Take Me Home {Completed}

Chapter Twenty-Three

Unedited

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Chapter Twenty-Three:

"Parker, what happened to my car?" Nola asked once they began the journey to school. It was a question that had been on her mind but never in the right moments to ask.

"I completely forgot about that - your car is at your parent's home. We can pick it up today after you talk to them."

Nola nodded and looked out the passenger window. "That works," She replied in a low tone.

A headache began to form when Nola started to worry the whole school knew about Mitch and her situation. She prayed that Mr. Harper had not gone around and talked to anyone. Nola wanted this to be over with and no one to know - too many already knew.

"So, tomorrow is Friday," Parker began speaking by stating the obvious. "A small group of my friends wanted to go out tomorrow."

Nola became unsure of what to say, "Okay..."

"Well, they ... they heard about you living with me and wanted to get to know you. They - um- invited you and me to come along with them." Parker's words were rushed as he spoke. He was nervous about what she'd say.

"However, I can understand if you're already overwhelmed and don't wanna go out." He realized that it was not a good idea inviting Nola. "You know what, I shouldn't have even mentioned it," Parker grumbled the last part.

He felt embarrassed that he had suggested taking Nola out. Knowing his friends they'd want to meet at a bar, which would be loud and filled with people. A place like that would terrify Nola, after all she's been through, at least that was what Parker had convinced himself.

"I'm not going to lie - I am overwhelmed," Nola stated. She looked over at Parker, "But so are you."

Parker furrowed his eyebrows, "Me?"

The corners of Nola's lips twitched up slightly. "Yes, you. You've been working a lot lately. Plus, when you come home you've been dealing with m-my drama and problems-"

"Nola," Parker interrupted but Nola shook her head and continued speaking.

"Parker," She said calmly. "I get that I'm not a stable minded person. I'm hallucinating my abusive ex-boyfriend, who's behind bars." Nola was frozen in her seat as the words spilled out of her mouth. "I'm still scared of practically everything ... and you ... you're always there to help and be there for me at a drop of a hat. But, I'm not blind Parker. It's draining you.

"You told me the other day that 'you can't solve everything', but you try to Parker. So, much so that it's eating away at you."

"We are here," Parker said in a short tone.

Nola noticed that he had parked in the front row of the school parking lot. She saw teens shuffling about to get into the building. A few taking their time but many were rushing to first class. Her heart sank when she realized what she was about to face. Every fiber of her being wanted to go back to Parker's place.

Her attention landed back on Parker. "All I'm saying is I think it's a great idea that you go out with your friends tomorrow night. However, I think it would be best if you go alone. You should spend time with your friends and relax without having to worry about me."

Parker gave a dry chuckle, "That would make me far from relaxed."

"Why - why's that?"

Parker sighed. Nola didn't understand, he wouldn't be able to relax if he was across town in the middle of the night - knowing Nola would be alone at home. It already made him nervous when she was there alone while he was at work. But, when he's at work he's still in a fifteen-minute radius of her if anything was to happen.

Yet, he knew his friends would want to go to a downtown venue. Which meant that he'd be at least thirty minutes away with the city traffic. Parker didn't feel comfortable leaving Nola like that, not after all she'd gone through recently.

He wondered if he could convince Claudine, Remus, and Caesar to go to some place near his home. Parker shook the idea from his head, if Nola wasn't going he wouldn't. "You're gonna be late for class if you don't go."

Parker thought Nola didn't understand him, but he was wrong. Nola saw what was holding him back. "Fine, then. We should go."

"I'm not going to class. I'm taking online classes-"

"I know because you work. I mean, we should go out with your friends tomorrow night." Nola stopped talking for a second to collect her thoughts. "I think it'll be good - for the both of us."

Parker raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Oh, really?"

"Yes," Nola replied as her nerves started to build up. "I need to be social, according to you. You, on the other hand, need to relax and have fun."

"According to you."

Nola messed with the hem of her shirt, lost in thought for a second. 

Finding no need to continue the conversation any further, Nola reached down and grabbed the backpack Parker lent her. "I'll see you after school," without saying another word, Nola exited the car and raced inside her school.

Parker didn't immediately leave the school parking lot. Instead, he sat in the car and thought about what had just happened. Nola had told him that she was, basically draining him. However, Parker didn't see it. He felt just fine.

He was over the moon, though, that she had stood her ground about something and actually didn't seem afraid to speak her mind about what she thought. It was an improvement.

***

The second Nola walked into the school a girl shoved a sheet of paper towards her. Nola jumped back.

"I'm sorry for scaring you." Nola realized it was Hannah Nicholas, a girl she had an English class with last year. Nola remembered her to be a very bright individual who was always alert and ready to answer any question the teacher had prepared. If Nola's memory served her right Hannah was the class valedictorian. Rightfully so, Nola thought. "I was just trying to give you a flyer for senior prom. You're a senior, right?"

"Y-yeah, I'm a senior," Nola replied. She took the flyer that the girl once more shoved in Nola's direction.

"I'm also reminding people that prom's free this year, thanks to some rich alumni family that donated a whole bunch of money to the school. It'll take place four weeks from tomorrow and it'll be located on the top floor of Gordon Towers. Hope to see you there," Hannah smiled at Nola.

Nola folded the flyer before putting it in her front pocket. She gave a weak grin in response to Hannah, "thank you," was all Nola said before rushing off to class.