Crash (Sequel to Unexpected)

Conversations

“So you just left him there to take the blame?”
“Sonny’s was a tough kid. He could take it. I wasn’t going to go down for a stupid prank my senior year.”
I shake my head, taking a sip of my white wine. The place Gavin selected is an elegant restaurant on the edge of town. The prices are affordable and the food is delicious.
“What about you, Skye? Tell me about your life.”
“There’s not really much to tell.”
“Where were you born? What did you plan to do when you graduated high school? What’s your mother’s name? There must be something, Skye.”
I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I want to get off the topic of my past as fast as possible. I pick the least intimidating question.
“My mother’s name was Felicity.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know she passed.”
“I actually don’t know if she’s dead or not. She left my dad and I when I was young.”
“Oh. Sorry for bringing it up.”
I shrug and smile, trying to make him feel better.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s all in the past. I prefer to look towards the future.”
“So what do you see in your future?”
“Near or distant future?”
He leans in, visibly intrigued by the fact that I’m willing to open up a bit more.
“Both.”
I contemplate my answer for a moment. I don’t want to push things too fast, but at the same time I don’t want to offend him.
“Near future, spend time with you and find a decent paying job. Distant, get my GED and maybe attending college.”
“You didn’t graduate high school?”
“I dropped out to work. I wanted independence as soon as possible and that’s how I was going to get it.”
He nods. I can tell by his body language and facial expression that he wants to push me to answer more questions on that, but he doesn’t.
Thank God.