Running From The Truth

Chapter Two

Kade could tell when I was upset, and I was upset. We were supposed to go to the mall today. But Kade had other plans. He started to drive in a direction that I was not familiar with. I trust Kade. He looked over and smirked at me. God, he is so cute when he does that. Looking at Kade's beautiful brown eyes made all my problems fade away. I watched as Kade reached for the aux. He passed it to me and proceeded to replace the aux in his hand with my thigh.

Of course, I chose country music. The music blared as we both screamed the lyrics. My hair was flowing through the wind that came from the open car windows. The car ride continued for another hour. We were leaving town, and I wasn't complaining about it.

"Seriously, where are we going?" I said turning the music down.

"Surprise," Kade didn't take his eyes off the road. He reached over to turn the volume back up but I stopped him.

"I want to know!" I said doing my angry face that he always thought was cute.

"We will be there any second," He proceeded to turn the volume up.

Before I knew it, we were there. It was around two o'clock, we left my house at twelve. In front of me was a large hill with soft green grass. Kade stepped out of the car and went straight to his trunk. Where he pulled out a large plaid blanket and a picnic basket.

"Hungry?" Kade opened my car door and gestured to grab my hand.

"Of course," I reached out and grabbed his hand. We walked to the top of the hill. My eyes were met with a beautiful sight. Bright red trees and little blue birds trying to find their way around. The sun was bright orange and peaked through the forest of different colored trees. I turned to Kade and hugged him.

"Thank you," I spoke softly.

"Anything for you," He responded. Kade placed the picnic blanket on the soft grass and the basket on top of it. He pulled out two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. My favorite.

Kade and I talked for hours. He held me in his arms on the warm blanket. We talked about maybe starting to date soon but I worry that our friendship will be ruined. Without him, I would be nothing. After long conversations about nothing important, Kade and I headed back to the car. During me and Kade's little date, I left my phone in the car. When I got back and checked it, I had over ten missed calls from my father.

"Shit," I said under my breath

"What? What's wrong?" Kade pushed his neck over to me so he could see my phone.

"We have to go back. I need to talk to him," I said frantically.

"Why? All he is going to do is be rude to you," Kade responded out of genuine confusion. He didn't exactly get it. Yes, he was going to be rude to me but if I don't get back home soon he will beat me to death.

"I can't ignore the situation. He is angry, it will only get worse if I don't go back now," I said lifting my phone to call my dad back.

"Just text him. If you call he will just yell at you," Kade spoke as he went to start the car. He was right. I should text my dad.

On my way home now. Sorry.

After re-reading the text a good hundred times, I finally sent it. Kade started the car and reached over to put my seat warmer on. Just how I liked it. I looked out the car window as I could feel that Kade was angry.

"What's wrong?" I questioned.

"I can't do this Kacy," He said forcefully.

"Can't do what?" My stomach dropped.

"How am I supposed to just drop you off at a house when I'm not sure if you will be alive the next time you come out of it?" Kade's voice rose with concern.

"Kade, please. I will be fine." I tried to force eye contact.

"No Kacy, you might not be. Your mom thought she would get through it. Look where she is now. Possibly dead! I'm not letting this continue."

"Kade, I want to know what happened to my mom, why she left. My only way of doing that is staying in the house."

"She has been gone for two years and in that two years, you haven't gotten any closer to finding her. Going through pain is not going to give you the answer you are looking for." Kade refused to make eye contact with me.

"Please, just bring me home." Tears started to form in my eyes.

"Fine. But I am not leaving. I will be with you all night. And the second that bitch lays a hand on you, it's game over." Kade was serious. I knew I didn't have a choice in this situation, he was going to come in despite what I had to say about it.

After another hour passed, we arrived at my house. I was nervous. Come on Kacy, just introduce him to your father. Maybe he won't have as big of an issue as you think he will.

Kade walked around to my side of the car and once again held the door open for me. We walked up to the front door. I anxiously pulled my keys out of my sweatshirt pocket. As we walked into the house, my dad stood waiting for me.

"Who is he?" My dad asked judgingly.

"Remember dad, this is Kade. From second grade." My words were shaky.

"It's nice to meet you." Kade reached his stiff arm out to shake my dad's hand.

"Same to you." My dad regarded the offer for a handshake.

"I was wondering if I could stay the night at Autumn's tonight, Kade would provide me the ride," I said switching from the original plans. Kade glared down at me confused as to why I changed the plan.

"Sure. I was going to go out to the bar tonight anyways." The more my father spoke, the stiffer Kade's hand became that was placed around my shoulder.

"Ok, thank you. Bye." I turned to open the door before anything more happened.

"Oh Kacy, next time I call you, you must answer or else there will be strict consequences like last time. I don't think you want that again," My father spoke.

"Excuse me, sir, I would just like to point out that Kacy is sixteen and needs a bit of freedom. I understand that you were worried about her well being today but bringing that out by hurting Kacy isn't the answer," Kade said not caring that he wasn't supposed to know about the abuse.

My dad slammed his beer against the counter, "Hurting her?" He responded.

"You heard me. The whole neighborhood knows. With all the screaming and her constant need to get out of this house. Gosh, I saw you hurting her through the window once. It's not exactly a secret."

My dad stepped closer to Kade, "You listen to me-" He said getting interrupted.

"No, you listen to me. If I ever figure out you lay a hand on Kacy ever again, it's over," Kade said acting like Mr. Tough Guy.

"Shut up! I would never hurt my family! You bastard get out of my house!"

"Gladly," Kade opened the door and gestured me to go out first. He sent my dad a bitchy smile before shutting the door behind us. Kade's house it was.