Forsaking His Luna

Lisboa

Miriam

I was packing my backpack when my mum invaded my room.

"What are you doing? Where do you think you're going?" - I signed.

"Mum, it's Saturday. You know where I'm going. Remember that auntie Linda got me the tickets for the Sudoeste festival. Then I'm going to Alentejo with my friends too. We are staying at auntie's house there. She had given me the keys already. We spoke about it, and you said yes. Why the drama now?"

"Who are you going with? Where are you going to sleep? When are you coming back? I'm getting you grounded for the rest of the summer if you get in trouble!"

Ah... typical of my mum repeatedly stressing about things we spoke about. Of course, this had to happen in just half an hour for me to leave the house.

Before I lose my temper, I take a deep breath. No point getting in trouble now when I'm away from this place for a month.

"Okay, mum, chill. I'm going with Mafalda, and Diego is driving us, and we will meet with his friends too. We are a big group, and you have nothing to worry about."

That seemed to make her relax.

"Fine. Does your dad know you're going today?"

"Yes, mum, I told him. He said to talk to you about it, and I told him you had already said yes, so that's that."

"Hmm, okay, don't forget to clean up your room before you go and fold that basket of socks."

"I will if you let me finish!"

"Hmm... fine, I'll let you finish."

When she finally left my room, I signed.

Of course, she would mention my dad, dear. They haven't argued this weekend yet, so she will try to make us bond.

My dad and I didn't have the best relationship. He lived for his work and didn't care much about our basic life, like school, house chores, or spending time with us.

My mum depended on me a lot to help with house chores and with my brother Gonçalo, nine, and my sister Irina, fourteen.

So there you have it, I'm eighteen, about to start my last year at secondary school studying to become a nurse, hoping to enrol at university next year. I still need to work more on my grades. I only have a little time to study when I get home, and by the time I have some time, I'm so tired that I go to bed.

When Mafalda and I saw the advert on TV for the music festival, we agreed that we had to convince our mothers to let us go. What excited me the most was Eddie Vedder's concert next Wednesday. He was part of Pearl Jam, one of my favourite bands. My best friends were Jessie J and David Guetta, even though it wasn't what I liked the most. I wouldn't miss any of it. We would have fun.

Ultimately, we created a little group of people who wanted to go, making everything easier.

So I quickly closed my bag, threw the sock basket under my bed, covered my tracks with the duvet and texted Mafalda.

"Hey, I'm ready. Should I text Diego?"

"Hey, I'm ready too. Yes, just like we talked about... Why? Are you nervous about texting him?"

"Of course not. I'm just checking on you..."

"Okay then, see you soon. Let me know 5 minutes before you arrive."

"Cool!"

Okay, now I have to text him. I'm a bit nervous, it's true... Diego offered to be our driver. He could have gone with his friends. You probably got the wrong idea from me when we kissed after a night out. I was drunk, and I might have said something like he was hot, which triggered him. He asked me out on a date, but I said no.

I don't feel that way towards him.

Sure, he is hot, so I feel a bit attracted to him, like all the girls in school. He's got blonde hair and dark brown eyes. His body and face make him look like a sculpture from ancient Greece with a muscular and sharp jawline. Apart from physical looks, we had nothing in common. He was a sports lover, a player when it came to girls, and probably dated every popular girl in school had by now. He didn't read much either and had a s**t taste in music. I am open to everything regarding music, not techno. No lyrics, just pure noise. I understand I respect it, but we had no topic to discuss.

I texted him finally...

"Yo! I'm ready. What time are you coming to pick me up?"

"I've parked in front of your building just now. Come down. We need to get there early."

"Sure thing!"

Yes, that's true, we have to get our bracelets to choose a friendly campsite, away from the toilets, and still make some time to go to the beach. Straight after, my phone chimed again.

"Can't wait to spend the night with you."

I blushed. I could feel the heat coming from my cheeks. So I decided not to reply and ignore Diego. Maybe he meant sleep... but I had a feeling he didn't. Besides, I'm sharing a tent with Mafalda.

I wasn't ready for that kind of social interaction with him!

I am a virgin, and I don't believe there has to be a certain age to lose it. It's not something you plan; it just has to be a natural moment with a person where you feel a unique connection. I have read many romance novels and always thought I would like it to be that way too.

I picked up my backpack and said goodbye, first, to my sister and brother. They were watching Phineas and Ferb on Disney Channel.

"Can't we go with you?"

"I'm sorry, Irina, but no. I can't take you with me, and you will have to look after Gonçalo. On the plus side, you can go to my room, use my computer to watch some films, play a few games, or watch telly."

Her eyes sparkled, and her smile stretched across her face.

"Really? Do you mind? But you never let me touch your things."

"Like that has ever stopped you from doing it anyway! But yes, I permit you to be careful not to damage anything and keep it tidy. Enjoy it while I'm gone."

I could see this made her happy, so I felt less guilty about leaving them. They also had summer beach trips with daycare during the week, leaving me relieved to know they would enjoy their summer.

Gonçalo hugged my legs with tears in his eyes.

"Don't go... who is going to give me a bath? And read me stories at bedtime? And play adventure with me?"

I hugged him back and kissed his chubby cheeks so fast that he started giggling.

"Irina can do all those things too. Just give her a chance. Also, you must take care of her and ensure she doesn't mess up my room."

He gave Irina a cheeky smile, and I knew I would regret letting them in. But... oh well...

I kissed them both goodbye one more time and hugged them.

Then I said goodbye to my parents in the kitchen.

"Bye, mum and dad, I'm going now. I'll call you when we arrive there."

"Is Diego here already?" my dad asked, barely lifting his eyes from the paperwork in front of him.

"Yes, he's waiting outside."

"Tell him to drive carefully, and tell him I said that."

"Okay! Now I have to go."

"Oh, and Miriam... Careful when going into the sea. Remember, don't go past the safety buoys."

"Why do you always say that?"

He lifted his head from his paperwork, letting his glasses slide slightly from his nose. His bright blue eyes looked at me with a warning not to contradict him.

"Do you want to go or not? Because you either follow my rules, or you don't go at all."

"Ughrrr, fine! I promise!" he exhaled and nodded at me.

"Good, now come to give me a hug." I rolled my eyes at him and walked to him; he got up and embraced me, kissing the top of my head. "You can go now."

"Thanks, dad." It felt good when we got along, which happens less often these days. I was always a daddy's girl, but since my parents started arguing every weekend, I barely tolerated their demands, especially my dad, who pretended nothing was happening.

Mom was looking at us with a slight smile on her face. When I stepped out of my father's embrace, she sighed, finally smiling at me and handing me some money.

"Have a nice couple of weeks, honey, and call us at least once a day!" shaking my head at that, I replied.

"Mum, that's unlikely. I don't know if my battery will last that long, but I will try to charge it at every chance. I'll text you every two days instead?"

She exhaled in defeat, "Okay, just don't forget."

Smirking at her, I said, "You got yourself a deal!"

I kissed them both goodbye and left.

Diego was parked outside.

Standing outside the car, a brand new black BMW, typing on his phone, he was wearing a Quicksilver silver t-shirt, jeans shorts, white Nike trainers and aviator ray-ban shades. His hair was still a bit wet, and I had to admit he looked sexy.

He lifted his head from his phone and looked at me, smirking, letting me know that he had noticed my reaction to him.

Stupid heartbeat.

I put on my most confident expression and strode towards him, not wanting to let it show how I felt towards his good looks.