Shift

Drive

Stacey's hand flew to her mouth.
Adoration, confusion, relief, shock, and fury ran through her veins.

Fury was the most prominent.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, voice shaking with barely concealed anger.

"Getting you out of here. Pack this," he ordered, tossing a huge duffel bag in her general direction.
She let it hit the floor, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at him.
"Excuse me?" She demanded.
"You heard me. We need to get out of here. Now."
His voice was urgent.

Stacey's heart was pounding, her head spinning. She was so confused. She'd waited so long to see him, spent so many nights laying awake, crying, replaying his parting scene over and over and over, wondering what was wrong...what she'd done wrong...

And he was here now, but not all the way here. He was gruff and cold, ordering her around and being so impersonal.

He sighed. "Please pack a bag, Stacey."

Fighting to hold back the anger, she started to pack. She stuffed underwear and clothes in at random, hunting for her deodorant, tampons, and other toiletries.

"Please hurry," Chris whispered, sounding strained.

She threw her hands up in the air. "Well, can you tell me why the hell I need to hurry?" She asked, eyes watering.

He crossed the room in two long strides and grabbed her face in his hands. Everything about him was agitated, urgent. "Please trust me," he murmured.

Stacey nodded, eyes wide. Her heart was pounding again, her knees weak.
He was beautiful and strong, warm and...everything.
Despite how angry she was at him, how betrayed and distraught, she would follow him anywhere.

She stuffed the rest of her things in the duffel and grabbed her purse. Finally, she grabbed a picture of her mom and the necklace she kept on the frame. She quickly clasped her mother's favorite locket around her neck, hugged the picture to her, and followed Chris down the stairs as quickly and quietly as possible.

"Wait," she hissed, running toward her dad's office.

"Stacey, HURRY," Chris moaned.

Ignoring him, she scribbled a note on his legal pad.

'Dad, I'm safe. I love you. I am coming home. Do not worry. Take care of our family for me. Xoxo, Stacey'

"I had to tell my dad I'm okay. He's all I have left," she whispered in response to Chris's glare.

He looked at her with an unreadable expression and pulled her out the back door, around the house, and into his truck.

Tears started falling as he sped away. Stacey watched her home disappear and let herself cry harder.

~

Chris

~

Stacey cried herself to sleep in the passenger seat.

Chris glanced over at her. Her hair was still styled, her formal dress hugging her body. But her eyes had black streaks from the makeup she'd cried off, and she was frowning in her sleep.
His hands clenched the wheel hard.

He'd seen her unbuttoning Erik's shirt as they kissed passionately in his car. He'd seen Erik unzip that pretty green dress.

He fought hard against the animal instinct in him and took deep, calming breaths.
He felt betrayed, angry, hurt...but he'd done this to himself.

He glanced at Stacey again, finally empathetic. His heart hurt for her.
What had he put her through?
He remembered the pain in her eyes, the cold in her voice when she asked him what he was doing in her room.

He took the next exit, sure he'd outrun Joseph for now, and pulled over at a Super Target.

He gently nudged Stacey.
She jerked away from him, hand on her chest.
"What?" She demanded.
"Do you want to change out of that dress? Clean up?"

She said nothing, but slammed the car door once she was out.
She walked, shoulders stiff, a good 4 feet in front of him.

He felt a pang in his chest as he followed her to the unisex bathroom and locked the door behind them.
She faces away from him, wordless, and unzipped her dress. It pooled on the ground as she stepped out of it, and Chris couldn't breathe.
Her golden tanned skin was flawless, smooth. She was bare up top, wearing only a lace thong. He closed his eyes and pictured his mother, fighting the wave of desire for Stacey. The wolf in him threatened to come out. He recited the Lord's Prayer in his head and didn't open his eyes until Stacey cleared her throat.
"I have to pee."

She was in Nike shorts and an Eagles Varsity Soccer oversized t shirt.
Guilt hit him like a brick wall- she made Varsity, and he wasn't there. He hadn't even asked her about tryouts.

He stepped out and rubbed his tired eyes.

She walked past him, huge duffel bag on her shoulder, and bought coffee. He tried to reach for her hand when they walked outside, wanting to reassure her, but she pulled away like she'd been shocked.

He grimly took off again, dreading the rest of this long drive and hoping desperately that she would forgive him.

~
Stacey
~

The drive was quiet.
Her mind went to her family, how confused they must be. Jess and Erik, Amanda, dad, her brother... she fought back tears.
Chris looked at her a lot. He was thoughtful, pensive. He looked pained.
She didn't care.
She wanted answers. She needed them. And she would keep up this freeze she'd put between them until he gave her those answers.