She is Not Who You Thought She Was

Chapter 58/Canopy

"You drive." Flora tossed me the keys to her car. "I'll sit in the back with him." She climbed in next to him.

I got into the front seat and started the car. I stopped before putting it in reverse.

"Wait where are we going?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" She looked at her brother with a worried expression.

"Well, I mean we can't take him home." I explained.

"Nutcracker. You're right." She sucked in air through her teeth.

It was silent for a moment as we thought of another solution.

"Oh," Flora gasped, "your house!" My eyes widen.

"Uh, no, why?" I turned around to stare at her horrified with that suggestion.

"Because your mom is gone right." She nodded rapidly very pleased with the solution she came up with.

"But she gets home tomorrow." I explained.

"Babe, my parents would kill Rock if they saw him like this. He can't come home." Flora gave me a pleading face. "And she doesn't get back until late afternoon, right? Rock will be long gone before that." She added.

"Fine." I grunted and stepped on the brake. "He leaves first thing." I pointed at her and then put the car in gear.

"You got it." She did a playful salute.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly as I drove us home.

***Flashback***

The house was dark and I saw one light on through my mother's window. Thankfully, that meant she was in her bed falling asleep while she read an extra explicit novel. I picked up my giant gown as I trudged up the steps. I closed the front door as quietly as possible and made my way to my room. I held my heels in one hand as I tiptoed past my mother's room. I was halfway through my doorway until she stopped me.

"Did you have fun?" She called after me. Her door was wide open, but her bed was set in the back corner of her room so only she could see me and I couldn't see her.

I relaxed my shoulders and walked into her room. My mother had this canopy bed for as long as I could remember. I think my dad told me it was the first one they bought together. It's not like a little girl one like you might imagine. It is the type you would find in an old medieval castle that the King would sleep in with the Queen, or his mistress.

"Yeah, it was okay." I answered leaning on one of the back posts.

"Alright, sleep well hun." She went straight back to her book. I stayed there for another minute waiting for her to ask why I was just now getting home at three A.M. Maybe why I'm in a pink ball gown or why my hair looks like I just got done getting railed by a stranger. However, that doesn't matter to her.

***End of Flashback***

"Where did you guys end up going after the gala?" Flora asked as we made our way back down the stairs.

We finished taking Rock upstairs. I'm letting him sleep in my bed while I stay in my mom's room. We do have a spare room, to be used for an office or guest room, but it was in the middle of being converted into my mom's home office. However, it is mostly boxes at the moment.

"Oh, we just ate at a little burger joint." I answered trying not to remember the events that followed.

"Did you meet up with Rock?"

"What?" I stopped walking and looked at her.

"Rock left too. Almost right after you guys did. I assumed he was going to meet up with you guys."

"Um...no he didn't." A million thoughts went through my mind.

Did he follow us and tell Jefe where we were?

"Where did you guys all go then?" She asked again.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused because I just answered that question.

"Scarlett, you, Thomas, and Rock all left around the same time? What happened?" Flora stared at me seriously.

"I don't know what you're talking about?" I tilted my head at her confused.

"Babe, I know." I parted my lips.

"You know what?"

"Black Velvet." My eyes widened.

"Y-you know? H-how?" I stuttered. I thought she was oblivious to it.

"Of course, I know." She shook her head at me like she would have been stupid not to know.

"Wait, did Rock tell you or-"

"Rock doesn't even know I know about it. He is the clueless one here." She rolled her eyes.

"When I found out about it he told me not to mention anything to you." I explained.

"Yeah because he still thinks I'm his delicate sister he needs to protect." She rolled her eyes once again. "Anyways, what happened tonight?"

I avoided eye contact. Can I even tell her? She knows about Black Velvet, but how much?

"Like I said we just went to eat."

"Yeah right. What really happened?" She folded her arms in front of her chest.

Damn, she is good.

"I don't want to get in trouble." I answered honestly. "Anyways Flora, you don't want to get mixed up in this." I sighed.

"Get in trouble?" She shook her head unfolding her arms.

"Rock said I can't talk to you about this stuff." I looked up at her through my lashes. Even though I want to tell her just to piss Rock off I care about her too much to use her like that. "I agree with him, Flora. Seriously, I'm just glad that Thomas has finally gotten away from it."

"So that's what happened." She nodded. "Frostee had left the gang." I gave her a surprised look.

"You-" I stopped and she smirked at me.

"You know what," She put her hands up as if she surrendered, "you're right. I'll stop asking questions and we can pretend this never happened." I grinned relieved we don't have to talk about Black Velvet or Rock and Frostee anymore. I finished walking her to the door. "Thank you so much for this though. Really, I owe you one." She hugged me and kissed my cheek. "I should get back." She waved and went back across the street.

"Bye." I said quietly and shut the door.

I leaned on the door, sighing loudly, thinking about everything that had happened since I arrived here. This is one crazy town. Rock is in a gang. Frostee just got out by being beaten half to death twice and had to steal two cars. I even had to witness one of his beatings. Surprisingly, Flora also knows about all of it. All of us are still in college. Our biggest problems should be finals and student loans. Our lives are so fucked up.

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P.K.