Yay. I'm on a roll tonight :) I might be able to put up another chapter before I go to bed tonight... although I should be doing my art coursework... *shuffles nervously*

Richard

Richard found it slightly comforting to have Rae sitting in the car next to him. She smelt of roses and cherries and he discretely inhaled it as they drove. He had always hated sitting in his car with the seat next to him unoccupied. It made the whole car feel hollow and made him feel personally lonely. With her there, however, the whole car seemed to be filled with light. When thinking this he realised how strange it was, but he could not help the way he thought. He knew that he was not normal after all.

Although she had given him an address when he had asked, he knew that it was wrong. The way that she had paused before answering was a giveaway. She was a terrible liar. However this was one of the things that he liked about her. He liked knowing when she was lying or not. It made him feel even closer to her.

When she had asked him about the music that he was listening to, he felt even happier. He had not known that she had liked Slipknot when he had put in the CD. It was just a coincidence that she did. On the other hand the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like destiny. They must be made for each other.

Although they had been driving in silence, it was not the awkward silence that he was used to when around her. It was more comfortable.

However he knew that he had to ask her what had happened back there. "What really happened before I found you?" he asked.

Her eyes instantly went to her lap. "I told you what happened."

"Well I don't believe you."

She looked up at him and scowled slightly.

He resisted the urge to laugh, knowing that it would only anger her. She could not look angry even if she tried. She was too beautiful and good hearted for that.

She sighed when she saw that she figured that he was not going to say anything. "It was just some girls." He expected her to continue but she did not, so he waited for a while until she scowled again and continued. "One of them punched me in the jaw, okay?"

He struggled to control the anger in his voice. "Why?" he asked.

"They... they don't like me. No one does."

The words that she spoke were simple, but her voice was tragic. His heart clenched in his chest and once again he had to resist the urge to comfort her.

He wanted to drop the subject, not wanting to hear her sad voice again, but she had just started talking to him and he did not want her to clam up again.

"Do you know who they were?"

He did not expect an answer so he was not surprised when she stated that she did not know there names. However he saw that she was telling the truth this time. He thought about the question that he had asked and changed it.

"What did they look like?"

This time when she said that she did not remember he knew that she was lying. He did not pursue the matter anymore.

They sat in silence again for the rest of the journey.

Although he had made sure to go the long way, all too soon they were at Horsham Avenue.

"Is this okay?" he asked, trying not to betray the sorrow in his voice.

She looked up and down the road, only confirming his thought that she was lying about where she lived, and then nodded.

She reached forwards and opened the door but before she got out she turned around and looked at him. "Thanks for the ride Mr Newman."

When she stepped out of the car she waved to him and he knew that he was expected to drive away so that she could continue walking home. He did not disappoint.

As he drove away he stared at her small figure in the rear view mirror, until he had to turn the corner.

He continued the drive home to his house, surrounded in a deep sadness.

The smell of her perfume still lingered, but instead of comforting him, it instead intensified the loneliness.

When he did eventually reach home, he automatically went to his trusty liquor cabinet. Instead of taking out the usual bottle of vodka he instead searched around for a bottle of whisky that he had had for a few years now.

When he found it, instead of pouring himself a glass he opened the bottle and took a big gulp straight from the bottle itself. Tonight he needed to be on best form.

After today he needed Rae with him even more then before. Tonight he had plans to make.