This was the most awkward car ride I've ever experienced. No wait! I take that back. This is the SECOND most awkward car ride I've ever experienced. The first time was when daddy dearest chucked my DMX clean out the window. He still hasn't replaced it yet either! Now he's definitely getting me a cell phone and I want money for damages as well as emotional distressed, pain and suffering and destruction of property! We're trailing off right now and I get that but that man owes me a copy of DMX's second studio album! Anyway, the road we were driving down didn't look at all like anything I've seen before. The more I took in my surrounding I came to see that this isn't Chanhassen or Minneapolis. The phantom mystery woman was driving at pretty high speeds for it to be late at night. She still had her hood up but all I could see was her pink lips and dark curls. The question from a while ago was still going unanswered so I decided to ask her again.

"Ummm excuse me?" I piped up getting her attention.

Her focus never left the road as she drove but she shifted a littler in the driver seat acknowledging me.

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"Amber alert in the area." She replied.

Daddy is looking for me! That's a relief. I couldn't help but wonder how she knew all of this from an amber alert.

"Soooo you said you know my dad but I don't know how you know me."

"We keep in touch every now and again."

"What are you like his emergency secret service?"

"Something like that. We better stop and get you something to eat. We've got a long drive ahead of us."

"Long drive? What do you mean? Wait where are we?"

"Indianapolis kid."

"WHAT?!?!?!?"

I couldn't believe what I just heard! We're hours away from Chanhassen! Tomorrow is Christmas Day!

"Oh no lady! We're not stopping for anything! Not even gas! Get me home to my father and my little brother right now!"

I sat back in my seat and crossed my arms looking at the dark road ahead of us.

"Don't be like that. I'm gonna get you home I promise. But you should eat. You haven't eaten all day I'm sure and it's almost midnight." The woman said.

"Did you not hear me? Take me home! NOW! No stopping!"

Now I was angry. I never imagined being kidnapped during my first Christmas with a family. I didn't mean to go off on this girl who was helping me get home but when you find out that you're farther from home than expected it will kinda piss you off just a little bit. Since new Carly is on a temporary hiatus I'm cussing up a storm until we get back to Chanhassen and are on the Paisley grounds. That swear jar can kiss my ass! God I've missed old Carly! As we pulled up to a small diner she parked the car and pulled out her cell phone. Without any interruptions I sat and let her dial a number and put the phone to her ear. It sounded like the phone rang twice when someone had answered.

  "Hey it's me. I have her. She's safe. We'll be home soon. Tony it's fine I promise you this was not your fault! Don't worry when we get back I'll talk to him. Surprisingly he listens to me. Ok. Talk to you soon."

I could only stare at this lady confused. She must really have ties to my father if you can just pick up the phone and call security like you own the joint! She looked back at me and I finally got a good look at her face. It was still dark but the street light was just enough to look her ice for the first time.

  "How do you know Tony?" I asked as I studied her face.

She's very pretty! Too pretty. I bet she was another one of his many money grubbing exes that's now looking for a payout.

  "I told you. I'm a friend." She simply said pulling the key from the ignition.

  "What kind of friend?"

  "Just a friend. Why?"

  "Oh....no reason....just.....protecting my father....and his money."

I grilled her hard as she looked back at me.

  "Girl why would I want your fathers' money? I know he's way too smart and too good to get played by a woman."

Smart girl.

  "Ok so tell me how you know my dad."

  "Later. Come on."

She got out of the car and went inside the diner leaving me to sit in my confusion.

  "Oh hell no lady we're not done yet." I hugged getting out of the car and slamming the door closed.

I ran behind her and found the table she was sitting at. I immediately began to plead my case.

  "Ok look. I don't know how you know my dad or how you know Tony other than the fact that you keep saying that you're a friend but I think the better question is.....how the hell did you find me?"

She wouldn't look up from her tea as she steeped the tea bag in the hot water.

  "Come on don't get quiet on my now lady start talking! And take that stupid hood off it's not cold in here and you don't have to keep hiding your face!"

She still wouldn't look up and at this point her head was so low that I couldn't see her face at all.

The longer she sat silent the more pissed I became.

  "Either you take that hood off and start talking or I walk the hell out that door and find my own way back to Minnesota."

Her head shot up quickly as those deep brown eyes stared back at me. That face. It's looks so familiar. Like I've seen her before! It's almost like dejavu in a way. I can't think of where I say her face before but I know I've seen it.

  "You're not leaving. I'm responsible for you until we get you home. Please don't make this hard for me. I'm in no mood to deal with your dad's random mood swings."

It made me giggle that she knows my dad that well. She took a sip of tea and looked over to the waitress. She gave her a nod and the waitress came over to us.

  "Two slices of double chocolate cake please. Make them to go."

  "So you like chocolate! My dad does too! He said he used to be a chocoholic back in his younger days."

  "Does he still have all his natural dental work?"

  "Yeah he does!" I giggled.

For a puzzle she sure is cool! I'm starting to like this chick.

As two small boxes were placed in front of us our laughter silenced as she took another sip of tea.

  "I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you earlier. Can you please just take your hood down. I feel like I've seen your face before but I can't figure out where."

  "No. Time to go. We got until sunrise."

She got up and paid the bill and walked out to the car.

  "Again with this leaving me behind shit. I was just starting to like you." I said snatching my cake from the table.

I ran out to the car as it started and got inside. We backed out of the parking spot and back on to the highway. Out of the corner of my eye I kept staring at that hood. I was over all this mystery surrounding her. Without question I snatched the hood from her head and her long dark hair fell to her shoulders. It was shiny and fully of curls.

  "HEY! WHY'D YOU DO THAT!?!?!" She yelled as she tried to put her hood back up.

  "Because I'm tired of everybody keeping secrets from me! Now who are you?"

She quickly turned to me and just as we passed under a street light I suddenly figured it out.

  "You're her! From then strip of pictures in my dads book!"

She didn't talk. She just drove. In silence.