to him again. I don't think I could survive another 'surprise'. 

When we get to school I part ways with the boys and meet up with my new friends in the hallway. The first two classes I have are with Landon and Noah.

During first period they kind of just talked between the two of them. I don't blame them, I'm Aella's friend, not theirs. I'm just glad they let me sit with them in class. 

Second period is when Landon and Noah are starting to ask me questions. They say they want to get to know me so they ask questions like "What is your favorite colour?" and "How do you like school so far?"

After a few more of these types of questions, they start asking me about the move and such, "So how is life like living with the infamous Sanchéz brothers?" Infamous? 
'What do you mean?'

"Well, since they are kind of the most powerful people in this school, everyone listens to them and when you don't their father or oldest brother is called to handle it with the principal." Oh, so Álvaro wasn't kidding when he said they had influence. They are basically just feared by everyone. 

'It's okay.' I don't know what else to say, it's been better than with my step-father but I can't say that without explaining everything and I don't know them good enough for that. "Okay, that's good. If anything ever happens or if they are being dickheads, just give a call and me or landon will pick you up okay?" 

I give them a nod. I don't think I will ever need to call them but it's nice to have a safety net to fall back on. 

"Oh wait, you don't have our numbers. Give me your phone so I can add yours and also put you in the groupchat!" Noah says excitedly. 

Noah added you to 'procrastination station'. Good name I guess? It's probably some sort of inside joke I don't understand. 

When in the messages app I also notice I have been added to two other groups:
'Kids in dad's basement👦👧' and the first chat after I had been added was Hugo changed group name from 'Kids in dad's basement👦' to 'Kids in dad's basement👦👧' so I guess they want me to feel included.
The second groupchat is 'Full house' with the boys, dad and me. 

Holy shit, did I just call Álvaro dad subconciously? I guess he really is. But what if he doesn't like me calling him dad? I'll just keep referring to him as Álvaro, probably better for everyone.

School went by pretty normally I guess. Hugo came to sit next to me during lunch. When I asked him about his own friends he said they could survive a lunch without his 'amazing personality' because his little sister needed him. I didn't need him but I guess it was nice to have him there. 

When the last bell rang I walked through the hall towards the front door thinking the boys and me would be meeting me here again. But when I walk outside I don't see any of them. I do see dad standing in front of a matte black car in the parking lot. 

I can't help the smile creeping onto my face when I see him. I've missed him. 

"Hey mi amore, how are you?" I put my thumb up and dim my smile a little. "Good. The twins and Hugo have practice each tuesday and friday, I heard you already talked about the friday situation with Daniel yesterday?"

I give him a nod. "Good, mi amore. That leaves the tuesday. Daniel or I will pick you up from school every tuesday. Is that okay with you mi amore?" I nod again and he smiles while he opens the passenger door for me. 

After he got in himself and we started driving he says "I have a surprise for you when we get home, mi amore." I freeze as soon as I hear 'surprise'. 

I knew it
I knew it was too good to be true
He wants to surprise me
That only means one thing:
he used to surprise me as well. 

My step-father used to say "I've got a surprise for you waiting in your bedroom." With this ominous grin on his face. Every time he said that, a friend of him, Shawn, would be waiting in my bedroom. 

And when I tell you the surprises were the worst things that ever happened to me, I mean every word. 

Sometimes Shawn would bring his own toys and rope to keep me from moving and making it 'pleasurable' for me as well as for him. It never was.

Having zoned out as soon as Álvaro said 'surprise' I pull away when I feel a hand on my arm. 

He found me.

I close my eyes, knowing what will follow. That's when I get my hearing back "Maya, mi amore, can you hear me? You are okay, we are in the car on our way home. I don't know where you are or who you think I am, but we are in Spain, you are here with me, Álvaro, and your five brothers."

I slowly get my other senses back, when I look around I see dad has pulled over on the side of the road. 

I am not with him
I am with my family

I turn towards him and he visibily relaxes. "Gracias a Dios (thank God). You scared me, mi amore. Are you okay?" I give him a small nod and start to fidget with my shirt. 

"Can you tell me what triggered it?" I think about it a little. What if they think I am weak because of my extreme reaction to a word? 'My step-father used to say I got a 'surprise' waiting for me in my room. Nothing good followed.' While reading my notes I see Álvaro clenching his jaw, it makes a vain in his forehead pop. Looks kind of funny.

"Mi amore, what was the surprise?" Should I tell him? I've never told anyone, I just thought it was normal for fathers to surprise you like that but after these last few days I am realising nothing about my life with him was normal.

'A friend would be in my bedroom. He bought me for a night.' I see the tears well in his eyes reading this. "Mi amore, I am so so sorry that happened to you. That is not how a parent is supposed to treat their kid. Did your step-father ever touch you himself?"

'Not like that.' 
"Then like what?"
I point to my cast and tears start to well in my eyes. 'Pushed down stairs when I didn't make breakfast in time.'

"I am so so sorry mi amore. Did he do anything else?" Since I was already confessing everything and the tears were hard to keep at bay 'Whip to my back, bruised ribs and bruise on arm from his grip.' At this point it feels like I am stabbed in the heart when I see Álvaro is crying. He's crying for me. 

After a few minutes of just sitting there in silence, dad speaks again "Let's go home, mi amore. But I would like to let the family docter look at your injuries to see everything is healing properly. Is that okay with you, mi amore?" I give a small nod but write down something as well.

"Of course I will stay in the room with you, anything for you mi amore."
"Would you like to put on a few songs for the rest of the ride home?" That sounds nice, music always helps me calm down. 

He connects my phone to the car and gives it back. There is only one song I immediately think about in this moment.

'Carousel' by Melanie Martinez.

A/N - thank you guys so much for almost a hundred reads <333333

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