Why, Hello Happiness.

Oh Hello Happiness, I'm Not Available At The Moment. [14]

As soon as those words slipped from the tip of my tongue, I knew that I would now be completely vulnerable. He’s now able to take me anywhere he wants to take me! And…that scared me…..I mean, he could take me to a vacant area out in the middle of nowhere and try to either rape me, kill me, or worse…leave me there, completely helpless and lost without a place to go. He could tie my hands and put me in the back of his beautiful ’67 Mustang, and lock me in there with no way to get out. He could stab me, drug me, cut me up into small pieces and make me watch him eat it. Trust me, these things happen…I’ve seen it.

I wished that I could take those words back and tell him that I was okay on my own, but the truth is…I wasn’t and we both knew that…not in the condition that I was in. The ONLY thing that kept me from running was the stupid fact that I couldn’t and I knew I needed to get out of here. I needed to get as far away from Purple Thread as possible in order to escape my mother and the dreadful memories. I am now eighteen and can do whatever I want. However, I still wasn’t sure if I was ready to make those decisions. I mean, look at where I am now? Great start to a free life, eh? Ugh…I guess a few hours with him inside of a car wouldn’t hurt. Besides, he doesn’t SEEM like the kind of guy to do that. “But, I still have to be careful with him,” I mentally noted.

I watched Drake hang his head high in thought of where we were going to go. A vacant area and leave me stranded in the middle of the desert? Leave me in the back of your car and watch me struggle to get out? Start a fire and cook the chopped up pieces of me?!

“Uh…” Drake responded slowly, still caught in thought. “My place. For tonight, at least. It’s getting late; we shouldn’t be driving too much at this hour.”

I froze. His place? Oh no, no, and NO! I refuse; I will not go to his place. I mean--

“Is that okay with you?” Drake asked, his left eyebrow slightly higher than his right, showing a bit of concern across his facial features.

NO!

“Oh, that sounds great, Drake. Great idea, besides, our Lydia needs to rest anyway.” Clara piped up, standing on her toes while wrapping her arm around Drake’s broad shoulders.

She smiled at me in delight, and I glared at her. IS SHE INSANE? I don’t want to have to be trapped in a small space under his wing for longer than I need. All I wanted was for him to drive me some place and drop me off, then go our separate ways. NOT SPEND THE NIGHT AT HIS HOUSE!!!

“Uh, no I don’t think that’s going to work.” I growled. Doesn’t she have ANY brain?!

“And why not, darlin’?” Clara’s eyebrows narrowed in suspicion.

“B-Because. I-“

“Drake, dear?” Clara interrupted, her attention turning to Drake’s face.

“Yeah?” Drake asked, looking directly at Clara.

“Can I have another talk with Miss Lydia before you go? She seems like she’s still shaken up about the whole thing. You go along and start grabbing some food for ya’ll.” Clara patted his shoulders while giving him a gentle shove towards the candy direction.

Drake looked at me and I watched his lips turn into a smile. “Sure. You want anything special Lydia?”

My eyes narrowed in anger. Who does he think he is? He honestly thinks he has the power to take me to his place? He should take me somewhere away from here under my orders! Screw what I said earlier!

“Drake, honey.” Clara laughed solemnly at my expression, gritting her teeth together in a smile. “Maybe later, hun.”

Drake nodded and jogged over to the Jones refrigerator I glimpsed earlier as we were walking into the store. Clara grabbed my chin with her fingers and turned my head harshly so I could look her in the eyes. She had a facial expression that looked like she was screaming “What the hell is wrong with you?” Her eyebrows were narrowed and her mouth was open, about ready to say something that I knew would piss me off.