Fly Like A Hawk

Chapter 26 - A Peace Offering

I trudged down the curb, hugging my arms closer to my body as it rained. After Demetri had left me, it had started to rain, dripping slowly at first then coming down in buckets as though it was weeping for me. Tears still ran down my face but the rain mixed in with them and washed away their remanence. It was cold and I shivered as I walked, feeling the bitter wind like ice as it tried to push me off course.

I hadn't made it very far, still far away from the security of my house and yet so distant that I didn't even care anymore, I'd lost everything now: Eli, Demetri, everything that was ever important to me, except perhaps for Miguel, who would probably end up hating me to.

A car pulled up beside me, headlights cutting a path through the rain. I kept my head down and continued walking, only for the car to follow me. From the corner of my eyes I could see that it was small and red with windows so dark that I couldn't possibly see who was behind them. Fear rose once again as the window was slowly wound down. A head appeared, sticking out into the rain and frowning at me, "Hey! Y/N!" I kept walking, holding my arms tighter in an attempt to keep warm. "Hey!" I stopped and turned to look at the person who was hollering me. Squinting through the tears I could see Hawk hanging out of the window. I frowned angrily at him then sped up.

The car again followed me, this time after Hawk's head had bobbed back inside. "What are you doing?" He asked when they pulled up beside me.

"Walking, what does it look like?" I sneered back, gritting my teeth in an attempt to stop the cold. He furrowed his eyebrows then nodded towards the back seat of the car.

"Get in."

"No, I don't want a lift." I protested, holding onto my sleeves tighter.

"Just get in." He repeated, staring at me with determination.

"No." I felt like being stubborn, putting up a fight until he gave up.

"Get in or I'll put you in the car myself." I stopped in my tracks, turning to pout at him angrily, "I'm giving you an option." He added, looking between me and the back door. I stamped my foot in the rain angrily then headed for the door.

"Fine." I didn't have the strength to argue with him and by the look on his face he really would have put me in the car himself. I pulled on the handle and the door popped open, allowing me a view at one of Hawk's friends. He smiled back at me sheepishly. I looked back at Hawk, who was still staring at me then climbed in and shut the door.

"So your into kidnapping now..." I sneered from the back seat, sitting with my arms crossed and shivering.

"We didn't kidnap you." He protested, turning in his seat while the other friend, happening to be the one driving, pulled off from the curb and rejoined the traffic.

"Sure, you didn't, just threatened me if I didn't get in the car." He shook his head and pulled an expression that I couldn't quite make out.

"Fine, alright...." he held up his hands in surrender and I noticed the swollen bruise spreading across his cheek.

"I'm sorry about your face." I mumbled as I leant into the door, pressing my head against the glass so that I could see out.

"Dude, I can't find your house in this." The kid driving called back, and I didn't know whether he was talking to Hawk or the kid beside me.

"Sure, you can, Chris. It's just up here." The kid in the back leant forward, pointing out of the windscreen at a turn off.

"Great, we're gonna miss the turning Mitch, is there another way round?" I leant into the warmth of the seat, allowing it to warm me slightly so that I could loose some of the chills that were running down my back. In the reflection of the glass I could see Hawk watching me, glancing away when he thought I might notice.

"No dude, your just gonna have to turn around." Mitch chimed, scooting over a little and using the front seats to pull himself up, he watched where we were going out of the windscreen and pointed, "Turn round there, then find your way back."

"What were you doing out walking?" Hawk asked, looking into the rear view mirror so that he could see me.

"What do you think I was doing? Going for a leisurely stroll?" I jeered back, returning to staring out of the window so that he couldn't have the satisfaction of eye contact, "Demetri ditched me." I murmured, sinking back in on myself as I spoke.

"That bitch." Hawk sneered, nodding and looking out of the window.

"No, it was my fault, I'm not surprised he left me to walk." I swiped at my eyes again, hoping that for my sake the tears wouldn't start back up.

"Why? What'd you do?" Hawk's eyes reappeared in the rear view mirror and Mitch now turned to look at me.

"Nothing,it...doesn't matter." Chris indicated right and the whole car was filled with ticking before we turned and pulled to a stop.

"Alright, your stop Mitch." Chris mumbled from the front, turning to look at him.

"Oh, right, well, bye I guess." He held up a hand then scurried out into the rain. I watched as he crossed over to his front door then turned back to Hawk's prying eyes.

"Sorry Miss, but I don't know where you live, I don't even know your name..." Chris chuckled awkwardly.

"Y/N." Hawk said as he shifted to look me in the eyes.

"You can just drop me off at...just drop me off at Hawk's and I'll walk from there." Hawk shook his head and redirected his attention to Chris.

"Her house number is-"

"I said he can drop me off at yours." I stared him down defensively until he rolled his eyes.

"Delplagio's Plaza." He mumbled, compromising and going for a place that stood directly between our houses.

"Alright, I can do that." Chris nodded then pulled off. Hawk turned to look back at me one last time then settled back into his seat.