Loose Ends - Book One

Ana - Charlie's Bully Pt.2

The next morning, I'm taken out of my slumber from a triple knock on my bedroom door. As soon as I sit up, I'm immediately blinded by the tangled, black mop on my head.

"What?" I groggily call out.

"May I come in?" Dean's voice softly requests from the other side of my door.

"Kay."

The door slowly opens and reveals Dean in a shirt and tie, holding a piece of mail in his hand. "Good morning."

"Morning," I blink at him, my eyes still focusing from waking up. I see his eyes more clearly, which are not looking back at me. For a second, a split-second, I swear they were focused on my chest. Of course, my vision could be deceiving me and still adjusting. On top of that, I'm so used to being eye candy everywhere I go that I'll suspect it for nothing.

Still, I pull my blanket over myself and the message to hurry the hell up with what he wants seems to get across.

"I have piece of mail for you. Here," he leans across, now very clearly looking at the ground.

I reach from across the bed and quickly grab the envelope from his hand. "Thanks."

"Hey, so, your mother told me you could use a few driving lessons."

I hate you, mother. "Uh huh," I shift uncomfortably in my bed. I just opened my fucking eyes.

"Well, I'd be more than happy to give you a few tips on the road. No pressure," he smiles and holds up a hand. He says no pressure but there's no doubt my mother has me trapped in this. She doesn't seem to be interested in teaching me and Dean's the only other adult in the house.

"Thanks," I repeat. It's not a yes, or a get the hell out of my room, but I hope my tone gives the second one.

"Have a good day, Ana," he nods and backs out of my room until my door finally clicks closed.

I sigh heavily and throw myself back onto my pillow. I hope my mother isn't going to try to make Dean my dad, because he could never. I already feel like she's pushing him onto me and it's unsettling, frankly. I guess I'm happy for her, but I don't want to be involved. Of course, that will probably change if they get married.

I shudder at the thought and decide to move on to this piece of mail. It's a letter from Silk River and I immediately know who wrote it. Now smiling ear to ear, I tear open the envelope and find a neatly folded piece of paper. When I unfold it, I see her very neat handwriting beginning with "hey pretty lady..."

"It is so empty in here, without you. I miss you, but not like I want you back in here – more like, I want to be with you out there.

Speaking of out there, you won't believe this, but someone's gotten in touch with me. A family member. I still have family out there! Crazy right? My grandmother called me the day after you left. I wasn't even aware she knows I'm here. Anyway, we basically talked until the warden had to kick us off the phone. Ana, she's so sweet... she wasn't even disappointed when she found out I checked myself in here.

Right – I forgot I never told you why I did that. Don't worry, I'll tell you, soon. Very soon.

I love you and don't forget about what a badass you are! Write me back before it's too late! ;)"

I ponder on her last note; what does she mean by "too late"? Are they changing the rules, or something? Can she not write me anymore? That would be pretty dumb, but my mind quickly moves on to the rest of her letter. It warms my heart to learn Sheila may have just formed a bond with her grandmother. In all the vagueness, she'd told me she didn't really have any family. Some of her relatives neglected her, and others passed. It was one thing Sheila and I bonded over when we became cellmates.