Take Me Home {Completed}

Chapter Sixteen

"As you begin to live according to your own guidance and your own daring everything changes completely." 

- Leonard Willoughby

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Chapter Sixteen:

"Hey, Nola?" Parker questioned as he walked into the living room. His eyes immediately landed on her. Parker gave a smile as they locked eyes. "I wanted to talk to you about a few things."

Nola paused the movie she was watching and gave him her undivided attention.

Parker leaned on the doorpost that connected the living room to the small dining room. He was concerned as to how this conversation would go. "I'm not going back to school anymore." Parker hesitated before continuing, "I've a new job that will take up my time during school hours. The guidance counselor is allowing me to take online classes, instead of coming to school. However, I wanted to discuss you, possibly, going back to school."

Nola's eyes dropped as a fear settled into her stomach, Mitch would expect her to go back to school. It would be an easy place for him to find her and get her back. She remembered her past experiences of trying to hide in the thick of the school crowds. He would part the clustered halls like the Red Sea and find her. Suddenly, Nola found herself shaking her head, "I can't go back there..."

Knowing her fears and worries, Parker sighed. He had a feeling from the beginning of this conversation that it would end like this. Parker balled up his fist in anger. He wished he had gone after Mitch, that way Nola could live her life without worry that he will find her. "Nola," Parker took a step towards her but recoiled back as he thought she wouldn't want his comfort now.

He began to think about what to say next to her. "I don't know everything you are going through, I can't relate to you fully because I'm not in your shoes, nor have I ever been." The words began to flow out of his mouth and soon he knew where he was going with this. "However, you must realize you can't live your life in fear of him. He's just as human as you are; he can break just as easily as you.

"If Mitch dares to set foot back in your life, I'll end him. That's not a threat that's a promise. If you're scared to go to school because of him, I can see to it that you get placed in online classes, like me. You can study here, in the comforts of the living room.

"But, I think the socialization of the school would be good for you, Nola. You need to be around more people your age that will bring positivity into your life. You need to make friends and live life for yourself, not for a man that-" Parer stopped talking and bit his tongue. He knew harsh words were about spill that weren't necessarily directed towards Nola.

Looking over at Parker, Nola realized that he really thought school would be best for her. She thought about it for a good minute before sighing, "Can ... Can I sleep on it?"

Parker glanced over at Nola and smiled brightly at the simple fact that she was, at least, considering it. "Yes, of course. Take all the time you need to decide what you want to do."

"Thank you."

"In the meantime while I'm at work, would you rather my mother come over here or me to drop you off there?"

"You mother doesn't work?"

Parker shook his head, "No, she works. She's a writer for a gossip magazine and works from home. She has a lot of free time, though, because she typically finishes her assignments the day they are given, leaving her with mountains of free time. I just need to know..." Parker paused for a second because a sunray came flooding into the room from the cracks of the curtain. The ray hit Nola's raven colored hair and highlighted the side of her face. Parker's heart began to pound as he became transfixed at how someone could be so naturally beautiful.