Sorry for the long wait, lost a few documents, broke my arm and passed finals. I'm writing but going nowhere fast, at least this is a nice long one!

I saw Leigh whispering into Nathaniel's ear.

'What are they talking about? Leigh is definitely hiding something and I want to know what it is.'

Nathaniel blushed and gave Leigh a very irritated look, this only led to my curiosity growing even further.

I crossed my arms, "Since when did you two start keeping secrets like gossiping girls?" I asked, wanting to be in the loop, "If you're gonna gossip let me in on it."

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself about," Leigh answered with a wave of his hand, "besides, don't you need to get going soon?"

I looked at the time and realized it was almost noon.

My eyes grew wide, "Oh shoot! Auntie's gonna be pissed at me!" I quickly hugged Leigh and grabbed Venus' leash.

I glared at Nathaniel, "You are telling me on the way, or else!"

I turned back and tossed Leigh my spare house key, reminding him to give it to Lysander when he was finished. I then grabbed Nathaniel's hand and dashed out the door with Venus hot on our heels. We ran down the street towards the car garage and eventually made it to the black truck on the ground level. We climb in and I put on my music via bluetooth from my phone.

As My Demons by Starset began to play, I heard Nathan tapping to the drums in the song. I stared at him in he noticed we weren't going anywhere he looked at me.

He saw my gaze aimed at him and blushed, "W-What?"

I giggled, "Nothing, I just didn't think you listened to this stuff. You have great rhythm by the way. You would do well on percussion."

I started the truck and began pulling out as Nathaniel stared at me, "I didn't think you listened to this either. Yesterday you were wearing neon colors and honestly I thought you would listen to stuff like pop. Even now, I would think you would listen to country, with the truck and clothes. Speaking of which, why are we dressed like this and where are we going?"

"We are going to my Auntie's, she has legal custody over me and is friends with my landlord. The rest is a surprise."

We drove on in relative silence, except for the music. My mind drifted to the past, to my friends, to my dreams that I will now never reach. I thought about that day, the day my final scars were placed on my flesh, and my heart was given the final blow. That was the day I experienced grief like never before, experienced a pain worse than death, a pain that still lingers today. That day flipped my life upside-down, tore it to pieces, it was the day that I paid for my freedom. Never would I thought that freedom would mean giving up nearly everything that gave me sanity in this god forsaken hell. I still ask myself if it was worth it.

I shook myself and mentally reprimanded my distracted brain. As I did Nathaniel gave me a strange look.

"What was that for?" He asked, slightly confused.

"Just refocusing, my mind kinda starts going on autopilot when I drive." I said, laughing nervously.

"Should I be worried?" He squeaked, his voice crack made me laugh.

"Nah, you're fine." I giggled, pulling into a dusty back road, "So, you and Leigh were getting awfully chatty amongst yourselves, may I ask what it was about?"

I could practically feel his change in mood without even looking at him, "A-Ah, w-well, that is, ummmm, guy stuff?"

"Riiiight, like what?" I ask, still not buying his story.

"Girls," he said curtly.

I raised an eyebrow at his answer, "Really? You didn't seem like the type to gossip like a woman. Leigh on the other hand isn't really talkative unless it's important, or about clothes. So, what's really going on?"

His eyes darted in every direction before he answered me, "We were talking about, um, girls that we had an interest in."

"So, you're sticking with that story, eh?"

"Cuz it's true! He said he was happy with Rosalya and he asked me if I was interested in anyone…" He paused and looked out the window, his voice losing its previous shrillness and panic.

"Then he told me a story about a girl he knew."

His last comment had my interest, but the way he said it reminded me of a feeling I knew too well.

Pity.

Now I was positive of what Leigh told him. He told him my past. It doesn't really bother me that he told him, of course he had to find out sooner or later. I just wonder what he thinks of it, but I'm pretty sure from his voice that I already know.

"He told me to protect her for him," Nathan continued, "because she is special to him, and he worries for her. Of course, I really don't know much about her,"

His voice took on a whole new tone, something I couldn't decipher. It surprised me, to be blunt. His voice dropped, became softer, yet firm at the same time. I felt it surround and fill me. It gave me goose bumps, and lit a fire in my cold, dead heart.

"But it makes me all the more curious."