Thank you, thank you, thank you! Glad to see you enjoy the ride!

.::.

I yawned into the inside of my elbow for the umpteenth time so far today. My head was rested on my arms at the lunch table and I was desperately trying to catch up on sleep. Unfortunately, that proved to be difficult to accomplish with the loudness of the other students. Especially Jimmy and Klara, who were seated next to me. If I heard them giggle one more time today, heads were gonna fuckin' roll.

"Damn." I groaned, thrusting an elbow into Jimmy's side. "Can't you be quiet?"

"Hey, it ain't my fault that you stayed up 'till four." He retorted before hushing himself with a kiss from his new girlfriend, who was now straddling his lap.

I slumped my head back down, blocking out all noise until I drifted off.

.::.

Fuuuuuuccckkk. The bell rang and Jimmy patted me awake. I groaned miserably as I rubbed my tired eyes. The bruises were still slightly sore but today I didn't give a fuck. My eyes were so tired and heavy I half expected 'em to fall right out of their sockets.

Wearily, I made my way to class and watched the happy couple ascend up the stairway. They were holdin' hands, and even though I was feelin' mighty grumpy, it still made me smile. It was good to see my best friend happy.

I made it to class just in time for Ms. Roberts to greet us. She raised an eyebrow as I slid into my desk and pulled my textbook from my bookbag.

"Not necessary, Mr. Dixon." She stopped me. "I'm passing out the test in just a moment."

I nodded, sliding the book right back inside of my pack, and waited patiently.

.::.

"So." She turned to face me after the class-room had emptied itself out. "How do you think you did?"

"Guess we'll see."

She raised an eyebrow. "Did you take my advice and try to draw the lessons out?"

I nodded. "Stayed up all damn night. Better'a been worth it."

"I'm sure you'll be fine." She answered, leaning against her desk.

"So..." I hesitated. "Ya still upset with me?"

She stared down at her feet, unsure of how to respond. "I...I'm not upset I just..." She sighed in frustration. "You know, what the hell are we doing?"

I shrugged my shoulders. Hell if I know.

She walked over to the door and closed it quietly before walking back to her desk. "I keep telling myself to stop this. I keep thinking that if anyone ever found out I would be so screwed. And every time I make up my mind that I'm not going to go any further...I look at you and feel so..."

"So what?" I watched her struggle to find the right word.

"I don't know. I really don't. But it all goes right out the window." She stood quietly for a moment before she let out a small laugh. Not because she thought this situation was funny, but because she was so confused she had no idea what else to do.

I understood, perfectly.

"Gah." She sighed, licking her lips and holding her head. "You're sixteen-years-old. What the fuck am I doing?" She hung her head and threw her hands on her hips before she turned her back to me.

"I need you to leave."

"Well who didn't see that comin'?" I replied sarcastically. A minute later, I slid out of my desk and threw my book-bag over my shoulder. "Take a chill pill, woman." I prodded her as I walked past, near-about makin' her fall over. She tried her hardest to fight a smile as I walked out of the room.

.::.

I felt my stomach turn as I pulled into dad's driveway. His car was here, which meant he was home. I came to grab the rest of my clothes as well as some of my other belongings. I sat on my bike, staring intensely at the trailer door underneath the hot sun and wondered if it was worth it. I supposed I could ask Jimmy's dad to tag along, then at least I know I'd be safe, but I didn't wanna ask the man fer nothin' else. He was already doin' more than he had to by lettin' me stay at his home.

I took a deep breath and convinced myself that everything would be okay. I'd be in and out in just a couple minutes.

I leaned my bike against the side of the trailer and apprehensively made my way up the steps. I decided to knock.

No answer.

I took a deep breath before knocking again. Seconds later, I heard some movement. Seconds after that, I watched the handle turn and the door swung open.

"Where the hell you been?" He asked. He reeked of alcohol.

"I'm stayin' at Jimmy's for a while. Jus came to pick up some of my stuff." I slid past him in the doorway and started making my way to my bedroom but he reached out his arm and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, pulling me backwards so fast I almost tripped and fell.

I pulled away. "Dad, relax."

"What you mean relax, boy? Ain't brought yer ass home in a week and didn't even bother to tell me where ya been?"

"Do ya really even care?"

"Ya damn right I care! I bet you been pocketin' all that money yourself, ain't ya?!"

I tensed up and sighed heavily. I'm so fuckin' sick of this shit. "Yeah, dad. I have. 'Cause I'm the one takin' care of the fuckin' plants. I'm the one that bought the seeds in the first place. So, yeah. I'm keepin' the fuckin' money from now on. You want some money for beer? Go get a fuckin' job then. You're forty-five-fuckin' years old. Get yer fuckin' life straightened out or stay outta mine." I exhaled as my body shook with tension. I turned away and headed towards my room again, but I could hear him stumbling closely behind.

"You think yer gon' talk to me like that you gotta 'nother thing comin', boy!"

I turned around just in time to see his fist raised. I didn't even flinch as he drove it into my face and I fell into my bedroom door. I could taste blood immediately and I looked up in time to see him ready to take another shot. "Do it then!" I yelled. "Lay yer hand on me one more time! Just one more goddamn fuckin' time 'cause that's all it's gonna take for me to press charges on your sorry ass!" I stood to my feet. "Get the fuck outta my face!" I shocked myself by pushing him as hard as I possibly could, sending him straight back into the wall.

I didn't stick around long enough to see if he fell down or not, but from the sound of it, he did. I quickly gathered my things and stuffed them into my back-pack. I felt the extreme rush of adrenaline and my heart felt like it was about to beat its way outta my chest.

Twenty seconds later, I was wipin' my mouth of blood and ridin' out of the driveway.

That was the last time I ever saw my dad.