THE THINGS THAT HOLD US DOWN

- C H A P T E R 6 -

As the car's engine rumbled I began to doubt my decision to get into the car. For one, I didn't have his name yet and regardless of what he was called, he was still friends with my brother. Worries began to swirl around my mind, panicked thoughts centring around the obvious issue of my brother. He would somehow find out about this car ride. How? I don't know but he would and the consequences for me would definitely be disastrous. A staged cough pulled me from my internal dilemma. I turned to see the guy glance at the road then back at me.

"Where do you live?" I froze at his question, what would I tell him? He's probably been to my house or at least knows where Declan lives. It wouldn't be that hard to connect the dots.

"Um..." I stall, probably looking like an idiot for being so slow to answer the simple question.

"I'm not going to break into your house." He raises his eyebrows when he speaks his conclusion of my silence aloud. I was about to protest that I wasn't under the impression that he would do that but then I realise that it is actually a logical reason for my silence.

"Never can be too sure." I go along with what he said, attempting to make it believable by joking. He shakes his head, the smirk, of course, still twisted on his lips.

"So, your address?" He questions again. I decide to just give him the street name, it would be a rather large jump to connect me with Declan anyway. Mainly because there were plenty of school kids living on the same street and Declan practically did everything to make sure he wasn't associated with me.

"North Westbrook." He nods once and continues driving along the road until we reach a left turn. The street we were driving along was quite unfamiliar to me. When I walked to school, which was every single day, I went along the shortcuts and through a path in the forest that came out by the school entrance. The car remained silent for several minutes but I couldn't keep my curiosity at bay for long.

"What is your name?" I ask, glancing at him. He meets my gaze with humour in his expression.

"I'm surprised it took you this long to ask doll." He laughs slightly when he catches the narrowing of my eyes.

"You already have my name, you don't need to use that," I growl slightly, displeased with his persistence with the pet name.

"But doll just suits you more." He grins at me and reaches out to tug my hair. I move away from him. As far as I can in his car.

"Your name?" I prompt him. I decide to ignore the name, sensing that I probably won't get anywhere with arguing about it.

"Ace." It suits him.

"Hm." I subtly glance at him, comparing my new knowledge of his name with the face. It really does suit him.

"Do you not like my name?" I turn to properly face him, feeling confused.

"What?" I scrunch my eyebrows together, trying to figure out what he means.

"Well, you didn't exactly give me the most enthusiastic response."

"What else am I supposed to say?"

"You could start fangirling over me, tell me how my name suits my rugged and very masculine appearance." He suggests, the grin he's sporting suggests that he is teasing me. Although his suggestions seem to fit the persona of some of the girls you can see literally hanging off his arms.

"Yeah... no, thanks." I roll my eyes at the thought.

"What? Does my name really not suit me?" He pouts, looking very much like puss in boots with his large and very pitiful eyes.

"It has what? Six letters?" I ask him, enjoying the confusion that falls over his face.

"Uh Yeah?" He takes a minute to think but apparently comes up with nothing, "Why?"

"Well, I suppose its an accurate representation of how many brain cells you have." I laugh when my insult finally hits him. It is a priceless moment, especially with his indignant expression.

"Well, that's just rude." I laugh at him, clutching my stomach. He tries to hold onto his frown but soon gives up as he joins in on the laughter. I straighten and sit back in the seat, noticing the familiar road, we are only seconds away from my street.

"What's your house number?"

23, "19." I fiddle with my fingers as the lie rolls off my tongue. He nods and slows the car, counting the house numbers as we go. He pulls to a complete stop outside my house. I go to open the door, pulling the handle, it clicks open. I look back, over my shoulder, at him.

"Thanks for the ride." I push the door open and slide out, "Darian." He smirks at me as I shut the door.

"Anytime, doll." I flip him the middle finger as he pulls from the curb.

The walk from my borrowed house to my real one was short but there was enough time to change my mood from light and happy to the complete oposite. At home, I was alone. I didn't matter if my brother was in the house with me, he made sure that mentally I was floating in an empty sea, isolated from any kind of family warmth and love. I deserved it really. It was all my fault. Only I could be blamed for what happened, and I was. Every day.

I clicked the front door open, trying to keep as silent as possible. It seemed that the coast was clear so I squeezed through the door and speed walked to the stairs. A creak of the wooden flooring made me stop, dead in my tracks. I turned around slowly. The whole movement seemed fit for a horror movie, except this was no ghost. Declan's wrath was probably much worse than any ghost or serial killer. Icy cold eyes penetrated deep into my soul.

"Out so late? Surely you would have learnt the consequences from the last time." His words were aimed to hit the weakest parts of me and they found their target. I ducked my head down, unable and unwilling to look him in the eyes. He didn't say anything more so I ran up the stairs, no wanting him to see how badly the old wounds he had opened bled.