The clock had just hit 7 o'clock, when an unrecognisable car pulled up outside of the diner, Lily witnessing the vehicle swerving to a halt before her. She stood on the cement stairs with her coat hanging over her arm. She squinted her eyes to attempt to see inside the driver's window, the neon lights reflecting from the diner and making it virtually impossible to see inside. Lily obviously didn't want to get into the wrong car, so she waited until the driver rolled down their window, a familiar face popping their head out.
"Ready to go baby?"
She shook her head and laughed as she walked down the steps, his confidence and forward manner becoming quite entertaining for her. Her black Mary Jane platform heels hit the wet hard ground and Dallas jumped out of the car, walking around the car and opening the door for her, Lily thanking him and climbing in. He rushed back to the driver's seat once he had gently closed her door, slamming his door shut and driving off.
"A lot of girls turn me down straight away when I hit on 'em. You got a little soft spot for me?" He said it in a joking manner, but he also wanted a genuine answer. His eyes were glued to the road; he was well aware of the foolish people that would be out at this time and in this busy area.
"I do in a way; I got a soft spot for all you guys. It's nice to be liked by people my age." She replied, referring to the new found friendships that were made that day.
"How'd ya mean?" He pushed, lost and confused about her response. She only hesitated for a second or so, simply because the reason was quite severe.
"There's always middle aged men asking if I want a "good time". I nearly got into prostitution because of it."
It didn't effect her to talk about it; she had fortunately been led onto the better path, unlike many others in the world.
"Really? How?" He appeared shocked and somewhat horrified about the possible outcome of her future.
"Well, I was in the diner eating at about 8pm on a Friday night, just by myself. There was this guy there who told me about getting into it to earn myself some money. He said he'd provide the clothes and the drugs, which he was going to make me take before I went off with anyone, so my experience wasn't as "traumatic". Then Susie must have overheard because she came to my table and interrupted our conversation and said something along the lines of "Miss, we're ready for you to be interviewed." I had no idea what she was talking about, but I realised she was just trying to get me away from this guy. She took me into the kitchen and offered me a job, to keep me off the streets and away from people like that. I'd be on the corner now if I didn't feel like I had any friends to talk to. Susie saved me." Lily reminisced, the story being a mixture of sadness, gratitude and sense of safety and belonging.
"How old were you?" He questioned, Lily thinking for a moment. He wasn't sure if he really wanted to know the answer, already disgusted by the idea of prostitution, never mind underage prostitution.
"Just turned 16." She recalled, Dallas shaking his head profusely.
"Jeez, that's horrible. I'm glad you didn't get into that stuff." He said, Lily nodding as she stared out of the windscreen.
"Me too." She agreed. There was a short silence that followed the conversation, but it was a comfortable one. Obviously Dallas would have to interrupt the peace and quiet eventually.
"So, am I different in any other way besides age and...morals, I guess?" He wasn't sure how else to put it, but Lily was aware of what he meant.
"You ask too many questions, Dal." She raised her brow and smirked, turning her head to look at him.
"But do you though?" He asked another question, Lily sighing and staring back out of the window.
"Yeah." She rested her elbow on the car window ledge, placing her head on her hand.
"How?" He prompted her. Lily wasn't sure why he was so eager to find out her true thoughts on him, and neither was he to be honest.
She laughed at the question, simply because this must've been the millionth one now.
"Well, you're cute."
Lily knew that his smirk would appear on his face as soon as the words came out of her mouth, the sentence translating to 'get in my bed, Dallas' in his uncensored mind. He removed his eyes from the road completely, the two looking directly at one another.
"What?" She narrowed her eyes and lifted her head from her hand.
"You think I'm cute." He stated, teasing her slightly. His eyes flickered to the road every so often, swerving away from curb slightly.
"So? Most guys your age are cute. Soda and the others are cute too." Lily attempted to shoot down the idea of her feeling more for him, which was obviously what Dallas was getting at. He scoffed and chuckled.
"Yeah but I'm a different kind of cute to you, aren't I?" He raised one of his eyebrows and tilted his head towards her slightly, Lily cracking under the pressure he placed upon her.
"In looks, maybe. But I know nothing about your personality." She claimed, Dallas somewhat agreeing with her, tearing his eyes from her visage and gazing back on the empty road.
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"Ah, very true. What I know of you, I like. I like your attitude, your humour, everything. You should fit in with this gang of misfits just fine, doll." He reasoned, calming whatever nerves she had left, which wasn't a significant amount at all.
And then she remembered how she was feeling five minutes before she left the diner; she was absolutely terrified to meet up with the group, for no reason whatsoever. Her nerves were primarily due to the fact that she hadn't made so many friends before, especially after seeing them briefly only a couple of times that week. She hadn't been to anybody else's house, besides relatives. She was pushed out of her comfort zone, but she knew she needed to be, or else she would never grow the confidence to meet new people throughout her life. Lily was well aware that these guys would try and make her feel at home as best as they possibly could; their kind personalities indicated that when she spoke to them properly earlier that day.
"We're here."
•••
"I'll help you carry on, for it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on."
