A/N

Worst…chapter…yet. :( couldn't get it right…sigh

III

"I'm going to be late again. Why am I always late?"

He grumbled to himself, as he did most mornings, about being late. He even left early today, mostly to avoid Mary in the morning. His head still wasn't on straight, and he didn't want to risk hurting her, emotionally or physically. In his rush to get out of the house, he had forgotten to his suit, his keys, and taken the long way to work. He huffed, picking up his pace slightly after a quick glance at his watch.

"There is no way in this world that I'm getting to work on time today."

Something sparkled in the corner of his eye, placing a smile upon his face. He stopped, turning to the parking lot beside him. Cars sat in rows and along the perimeter of the establishment. With a smile on, he strolled into the parking lot, finding the car that had caught his eye. A shiny, new, cherry red sports car sat three spaces into the lot, practically calling Kyle in.

"Wow…" he whistled.

"Hey, punk! Get away from my ride!"

Kyle looked up at the young man approaching him. Leather jacket, sunglasses, greased hair. Surely someone trying to be cool and failing miserably, he thought with a grin. After the thought had completed itself, he realized how out of his character that thought was. He shook his head, backing away from the car.

"I didn't mean…"

"I don't care, dork!" the man snapped, shoving Kyle back. "If you got a print on my car, I'll skin you!"

Kyle frowned, watching the man jump into the car with a grin. Out of character thoughts were springing up left and right now. Then another saying, in his voice but not leaving his lips, played across his mind like the night before. This time, however, there was no forgetting it. It had a way of taking control.

"Big mistake…"

A twisted grin found its way onto his face as the car backed up. As the car pulled up beside him, so the young man inside could get one last word in, Kyle pulled a coin from his pocket. The car window rolled down, and the driver offered a finger.

"Get lost, kid."

"Make me."

The words left his mouth before he could stop them. The punk in the car frowned, revving the car and nearly driving over Kyle's foot. He didn't move. It was almost like he'd given control to his body to someone else. Someone who wasn't afraid to fight back.

"Back off, kid. You can't take me."

"You scratch my paint, I scratch yours."

The window rolled up, showing Kyle his reflection. His hair was neatly pulled back. His jacket's collar was spiked up. His eyes burned red. Before the car took off, Kyle managed to get a scratch down the side of it. After that, he couldn't recall much. Somehow, it was all blacked out until the moment he found himself outside his office.

"How'd I…"

"Kyle!"

He turned around, to see Mary coming for him. She quickly embraced him, near tears as she kissed him on the cheek. He didn't understand why she was so frazzled. Looking up, he found the sky dark and clouds rolling in. It was going to rain soon. His mind was working so simple now. It was almost odd compared to the thoughts he had earlier.

"Kyle, are you okay? Where have you been?"

Mary had begun speaking again, catching his attention after a moment of so. She looked like she'd been crying. Her eyes were wet, red and projected how fragile she felt. He didn't understand. He opened his mouth to talk but words failed him. He didn't know. He didn't understand.

"Sweetie," she whispered, hugging him again, "We're going home now, okay. We're going home."

"Home," he repeated.

"Let's go home."

She drove. He stared out the window, completely bewildered by the things they passed. It was like being a kid, and seeing everything for the first time. It was as if his mind reset itself. He could recall simple words or phrases. He remembered walking to work. He didn't remember getting to work.

"I went to work," he whispered halfway through the drive. "I don't remember getting to work."

"Hmm."

"I stopped by a parking lot. Saw this…car."

"And?"

"I don't remember."

Mary looked over at him. He pressed against the window like he wasn't all quite there. His eyes were dull, faded and tired. He glanced at her, meeting her eyes for a moment or so before turning away. She sighed. He'd had blackouts once or twice before but nothing like this.

"It's ten. At night. You left at six, right?"

"Five thirty."

"Right. What time did you get to the parking lot?"

"Six…six thirty."

"And then nothing?"

"Nothing…Mary, do you think I'm crazy?"

"Where'd that come from!"

"Just thinking."

"No. I don't think you're crazy."

"Cool."

"Anything else?"

"I want a car."

"We have a car."

"I want a sports car. A red one. With nice rims."

"I'll think about it."