Chapter 25

As soon as George walked out of the bathroom with his now shaved head, I immediately smiled.

"Well, I would ask you what you think, but I can see it. Don't laugh," he demanded.

I could tell he was frustrated, but I couldn't help it; I just broke into a fit of laughter.

"Okay, that's enough, Rach."

"I'm sorry. I can't help it," I said, between fits of laughter.

"Stop laughing and let's go," said George.

"Fine," I sighed, got up off the floor and walked out to the car.

"We are gonna to have to go kind of far to get them," he said, opening his door.

"Why?" I asked him as I opened mine and got in the car.

"If I get them too close to where I live, I'll be caught. I need to take on a new identity, too. Peter Ray will do nicely," replied George.

"Can I take on a new identity, too?" I asked.

"Why do you need a new identity?" George wondered.

"I don't know. I just thought it would be fun," I said.

"No," he said, ending that conversation.

George got in the car.

I asked him, "So, why are you on medication?"

"Back when I stabbed myself all those times, it left me addicted to Xanax and OxyContin," he replied, starting the car.

"Hey, um, why don't I take your mind off of it?" I said, turning the radio back to the country station.

David Nail's song, "Red Light," played.

"Oh, I love this guy!" I said.

"Yay for you," said George, sarcastically, "I'm gonna go mad if I don't get my next drug fix."

We sat in silence for a few minutes. I remembered back in the group home I had been put on antidepressants. I hated taking those.

"You know, back when I was a teenager I was on antidepressants and it was a pain for me to take those, so I understand."

George stopped the car, "Okay, listen and listen good: You can't possibly know how I feel," he said in an angry tone- the one that I had become used to by now.

"You think that I can't? I mean, come on, I've seen into your head. Maybe you should stop and think before you say something like that," I said, getting angry.

I turned away and folded my arms. I expected him to hit me, but instead he softly leaned over and put his hand on my shoulder.

"Look, Rach, I'm sorry. I just lost my temper. How about if I get you something on our way back? What do you want?"

I couldn't help it- I smiled.

"Ah, is that a smile? Do I see a smile?" said George.