"Hannah?" Heyden asked. "You want to go home?"
"No," I said. "Take me back to your house. Heyden," I said.
He gave the driver the same address at which he had been picked up, and the driver turned around and started back,
"I don't have any money," I whispered. "or my credit card. I left it at my father's house."
"Why? What are you doing out here?"
I just shook my head. I didn't want to tell him the story. I was afraid the driver would hear everything, and I was still very embarrassed,
"Don't worry." Heyden said. "I have enough."
"I'll pay you back tomorrow." I promised.
With interest?" he asked. smiling.
I started to cry again, but more softly, with my cheek pressed to his chest and his arm around me, holding me snugly and safely.
After we arrived at his home and he paid the driver, we went inside. It was so quiet. I asked where his sister was.
"She's at a friend's house, probably doing some drugs or drinking and who knows what else? My mother let her go even though I told her what Elisha has been into these days. It's just easier for her to say yes. I warned her I wasn't taking care of Elisha or going anywhere to rescue her if she gets into trouble," he said.
"Like you just did for me?" "There's no comparison," he said.
I went to the bathroom, and after washing my face with cold water. I joined him in his room. He was sitting on the bed, tinkering with some chords on his Guitar. He looked up.
"Well?" he asked. "I got stuck with the taxi fare. Aren't you ever going to tell me what's going on?"
I nodded and sat beside him. He lay the guitar dawn and turned to listen. After I described it all, he shook his head with rage.
"I wish I had been there," he said.
"You can't threaten them. It does no good. They're so arrogant, they know they'll always get out of whatever trouble they cause."
"I wouldn't just threaten them." Heyden said.
"I'm not going back there," I vowed. "I'm sick of pretending they are my family. They don't want me to be part of their family. and I don't want to be. Not anymore."
"You're better off." he said. Then he smiled. "So they made fun of the music we create together, huh? They're just jealous ."
"I don't care what they think or say, Heyden. They can't ruin what we do. but I am worried for my uncle."
"That was surely just an idle threat. They would never go there. That sort of thing takes too much effort."
"I want to be sure he's all right. though. I'll go there tomorrow," I said.
"You look so tired, Shouldn't I call your stepfather and ask him to came to get you?"
"Not yet," I said. "Anyway, I'll call a cab and they'll pay him when I get there. Maybe my mother will be asleep by then, and it will be easier."
"Whatever you say," Heyden told me.
I smiled and lay back. It felt good to sink my head into one of his pillows. He lay beside me, slipping his aim under and around my shoulders. I turned into him and closed my eyes. In moments I was asleep.
.
A clamor of voices and bright lights snapped open my eyes. I was alone in the bed and for a moment. I couldn't recall where I was or how I had gotten here. The confusion evaporated just before Heyden's door was opened. Miguel stood there, his shoulders hoisted, his mouth twisted in anger like I had never seen.