I actually missed school today. Turns out the three of us slept through our alarms and even when we woke up we couldn't be bothered to get out of bed, plus Sienna's parents already left for work way before we woke up. The three of us spent our time watching Gilmore girls until about 2 when Zoe and I decided to get ready to go home, "See you tomorrow my sweet campers!" Sienna called out before we left

I actually kept my phone off during the day because I know that it's probably loaded with a ton of messages, I think... Anyway Zoe pulled up to my driveway within ten minutes and it was only then that I started to regret leaving Sienna's house so early.

And it turns out that the only person who texted me throughout this whole day was Carter, which means no one noticed I left. I know for a fact that all my siblings are home because dads letting them spend time with mom, he's acting like she's dying. Anyway as I walked into the house Santiago and Lola were looking at me confused, "I thought you were upstairs" My sister says

Oh look, now they're speaking to me.

I ignore her comment before going upstairs and going into my room, then locking it behind me. I turn on my phone as I sit down

Carter: Where are you?
That message was sent at 9:05

Then he sent another one at 12:25
Carter: Your excuse better be good

I smile before typing
Me: I'm alive

He replies almost instantly
Carter: Where the fuck have you been?
Me: I overslept at Sienna's and I wasn't bothered to come in
Carter: You working today?
Me: Of course
Carter: And have you eaten today?
Me: Yes actually, I had McDonald's

This is in fact true

Carter: Are you lying to me
Me: I'll give you one of my promises to show how truthful I'm being

Carter: I look forward to it

I spent the next hour on my phone and then watching Netflix on my laptop. But then finally the clock hit 4:15 which is the time I usually leave so that I can go and watch Grace, however I was stopped when I tried to leave. "Mi hija"

I turn around, "I want you to stay home tonight" Dad says

"I can't I've got work"

"Yes you can"

"Well I don't want to" I reply

"That's why I'm not asking, I'm telling. You haven't had dinner with us in awhile"

I scoff, "Your joking"

"No lo estoy"

"What's the point in me staying it's not like any of you noticed that I wasn't here yesterday" I say annoyed

He frowns, "You were in your room-

"No actually I was at Siennas but you wouldn't know that because you were busy watching telenovelas with your wife and doing god knows what else"

"Your staying and that's final"

Just one more year and I can move out

"I literally hate every single one of you" I mutter before going back up the stairs. This family is incredibly aggravating and sometimes I wish I wasn't part of it. I sit at my desk as I take my phone out of my bag, I then sigh before calling Melissa

She answers on the third ring, "Carmen, is everything alright dear?"

"Everything's ok. It's just my dad....he wants me to stay home because he hasn't seen me in awhile"

"That's no problem"

"Im sorry for taking all this time off-

"Trust me Carmen I understand. You can stay home dear, Carter will watch Grace" She says softly

I sigh with my eyes closed, "Thank you" I say quietly

"Your welcome, see you next week"

Im literally not gonna be working for the rest of the week and I'm so annoyed. Matteo walks in as I end the call, "Hi C"

"Hey"

"Where did you go yesterday?"

Stan Matty

"I was sleeping over at Sienna's" I reply

"Are you staying home today?" He then asks

"Unfortunately so"

"Can we watch something?"

I shrug, "Sure"

I love this ten year old to death, even if he forces me to watch spider man with him. Halfway through the movie my phone pinged

Carter: You ok? Melissa said you weren't coming
Me: My dads forcing me to stay home and have dinner with everyone
Carter: Yikes, tell me how it goes
Me: If I'm alive by then
Carter: Make sure you finish your food please

I smile
Me: Yhyh

"Who's that?" Matty asks

I turn off my phone, "Carter"

"Your boyfriend?" He asks curiously

"Friend" I correct him with amusement

"Can I meet him?"

I ruffle his hair, "Soon"

"Dinners ready" Lola says

"Are you gonna shout at Mom?" Matteo whispers

"Let's hope not" I reply before rolling off my bed

Speaking of the devil, she's at one end of the table, then the person that she shares her throne with is at the other end. Daniel, Adriana, Santiago and Enzo are on one side, Matteo, Lola and I are on the other. Dad looks around at us all, "Cualquiera que sea el problema que tengan, déjenlos" He says seriously

He was saying that whatever problems we have with each other, we need to drop them. He mostly looked at Adriana and mom when he said this, them two are the most problematic. Food was passed around along with drinks, I didn't bother taking anything, I'm still annoyed at my dad. He looks at me seriously, "Eat"

Matteo tries to give me rice but mom stops him, "She can do it herself"

I can see Enzo looking at me from the corner of my eye, almost as if he's trying to warn me that I'm making things worse for myself. I know I am but I've learned over time to stop caring, "How's school been" Daniel changes the subject

"Boring" Lola answers

"Speak for yourself" Santiago says amused, Daniel frowns

"Santi spends most of his time entertaining the girls" Adriana explains, our older brother rolls his eyes.... I do the same but mentally

"Mi hija, how's the job going" Dad then asks me

"It would be a lot better if I was actually allowed to go out and work"

"Nobody said you couldn't work-

"Great so can I go?"

"No, we're having dinner"

"You guys are, I'm not-

"How's Carter" Enzo suddenly asks

"You go to the same school, ask him yourself"

"Ok that's the second time I've heard that name, who is he?" Daniel scoffs

"Carter Miller" Enzo replies

He looks at me surprised, "Football team Miller?"

I rest my head on the table, "You know what for once I approve" He then says

As if I need it

"If this Carter is as great as you say then I'd like to meet him" Dad says

"Yeah good luck with that, Carmen loves to keep him to herself" Adriana snorts

"Yes Adri we know it's hard for you to talk to one boy at a time but I honestly never thought you'd let your jealously show" I say amused

"And it sounds to me that your just mad that nobody wants to fuck you anymore, your hips have gotten the best of you" She tuts

I chuck Matteo's glass of water at her and she scoffs with shock, Santiago widens his eyes and dad looks at me annoyed. "Dije que no hay problemas!"

"She fucking started it!-

My hair goes from dry to wet within seconds as Adriana pours her water all over me, "Adriana!" Dad snaps

I get up immediately, "Carmen!" Enzo calls after me

"You know what Adri you can go to fucking hell-

"I'll see you there!" She calls back as I head over to the stairs

"Carmen come back" Dad says,  I keep on walking anyway because if I stay then I'll probably end up saying something that I regret.

After locking my door I change my clothes quickly and then get into bed, then I just lie there. Words are just fricking elements of speech.... So why the fuck do they hurt so much?

I had a few knocks on my door, Matteo wanted to come in but I said not today. Then it was Lola and dad but I didn't get up, eventually everyone left me alone which is exactly what I was hoping for.

I was struggling to fall asleep and staring at the wall wasn't helping, it's now midnight and the house is quiet. My phone buzzes and I roll my eyes before picking it up from the nightstand

Carter: You ok?

I frown
Me: Yes
Carter: I've heard differently

I sit up
Me: And who is this unreliable source?
Carter: Lorenzo
Me: Well Lorenzo's a dick and if he wanted to say something then he would've said it to me himself

Carter: Well apparently even if he wanted to he can't.... Your doors locked

I'm not gonna lie, this is creepy
Carter: So spill
Me: I just got into an argument with Adriana and of course, I'm the bad guy
Carter: I feel like there's more

I bite the inside of my cheek, debating on whether this part is even worth mentioning.
He'll think it's stupid that I got upset and mad about what she said

Fuck it
Me: She made a comment about my hips and it annoyed me
Carter: The hips that had me hypnotised at Eliza's party?

I smile a little
Me: Yes, the hips that I despise
Carter: Well Idk abt you but I love those hips

I lie back down on my pillow
Me: Is this the part where you seduce me?
Carter: I guess we'll see on the camping trip

I laugh a little
Me: Thank you Miller
Carter: Anytime

I go to sleep feeling a little better than I did before, I really need to stop letting shit like that get to me.

~*~
Today's the day of the camping trip and I could not be any happier, obviously my family don't know that I'm going and I don't plan on telling them since at least one of my parents would try to stop me....Well let's see if I can even get past them with the two duffel bags that I have

"You know we don't have to go to school this week right?" Enzo says after noticing me

Like I said dads weird and giving us the whole week off for his stupid wife, once again I don't know why everyone's acting like she's dying. "I'm aware" I reply before taking a bottled water out of the fridge

Mom frowns as she comes down the stairs, "Where are you going?"

"Don't worry, everyone one here is capable of calling an ambulance" I pick up my bags before heading for the door

"Roberto!" She calls out as I walk down the porch steps

I get into Zoe's car quickly, "Bitch, drive" I hurry

"What's with the rush?-

"Zo!"

"Alright, relax" She starts the engine before pulling out of the driveway and I sigh before tossing my bags into the backseat

"I take it your parents still don't know"

I shake my head as I look at my phone

Enzo: Your going on the trip aren't you

I leave him on read as Zoe drives down the street, "I'm telling you, the amount of snacks that I have in the trunk is enough to feed you, Sienna and I" She snorts

"Good because I am not about to eat whatever they plan on feeding us" I reply

"You got that right" She mutters

Now we wouldn't be teenagers if there were no drinks coming on this trip, everyone is relying on the boys from the football team to grace us with lots and lots of alcohol. We arrived at the school about five minutes later, the parking lot was filled with a lot of kids in our grade. I was able to spot the guys from the football team standing by the coach, then I saw a few girls from the cheerleading team -not sure how I feel now that I know Eliza's coming- plus June-, I then saw Sienna conversing with Macey -someone from her history class-

We handed Mr Caddel our permission slips after getting out of the car, that's when I saw Carter. He gestures for me to come over as I shield my eyes from the sun, "I'm not running" I call out to him

He rolls his eyes before jogging towards me and I smile as he does so, "Was that so hard?-

He unexpectedly throws me over his shoulder and I scoff, "Carter-

"Hey Zo" I hear him say

"Hey" She says amused

All I'm seeing is his back but I'm not really complaining, "As nice as this view is, you're making blood travel up to my brain" I can feel the weight in my head getting heavier

He sets me back onto the ground and I fix my sweater, "Thank you" I breathe out, ignoring the narrowed eyes that I'm receiving from Eliza

"If you two are done looking at each other, I need help with the bags" Zoe says

I roll my eyes before proceeding to help her, "Why thank you Mrs Miller" She teases

Carter snorts whilst I flip her off, "They're counting us, hurry up!" Sienna calls out

Aaron claps, "Time for some fun bitches"

Indeed

The two of them walk ahead as Carter takes the bags from me, "Wow what a gentleman" I praise with my eyes still on my phone

"I know right-.... What's got you so interested" He looks over curiously but I turn my screen away as we walk

"Just this cute guy that I met-

"Ok stop talking now"

I pinch his cheek, "Awww you were actually jealous, I'm only kidding you know-

"Shut up" He snatches my phone from me and I scoff

"Hey!-

Carter frowns as he looks at my screen, "What's this?"

I try to take it back, "Nothing"

He blocks me whilst reading, "Carmen. What is this" Carter says seriously

"Nothing I just....-

"You just?" He says expectantly

"I just like to know things" I defend

He reads from my phone, "How many calories are in a breakfast bar? Why do you need to know that shit-

I take my phone back with annoyance, "You know you don't have to be a dick about it. It's from last night"

He sighs as I walk ahead, "Carmen"

"Leave me alone-

Carter stops me, "C I'm sorry ok?"

I feel more embarrassed than I should, I just really wish he didn't see that. To be honest I never searched it last night, it's actually from today but he doesn't need to know that. I had two before I left the house and I felt extremely guilty in that moment, I still kind of do.

"Whatever-

"No it's not whatever. I shouldn't have reacted like that"

I don't reply

At this point we've stopped walking now and we're facing each other. "Look I like you ok? And seeing you smile a real smile is probably one of my favourite things to see, so if me eating five breakfast bars makes you feel better then so be it I'll fucking do it"

That was sweet

I shield my eyes from the sun as I look up at him, "Did you just say you like me?"

He rolls his eyes, "After everything I just said that's the one thing you pick out-

I rais my hands raised with surrender, "I'm sorry it's just the first time I've ever heard you say it"

"Yes Rodriguez, I like you"

I smile, "This is the part where you say it back"

I snort, "And boost your ego? Never-

"Miller! Rodriguez!"

We both look back, everyone is on the coach but the teachers. They're all waiting expectantly, "Shit" We both realise