The Mckleons' Plan

Chapter Two

Viviane P.O.V

My heart was pounding when I spotted him gazing at me from the corner of his eyes. I had never been alone in a car with a man before. Except for my brother, Helias, who I was raised with, beside our younger sister, Chu Jean. The guilty thought of having accepted a complete stranger's offer to drop me home kept running through my mind. I was hoping to get off his car before he reached the house. I didn't want to get any suspicious stares from my mother and deal with my siblings who were going to ask questions over just a simple gesture. Though, I became quite uneasy in my seat.

"Are you alright?" He asked, through a husky tone.

As a food lover, all I could tell myself was that his voice sounded just as crunchy as my favorite tortilla chips. You put some cheese and salsa sauce on it, and you have an epic snack that will keep your mind off sweets and fast food all day. That was exactly what I needed. I smiled, since every time he said something, that helped me to remind myself that I was almost home. My mom promised to cook our traditional Haitian rice and beans with stewed vegetables, a meal that my siblings and I didn't have for the time being in Japan, approximately 3 months. It was the longest vacation of my life. I couldn't wait to get home and grab a plate of that delicious food.

"You're smiling!" He laughed, assuming that I was being friendly with him.

I ignored him and pretended to look for something in my purse. "So, you are not going to tell me your name?"

I remained quiet.

I thought that he was too excited to talk to me. Besides, I didn't want to give him the impression that I liked him and that we could ever possibly hang out in the near future. For that, he would have to do more than being nice. Dealing with my family was not an easy task. Besides, our controversial culture would make it harder for him.

He released a long breath of annoyance, which I enjoyed when he noticed me pulling out my cell phone to call a taxi. I asked him to drop me off after the other light stop. He didn't seem to like the idea, for his face dimmed with disappointment. Who did he think he is?

I just met him and he seemed already attached to me, just like the obsessive psychopath guys that I read in a ton of books. I was definitely not going to allow myself to be added to his victim list.

As we got close to the traffic light, I asked him to make a right turn, so I could get down and head to one of the dollar stores for a few snacks. However, he sped through the green light and I flinched in my seat with wide eyes.

"Where are you taking me?" Instead of answering my question, he turned on the car's radio and put it on a romantic song by Etta James, one of my most loved singer. She was killing the blues back in the day when I was a child. But my mom loved her and so, I grew up liking her songs as well.

"H-how do you know about this song?" I inquired, feeling progressively relaxed by the effect of Etta's crispy yet soothing voice. He put down the volume and a smirk grew at the corner of his lips. "Well, my mom introduced me to the blues when I was seven." His eyes were suddenly filled with emotions as he mentioned his mom. He did not say that he was hurting, but I could tell that something was wrong. It was as if he was enveloped by some aggressive memories of his childhood that were never meant to be recalled.

"Do you still sing them with her?" I stared. He kept on driving and sighed. He did not blink, and his facial expression was bland.