Him: 10 Years Later | A Short Story Continuation of "Him: The Series"

One.

I always knew I wasn't the favorite child. Though, my mom is officially showing me that now more than ever. She has no idea what it feels like to be me, to be stuck, to be somewhere while wanting to know what some other life looks like. Now, I'm not complaining, my life has been nothing short of amazing. I travel the world, have great friends, my dad's cool, but my mom and me? We just don't get along like normal mothers and daughters. I'm fifteen. I should be able to make my own decisions. I should be able to choose what to do, what to wear, who to like, who to date. I'll never understand why she's always so paranoid about everything. It's really annoying. I mean, I'm just like any other fifteen-year-old. I went to visit my aunt for the summer, met a guy, and fell for him. I mean, he's actually amazing. He's sweet and kind, he'd never hurt me. But mom... she thinks otherwise. Literally all I had to do was tell her his name. She was immediately against it. Ugh. I remember meeting him. It was my third night visiting Aunt Stella...

"Kid, what are you doing?"

"Nothing," I shrugged. "I don't know what to do."

"Well, here's an idea," she told me. "Get out of the house."

"Wait, really?"

She nodded. "Yes, Del, get out of the house, go explore a little bit. Just, be back by nine. You're only fifteen, there's no way you're staying out past dark. It's summer," she shrugged. "Go live a little."

I smiled, jumping up from my spot on the bed and thanking her as I ran down the stairs and out the front door, bubbles of excitement coursing through my veins.

I walked and I walked, looking around the hot summer life of Texas, trying to find something to do, someone to talk to... only to come up short. Until I didn't. Walking over to the edge of the small pond, I took a seat on the grassy area, overlooking the water. Sure, it wasn't the water outside my bedroom in Miami, but it'll do.

"Well, it looks like I have some competition for my spot," he chucked, making my head spin around quickly.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I stuttered, gulping and standing.

"No, no," he waved at me, chuckling again. "Sit back down. I was kidding. Kinda."

"Kinda?" I asked, my fingers playing with one another. A trait my dad says I get from my mom. Ugh. That's annoying.

He grinned. "Yeah, I mean, this is technically my spot. I come here all the time, but... I don't mind sharing. Especially when it's someone pretty." He smirked, sitting on the ground next to where I had been only a moment before.

Feeling my cheeks heat up, I tucked my hair behind my ear, sitting down once again. "Thank you."

He grinned. "So, you're from out of town?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm visiting my aunt for a few weeks."

"That's cool. Well, I shouldn't jump to conclusions. Is she cool?"

"The coolest," I giggled, nodding. "Way cooler than my mom."

"You and your mom don't get along," he said, more as a statement than a question.

I sighed, shrugging. "Not recently. We used to be close. But I started getting older and she's still treating me like a kid."

"Growing up isn't all that it's cracked up to be," he sighed, shrugging. "Maybe you should listen to her."

I shook my head. "No way. She's so dramatic and paranoid. I'd rather just live my own life."

He nodded, shrugging. "Okay, then what are you gonna do with it?"