Link Up ✔️

Chapter 70

The school gave me a week excused after the trauma with Todd and I was going to use it. I still had to turn in assignments due online, and there would be a test in one of my classes as soon as I made it back, so I would need to study. I packed up some things to go home and be with my family.

"I wish you weren't going to be gone a whole week," King said to me as I prepared to drive off. We stood by my car which was packed and ready to go and King held me in his arms. It was the most comfortable feeling, but still, I was on edge.

"We can Facetime every day."

"That's not the same. But I want you to be safe. I don't want what that idiot did to cause you unnecessary stress. Think happy thoughts."

If only it were that easy. I still had nightmares. I did not get any sleep last night. I could still hear his raging anger screaming at me. I still felt chills even standing there with King, as if he was watching me.

I hoped getting away would clear those thoughts.

"I'll be fine." I kissed King before I got into my car.

I sat there for a moment, not even knowing what to do. My anxiety level was at ten. I kept clearing my thoughts, then it would hit me again. I hope I did not have a panic attack while driving home.

A knock on my window startled me and made me jump.

It was King, so I let the window down.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I will be."  As my fingers nervously started the car.

King reached in and grabbed my hand. "You're in no shape to drive right now."

I almost was in tears, but I held it in. "But I can't be here."

"Then I'm driving you."

What? My heart raced a bit. Was this a good thing or a bad thing that King was being so overprotective? I did not know what to say to him.

"I'm serious Rayvn. Let me drive you home. Let's stop and get my car, and we can make it to your place, then I can come back to school."

It was Tuesday around five in the evening. King had class tomorrow and should not be making that long trek back. I could not let him do that. I felt like such a burden. Nothing in my life could ever go right and I hated that.

"Rayvn, give me your car keys."

I gave King my keys, got out of the car and he grabbed me in another hug. I walked over to the passenger side of the car, and he got in the car and started it. We stopped at his residence hall and parked near his car. He grabbed my bags and we went to his car.

I still said nothing, just let King take charge.

"You good? You should just try and get some sleep while I drive. I'll put your address in and not have to bother you."

I nodded. I told my father not to worry, but I was coming home and that I would tell him all about it when I got there. Of course, he worried and kept texting me about what was wrong. I was not going to tell him over the phone. I sent him another quick text telling him my estimated arrival time. I told him not to worry Angel about it, but of course, he would.

I fell asleep and King must be a great driver because I did not wake up until he exited the highway near Six Flags, close to my home.

My home. It really was not, having never lived there permanently but it felt like home to me. I would never go to my mother. Any breaks from school, this was where I wanted to be. I would live with them forever if they let me. Right now I need to be with my family, even if I could not talk about what was happening.