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Michael nodded his head in understanding; he thought that she would have had a part, mostly because Michael knew of the event his son was attending, and the time of his disappearance was around then, though he refused to pin the blame on someone, and he quickly shook his head. “I place no blame on you… but don’t think that you’re unimportant, now that he’s found; its more complicated than that.” He raised an eyebrow at that moment, before he cleared his throat to continue on.

“This concerns you for three reasons: one, you are his friend. His most trusted and treasured friend at that, therefore, by default, I am here to inform you. Two, and possibly the more important reason is that I found him through him shouting your name out loud, therefore if it wasn’t for you, Zane wouldn’t be here now. And the third, and even more so important: he hasn’t spoken a single word since, which leads me to believe that he needs you. Therefore, Vicki, I am here because, should you choose to accept it, my son needs you in his life right now. I won’t lie; the condition he’s in is not pretty, and the Zane you probably know may not be fully there, but he needs you all the same.”

“So… what do you say?”

It was as if a venomous fluid was filling Vicki’s throat, burning through her vocal chords, cutting off her breath, and ravaging her vocal chords. She blinked back at the man before her, a sense of confusion permeating through her mind. Surely, she was misunderstanding; she hadn’t heard the man clearly. The way he spoke of the situation, it appeared off. There was something more to the distant words, and vague descriptions. But most of all, there simply had to be a misunderstanding, because this man, Zane’s father was asking of the impossible from Vicki. 

She shook her head back and forth, as she stepped back away from him. She evaded making eye contact, as she took a deep breath. “If you wish to do yourself and your son any good at all, then you will have me keep away from him. I’ll only ruin him further; that I can promise. I’m no good- your son doesn’t need someone like me, I assure you.” Vicki said with a shrug of her shoulders, wishing for nothing more than to run from the situation entirely. 

Michael sighed softly, although he could understand her objections easily. He reached out his hand cautiously until it came into contact with her shoulder, and with a caring smile he gently patted it to comfort her. “I understand; it’s a lot to ask, and I don’t expect it of you straight away, but, I must tell you… before it’s simply too late to tell at all.” He sighed softly at that moment.

“You’re an adult now, Vicki. No matter whether you want that or not, you are one, and I view you as one, which is why I trust you with this. I trust you to look after my son, because now… I no longer can. Not in the way I used to. He has found comfort in you, and whilst you think you aren’t good enough for him, I think quite the opposite; I think you are perfect for him. Perfect to keep him safe… it isn’t your fault; he is a sensitive being, and it appears you are too. You’ll both grow with each other, and perhaps learn things along the way. I don’t expect you to change your ways at all; if my son accepts them, I certainly do.” He smiled at her then as he gulped slightly.

“It is a lot to ask of someone so young… but, if you could do anything, can you at least accompany me? The last memory I have of my son is nothing but pain… I need you to tell me he’s safe now; safe and okay. Anything else… you may do on your own, I will not pressure you, but simply inform you. The decision is entirely yours… if you wish me to leave you with this information, I will.”

The snaking feel of constriction was winding through Vicki’s body, etching itself into her spine, grasping a hold of her entirely. She continued to shake her head back and forth, as her hands balled into fierce fists. “You cannot possibly expect me to simply…go along with this.” She said through her teeth. “What your suggesting, if I’m to understand, is that I am somehow meant to care for your son. That it will be my duty to protect him.” Vicki said with an undertone of bitterness, as she eyed Zane’s father. “You mustn’t know me at all, then.”

“I cannot take care of anything, or anyone. I am incapable of it; and furthermore I’ve never wished to have a person to care for. I can hardly keep myself in check; how you presumed for me to do that with another being, I’ll never know. I am not a caregiver, or a lover. I did not sign up for these troubles, or willingly volunteer myself for such a job.” She said simply. “Now with all do respect sir, I’m afraid you’ve found the wrong girl to speak to.” She had entered a state of denial, and self-preservation. Vicki needed to keep herself intact, if she were to continue on. 

“That’s my point, Vicki; I’m not forcing you to do anything. You’re not a child any more… you can make these decisions for yourself; I can’t force you to do anything. I… I never would.” He shook his head at that moment, deciding that she knew more than enough for now; he wouldn’t burden her with too much information, and so he began a conclusion of sorts.

“Whatever your decision, I will be proud either way. I… I just thought you should know. You aren’t tied to my son; you don’t have to do anything for him, although… I know you do. Somewhere, you do. For you to hold so much guilt of an event, and to think you are unworthy, simply proves to me that you do but you don’t want to show it. I cannot change your ways, but adulthood is a title that is earned… and I hope you respect it.”

“No matter your choice, I shall be fine; either way I will be helping my son. I just… hope that the decision you make is an adult decision, and not that of a child.”

Emotions continued to rear their grotesque head, and Vicki began the familiar eternal battle she always faced in such situations. The fight or flight instinct kicked in, and she planted her feet firmly,attempting to stave off the need she felt to feel her feet dance against the ground, and create as much physical space as possible from herself and the problem she faced. Vicki had been a fighter by definition, but there was one opponent she never dreamed of standing up against; her own steely, blackened heart. 

It was not a blatant no, but she assumed her answer would not have satisfied Mr. Corner’s wants for his visit. The man had trekked all the way to Hogwarts to simply speak to her, and Vicki had barely given him a few moments of her time. But there wasn’t much she could do to stop her fear of entrapment from closing in on her. All she could do was offer a few more choice words. 

“Zane’s lucky to have you as a father.” She said through her lips, looking down to the ground. “I’ve had this terrible knack of collecting father figures who’ve let me down time and time again. Zane deserves a good man like you in his life.” Vicki said, almost choking on the last phrase she spoke. “You know- A man like you should be given to the world as a gift; to live a long and happy life, making other people’s lives better. Men such as you don’t deserve to be taken away so quickly.” 

“Life’s not fair. We live miserably, and then we die.” Vicki said with an almost apathetic shrug of her shoulders. “But I’ve always held the silly notion that life is a mere waiting room to something far better. We’ll have to see, won’t we?” Vicki said with a faint smile, before turning away from the man, walking off. 

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Michael nodded his head in understanding; he thought that she would have had a part, mostly because Michael knew of the event his son was attending, and the time of his disappearance was around then, though he refused to pin the blame on someone, and he quickly shook his head. “I place no blame on you… but don’t think that you’re unimportant, now that he’s found; its more complicated than that.” He raised an eyebrow at that moment, before he cleared his throat to continue on.

“This concerns you for three reasons: one, you are his friend. His most trusted and treasured friend at that, therefore, by default, I am here to inform you. Two, and possibly the more important reason is that I found him through him shouting your name out loud, therefore if it wasn’t for you, Zane wouldn’t be here now. And the third, and even more so important: he hasn’t spoken a single word since, which leads me to believe that he needs you. Therefore, Vicki, I am here because, should you choose to accept it, my son needs you in his life right now. I won’t lie; the condition he’s in is not pretty, and the Zane you probably know may not be fully there, but he needs you all the same.”

“So… what do you say?”

It was as if a venomous fluid was filling Vicki’s throat, burning through her vocal chords, cutting off her breath, and ravaging her vocal chords. She blinked back at the man before her, a sense of confusion permeating through her mind. Surely, she was misunderstanding; she hadn’t heard the man clearly. The way he spoke of the situation, it appeared off. There was something more to the distant words, and vague descriptions. But most of all, there simply had to be a misunderstanding, because this man, Zane’s father was asking of the impossible from Vicki. 

She shook her head back and forth, as she stepped back away from him. She evaded making eye contact, as she took a deep breath. “If you wish to do yourself and your son any good at all, then you will have me keep away from him. I’ll only ruin him further; that I can promise. I’m no good- your son doesn’t need someone like me, I assure you.” Vicki said with a shrug of her shoulders, wishing for nothing more than to run from the situation entirely. 

Michael sighed softly, although he could understand her objections easily. He reached out his hand cautiously until it came into contact with her shoulder, and with a caring smile he gently patted it to comfort her. “I understand; it’s a lot to ask, and I don’t expect it of you straight away, but, I must tell you… before it’s simply too late to tell at all.” He sighed softly at that moment.

“You’re an adult now, Vicki. No matter whether you want that or not, you are one, and I view you as one, which is why I trust you with this. I trust you to look after my son, because now… I no longer can. Not in the way I used to. He has found comfort in you, and whilst you think you aren’t good enough for him, I think quite the opposite; I think you are perfect for him. Perfect to keep him safe… it isn’t your fault; he is a sensitive being, and it appears you are too. You’ll both grow with each other, and perhaps learn things along the way. I don’t expect you to change your ways at all; if my son accepts them, I certainly do.” He smiled at her then as he gulped slightly.

“It is a lot to ask of someone so young… but, if you could do anything, can you at least accompany me? The last memory I have of my son is nothing but pain… I need you to tell me he’s safe now; safe and okay. Anything else… you may do on your own, I will not pressure you, but simply inform you. The decision is entirely yours… if you wish me to leave you with this information, I will.”

The snaking feel of constriction was winding through Vicki’s body, etching itself into her spine, grasping a hold of her entirely. She continued to shake her head back and forth, as her hands balled into fierce fists. “You cannot possibly expect me to simply…go along with this.” She said through her teeth. “What your suggesting, if I’m to understand, is that I am somehow meant to care for your son. That it will be my duty to protect him.” Vicki said with an undertone of bitterness, as she eyed Zane’s father. “You mustn’t know me at all, then.”

“I cannot take care of anything, or anyone. I am incapable of it; and furthermore I’ve never wished to have a person to care for. I can hardly keep myself in check; how you presumed for me to do that with another being, I’ll never know. I am not a caregiver, or a lover. I did not sign up for these troubles, or willingly volunteer myself for such a job.” She said simply. “Now with all do respect sir, I’m afraid you’ve found the wrong girl to speak to.” She had entered a state of denial, and self-preservation. Vicki needed to keep herself intact, if she were to continue on. 

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Michael nodded his head in understanding; he thought that she would have had a part, mostly because Michael knew of the event his son was attending, and the time of his disappearance was around then, though he refused to pin the blame on someone, and he quickly shook his head. “I place no blame on you… but don’t think that you’re unimportant, now that he’s found; its more complicated than that.” He raised an eyebrow at that moment, before he cleared his throat to continue on.

“This concerns you for three reasons: one, you are his friend. His most trusted and treasured friend at that, therefore, by default, I am here to inform you. Two, and possibly the more important reason is that I found him through him shouting your name out loud, therefore if it wasn’t for you, Zane wouldn’t be here now. And the third, and even more so important: he hasn’t spoken a single word since, which leads me to believe that he needs you. Therefore, Vicki, I am here because, should you choose to accept it, my son needs you in his life right now. I won’t lie; the condition he’s in is not pretty, and the Zane you probably know may not be fully there, but he needs you all the same.”

“So… what do you say?”

It was as if a venomous fluid was filling Vicki’s throat, burning through her vocal chords, cutting off her breath, and ravaging her vocal chords. She blinked back at the man before her, a sense of confusion permeating through her mind. Surely, she was misunderstanding; she hadn’t heard the man clearly. The way he spoke of the situation, it appeared off. There was something more to the distant words, and vague descriptions. But most of all, there simply had to be a misunderstanding, because this man, Zane’s father was asking of the impossible from Vicki. 

She shook her head back and forth, as she stepped back away from him. She evaded making eye contact, as she took a deep breath. “If you wish to do yourself and your son any good at all, then you will have me keep away from him. I’ll only ruin him further; that I can promise. I’m no good- your son doesn’t need someone like me, I assure you.” Vicki said with a shrug of her shoulders, wishing for nothing more than to run from the situation entirely. 

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The sense of urgency was now showing on his face due to the most recent of events happening in the old man’s life. Sure, he was way, way past his sell-by-date, but Michael Corner definitely knew trouble, and this… this was a lot of trouble.

That is why he found himself…

“Sorry… am I interrupting something? I don’t mean to be so… forceful.” He bowed his head to the girl slightly, hoping that she would take his apology; though there was no sense of urgency in his demeanour, Michael was on edge, and for obvious reasons, of course. “But I need your help. Or, more so, your time, and your listening ear…” He cleared his throat slightly as he held out the paper that was in his hands, hoping that it would reach her general whereabouts as he spoke.

“You know of my son, Zane…” He began simply as he gestured to the newsprint once more. “He has been missing for quite some time, but I hold news for you.” He cleared his throat slightly, as he nodded his head; the girl seemed to be just as distressed as he was about the whole situation, and he could only hope that this information would bring her a small sense of comfort to know, at least.

“We found him. Alive.”

Vicki eyed the man for a few good moments, as she smoked the last breaths of her cigarette before flicking it to the ground, grinding it out with her heel. It appeared that whatever he had told her hadn’t registered, for Vicki’s facial expression remained blank and her thoughts confused. She tilted her head to the side, glancing at the newspaper in Mr. Corner’s hands, reading the headline over and over again, trying to piece together the entire situation she found herself. As hard she may have tried, her mind was rattled and logic chopped. She couldn’t make sense of why Zane’s father was standing before her at this very moment.

“I was with Zane, the last time anyone saw him. You know that, right?” She asked with a quirk of her eyebrow. “It’s my fault he ran off, and got himself into whatever bloody mess it is that he was in. I wasn’t in a right state of mind, and your son paid for it. For that, I apologize.” She said simply, her voice void of emotion. “I’ve been worried…” Vicki said in a show of a perfect understatement. “…but now that he’s found, there’s nothing to concern myself with. Which brings me to the question of what exactly you need from me?” Vicki asked curiously, still highly misjudging the entire ordeal. 

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The sense of urgency was now showing on his face due to the most recent of events happening in the old man’s life. Sure, he was way, way past his sell-by-date, but Michael Corner definitely knew trouble, and this… this was a lot of trouble.

That is why he found himself back at the castle grounds once more; although in unfit condition, which caused him to resign from the work placement he had here so many moons before. But now, he needed to find a particular student, and it would be more than difficult, but with his hopeful sense of smell, along with his judgement, Michael held onto a slight glimmer of hope.

He began his journey then, descending and ascending through the castle in search of the single person who may know such information. The latest Daily Prophet was clutched in his hands as he tread with caution in order to not draw too much attention, but when he picked up a familiar scent of the very girl he was looking for, he turned and gently reached out to grab the person’s arm.

“Vicki? Vicki Chambers?”

Vicki’s life in the past weeks had been a constant loop of chain smoking, drinking immeasurable amounts of cheap liquor scrounged off fourth years, drowning in black coffee, and meaningless sex. She altered her state of mind in any way she knew how so she could simply stop thinking; stop feeling the myriad of emotions being thrust upon her by her endless thoughts. Vicki would walk the halls aimlessly, skipping out on her classes, avoiding meal times, ignoring curfews entirely. She received no amusement in her usual judgmental statements, or condescending attitude. Did anything really matter anymore?

Vicki had gone over the events after her parents’ party a thousand times in her head, thinking back to what could have gone wrong. It was obviously her fault; if she hadn’t dragged Zane to come, if she hadn’t made them leave early, if she hadn’t thrown a fit in the car, if she hadn’t insisted they go for a damn drive, whatever happened would never have occurred. She replayed the harsh words she had spoken to Zane out of self-bitterness and hatred. If Vicki could have taken it back, she would have, but like so many things in her life she had to bare the consequences of her foolish actions. Only this time, she wasn’t the only one suffering. 

A cigarette was perched on her lips as she made her way through the corridor; she should have been in History of Magic class at the time. Her uniform was in such a disarray that it was almost unrecognizable as Hogwarts’ wear. Not like her appearance mattered in the slightest thought Vicki. She was so far off in her own thoughts, that when she felt someone grab her, she nearly snapped entirely. 

“For fuck’s sake- get your hands off of me!” She growled as she ripped her arm from the person’s grasp. “I’m not in the fucking mood…” Vicki said as she turned to scowl at the person who had dare interrupt her. When she recognized the person, her entire body froze. “Mr.- Mr. Corner?”

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Zane was quick to slide into the car, and as he did so his eyes went wide at the sheer beauty of it all; the leather seats, the hi-tech dashboard, among other things which just seemed to make the car a perfect machine. No wonder they bought it… he thought to himself as he buckled the seat belt, just in time it seemed, before Vicki began her adventure out of the garage and into the open world.

As quickly as they had exited, they began speeding down the road, and Zane gulped at the sudden speed. Not that he cared; he could run just as quick as this, but to be sitting there at such speeds did come as a slight shock, and Zane understood now how Vicki was probably most used to his running speeds vicariously, through the use of her driving lessons.

Zane watched as the blurs passed them both by, not giving him even a single moment to focus on any object of the outside world. Rather, it seemed to just all merge into one, and Vicki and Zane simply penetrated the blur. He looked over to her, noticing her nonchalant attitude as he raised an eyebrow.

“You’re mad, you know?”

To some the simple comment that hung in the silent air, uttered by Zane, would have been an insult of the highest order; to Vicki, on the other hand, it was a compliment of the highest degree. If madness was clear in her actions, she was doing something right; fuck sanity. She looked at Zane for an extended few seconds, not even thinking to look back at the road ahead. She simply gazed at him, her lashes blinking furiously, her face expressionless. A small laugh broke the silence, and she turned her attention back to driving. 

“So…” She began, the word ringing in the silence of the car “…as much as my parents are the last thing I ever wish to discuss- I would love to hear what you though of all of that.” Vicki said with a scoff, thinking back for a moment on the previous event the two of them had escaped together. 

“They aren’t very nice.” He said the words almost immediately after she asked, and he frowned and huffed as he leant back in the leather seat, feeling a bubbling anger well up inside him at the sheer thought of them both. “Why are they like that, Vicki? It’s mean and nasty and not nice…” He looked over to her, raising an eyebrow as he did so, before he cleared his throat and finally said.

“I don’t want you to see them any more.”

The question he posed was childish and nonsensical; it may as well have been rhetorical, for there was no response to offer that would ever answer the question properly. Vicki sneaked side glances at Zane, her foot proceeding to slowly press harder and harder on the gas pedal; their speed reaching dangerous heights. Vicki huffed, throwing herself against the back of the seat, her mood turning from calm to annoyed in a millisecond. She drummed her nails against the wheel, the clicking sound echoing in the dull silence of the car.

“They’re too bored with their fucking lives. That’s why!” She snapped. Vicki didn’t know why she had turned back into the cold, spiteful, and bitter version of herself, but every thought she had in the moment was cynical and fatalistic. “They regret the choices they’ve made that have lead them to misery, so they force other people around them into their own personal versions of hellish existence. Misery loves company; My parents are miserable, and surrounded by dozens of people who are exactly like them.” She shook her head, scoffing again with displeasure. 

But when Zane made his final comment, Vicki’s annoyance turned to anger quicker than she thought possible. “What!?” She screeched at him, nearly losing control of the wheel she was wielding. “What kind of a person says something like that?” She snapped fiercely. “Do you really not get it? Do you really not understand a damn thing about my situation?”

Zane’s eyes went wide at her sudden change of mood, and he couldn’t help but gulp as he noticed the atmosphere change before him, though he chose to just sit and listen to what she had to say. It appeared, however, that it wasn’t the best thing to do, as soon she was practically screeching at him, which almost cost the two of them their lives through careless driving on her part, not that it was her fault. Zane raised an eyebrow, before shaking his head.

“No Vicki! I don’t understand!” He said it simply and honestly, because he truly didn’t. “I don’t understand why they are so mean, and I don’t understand why you must stay there with them. I know that you should forgive, that’s a very important thing, but if someone was mean to me all the time… people would tell me to go too!”

His response did nothing to ease Vicki’s mood; she brought a hand to her head, methodically rubbing her temple with her fingers, her eyes focused on the road. She began to gnaw against her teeth, her body going rigid with tension; an attempt at calm was failing her. Vicki took a deep inhale of breath, and exhaled slowly, pursing her lips. She could not even look at Zane for fear of what she would do or say to him; it was not that she was blaming him for who he was, but it appeared she was at her wit’s end with him this evening. 

“I don’t know why I need to justify, or explain this any further. But I will.” She began, speaking through her teeth. “Firstly, I have no intention of forgiving my parents, because I’m not angry with my parents. I don’t give a fuck about my parents; their lives, their expectations, or their rules. Do you understand that?” She said harshly, not being able to keep her tone settled. “Secondly, I will tell you this once, and only once- so do listen. I have no intention or want to live a meager or poor lifestyle. Call me selfish, superficial, and a whole other slue of insults; I don’t care. This is who I am, and this is who I will forever be. This lifestyle is dependent upon my parents approval though; up until I am of legal age. At that point I can collect my trust fun, and do away with them. Clearly, I am not of legal age, yet.” She said quietly, but the whisper was hauntingly terrifying. 

“Besides- they aren’t being mean. They are being themselves.”

“I… I uh…” He didn’t know what to say, in all honesty. In fact, he couldn’t even say a thing, he had practically been stunned into a silence that not even he himself could break out of. He chewed on his lower lip, wondering and thinking of how he could fix it, though there was nothing he could possibly say that would make it any better.

“Uh… I can help? Yeah, I can do that! I can give you money, Vicki! See? You don’t need them! See? We can get money another way, see?” He looked over to her for a moment, before looking away and frowning as his gaze turned to the blackened window which showed nothing but a blur, as it had done throughout their journey.

“I just don’t want you to get hurt no more…”

“Will you shut up!?” 

The inflection of the insult was sharp, ringing through the car, bringing complete silence. Without a thought or further word, Vicki slammed down on the breaks, and turned the wheel sharply. The car screeched to a halt on the side of the road, nearly throwing them into the ditch below. She turned to Zane with a violent motion, rounding in on him. “Do you think I don’t realize what kind of financial position you are in? Do you think I want your money? That suggestion was foolish, and clearly no thought was put into it. When you say shit like that Zane, it fucking hurts me. It degrades my intelligence, and my pride.”

“There is very few possibilities for me to earn money- both of them involve copious amounts of sex. I can either get married to some rich bastard, or become a call girl. Whichever you prefer. My future isn’t in the Ministry of Magic, or St. Mungo’s- I’m not going to suddenly become a working professional Zane. Wake up, and realize that.” She said bitterly, eyeing him angrily. “Keeping around my parents is a way out from those options; and I’m gladly taking it.” She said, and snatched at the door handle, throwing the it open, and stepping outside. She slammed the door shut, as she began to walk away from the car, bare foot. She snatched a cigarette from the folds of her dress, lit it with ease, and welcomed the familiar smell of tobacco. 

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Zane was quick to slide into the car, and as he did so his eyes went wide at the sheer beauty of it all; the leather seats, the hi-tech dashboard, among other things which just seemed to make the car a perfect machine. No wonder they bought it… he thought to himself as he buckled the seat belt, just in time it seemed, before Vicki began her adventure out of the garage and into the open world.

As quickly as they had exited, they began speeding down the road, and Zane gulped at the sudden speed. Not that he cared; he could run just as quick as this, but to be sitting there at such speeds did come as a slight shock, and Zane understood now how Vicki was probably most used to his running speeds vicariously, through the use of her driving lessons.

Zane watched as the blurs passed them both by, not giving him even a single moment to focus on any object of the outside world. Rather, it seemed to just all merge into one, and Vicki and Zane simply penetrated the blur. He looked over to her, noticing her nonchalant attitude as he raised an eyebrow.

“You’re mad, you know?”

To some the simple comment that hung in the silent air, uttered by Zane, would have been an insult of the highest order; to Vicki, on the other hand, it was a compliment of the highest degree. If madness was clear in her actions, she was doing something right; fuck sanity. She looked at Zane for an extended few seconds, not even thinking to look back at the road ahead. She simply gazed at him, her lashes blinking furiously, her face expressionless. A small laugh broke the silence, and she turned her attention back to driving. 

“So…” She began, the word ringing in the silence of the car “…as much as my parents are the last thing I ever wish to discuss- I would love to hear what you though of all of that.” Vicki said with a scoff, thinking back for a moment on the previous event the two of them had escaped together. 

“They aren’t very nice.” He said the words almost immediately after she asked, and he frowned and huffed as he leant back in the leather seat, feeling a bubbling anger well up inside him at the sheer thought of them both. “Why are they like that, Vicki? It’s mean and nasty and not nice…” He looked over to her, raising an eyebrow as he did so, before he cleared his throat and finally said.

“I don’t want you to see them any more.”

The question he posed was childish and nonsensical; it may as well have been rhetorical, for there was no response to offer that would ever answer the question properly. Vicki sneaked side glances at Zane, her foot proceeding to slowly press harder and harder on the gas pedal; their speed reaching dangerous heights. Vicki huffed, throwing herself against the back of the seat, her mood turning from calm to annoyed in a millisecond. She drummed her nails against the wheel, the clicking sound echoing in the dull silence of the car.

“They’re too bored with their fucking lives. That’s why!” She snapped. Vicki didn’t know why she had turned back into the cold, spiteful, and bitter version of herself, but every thought she had in the moment was cynical and fatalistic. “They regret the choices they’ve made that have lead them to misery, so they force other people around them into their own personal versions of hellish existence. Misery loves company; My parents are miserable, and surrounded by dozens of people who are exactly like them.” She shook her head, scoffing again with displeasure. 

But when Zane made his final comment, Vicki’s annoyance turned to anger quicker than she thought possible. “What!?” She screeched at him, nearly losing control of the wheel she was wielding. “What kind of a person says something like that?” She snapped fiercely. “Do you really not get it? Do you really not understand a damn thing about my situation?”

Zane’s eyes went wide at her sudden change of mood, and he couldn’t help but gulp as he noticed the atmosphere change before him, though he chose to just sit and listen to what she had to say. It appeared, however, that it wasn’t the best thing to do, as soon she was practically screeching at him, which almost cost the two of them their lives through careless driving on her part, not that it was her fault. Zane raised an eyebrow, before shaking his head.

“No Vicki! I don’t understand!” He said it simply and honestly, because he truly didn’t. “I don’t understand why they are so mean, and I don’t understand why you must stay there with them. I know that you should forgive, that’s a very important thing, but if someone was mean to me all the time… people would tell me to go too!”

His response did nothing to ease Vicki’s mood; she brought a hand to her head, methodically rubbing her temple with her fingers, her eyes focused on the road. She began to gnaw against her teeth, her body going rigid with tension; an attempt at calm was failing her. Vicki took a deep inhale of breath, and exhaled slowly, pursing her lips. She could not even look at Zane for fear of what she would do or say to him; it was not that she was blaming him for who he was, but it appeared she was at her wit’s end with him this evening. 

“I don’t know why I need to justify, or explain this any further. But I will.” She began, speaking through her teeth. “Firstly, I have no intention of forgiving my parents, because I’m not angry with my parents. I don’t give a fuck about my parents; their lives, their expectations, or their rules. Do you understand that?” She said harshly, not being able to keep her tone settled. “Secondly, I will tell you this once, and only once- so do listen. I have no intention or want to live a meager or poor lifestyle. Call me selfish, superficial, and a whole other slue of insults; I don’t care. This is who I am, and this is who I will forever be. This lifestyle is dependent upon my parents approval though; up until I am of legal age. At that point I can collect my trust fun, and do away with them. Clearly, I am not of legal age, yet.” She said quietly, but the whisper was hauntingly terrifying. 

“Besides- they aren’t being mean. They are being themselves.”

(Source: nyc-rules)

(Source: edddard)

(Source: kissabeast)