I have to get out of here.

      That's all I could think as I turned around and tried to dash through the crowd, but it was nearly impossible. There were tons of people.

      How could I be that stupid? Blake legit caught me red handed, and it's not like running away will change the fact that he'll see me at the apartment anyways, but it'll at least give me more time to get away from dying.

      Joking.

      I hope.

      At first, I was one hundred percent sure that he was going to catch up with me given all of the people I couldn't wade through, but I actually ended up making it to the door without him trailing me. Out the door, up the stairs, through the less busier bar, into the alley. I was freaking exhausted.

      God, I'm so out of shape.

      I made it through the sketchy alley way, and out into the parking lot. There, I was sure I was in the clear. No one was behind me, and my car was literally thirty feet ahead of me.

      Freedom was literally so close.

      And then out of nowhere, I was pretty sure I was being kidnapped. No frickin joke.

      A large hand suddenly clamped over my mouth, while another arm wrapped around my waist and dragged me toward a small corner next to the abandoned building. I tried to scream, or wriggle out of the person's grip, but they were too strong.

      This is it. RIP Hadley.

      It was a good life, I guess. I mean, I never got Blake to get used to me or anything, but at least I tried.

      Right when we got to the dead-ended corner, the person behind me slung me against the ground and immediately growled, "The hell are you doing here, Hadley?"

      Oh, frick.

      I'd recognize that pissed off voice anywhere.

      Blake literally looked like he wanted to kill me.

      Suddenly, Mason came from behind with a loud chuckle. "My god, Blake. That was too good. You should have seen her face." He bent over, laughing way too hard. "She nearly pissed herself."

      I frowned, watching Blake's expression not change at all. "The hell did you do that for?" I yelled.

      Blake's head snapped toward mine. "Because you stalked us." I then glared at him. "And keep your voice down."

      Pfft. Like I would listen to him after they nearly gave me a legit heart attack.

      Yelling nearly to the top of my lungs, I replied, "And why would I want to listen to you after you—"

      He immediately jumped at me and clamped his hand back over my mouth. Furious, I licked the inside of his hand.

      That's literally the only thing that ever works.

      "Dammit, Hadley." Blake grunted, and then looked straight into my eyes. "You seriously need to shut up, this is a really bad part of town."

      Standing up from the ground, I replied, "Then why are you guys here?" I looked down and wiped at my pants. "I mean, you don't really have to answer that. I saw...enough." I said waving my hands frantically over at the sketchy alley. "What the hell?"

      "It's none of your business, Hadley." Blake grunted back.

      "It never is!" I yelled.

      As silence pursued, I watched as Blake got angrier and angrier. He started to clench his fists tightly and as I looked up, I observed as the same vein on the side of his forehead popped out like it always used to when he got really mad.

      "Uh, I'll just go...start the car." Mason said, backing up toward Blake's car.

      And then Blake, not looking away from me, said, "Just go on home."

Even as the sounds of Mason driving away from the parking lot ensued, Blake still wouldn't look away from me. His eyes were slowly searching mine, if trying to figure out something completely impossible.

A sudden bang in the distance suddenly jerked him out of his trance, to which he looked around and shook his head. "Come on." He said, as we made our way to my car.

I noticed him walk toward the drivers side, and He said, "Let me drive. You don't know your way around here."

In return, I tossed my keys toward him and got in the passengers side. He was probably right. If I hadn't of followed Blake's car here, I'd have gotten lost.

There was still nothing said as we both put our seat buckles on and Blake started the car. He drove out of the parking lot, but he went the opposite way we came. I didn't say anything, though.

After about five or ten minutes, we were out of the sketchy part of town and into a much nicer area. It was a whole lot less dirty and creepy.

Blake pulled off and ended up parking in a nice lot in front of a bunch of closed shops. There was really no one around, given it was after eleven o'clock.

It was silent for merely two minutes, until Blake spoke up, "Why were you with Jason?"

      His question kind of took my by surprise. I really wasn't expecting that. "I don't know, he came up to me. I was just being polite."

      "You really shouldn't have followed us, Hadley." He sighed. "It's a really bad area for you to be in. You could have gotten hurt."

I half-scoffed and replied, "Then why were you there, Blake? Why were you fighting? You could have gotten hurt."

I could feel his eyes bore into the side of my head. "I can handle myself."

I then snapped my head over to him. "And you don't think I can't handle myself?" There was silence. "And you didn't answer my question. Why do you even go there, to fight?"

When he didn't reply, I said, "I mean, do you even think of Sawyer? What the hell would she do if something happened to you?"

Even in the darkly lit car, I could see Blake's head shake. "You just don't get it."

"Then please help me understand." I said, raising my voice a bit.

Quickly, Blake turned to me and replied, "I fight for Sawyer." He said, raising his voice over mine. "One job doesn't fucking cut it. Fighting is the only thing that's keeping me stable. One job can't pay the rent, plus take care of both me and my little sister, okay?"

I started thinking, that Blake is literally only nineteen years old. A nineteen year old shouldn't have to have full responsibility of both himself and a five year old. That's just way too much responsibility for his age.

I was hesitant at first, but I decided to ask, "Blake, what happened to your parents? Why aren't they helping you out?"

      I definitely knew I struck a chord then. His whole demeanor seemed to have changed, and he looked away from me. I had to hold my breath for what he was about to say.

      But then nothing came.

      I knew I was so close. I thought he was going to finally tell me the answer to the question that was burning in my mind since I had gotten here, but then Blake cranked the car and started back toward the apartments.

      I started thinking to myself, that it must've been something bad. Literally every time I talked about his parents, he got so closed off. I wanted to help or understand, but I just couldn't get past that barrier.

      But then I guessed it changed.

      As we pulled up to the apartment, Blake parked the car and just sat there for a minute, which made me think that I should stay. And I did.

      Suddenly though, out of absolutely nowhere, Blake spewed, "My dad is in jail, and my mom is dead."

      And then he was out of the car faster then I could blink.

      What. The. Hell.

      I was so stricken by what he had said, that it took me a minute to straighten up and hurry out of the car. Running after Blake, I cried, "Blake, wait!"

      He didn't stop, but I was able to catch up with him at the door and grab onto the arm of his jacket. "Hold up, you're just going to leave me with that?"

      Blake crosses his arms. "I told you, didn't I?"

      As I slowed my breathing from running, I replied, "Well, yeah, but I just...I had no idea, Blake. I'm really sorry."

      A part of me was really hoping that he would trust me enough to explain everything, but I could only hope. He didn't say a word more, just opened the door and went inside with the same stoic expression he always had.

      And I was left with nothing but my thoughts.
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A/N: hey guys! This one's a bit longer than my usual, but I love this chapter! I had fun writing it! Tell me what you think!

Don't forget to leave a comment, or a vote!

Love you guys!

-EllaRose