Over the next few months, Dalton and Vanessa grew closer, their bond deepening with every conversation, every moment they shared together. Late-night texting had become their norm, with jokes and inside references building up until their conversations flowed naturally, like they'd known each other forever. Every message from Vanessa seemed to lift Dalton from the heaviness of his reality, making him feel just a little more grounded, a little more alive.
One afternoon, after they had been talking for a while, Vanessa brought up something that caught Dalton off guard.
"I finally told my mom about you" she said softly, her voice steady but a little hesitant, as if she wasn't sure how Dalton would react.
Dalton paused, feeling a flicker of anxiety. "How did she take it?"
Vanessa hesitated. "She wasn't thrilled, but... it's not as bad as I thought it would be. She's just... cautious. You know how she is."
Dalton nodded, his chest tightening a little. Vanessa's mother had always been cautious—overprotective, even. For her to know about him felt like a big deal. It meant something. But there was an uneasiness in Vanessa's voice that he couldn't ignore.
"She's just... worried." Vanessa continued, trying to sound nonchalant. "She doesn't trust people easily, especially when it comes to me. But I told her you're different. You're not like... you know, other people."
Dalton didn't know what to say to that. He wasn't sure if being "different" was a good thing in her mother's eyes. But Vanessa seemed relieved that the conversation hadn't gone worse. And in that moment, Dalton realized just how much Vanessa had been shielding him from her life, just like he'd been doing with his.
***
While things with Vanessa were moving forward, Dalton's home life was falling apart at the seams.
His mother had never fully recovered from the mess she had made of their family after kicking his father out. The strange men, the constant noise, and the general instability had become the norm in the house. But when Dalton found out his sister was coming back, he knew things were about to get much worse.
Dalton's sister had a long history with substance abuse, and whenever she was around, the house turned into a volatile mess. She would disappear for days, only to return in a storm of chaos, arguments, and damage left in her wake. Dalton had spent years trying to avoid her, but it was impossible to ignore the toxic atmosphere she brought with her.
And now, his mother—who had only gotten more unstable—was allowing her back into the house.
When Dalton overheard his mother talking about moving back in full-time, he knew he couldn't stay. He had to get out.
Dalton quickly forged a plan.
He went to his father, explaining the situation as best as he could. His father listened, his expression grim, but understanding. Together, they decided it was best for Dalton to move out—at least temporarily. They arranged for him to stay with a family friend, someone close to his father who had agreed to take him in.
His dad provided him with transportation, making sure he had a way to get back and forth to school. And finally, after months of waiting, Dalton got his learner's permit. It wasn't much, but it was the key to his escape—a way to reclaim some of the freedom he had lost in the chaos of his home life.
But there was one problem: Dalton wasn't technically allowed to drive alone.
A learner's permit came with strict rules—he was supposed to have a licensed driver with him at all times. But the reality was, if Dalton wanted to graduate high school, if he wanted to keep seeing Vanessa, he had no choice. He had to drive, even if it wasn't technically legal.
The first few times he drove alone, his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his heart pounding as he navigated the streets with a mixture of fear and determination. Every time he passed another car, he half-expected to be pulled over, but he kept going. He had no other option.
It wasn't just about avoiding home anymore—it was about survival. He needed to get to school, needed to pass his classes, and most of all, he needed to see Vanessa. Driving alone was a risk, but it was one Dalton was willing to take if it meant escaping the house and finding some semblance of normalcy.
Despite the stress of his home life, things with Vanessa were finally looking up.
They had been spending more time together, establishing a weekly routine—an official "date" night. It wasn't anything grand or extravagant, but it was theirs. Once a week, they would make time to hang out, just the two of them. No distractions, no drama, just Dalton and Vanessa.
Their first official date wasn't something you'd see in a movie or read about in a romance novel. It was simple—just fast food in a parking lot under the soft glow of a streetlight. They had pulled into the lot of a local burger place, grabbing some food to-go before parking and sitting in the car, eating and talking.
Vanessa smiled as she took a bite of her burger, her eyes lighting up as she glanced over at Dalton. "This is nice" she said softly.
Dalton looked at her, feeling a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the food in front of them. "Yeah" he agreed, his voice quiet. "It really is."
They sat there, just talking—about school, about anime, about life. It wasn't anything flashy or romantic in the traditional sense, but for Dalton, it was perfect. He didn't need anything fancy. Just being with Vanessa, sitting in the quiet of the car, felt more real and meaningful than any other moment he had experienced in a long time.
Vanessa laughed at something Dalton said, and for a moment, everything else melted away. The stress, the chaos, the uncertainty—all of it faded into the background. It was just the two of them, sharing fast food in a parking lot, and Dalton couldn't have been happier.
***
Over time, their routine became something to look forward to.
Every week, Dalton would navigate the streets on his learner's permit, careful not to draw attention but determined to get to Vanessa. She became his escape, the person who made everything else feel worth it. Even if the date nights were simple—driving around town, grabbing fast food, or hanging out at his place—it didn't matter. What mattered was that they were together.
Dalton would text her before he left, letting her know he was on his way, and every time, his heart would skip a beat when she replied, knowing that he was about to see her again. She was his constant. In the midst of all the changes and struggles, Vanessa was the one thing that remained steady, the one person he could rely on.
But the driving weighed heavily on him.
Every time he got behind the wheel, there was a knot of anxiety in his chest. Technically, he was breaking the law, and if he got caught, everything could come crashing down. But Dalton kept going. He told himself it was just until things settled down—until he could get his license for real.
In the meantime, he focused on school, on passing his classes, and on spending as much time with Vanessa as possible. She made it all worth it.
And with every week that passed, their bond grew stronger. Vanessa became more than just his girlfriend—she became his lifeline. The person he could confide in, laugh with, and escape to when everything else felt overwhelming. And even though their dates were nothing fancy, just being together made Dalton feel like things were finally moving in the right direction.