Where There's Smoke

No Place Like Home

Adrian's POV

I was sitting in the back of the studio watching everyone go through their routines. I was supposed to get the stitches and staples taken out after this. I wanted to dance so badly. I missed it. It had been a month since Conner had tried to flay my leg. I had zoned out and didn't realize when they stopped dancing. Class ended and I stood up. Mercedes, Ken, and Zariah walked up to me. Ken helped me up I smiled at her. "How's your leg?" Ken asked.

"Still hurt, but I'm off the crutches." I limped out with them.

"You need to hurry up and get better. We miss you dancing." Mercedes laughed.

"Yeah, we know you miss running." Kendra laughed.

"I really do." I laughed.

"Hey Z, do you want to go get food?" Mercedes asked.

"I'm dropping Adrian off at Uncle Roman's." She had been really out of it lately.

"What about after? Carlos is giving me the afternoon off. We can go to the mall. We haven't done that in a while!" Ken tried to smile.

"No, I'm just going to work after I drop her off." She grabbed her bag. "Are you ready Adrian?"

"Yeah, we'll see you guys later." We walked out to the parking lot. "DO you want to spend the night? We're getting the stuff for my room tomorrow. It could be a lot of fun. We could torture Roman." I smiled.

"I'll think about it." She laughed softly. We got to her car and seen her dad leaning on it. "What is he doing here?" She mumbled under her breath.

"Is there a reason he'd be here?" I asked.

"No." She said opening her trunk and putting her bag in it. "Why are you here?"

"Hi Gianni." I waved.

"Hi Adrian, will you sit in the back seat?" He asked.

"Why?" Zariah answered before I could say anything walking around her car.

"Keys." Gianni held out his hand.

"Why?" Zariah looked at him like he was crazy.

"Keys Zariah." She threw them on the hood of her car. We both got in the car and I could see that Zariah was still having problems with her dad. It was a car ride full of awkward silence. I just played on my phone looking at the cracked screen. "What made you think that it was okay to post that? What made you think that was appropriate Zariah?" He broke the silence.

"You went through my phone? That's an invasion of privacy!" Zariah said her phone was missing earlier before she left her house. "I can't believe you!"

"No Zariah, you are acting out and now you're posting shit like that! That is not okay. Zariah there are bad people out there. There are sick men out there. You tagged your dance studio what if something happened? What is someone kidnapped you?" Gianni raised his voice.

"Anything would be better than being here." Zariah mumbled.

"I'm taking you out of dance. You are grounded again and your phone and car are now mine. I will be taking you to school and picking you up for the rest of the year." He sighed.

"I can't wait until I can get far as possible from here and you!" Zariah snapped. I just sat in the back uncomfortably. I know that Zariah was talking her dad and my Aunt pretty hard. She was taking them having a baby even harder. I've known Zariah for a little while through Mercedes and with knowing her I knew that he and Gianni's relationship was everything. I may not understand it, but I could kind of get it. Gianni pulled up to Roman's house. "Alright, thanks for the ride. Love you Z." I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. I got out as quickly as I could. I got to the front door and used the key that Roman gave me. I looked back to wave and saw Zariah yelling at Gianni. I saw Gianni yell something and Zariah got out and slammed the car door. She got in the back seat and Gianni just looked back at her. "Were they arguing again today?" Roman startled me.