“Yeah, my mum will come.”
“Cool, wanna wait in the kitchen? I’m hungry.”
“Sounds good.”
We pass the living room where I wave bye to Mr and Mrs Johns, who are still up watching TV. Anna’s parents are much more chilled than mine and don’t mind her inviting boys over to watch movies on a Friday night. My parents would weld my bedroom door shut with me inside if they knew the boys were here.
Anna and Percy walk us to the front door.
“Thanks for making my birthday so special, guys.” I hug them both, then wave the gift bag full of makeup and face masks Anna bought me in front of her. “And for my present. You’re the best.”
“You know it.” She laughs, leaning against the door frame. “See you guys at the library tomorrow?”
“Yep.”
Zayn says bye and we turn and head down the garden path hand in hand. He reaches for the gift bag as we turn onto the footpath that’s well-lit by street-lights.
“I’ll carry this for you.”
“Thanks.” I beam over at him. Then the light catches his busted lip and the smile falls from my face.
“What are you going home to tonight, Zayn?”
He walks silently next to me for a moment. The air around us is still but cold, and it’s peacefully quiet except for an owl hooting in the distance and our footsteps as we tread over the concrete path.
“A passed-out drunk or an empty house. I’m hoping for the second.”
We continue down the street. My house is a few blocks down, so the walk will take less than ten minutes.
“What if he’s awake when you get home?”
Zayn’s jaw hardens. “Then I’ll deal with that when I get there.”
I tighten my grip on his hand. “Stay at my house tonight.”
It’s not a question, but he answers me anyway.
“I can’t, Gianna.” He sighs. “Your parents don’t even know I exist.”
“I’m not going to ask them!” I whisper-shout at him, scared that my voice will travel down the quiet street. “Sneak in through my window. They’ll never even know.”
He looks sideways at me and cocks a brow. “Sneak into your room?” he asks, a small grin forming across his face. “What if your dad catches me? Or your brother? Or worse-” He’s laughing at this point. “Your mum.”
“Ha ha ha,” I say, forcing my own smile away. “You won’t get caught, trust me. Just sneak out again before they wake up and my mum won’t need to use her wooden spoon on you.”
He drops the smile and looks at me seriously.
“Gianna, my problems won’t disappear after tonight. I’ll still have to go home and face him tomorrow.”
“I know,” I say quietly, grasping his hand tighter. “But I just really don’t want you going back there now.” I look up into his eyes and give him the best puppy-dog eyes I can muster. “Please. Stay the night with me? It’s my birthday.”
His eyes search mine, and I see the moment he gives in because they soften and he lets out an amused breath.
“Fine. But if I get a second beating tonight from your dad because he catches me in your room, I hope you know it’s your fault.”
I laugh as the tension I was carrying in my shoulders lifts. I practically bounce the rest of the way home.
When we’re a few houses away, I pull Zayn to a stop.
