One Way Out

~Chapter 6~

"You almost done?"

"I barely started." It was Saturday. Today, I decided to wake up early to work on the paper for Mr.Vence. I invited Jordan over to spend some time and hopefully keep me company. Too bad all I can think about is Cole. He said he'll meet me the next day but it's been two. I don't know exactly where he lives either. The last thing he said replayed in my mind.

"Don't leave me again, Ana. I'll find you eventually."

Did he find me on purpose? Cole is drawing my attention from my paper. I get two sentences on the screen until I'm interrupted again. "Come on Ana, take a break." Oh my gosh, I give up. I'm never gonna get this done.

"Fine Jordan, fine. What do you wanna do?" He had a sad look in his eyes. Now I feel bad. It did make me sad when he was. Maybe I shouldn't have invited him. "Look, Jordan, I really want to finish this. Can I call you later?" With the same look in his eyes, he got up and left my room. I wanted to call Marie for advice but I had to start. I really wanted this. I started again. Until I was interrupted again by Tamar's Love and War. "What?", I sharply asked, feeling agitated. "Woah Ana, calm down. What's got your panties up your ass?"

"Oh sorry Cole, um how did you get my number?"

"I know people. Open your door."

"Why would-",and the phone cut off. Before I can ask anything else, he hangs up. I leave my laptop heading down stairs to open the door. Standing at the door is the 6'1 Cole with the same smirk he wears. He's wearing a plaid shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his elbows and simple jeans. He looks nice while I look like I got hit by a train.

"Just woke up? Watch out." He pushes past me practically inviting himself in my house. Not that I mind anyway. He heads for our living area and throws himself on the couch. "Nice place you got here Ana." Cole pats the spot next to him motioning me to sit down. I take a seat in the arm chair away from him. I have to keep my distance. I have a boyfriend. At the time of my thinking Cole flips through channels deciding on what to watch. I can't have him in here. Nobody even knows he's in my life again. "Let's go to my room!" I drag him upstairs into my room and lock the door behind me.

"Woah, I know you want me but damn." He plops down on my bed crossing his hands behind his head. I lay on the lounge chair and rest my head on my arms. I close my eyes until I feel a hand rest upon my back. "Let's go some where, Ana." I lift my head to look at him. "No offense Cole but I don't feel like going to your 'enchanted place' now." Next thing you know I'm up in his arms. He's carrying me bridal style. "Don't you trust me? I won't take you anywhere unsafe." I look at him one more time, into his eyes. "You have no choice. We're going." I squirm with all my might to get out of his arms. "Let me at least change Cole!" When he puts me down, I quickly throw on jeans, my Jordan's, and a white tee. I finish tying my sneaker. Cole waste no time to pull me in his hold again. He carries me all the way down stairs and outside. "And how are you planning on taking me to this place of yours?"

"My car of course."

Cole walks ahead. He stops at a black Dodge Charger with tinted windows. He points then lays himself on the hood of the car. I'm astonished. The car is beautiful.

"This? Is your car?" I'm eyeing the car. I notice the rims sparkly silver, the red fuzzy dice hanging in the windshield, and a bumper sticker that says 'Get Money'.

"Yup, a beauty isn't she?"

"Can I drive it?"

"You? A woman? Uh no." He smiles. I glare at him. After a minute of staring at each other, Cole opened the passenger motioning me to get in. "What does my sex have to do with driving?", I ask as I enter the vehicle. He closes the door and rounds the hood. He gets in the driver side. His eyes meet mine. "Your sex doesn't have anything to do with it. Leave your sex out of it, will yah? We'll talk about sex another time."I turn to buckle my seat belt. My face is changing color by is balant response. If I stare at him any longer I'm gonna want to prance on him then attack him with my mouth. Not in a dirty way. Okay, maybe a little.

He buckles his seat belt in one swift move. After, he takes a cigarette from his pocket and lights it between his lips. Lavender and smoke linger on his clothes. I can smell it. Inhale trying to calm my nerves, but that only makes it worst. When Cole starts to drive, I look out the window.

10 minutes

Nope

20 minutes

Nope

40 minutes

The car ride's been silent. After what I think to be a hour, we're still driving. It's getting close to sunset. I remember him flicking his cigarette butt out the window awhile ago. "Where the hell are we going Cole?" I'm growing impatient. "Watch your tone with me Ana." That's all he said to make me quiet down. Truth be told, his stern side scared me. He was also my ride. Any misunderstood sentence and I could be thrown out the car.

I waited looking out the window. What went from trees and small animals, turned into homes and local bodegas. Finally, we pulled to a stop. Outside was a large crowd of people. Music was playing loudly. You can hear the bass in the speakers. I'm startled by the knock on my window. "You coming or what?" Cole had already gotten out. "Don't get lost." I wrap my arm around his.

When we enter the home, I notice it's no different than outside. People are everywhere. Kegs everywhere. Red cups in the hands of almost everyone. Others are dancing in the middle of a makeshift dance floor. Bodies are rubbed up against each other leaving no space for air. Cole and I maneuver ourselves down the hall. Couples are making out. Girls and boys, girls and girls, boys and boys. There is no judgement. We walk into the kitchen seeing a table set up like a bar. Absolute, Grey goose, and any other bottle you can name line the table and counters.

"Aye, what up man!" Cole is approached by a boy a little shorter than him. His hair is a dark brown in a wavy frenzy. He's not bad looking. Cole openly greets the male.

"What up Danny!"

"Nothing man. Glad you came."

"I'd never miss a good party." After all the greetings end, Danny turns to face me.

"Whose this lady, never seen her with you before." He touches his index finger and thumb to my chin. I shake my head losing his grip. Before I can defend myself, Cole chimes in. "Off limits Danny. She's only 16." Cole looks down at me then back at him. He smirks,"All right man, she's all yours." Danny turns to walk away. However, before he does, he whispers something in my ear. "Be careful darling. There are predators on the lose, and you look like prey." He laughs and walks away. Cole turns to me with a confused look on his face. I return the look, my face palpable.

I walk away from Cole for a moment, leaving him in the kitchen. I stand in the hallway with the couples sucking each other's face. The man Cole was talking to earlier approaches me. He smelled of alcohol and his holding a red cup. His eyes are shot red, although he walks stable.

"How you know Cole anyway?"

"He's a old time friend." We stay silent for mintue. He takes a sip of his beverage. "Some friend, bringing you to a college party. If you were my friend, I wouldn't let any man near you." For the second time today, Danny touches my face. I stand, unable to move.

"I'm 19 and Cole's friend but I'm still coming on to you. Imagine the other guys here in addition to being drunk. Cole's trouble girl. Be careful." He let's go off my face. His eyes stare at mine. Although he's slightly drunk, his eyes don't lie. "I'm Danny by the way. Thought I give you a proper introduction. Feel like I'm going to see plenty of you." His smile reaches ear to ear as he walks away. Soon after Cole reappears near me with two red cups in his hands. "Wanna drink?" I give him a 'are you serious' look but he held the cup closer to my face. "Come on Ana just a sip. Loosen up." I hesitantly take the cup from his hands. Before I put the cup to my lips, I smelled the clear liquid. It was strong. I can take it easily. I chug the liquid in one gulp. Old memories flow through me.

"Last one Ana!!! You can do it"! I feel the warm liquid down my throat. With a taste I'm all too familiar with. I smack the shot glass down onto the table. "Yea!" I hear cheering. People are throwing bills at me and onto the table. Cole picks up the money for me. For the past hour, I've been participating on a drinking game. "Good work Ana. Here are the winnings from tonight. Who knew a small girl like you could take it?" He hands me the money. Tonight, I've made $635 in exact. Why did I stop doing this a long time ago? Easy money.

"Be careful okay? I don't want you throwing up in my care." I hand him a hundred.

"This isn't my first rodeo Cole."

"You never know who's the bull though."