"Think anyone will help you if you scream? This time?" Brent laughed as Grace tried to catch him in the stomach with one of her elbows.
   "Stop struggling, or you'll just make it worse." He taunted, his hold tightening.
   Battling for breath, strength, and calm, Grace took in mouthfuls of air. "What do you want, Brent?"
   "You know," he started conversationally, as if they were shooting the breeze instead of having her pinned against a car. "I think it's rather impressive that a Hanson is dating you."
   Gritting her teeth, Grace felt the blood start draining from her head down into her toes in one sudden tidal wave.
   "I mean, you're damaged goods and all, and well he," he laughed loudly, "Well he is rich, and famous, and could have nearly any female adolescent. Yet he chose you. Damaged goods."
   "You said that already." Grace grated out.
   She felt him shrug behind her, "Still finding it pretty darn amusing. And you know what? I bet some reporters and magazines and radio shows would feel that same way too."
   Feeling the ground slipping away beneath her, Grace fought for some kind of foothold. "What do you want, Brent?"
   He leaned across her back, and pressed his face into her left ear. "Have daddy call off the search on me. I don't cater to the idea of being in a three by five cell for any amount of time at all."
   He licked the side of her face, and she squirmed against the feel. "Ever wonder if you might be pregnant, Gracie? Or have some other nasty thing from me?" He asked before he was suddenly moving away.
   Feeling the wind pick up, Grace shuddered in her leather coat but knew it was from the breeze. Straightening up, she glanced around her, hoping to could note where Brent had run off.
   Hugging her stomach, in hopes of keeping some warmth in her, Grace removed her keys from the jacket pocket and fumbled a little trying to get the correct one and then get it into the keyhole.
   She made through the ride to her house, and made it all the way up into her room. The burning water from the shower is what awakened her from the numbness that had insulated her. Finally feeling something, Grace flinched from the stinging and quickly turned on the cold tap. The tepid water cooled her overheated and now red sensitized skin.
   Stumbling from the bathroom and to her bed, Grace fell ungracefully face-first into her blue comforter. Her mind shut off. Forgetting everything except the feel of safety her bedroom, and in her bed.
   Forgetting dinner with her parents, and her date with Zac.