Broken Souls Don't Cry

Chapter 28

Sara

"Sara, honey, could you run to the store and grab some more potatoes? The ones I have went bad already." Sara's mother, Susan, asked. She had peeked around the corner of the kitchen into the living room where Sara had busied herself folding napkins.

"Sure, mom" she looked up and smiled at her mom.

Sara was secretly glad to get a quick escape, even it was only for a few minutes. She loved her family more than anything, however it was always stressful being within the confines of home. Dealing with arguing from everyone always made her adrenaline spike. She had become used to the quiet apartment at school. Every time she came home there was an adjustment period.

There was also the anxiety with being home as well. She was always more vigilant with her planned escape routes whenever she went anywhere, worried that she might run into certain people plagued her. Her therapist had always suggested she turn away from such behavior, meet the threat head on, instead of running away. Sara had never liked that suggestion, why would anyone willing stay in the presence of someone who had physically assaulted them in a brutal way? Running away or hiding had suited her well for several years already.

When Sara returned home, unscathed and victorious in her quest for potatoes, she found Kai waiting in his car in front of her house. She walked over and knocked on the window and smiled when he quickly looked up at her.

"Hey stranger" she said as he exited the vehicle.

"Hey" he pulled her in for a hug.

"So, this is your baby huh?" Sara said as she walked around his car, a fire red 1962 mustang. Her hand caressed the sides and hood of the car as she admired it. "You weren't kidding. She's beautiful" Sara looked up at Kai and found him watching her intently and her heart clenched.

"Yeah, my baby is beautiful." He never took his eyes off of her and Sara felt like there was a double meaning in his words. In response, she blushed.

"You'll have to take me for a spin after dinner"

She watched as Kai's gaze remained fixed on hers. "Perhaps." Then he winked at her.

"Are you ready to meet the parents?" She asked as she took his hand and led him up the steps, potatoes in her other hand while Kai held a bottle of wine.

"I'm a little nervous to be honest."

"They'll love you, don't worry." She lightly shoved her shoulder into his.

"A kiss for good luck?"

"Always" and she gave him a gentle, sweet kiss before opening the door into the madness.

**

Thanksgiving lunch went well, and her family loved Kai. She had never told her parents that she knew him in high school. That was sure to cause some looks and maybe even an argument, especially if her parents found out that he was one of the students that mocked her and was best friends with Kyle.

Kai was currently driving them to his family dinner. A much more formal affair, so Sara had donned a black cocktail dress she had found at a thrift store back in Colorado.

The nerves and worry were starting to take hold as they drove closer and closer to Kai's house. Thankfully she had eaten enough at her mom's house, and she didn't plan to eat a ton at Kai's. She was sure she was going to be questioned relentlessly from his parents and her stomach began to get queasy.

Kai was busy telling her things she should be aware of before the dinner, yet she barely heard a word he said.

They pulled up to his house and he helped her out of the car.