In his grasp

The Drive...

Ping!

My phone buzzed on the side of my dressing table. My body filled with goosebumps from excitement as I grabbed my bag and shouted goodbye to my mum before leaving the house. My hair was dead straight and my make up was dark with black eyeliner to try and make myself look more grown up. I was wearing a black tank top with a flowery cardigan over the top that had no buttons and was thin so it flowed when I walked.

There he was, in his black sporty Corsa, headlights shining on me so I was unable to see him through the window. I walked closer and peered into the passengers window. After confirming it was him I hopped inside. He wore light blue jeans with a beige T-s**t. His arms were bare and he was wearing a watch on his left wrist which I noticed straight away with the way he was holding onto the wheel. 

"Well don't you look beautiful" he said scanning my body. I smiled nervously as I closed the door.

"So where are we going?" I asked him. 

"I thought we would go for a drive and see where it takes us" he looked at me mischievously. I agreed and he drove off from the curb. I looked at the radio and put on some music which Joe started nodding his head to. 

"So babe, how is school?" Babe? No one calls me that, ever. I've seen it in movies when there is a couple in a relationship and they call each other that as a pet name, but I've never been called it before. I strangely like it.

"Boring, you know, the usual perv's and idiots who try it on with you to impress their mates" I saw his face tighten. He clenched his hand around the steering wheel for a second then released it.

"If you ever have any trouble you know I am here, I will protect you" he finally replied. It made me feel comfortable in an extremely strange way. I don't really know him very well and already he is making me feel completely safe and comfortable around him. I nodded my head to him, slightly confused as to why he would want to protect someone he barely knows. 

We drove down the streets lit with streetlights. Joe turned into a road with a ramp that had no lights other than the ones coming from his car. He drove to the end of the road and turned into a secluded car park which was empty. I didn't even know that this was here.

"Where are we?" I asked him looking outside of my window.

"I didn't want to drive anymore, I thought we could sit and chill" he avoided my question. I felt slightly uneasy but also excited at the same time. He pulled up in the corner, turned his car lights off and took his seat belt off. I followed his lead looking at the radio light on his dash that was still playing. He pulled his seat back and turned his body toward me. 

“Now” he said pulling out a cigarette from his door pocket. He put it in his mouth, opened the window then lit it. I coughed at the fumes which turned his attention to me. 

“Does this bother you?” He asked. I didn’t want to seem like I was not cool or mature so I shook my head. We sat for a while talking about our lives. He works in a computer company that is part of a well known business in the UK. He also lives at home with his mum for now and is saving up for a house and he hoped to have his own business some day. He was very ambitious and impressive I must say. I told him about how my dad left when I was 3 and that I see him every now and again but not as much as I use to. I guess I just didn’t want to be disappointed anymore. He leaves me out of things and takes my brother and step brothers everywhere. I was fed up of feeling unwanted. 

“Well baby girl, I’m here for you, you know that” he said warming my heart. In the space of two hours I feel like I’ve known Joe my whole life. It was so easy to talk to him. He looked at me, his eyes were intense and his body language was inviting. Hold on a second. s**t. Two hours!

“The party!” I exclaimed jumping in my seat and putting my belt on. 

“I need to get back!” I panicked. Molly would kill me if I didn’t show up. Joe didn’t move and smiled at me, amused by my panic. He sat up, pulled his seat forward, put his lights back on and fastened his seat belt. Without saying a word he drove towards the entrance. 

“Direct me, I’ll drop you” he ordered. I smiled at the thought of being dropped off by someone who was older than me. Imagine how everyone would look at me then. After a short while and many directions later we arrived outside my friend’s crowded house. Everyone was going about their own business until Molly yelled from her front door which was wide open. 

“Lauren!” I nervously giggled and turned to Joe who had his arm resting on the steering wheel. 

“You need a lift home later?” I looked at him a blushed at the the thought of him being there then embarrassed at the state I could be in. 

“No” I shook my head “I will be fine”. 

I reached for the handle before feeling his breath on my ear. He kissed my cheek and said “I’ll see you soon”. My heart skipped as I smiled and nodded. I left the car and closed the door behind me, glancing at him one more time. He waves with his fingers still resting on the wheel. I raised my hand then walked over to Molly. 

“Who was that?” She said leaning against the frame of the door. I just smiled and walked past her going into the kitchen to grab a drink. She followed behind me.