A Year [REWRITING]

Five Years Ago

I had asked for a quiet graduation dinner with just my parents and siblings, because I knew mama wanted to celebrate. I would have been happy in my room with a book to finish the night with, but there I was in the middle of the graduation party, I had asked my mom not to make, with people I was never happy to see and loud obnoxious family I was obligated to be nice to.

I wasn't even the focus of attention (not that I wanted it), I was only the excuse to make yet another alcohol infused Mexican party that lasted until early hours of the morning. Beer bottles covered the dining table, rancheras blasted through my dad's speakers, and laughter of everyone else having fun bounced off all the walls.

I texted the only person who could make the party bearable, but he wasn't responding.

"Mija, it's your party. Why don't you smile?" mom tried to hug and kiss me, but I pulled away from her beer breath.

I covered my nose. "Ma. Come on. You smell worse than dad now."

She frowned. "I can't believe my little girl is not so little anymore."

"Oh my g-" before I had time to express my annoyance, she pulled me into her boobs and squeezed. "Ugh. Gross, mom. Let go."

"Stop growing!" she yelled.

My phone buzzed in my hand and I tried to look at the message while my mom continued to shower me with affection and saying something about my butt as a toddler.

Eric had replied to my multiple messages with:

Had to get rid of my mom. I'm omw

He was on his way and his house was a street next to mine, so it would only take him a few minutes walking. I was relieved that I was finally going to have something distract me from the chaos that was my family.

When a knock came to the door seven minutes later, I had to rush there before one of my aunts could open and interrogate him the moment he walked in. "I got it. I got it" I yelled as mi tia Norma was about to reach the door. I placed my hand on the door knob before she did. "I got it, tia. Thank you" I said to her when she wouldn't move out of the way.

"Okay, mija" aunt Norma said and then hurried off to the calling of her name coming from the kitchen.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my family, but they could be a little too much at times and just because I had to deal with their crazy didn't mean my boyfriend had to, too.

I opened the door and Eric's smile and green emerald eyes greeted me. I smiled back with enthusiasm as I stepped outside and closed the door behind me.

"Hey" he objected to me not letting him inside. "Come on" he whined. "It looks fun in there."

"It's not." I asked him there to help me escape not to join the party.

I cupped his face in my hands and reached up to meet his lips. He was at least two heads taller than me and I loved it. His height made me feel protected and having his arms around my shoulders intensified the feeling even more.

Not to mention, his smell. Oh my god, his smell.

"I'm sorry I took long" he said into my lips.

I gave him another peck before answering, "It's okay. You're here now." He had been at the graduation, but Nancy called him home before the ceremony ended. At least, he got to see me walk the stage, but I would've liked it if he went home with me and helped me tolerate the party from start to finish.

"So what's going on? You don't want to celebrate your graduation or what?" He tangled up his fingers with mine.

"No" I pouted. I placed my chin on his chest as I looked up at him. It was dark and I was sad I couldn't see his green eyes.