enemies flames - lrh

seven.

The rest of the ride was silent. I think Lennon got the hint that I was annoyed and in result just shut her mouth for the first time all day. I don't know how hard it is to complete one simple task. But of course, she couldn't even do that.

I turned the radio up loud to avoid conversation at all costs considering I know if I open my mouth, she won't like what comes out. Lennon fiddles with her fingers in her lap as her head hangs low, almost seeming ashamed for having talked to them.

At the same time, It frustrates me that she doesn't have a backbone and instead, just lets people tell her what to do and feels bad when she doesn't do exactly as they ask. She can't stand up for herself and it's impossible to be around. I can't imagine letting people dictate what I do at all times.

For that, I can't control the words that leave my lips as I turn down the music. 

"Do you ever speak up for yourself?"

Lennon seems taken aback by my words, widening her eyes slightly, "Excuse me?"

"Do you ever speak up for yourself?" I repeat, this time slower. "Or do you just let people dictate what you do at all times?"

Lennon doesn't seem to know what to say as she opens her mouth and closes is quickly after. I just look to her once more as if to emphasize that I'm waiting for an answer.

"I-I, I don't know," she says, stumbling over her words. "Y-you invited me to your home and asked me to not speak to anyone but I did anyway so I figured you were upset."

"So you just let people tell you exactly what to do at all times?"

"Well, no but I was a guest in your home and-"

"And now you're sitting in silence and staring at your lap clearly terrified to speak up for yourself still," I say, ripping apart this flaw of hers that makes her look so weak. I can't stand when people can't speak up for themselves and instead just abide by what everyone wants. She needs to grow up.

Even if it affects me considering if she did try to speak up against me, I would be the one suffering, I still can't stand to be around this. 

Lennon looks stunned, "I thought you didn't want me to speak-"

"I didn't realize I was your fucking parent," I say, wondering why she cares so much to listen to what I tell her to do.

Her tone is calm as if trying to keep the situation at "I didn't mean it like that, I just don't want to upset you, Luke. Especially after you just treated me to lunch."

"So you're just going to sit in silence?"

"I thought that's what you wanted," she says, seeming to not know what to say or do at this point. "I figured you were upset with me."

"You need to learn to fucking speak up for yourself," I grumble to myself, annoyed by this conversation as she doesn't seem to get the point. She's insisting that she did all that because she thought I was upset but I'm telling her she shouldn't do things just to please people. 

Then again, I don't know why I'm telling her this because she could very easily use this against me. The next time I want her to do something, she's going to do the exact opposite and blame it on this conversation. 

"I'm done with this conversation, you're hopeless," I say not wanting to continue this conversation. At this point, it's only going to piss me off more. She clearly doesn't understand why this is a flaw of hers and I'm not going to sit here and explain it to her.

Lennon doesn't say anything, getting the hint once more as she tucks her legs under her and looks out the window. I don't pay her any mind as she seems unbothered by the conversation, instead diverting her attention elsewhere.