I need you, I need you, I need you

chapter 55-somewhere tonight

December 19th, 2020
Rachel's p/v
"You can go to work now, it's not dangerous here."
"What if a car runs you over?"
"Darry, I'm right in front of a police station."
"That is way too close to the freeway. You know how drunk drivers can be!"
"It's 7 in the morning. Besides, we haven't had a car accident in a long time. I think this town is learning how to drink responsibility."
"I just want to make sure that Declan gets here on time."
I plug in my earbuds and lean against the tree. How scenery for a cold fucking morning.

What the fuck is she doing here? Mary is right across the street with her dad. She's wearing a black leather jacket, black long sleeve with dark green and dark red horizontal stripes, dark blue loose jeans, and red high top converse. Her father is also well dressed for the early morning. Blue-ish grey button down with a collar, white and blue gingham vintage thick jacket, white pants, black belt, and dark brown loafers. She's more 90s and he's more 50s, but they're still walking down the runway. No seriously, they're crossing the street.

Mary's p/v
"Sooner or later you're going to have to speak to your mother."
"Why should I? She ditched us for her friends. Who even goes to a book club at 10 pm?"
"But we had a blast together, correct? The movie was great, it wasn't too cold, and everyone was respectful. Best drive-in movie theater to date."
"It would've been better if she was there."
"Sweetie, I know your mother has been very distant lately but you have to understand that she's getting adjusted to her new job. She hardly has time to hang with her friends."
"She hardly has time to hang out with me but she doesn't make an effort to fix it."
"I promise that we'll make it up to you. How about I drop all my business trips and spend Christmas with you?"
"I already made plans with my peers in choir. Since you're never around, I thought there wouldn't be a problem with me spending my break with my friends."
"Were you going to attend your trips without my permission?"
"No, but I was going to ask mother for permission which is basically like asking you. I wouldn't have gotten a response from you either way."
"You know work gets hard during the holidays. I'm trying my best, Mary."
"I get it but I'm just tired of living life as if I'm an adult in my own home. You and mother are always too busy to pay attention to me. I hope there's no issue with me going to New York with my friends."
"I want to spend Christmas with you, darling. How about you accompany me to Canada? Wes and I are shooting a short film in Toronto. We can drive around town and get back the time we didn't have to explore the first time we went. How does that sound?"
"I'm going to New York with my friends. Mother will give me permission because it means she'll get to spend Christmas with her friends."
"Don't say that about your mother, have a little compassion."
"For the woman who's going out at night to God knows where? If anything she should be explaining why she leaves the house in her party outfits because I don't think book club requires Channel and Gucci products."
"Both of you like to dress up. You're only in those clothes because you apparently had nothing to wear."
"I don't want to continue having this conversation about her. But why can't you go to New York with me? At least for a day?"
"I can't, I fly out to California tomorrow morning."
"Figured, that's why you're so eager to force me to go with you to Canada. You want to spend time with your daughter before she gets tired of waiting, right?"
"Don't disrespect me, Mary. I still have the power to ground you. I can even forbid you from leaving the house."
"How are you going to ground me? Through text? Are you going to email me? I never see you ever, and you hardly answer my phone calls, even when you're home. So do you want me to spend Christmas alone? I won't even get a hold on you?"
"Mary-"
I start to tear up but then quickly wipe my eyes. "Let's just pick up the materials. I regret accompanying you now."
My father opens the door for me. I walk in and sit in one of the chairs. He goes up to the counter and rings the bell. New York will be the escape I need.

Rachel's p/v
"How is the bread?"
I open the oven. "Toasty."
Declan's dog stops in front of the oven and lays down.
"Awww, Honey is keeping warm!" I exclaim.
"She's acting like it's freezing in here. Honey, do you want a treat?"
Honey gets up and spins around. She then walks to the table. Declan picks her up and sits her on the chair.
"Honey looks so scared." I say as I pull out my phone.