“What?” I muttered, still walking.
“Looks like you could use a ride, Scarlett,” he said. “At this rate, you won’t even get to school before it ends for the day.”
Did I look like I cared? I ignored him and kept walking.
With muttered words, he stopped his car and got out, leaving the door open. Quickly, he stood in front of me; I stopped an inch away before I ran into him. I didn’t look away from his lower stomach, which was covered by a black shirt and a leather jacket.
“Please,” he said, holding his hands out like he was about to touch me. When I took a step back, he let them fall to his sides again.
“I don’t even know you,” I muttered, trying to step around him. He took a step to block me.
“Zevon,” he said. “See, now you know me. So let me give you a ride. It’s the least I can do after causing you to be suspended from school.”
He thought I’d missed Friday because of him. I wish it were that simple.
“No thanks,” I said again, but he seemed as if he didn’t even hear me.
“I won’t push my drugs again, I promise. Even if you look like you could use a booster. I truly hope you didn’t crash hard. The first time is always the hardest. But anyhow, come on. Let me get to you to school. Please, Scarlett. I feel terrible.”
“Why?” I asked, lifting my head to meet his eyes. They were still cloudy, but he was more…him. Whatever he was on seemed to almost soften him. His hair was a mess of crazy black swirls like he’d taken an early shower…and skipped shaving, apparently.
“Why what? Why I feel terrible? Well, because you’re pretty. And sad. And I can’t just leave a pretty sad girl out here, walking to school. So come on,” he said, holding his hand towards the car. “I promise, no pills this time.”
“Fine,” I sighed. I wasn’t going to let Zevon know that I probably wouldn’t have made it school if I had to walk. I’d have found a spot to hang out most of the day on this side of town before heading back home early afternoon.
The past four days I’d hardly had any sleep. My father had done everything to make sure I would never disrespect him again. Between having to be raped over and over, he beat the living daylights out of me.
With slow steps, I got into the passenger side of Zevon’s car, a light blue two door. He waited for me to buckle in before putting the car into gear and driving.
“What do you say about ditching school?” he said, bypassing the turn into the parking lot.
“No,” I huffed. I would ditch on my own.
“Well, I’m not known to be on time. So let’s at least get food. Or something.”
Leaning my head against the headrest, I let him drive me wherever.
“If you get me into trouble again, I’ll….” What would I do?
“I won’t. Chill.”
I huffed at the word.
“Just make sure I’m home before the end of the school day.”
“We’ll see about that,” I thought I heard him mutter. Louder, “Okay.”
I gazed out the window.
“I’m sorry,” Zevon said, pulling into an empty parking lot by a gas station.
“For what?” I asked, turning to look at him.
“For what’s about to happen,” he said, giving me a small smile before poking me in the neck with a needle. My eyes went wide as the liquid was pushed into my vein.
“Please forgive me,” he said, his eyes clouding in misery as mine closed on their own accord and my body relaxed against the seat. “I don’t want to hurt you, but you seem like the type to fight me if given a reason. I don’t want to hurt you,” he repeated.
The first thing I noticed was how cold I was. My body kept moving as shivers overtook me from the inside out. My teeth chattered. Slowly, I moved my body; nothing was tied down, but I was lying on something hard that put pressure on my back. Rolling to my side, I pulled my knees to my chest, hoping that I was only dreaming. I willed the smell of mildew to not be real.
