My dad stayed downstairs in the kitchen while I went to my room for some time to think. I knew so little about him, myself, our family or our future. I wanted more from him and at the same time I'd heard enough for now.
After about an hour, he knocked on my door but didn't open it. "Milly will be here for supper tonight." Then I heard his footsteps trail down the stairs and out the front door.
What?! Was he leaving me to meet this woman, a witch, alone? I heard his truck start up and pull out of the drive. I couldn't believe him. I knew that would be typical behavior for him but I had thought just this once it would be different. We had a connection that I hadn't felt in so long. He had shaved for crying outloud!
Anger flared up inside of me. I wanted to know more about my Grandmother and about myself, but not like this. I usually didn't care when he left me alone with no idea where he was, but this time I wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine. If he was leaving then so was I.
I grabbed my coat and packed a few things in my backpack. I didn't have any real friends but I had spoken casually with some of the kids in my class before. Mandy Redding just lived 4 blocks away and I couldn't think of anywhere better to go.
The air was so cold I could see my breath. The snow was about 6 I inches deep in the grass but it was thinner albeit icier on the sidewalks. Four blocks would have felt further away if I hadn't walked with such furry.
Mandy's house wasn't big but it had a large welcoming front porch. I stood at the gate to their front yard for a moment wondering what I was doing here. I didn't really have anything in common with Mandy other than some of our classes. She was especially smart and loved Theater and band and I was just plain ordinary me.
I had decided to turn around and surrender myself to my fate of sollowing my pride and being home alone. Suddenly, the Redding's front door burst open and her older brother bolted out slinging a brown leather jacket over his arms as he went. He was chased by screams of "Get back here you worthless..." As the door slammed shut the voice behind the door was cut off.
I didn't know Mandy's older brother's name but I knew he was feeling hurt and betrayed, much like I was at the moment. Ever fiber of his body felt tense from the stress. The long brown waves of his hair bounced as he left over the porch rail and into the driveway.
He jumped into his truck and threw it into reverse. I had to run to get out of the way as he backed out of his driveway without looking. I slipped on the ice and face planted into the snow safely out of his path.
The truck passed me in the driveway but came to an abrupt stop in the street. Before I knew it. Mandy's brother was crouched over me. He was genuinely concerned that he'd hurt me but he was also reining in feelings of anger toward his mom.
"You okay? I'm so sorry."
"yeah. I'm fine," I said standing up and brushing the snow off of me.
"Look I really am sorry, but I've got to get out of here. Can I give you a ride somewhere?"
I turned my attention from my snow covered cloths and realized he was looking me right in the eye.
"Sure. That would be great."
At that moment the door to the house flew open again and Mrs. Redding was yelling in our direction. I scrambled into the passenger side of the truck and Mandy's brother left without acknowledging his mom at all.
"Where can I take you," he finally asked.
I could feel all of his pent up emotions and I could identify with most of them but I stayed focused on the conversation at hand.
"I don't know. There is no place I want to be." I knew it was the truth for him and me. He never looked at me, just accepted my answer and drove until soon we were headed out of town with no destination in mind.
He was content to have me with him. He thought he wanted to be alone, but in truth he felt so alone all the time. He could never please his mom and his sister out did herself so as no never get on his mom's bad side. He didn't dare tell anyone how he felt because it was too personal - too deep.
I sat in silence feeling all the defiance, injustice, and heartache, but I wasn't sure where his ended and mine began. I had to distract myself.
"I don't know your name," I said softly.
"Marcus." He didn't care to know my name. "Do I scare you?"
"No. You won't hurt me."
"You don't know that," he scoffed trying to maintain his tough guy illusion.
"You know there is a bakery in the next town that sells amazing lemon bars. If you're going to keep going this direction, we might as well stop."
He was completely caught off guard by my changing the subject. He needed to think about something other than family drama as much as I did.
"It would be at least an hour before we would get back to Jasper. Are you sure you don't need to be somewhere?" He really wasn't a bad guy and he didn't want to get in trouble if I came up missing.
"I'm sure. I'm on my own a lot."
"How is that?"
"I just am." I didn't want to explain.
"oh, okay." Marcus said kinda irritated that I wasn't willing to open up after I had just seen him at a very vulnerable moment with his mom.
"My dad's a drunk and he doesn't come home everyday. My mom hasn't ever really been in my life. She just visits every other year or so."
"That sounds nice." He let his thoughts slip out. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by that."
"I know. It's okay."
"So I guess I really should ask your name too." I knew he was starting to drop his guard enough to wonder about me. He was criticizing himself for driving a young girl out of town without knowing anything about me. In truth he was a little worried he might get into big trouble but was choosing to throw caution to the wind.
"Lacy. I'm in your sister's class." He didn't say anything but I knew he wanted more. "I'll be 16 in 2 weeks. I just moved to town last summer, and I haven't really made any friends here yet."
He laughed. It was refreshing. Then he thought, "and the girl is a mind-reader. How cute."