She loved coming to the White Mice... She didn't really drink or anything but she just loved to dance.

Skylar had snuck in with a group of college girls about two hours ago and she was still on the dance floor. She loved the music, loved the rhythm that she felt in her body as she closed her eyes.

But she jumped as she felt hands running down her side and she pulled away quickly, turning around at a guy who was grinning at her, beaconing her back. But Skylar shook her head and moved off. But the guy frowned, following her.

But Skylar knew what to do.

She made her way to the bar. The people there but lack of a real crowd would keep him away, and sure enough he stood on the outside of the dance floor and watched her make her way around to the bar, slipping up on a stool.

"Uh... Can I get a lemonade please?" She asked one of the bartenders who was passing by.

"Comin' right up!" Claude shouted. The three tenders on the clock that night made a show of shouting orders to each other and tossing bottles around as they poured drinks. It kept them occupied, kept things interesting, especially when business was as slow as it was. It also kept the tips coming in strong. Claude loved it.

He grabbed a bottle of Mike Hard Lemonade and placed it on the counter. He kept his hand on it, waiting for the cash, but when he looked up at her, he recognized her. "Hey, Skylar. How's it going?" He leaned forward on the counter, drawing the drink back. "I'm gonna have to see your ID." He winked at her, wiping a bit of sweat off of his brow.

She paused for a moment as she heard the tender ask for ID. She'd been paying attention to the man who'd sank back into the crowd.

"Huh? Oh... Uh... Claude?" She tilted her head recognizing him and smiling. "I was actually just looking for a regular one, but that doesn't do anything to me anyways..." But was he serious about the ID thing? Did he know how old she really was? Skylar didn't think so but still...

"I don't have it though. I came with some friends, and they let me in without it." So the girls weren't really her friends, but they had vouched for her, knowing that she just wanted to have a bit of fun herself. Sure the drinking age was nineteen, but well, that stuff was hardly more alcoholic than a soda really.

"It's okay right?" She asked with a hopeful smile up at him.

Claude snorted and shrugged, moving away to put the lemonade on the back counter. "I don't care." He got a got her a glass and filled it with lemonade from the tap. He handed it to her and leaned forward against the counter again. "On the house."

"So how have you been? Keeping out of trouble?" He smiled at her, running a hand through his hair. "Sneaking into bars and all that?" he added quietly.

A yell from across the bar caught his attention. "Hold that thought." He looked up and caught a bottle that came at him through the air, and then he tossed it back underhand, yelling something back. He raised his hand in the hair and caught the eye of the shift manager. He made a quick gesture and he nodded back at him. Claude mixed a drink, set it on the counter, and then stepped out from behind it to join Skylar on the stools. "I've been in need of a break for a little while. So, anyway, how are you?"

She smiled gratefully as he got her the regular lemonade. She just didn't like the taste of alcohol really. She could have things like Daquries... as log as she didn't taste the alcohol.

"Thanks." She said, grinning as she took the glass, sipping at it.

"And I didn't sneak. He let me in fair and square you can ask." She said with a wider grin. "But I've been doing okay. I'm getting a bit nervous cause I haven't gotten a letter from DU yet... But I mean... That could be a good thing right?" She said hesitantly not sure if it was or not.

But she was distracted as she saw a familiar shirt, frowning slightly.

Damnit... This happened just about every time too... Well usually they just left her alone after the original rejection.

"Hey... Uh, when I leave could you maybe walk me out?" She asked with a sheepish smile. "I get a little nervous when I leave later at night." And well, she'd have to go within an hour. Her grandparents would worry, and Jason would be coming by tonight. But he didn't know she was here now, and she tried to get a hold of him but couldn't.

Claude laughed. "Alright, alright. You broke the law fair and square." He winked at her playfully and took a sip of his drink.

He frowned as she brought up the college. "To be honest, I haven't received mine yet either. It's not the end of the world if you don't get in right away, you know.. I mean..."
He watched her, noticing her distraction, and tried to follow her gaze, but there were too many people in the crowd for him to settle on just one.

"Yeah, sure, not problem. I get off in..." he checked his watch. "Uh... In a little while." It was a bit of a lie. He was scheduled to work until close which wasn't for another three hours. Business was so slow that night, so he could probably get away with leaving a little bit early.

"Is everything alright?"

"Oh, good! I was afraid I was like the only one or something! Like they conveniently lost my application because it was so horrible or something." She chuckled.

"But no, everything's fine. Just the usual guy who doesn't seem to understand that no means no." She gave a little shrug. She would feel a lot safer if Jason were here, but well, he wasn't. "But he's backed off so I think it'll be okay... I just get a little jumpy sometimes." Skylar said with a dismissive wave on her hand, taking a gulp of her lemonade.

"But anyway, why does it matter if I'm in here just to dance." She asked with a smile, leaning her elbow on the bar as she looked at him, brushing a blond strand from her eyes. "I like to dance, and I don't drink. The only time I've ever drank was when I went to a stupid party at my last high school and someone spiked the punch and I didn't know." She rolled her eyes slightly.

"I don't like alcohol... It doesn't lead to anything good." Skylar said with a sigh.

Claude looked around. It was hard to pinpoint a certain guy in the crowd that was giving her problems. What did she expect really? She was a pretty girl.

"Well, see that guy over there?" He pointed to a man standing on the edge of the dance floor. He was sitting on a chair, leaning against a table, looking onward into the crowd. "That's my friend, Bobby. You wouldn't tell by looking at him, but he's a bouncer. If anybody gives you any problems you tell Bobby that Claude said to get rid of him, alright?

"Either that or tell him that the stud up at the bar is your boyfriend and there will be hell to pay if he puts his hand on you." He winked at her and took another swig of his drink.

Too many bad things happened when the bars closed. You heard about young women being abducted and assaulted all the time. Claude wasn't about to let it happen to a friend of his.

He smirked. "Well, if you've only drank once, how do you know what Mike's is like? That stuff's got a much higher alcohol content than you might think. Alcohol's not all that bad... It's only bad when it's not drunk responsibly."

He brushed his thumb against her chin in a playful manor, kind of like punching a pal in the shoulder, and grinned at her. He had become noticeably more social and friendly since he had begun working at the club. He liked that about himself.

"Can I get you another drink, or are you going to head back out to the dance floor?"

"Bobby huh? Okay, I'll keep that in mind." She said with a nod. "But come on... No one's going to believe I have a boyfriend. Well if they really know me. And if they don't, well they probably won't really care." And well... She didn't know if Jason was a 'boyfriend' but... But she cared a lot for him, and didn't want him to be hurt if he heard her say that to protect herself.

Sure it was a long shot, but oh well.

"Well it's like those wine cooler things ain't it? Just a malt thing, a weak beer? Besides, I've seen some people drink a whole pack of them like they're just regular lemonade." She said with a shrug. After all... She had to seem social at school right? Otherwise people would think she was strange.

Skylar flinched slightly as his hand came near her face, but she relaxed as he only brushed her cheek slightly.

"Oh... I'm okay for now. I was just taking a bit of a break. I love to dance, that's why I come here. But... I'll probably be heading home soon. My grandparents get nervous if I'm not home by ten. And the utterly panic if I'm not home by ten thirty." She rolled her eyes with a soft sigh.

"Why wouldn't you have a boyfriend? Besides, it's not a point of whether or not they believe you. Nobody would mess with you if I was your boyfriend. I could get them in a lot of trouble. You don't screw with the people who serve your liquor. Nor those who hang out with the bouncers. I've got you covered."

Well it's like those wine cooler things ain't it? Just a malt thing, a weak beer?

Claude shrugged. "I wouldn't call it a weak beer... It's got a bit more alcohol than your standard light beer does. Only a little, but more nevertheless. They taste a lot better than beer anyway. They taste so good that by the time you've had many, you may not realize it. "

He finished his drink and put it back on the counter. "It's probably a good thing that you keep away from alcohol though. It's a fine way to mess up a good time."

His brows furrowed when she flinched away from him, even if it was only a slight flinch. "You sure you're okay?"

I love to dance, that's why I come here.

"I know. You've told me like five times." He grinned at her. "If I wasn't working, I'd take you out there myself, but I should probably get back to work. You let me know when you're ready to leave alright." He got up from his chair. "Remember. Just let me or Bobby know if you need help, alright?"

"Why wouldn't I? because I'm insecure with myself and have trust issues." She said with a laugh as if she were simply joking. Even with Jason, who'd promised to be with her as long as she wanted him to be, she wasn't exactly sure of what to do, if she could trust him or reassure herself she wasn't just dead weight to him. "But yeah I guess you're right about having connections."

She nodded as he asked if she was okay. "Yeah I'm fine." She said giving him a curious look. Had he noticed her flinch? Well it was only to be expected. She flinched when anyone reached towards her face. She'd only just stopped doing it with Jason.

"I haven't told you five times!" She claimed with an indignant look. "I've told you twice maybe three times Claude! So stop exadurating!" Skylar rolled her eyes once more.

"Alright, don't let me get you in trouble or anything." She said with a smile and a little wave as he left. "And I'll be sure to let you know if anything happens." She agreed as she watched him walk off.

She made her way over to a table off aways from the bar just to kick back some. As she finished her lemonade, a waitress came by with another. "From the man at the bar." She said with a wink and a smile, and Skylar could only smile in return. "Tell him I said thanks."

But it wasn't 'the man at the bar' she'd been thinking of, because the one who'd been watching her earlier, hadn't exactly given up yet. With a black and gray striped polo shirt and blue jeans he really didn't look too different from the other guys that were out and about. But there was a trouble in his eyes as they flicked occasionally towards the table where Skylar now sat. Just waiting now. It would only be a matter of time.

"Yo! Bud Lite man!" He called out, waving down a bartender.

"Who isn't insecure? Nobody's perfect, and ninety-nine percent of the world's population realizes that. Trust me, Skylar, you haven't got anything to be insecure about. "

He stepped around the counter and waved her off as she went back out again. He spoke to his shift manager about needing an hour break in a little while, and offered to help with the cleaning in order to make up for it. He was well liked by the other workers there, so it naturally wasn't a problem.

He went back to serving drinks, standing off to a side for a bit, watching the masses of people, hoping to spot Skylar again. Maybe since she didn't have a boyfriend he might ask her out sometime. He smiled to himself.

"Bud Light!" someone called out, and Claude repeated it like an echo, grabbing a glass and pouring a glass, finishing it with a nice head, and placing it on the counter before the man who ordered it. "3.75." He kept his hand on it and held out the other to take the cash.

"Keep the change." The guy said as he put a ten into Claude's hand.

"Yo, bro. Who was that chick you were talken ta?" He asked with a grin as he took a swig from the glass and set it back down. "She's gotta be the hottest girl I've ever seen here, right man?" He'd been watching of course, and they hadn't kissed or anything like that, so he doubted they had a really close connection. After all, he wasn't as stupid as he looked.

"Think you could introduce me buddy? She's not with anyone is she?" He figured he might as well ask for appearance sake. And so far he was keeping up a pretty good one, or at least in his mind he was.

Besides... He needed to stall her for another fifteen or so fur the drugs to take effect. He'd ordered the lemonade and after slipping the pill in there, making sure it dissolved, he told a waitress to take it to her. And well, she was drinking it, so it seemed as if she wasn't suspecting a thing. Which of course was great for him. Once the drug had her relaxed, she probably wouldn't fight at all when he approached her, asked her for a dance... Offered her a ride home.

It was simple enough, and he'd done it before.

Back at the table Skylar was feeling rather content. The music was good, and the lemonade just right really. Her foot tapping along to the beat, she had the urge to go out on the floor again, but then again... She was just fine where she was for now. Maybe in a little bit.

Claude had been about to move on when the man spoke to him again, asking about Skylar. He stared at the man for a moment, realizing that this must have been the guy who had been bothering her. His heart sank into his stomach. This guy was much older than what Claude had expected, older than him even, not that that was saying much. This was a college dance night. This guy looked too old to be in college... Maybe a graduate student. Claude knew this type, saw it often. Some older man taking advantage of a young girl. They didn't play around. He wouldn't be warded off easily.

"She's my little sister." That was a step up from being a boyfriend, at least when it came to being protective. He stood up straight and never once looked away from the man, hoping to gain the upper hand here, hoping to intimidate him a little bit. "No, I will not introduce you. If you put your hands on her, you'll be in a whole world of hurt... You got it?"

"Sister huh? She don't look nothin' like ya, but well families are a bit different these days. Aren't they." He said with a bit of a shrug.

"Ah, come now man. I just wanted to have a friendly chit chat. See if she was as smart as she was beautiful. Rare package ya know. Brains and looks." He said with a bit of a grin. Intimidated? Nah... Hell... He'd eat the glass if that really was his sister. But he didn't doubt the kid was protective of her. "Come on. Just lemme talk to her maybe? I won't even put my hands on her, I swear." He said holding up his hands in a defensive like gesture. "I just wanna talk to her is all. You can stand right there if you want man."

Oh, he'd talk to her... He'd get more than a conversation.

Another.... Ten minutes maybe? She was kind of small, so it could work quicker....

"C'mon man, please. Just five minutes, that's all I'm beggen ya." He said putting his hands together, a hopeful grin on his face.

Yeah... She wanted to dance again. The music was too good to resist, too good to pass up. Leaving the last little bit of her lemonade at the table she made her way back to the dance floor.

Of course this was seen by the man who was keeping one eye on her. But he pretended not to notice. He didn't get up yet.

Claude stared at the man, refusing to believe that the man's intent was as pure as he insisted... After all, he was a man too, but this was ridiculous. He backed away from the counter. "No."

He turned away and walked to his shift manage. "I'll be back in a little bit, Jake." And with the he left the counter and heading out into the crowd.

The mystery man had left his sight by now, as had Skylar, but he didn't have to push too far into the crowd before he found her. It was never very hard to pick out a single girl amongst other's dancing.

"Hey!" he shouted to her over the pounding of the music. He approached her, standing close and leaning down to try to speak into her ear. "Let's get out of here, alright?"

He took her hand and gave it a gentle tug to try to lead her away. "C'mon!"

In the midst of the crowd nothing else really mattered to Skylar at the moment and she was enjoying herself more than she ever really had before. In fact she hadn't heard Claude speak because she hadn't been expecting it and it had honestly startled her, not blending in with the music.

As he touched her arm, tugging on it Skylar let her head roll back with a grin and she tugged against him. "Noo. Come on Claude. I wanna dance. I feel so great right now, come on." She said bringing her other hand up to his, trying to coax him to join her. "C'mon Claude. I don't wanna leave. Come dance with me, please?" Twirling into him with a giggle she pressed her back against his chest, moving to the beat against him.

She didn't want to leave... Why did they have to leave, it wasn't time yet. She still had more time to dance, at least another half hour! She didn't want to leave now.

The guy glared as he finally found her. She was with the bartender and a little too chummy for siblings in his opinion. Damn... And it seemed to be working too. She was against the guy like she was supposed to be against him.

"Come on and dance Claude." She grinned as she tilted her head backwards to look up at him. "I want to dance."

Claude's eyes widened. She was not alright. She was... Blasted! He gave a pitiful sort of laugh, not sure if it was more amusing or frightening. "Are you feeling okay?" he asked her, putting an arm around her back so that he would catch her if she were to lose her balance.

His face paled a little bit as she insisted she dance with him. He didn't really have much of any experience dancing, but that wasn't his real concern. He needed to get her out of here... But he didn't want to look like the guy who was taking home a girl that he had gotten trashed.

He smiled sheepishly as she spinned and moved up against him, standing still, trying to convince her that they should leave, though his voice wasn't carrying far out of his mouth.

And then he saw him. The man standing there staring at them. Claude stared back. That son of a bitch! He must have done something to her. Drugged her or something. He looked down at Skylar as she tilted her head back to look at him. He smiled down at her and then, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, he put his arms around her waist, moving his hips along with hers, glancing back up at that dirty bastard across the room.

"Alright, Skylar... Let's dance."

"Oh, I'm feeling fantastic..." She said with the smile still on her face, as if nothing in the world could bother her so long as she was here and now.

As he kissed her cheek she smiled, her face blushing red as she moved her hands up behind her to wrap around his neck. As he began to move, and agreed to dance she curled her fingers in his hair for a moment.

"Mmmm... That's what I'm talking about now. We got music, so let's just dance." Skylar grinned up at him. it was all she needed, feeling someone against her as she moved to the rhythm. Her heart pounded to the beat of the music just about, and when she opened her eyes something didn't seem quite right until she forced her eyes to focus.

But she wanted to dance, wanted to stay just like this forever.

Jason... Where... Where was he?

Opening her eyes again she would have fallen had Claude not had his arms around her. She leaned back against him suddenly and tried to get on her own feet again. But that didn't seem to work out all to well as she nearly collapsed back against him.

Something was wrong... But... But she didn't know what. "Jason?" She murmured slightly, though probably couldn't be heard over the music. What was going on?

Claude sighed softly against her neck as she wrapped her arms around his neck. If he wasn't as on the edge as he was, he might have enjoyed this. But he had lost track of their little stalker for the moment and that made him more uncomfortable than having him in his sights.

But feeling Skylar's fingers against his scalp made his skin crawl and it brought his attention back to her for a moment. This really was nice... Kind of sensual in a strange sort of way. He wished she would turn around to face him.

But just as that thought crossed his mind, her knees seemed to give out and he tightened his grip around her waist, trying to write her again. "Whoa... You okay?" She fell back against him again, and he couldn't get her to stand up on her own. "Shit... BOBBY!" he called, whistling loudly and waving him over.

The bulk that was the bouncer pushed through the crowd to where Claude stood, holding an unknown girl up against him. "What's up?"

"I think she's been drugged. Help me get her out of this mob." Bobby, hooked one of his large arms underneath one of hers and Claude wrapped the other around his neck to try and help her walk. "Hey, you okay? Skylar? Talk to me."

It was so hard to focus... Focus on just one thing. There was so much around her, her eyes darted about this way and that. They were wide and alert, but almost too alert.

She was trying to stand on her own, but her senses were simply being overloaded with sights, sounds... Everything making her heart beat faster with excitement almost. A delight...

Once they were out of the crowd she looked around and it took a moment before his words registered. "Uh... Yeah... I... I think I... I just feel a little funny." Leading her to a seat she sat down and looked around, almost in a mild state of panic. Once blushed and hot, her face was paler, cooler now.

What on earth was going on? "I... I don't feel right...." She wanted Jason... Where... Where was he? "What's happening...?"

Shit... Well this plan was going all to hell. Fucking bartending brat. He'd ruined it all.

Once the bouncer got involved, he had decided to call it a night. After all, no need to try and keep going. It would be way too much trouble to get to her now. And he had a feeling that they already knew that something had happened to her.

"Jason... Is Jason here?" She asked.

Claude sat down with her, holding her hand to keep it from shaking. "Bobby, go get her a water, would you? Make sure it's a fresh glass alright?" He watched him as he walked away.

"Skylar... Did you drink anything other than what I gave you tonight? Did you put your drink down at all and turn away from it?" He was almost sure she had been drugged now. They had to deal with these all the time. He was supposed to report it, he was obligated to, but usually when this happened the girl wasn't underage, and wasn't a friend of his.

"I don't know who Jason is. I'm here though, alright? I've got a glass of water here, and then I'm gonna take you home, alright?" He took the cup of water from Bobby and handed it to her. "Drink that down. And when you get home, get some sleep, alright?"

He looked up at Bobby. "Can I borrow your car?"

"Can you drive a stick?"

"Are you kidding me?" Bobby tossed his keys to Claude. "Thanks, man."

"You ready to go? Do you have a jacket? It's chilly outside."

"Anything else?" Skylar frowned for a moment and shook her head. "No... Just... Just the one lemonade with you... Then the other one you sent after you went back..." She said looking at the floor. "And... And I finished it, or nearly before I left."

She took the glass in her hands, holding on to it with both to keep it from falling out of just one.

"Okay..." Skylar nodded as he said to drink it and then he'd take her home. She wasn't feeling tired... But... But he needed rest. Her heart was pounding and she could feel it in her chest.

"Coat?" She echoed. "Uh... At... At the front. With my bag. It's there." She began to sip at the water, still unable to focus her mind or her eyes on one thing alone. The bright strobe from the dance floor was hurting her eyes, but she didn't say anything about it. "Uh... Jason... He's a friend..." But... But he should be coming over...

He would be there for her soon. He would know how to make everything better.

Still sipping at the water Skylar realized that it was almost gone. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was... She even wanted more. She was thirsty from all the dancing. That must have been it.

"Shit," Claude swore under his breath. He wasn't about to tell her now what was going on. She might not retain what he had to say.

"You want some more water? Come on, can you stand up?" He helped her to stand and walk over to the bar. He reached across the counter and filled her cup back up with water. "Drink it slow. Too much too fast will make you sick."

He sat on a stool next to her and waited with her, glancing around as all the people. If he saw that man again, he was going to beat the shit out of him.

As she finished her water, he stood up and offered his hand to her. "Feeling a little bit better? Come on. Can you stand up?"

She nodded as he told her to drink slowly, but as the water touched her lips she couldn't help but nearly gulp it down. Her mouth felt dry, bone dry as if every last bit of moisture had been sucked out. But she was able to sip at it, greedily though as if she hadn't drank anything in days.

Finishing the glass, she nodded. "Yeah... I think I'm okay..." But standing, she clutched at the bar for support. "I just... Just feel a little lightheaded... Really dizzy and... Yeah." She muttered, putting a hand to her head.

What was wrong? "I think I might be getting sick or something... I mean... I've been working kinda hard. And school and everything." She murmured. "I just need some sleep maybe. I should probably go home huh." She gave a little grin.

Claude sighed, gripping her arm so as to help her stay upright. He put his arm around her shoulders and told her to hold onto him as he started them toward the door.

"I'm sure you'll be fine in the morning. Just get plenty of sleep and you'll be alright."

He stopped with her so that she could get her coat and whatever else she brought with her, and then led her outside. He peered around for Bobby's car, leading her to it once he spotted it.

"Do your grandparents know where you are?" he asked her quietly, opening the door for her. He could be rather odd if he brought her home and she was hobbling around. Unless he could explain himself, it might be an awkward situation.

He got her in the car and closed the door for her and then crossed around to the other side and got in. "Don't fall asleep, okay? I don't know where you live." He patted her knee with a smile, skillfully hiding the worry in his face.

Had Claude not been supporting her, she probably wouldn't have been able to walk out of the bar, let alone walk home. "Live? Yeah uh, I live on 546 Granby Road. It's only about two miles from here." She could still think clearly, she just didn't want to. It was hard to focus, and even harder to try and think.

"Uh... no... They... They don't. They don't like me going to clubs..." She said wincing slightly. She knew it would disappoint them, but she loved it so much... How could she just stop going when it wasn't hurting anyone?

"But I just love to dance... I wanted to keep dancing really... But if I'm getting sick, then maybe it's not too good of an idea?" She giggled slightly. "Maybe we can dance later though huh?" Yeah, dancing was good. Dancing would be a lot of fun later. "How bout it... we can go dancing later maybe? You and me?" She said leaning over, ginning as she brushed her fingers along the side of his face.

Claude fastened his seatbelt and stuck the key in the ignition. It had been a long while since he had driven a stick. But it was like riding a bike, right? Clutch, start, reverse. He turned to look behind them as he began to pull out, but he let off the clutch to early and the car died. He smirked. This was such a fun night!

He glanced over at her as she suggested they go dancing and reached up to touch his face. He took her hand and lowered it, turning in his seat to face her. "Skylar... I need you to listen to me very, very closely, alright?" He paused for a moment to make sure she was listening, and then he continued. "You said that I sent you a drink... I didn't. A man came up to the bar and began asking me about you. An older man... I think he sent you that drink. I think he put something in it. You're not sick. You've been drugged."

He swallowed the lump in his throat and ran his hands through his hair. "What do you want me to do, Skylar? This is a lot to explain to your grandparents. Do you want me to take you home? Or to a friend's? My apartment is about about five minutes away. I'm just moving in but-- I've got a fold out couch you can sleep on. What do you want me to do?"

"Drugged?" Skylar giggled. "Oh, nonsense." She said waving her hand dismissively. "Now that I'm not really moving about too much I feel just fine. In fact I feel better than fine." She giggled again as he ran his hand through his hair.

"I've got an idea... Why don't we go to your place hmmm..." She grinned, leaning in closer to him.

But... No... That... That wasn't a good idea...

She pulled away, shaking her head as if trying to clear it... "No.. Uh... Home. I... I need to go home." She muttered, pressing her face into her hands. She couldn't think, no matter how hard she tried really. "I... I need to get home." She muttered, leaning back into the seat as her head swam.

Had she been drugged...? She didn't remember taking anything, and she couldn't taste anything in the drink... "Why...? Why would someone..." She muttered, unable to complete the sentence.

Claude swallowed and backed away as she inched closer to him. He was rather relieved when she changed her mind and asked to go home. Why was he so nervous? He sighed and turned forward in his seat, starting the car again.

"You're not fine, Skylar." He succeeded in backing the car out, and shifted back into first as he began slowly down the street. "I'll take you home... I'll have to talk to your grandparents." It may make her hate him, but it will keep her safe.

"Why? Because you're young, beautiful and vulnerable." He shifted into second and then third before added, "And some guys are just dicks."

"Don't ever accept drinks from somebody you don't know, unless they're a bartender. Don't ever put your drink down and leave it unattended. This is how girls wind up missing." He glanced at her. He didn't mean to scare her... but he did. This night could have ended very badly.

"Granby road? Which house is it?"

“I… I know… I just… Just need to sleep. I dunno…” She murmured. Her mind was racing as fast as her pulse. “I… I can’t think straight or somethin’…”

But she shook her head as he said he would talk to her grandparents. “No.. . Dun’t do that.” She mumbled, still shaking her head. “ They’ll get mad, really… They… They’ll think I did it on purpose… They... They don’t want me like my mother.” Her words were all a mumble. She was trying to talk coherently, but it wasn’t going too well. “Please… D-don’t t-ttt…Tell them…” she said with a soft gasp for breath.

But she shook her head as he began to chide at her… Of course it was just her, but it sounded like he was yelling at her… His voice pounding in her mind. “No… She… I didn’t leave it… The waitress… She said it was from you… Said you’d sent it.” She said as she shook her head, her fists pressed to her temples. He didn’t do this to her did he? He wasn’t trying to hurt her… Could he?

“Le-… Let me out… Stop and… And let me out.” Why was he doing this to her? Why was he trying to hurt her like this? He seemed so nice, why would he… “Let me out Claude… Now… She said you sent it, you sent the drink… Why did you…?”

Claude pulled over and parked in the street. "Calm down, Skylar. Breathe. Relax, alright?"

Please… D-don’t t-ttt…Tell them…

He shook his head, "They need to know, Skylar. If there's something in your system that could harm you they need to know."

Why did you…?

Once more, Claude's heart plummeted into his stomach, when the blame suddenly turned on him. "No, Skylar, listen to me. I didn't do this. I swear to you. We can go back right now and ask whatever waitress gave you the drink. I would never do this to you. I'm your friend." He blinked. Jeez, didn't he sound like quite the predator?

"Skylar, listen to me. I'm not going to touch you." he put his hands up in a defensive way and leaned back against the car door as if to emphasize his point, his trustworthiness. "I'm not going to come near you, but you half to calm down alright? I didn't do this, alright. Come on... You know me. We went to high school together remember? I worked at Joe's Pizza... Remember?"

No... It wasn't him... He... He wouldn't have done something like this to her... He... Yeah. He was her friend. They'd gone to school together. He was a friend.

"Yeah... Yeah... Joe's..." She mumbled. "I... Yeah."

Her breathing began to slow, but her heart was still racing.

Then in a near panic she reached for the door handle, but not to run away or anything, she leaned over as best she could with the seatbelt still holding her back, throwing up on the curb. SHe threw up several times, until she was only dry heaving. When her nerves came under control again she lay back against the seat with a moan, wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket.

But she felt a little better actually. The sour taste in her mouth seemed to ground her in reality.

"God I'm sorry... She... She said the man at the bar... I... I didn't see him over there when I was talking to you... I... I thought you sent it... I... Why? Why did he do this?" She nearly whimpered.

Claude sighed as he saw her grow calmer, but when she jumped for the door, he thought he had blown it... But rather she was blowing chunks onto the ground.

He unbuckled his seat belt and hers as well to give her a little slack, and brushed her hair back from her face, holding it away as she retched a few times. He backed up as she came back in, patting her back a sitting bit and returning to his seat. "Better? God, I'm so glad you didn't puke in Bobby's car. He'd kill me." He laughed.

He watched her as she wiped her mouth, setting his stomach against the musty smell of vomit. "He came up to the bar and asked me who you were. Said you were the hottest girl there. I'm sure you can come up with a reason why he would do this..." He reached out and brushed away a piece of hair that was sticking to her cheek. "I came looking for you right after that. You sure do like to dance." He winked at her. She probably had told him about five or six times by now. "Feeling better?"

"A little..." She said quietly as he asked if she was feeling any better. She was still dizzy. lightheaded and couldn't think completely clearly.

"I didn't get any in the car did I?" She asked with a soft sigh.

But it didn't look like she did and so she leaned back against the seat again, closing her eyes. "But uh... Please... Don't tell them... I'll... I'll be okay. Just don't tell them. They'll never trust me again... They kicked mum out because of It... I can't... I can't go the same way."

She looked over at him pleadingly.

"I... I'll be okay. Really... They... I can just tell them I'm sick..." She murmured

Claude smiled at her. "Ate some bad pizza, eh?" He winked at her. "But if you start to feel worse or... Feel something else unusual, give me a call, okay? You've got my number, right? Or," he snapped his fingers. "Call the bar. I'll be there until close." He shrugged. "I'll have my cell phone on either way, but... Get ahold of me if you need me, alright."

He started the car again. "Alright... Which house?"

"Okay... I... I'll do that. I have your number..." She nodded.

She frowned though as he asked which house. "Uh... Five... Uh... Five-forty six.... Yeah..." She nodded. "It's white... With... White with burgundy shutters and door..." It was so hard to remember... So hard.

Jason... He... Yeah...

"But uh... Jason... I... I can call him too... He... He'll be able to help me too. Yeah... He'll be there..." She murmured, leaning her head against the window and closing her eyes. she was so tired now... So... So sleepy.

But... But she had to stay awake didn't she?

"So... So you won't tell them? My grandparents that is... You won't tell them that I was at the club?" She had to make sure, and she had to stay awake.

Claude drove on, looking for a house that fit that description, listening to her ramble as he drove.

"Who's this Jason guy?"

He patted her leg. "Wake up, hun. Don't fall asleep. You're almost home. No... I won't tell them. But I wouldn't talk to much once you got in there. You're babble quite a bit. Wake up... Open your eyes. Look at that street sign right there. What does it say?" Something to keep her busy until he found her house.

A few minutes later he parked out in front of the house and turned the car off. He crossed around to her side and opened the door for her, offering her his hand to help her up. "Do you think they'll still be up?"

"Uh... He's a friend.... He's saved my life before." She said with a smile. "I was walken... And this guy right... He wanted to well... do all sorts of bad things to me and probably woulda killed me. But Jason saved me. He's a sweetie. He really likes me and well I really like him too. Maybe even like-like him." She giggled. "But I dunno. I mean it's still kinda eaarly for that huh?" She couldn't help the giggling now... It was almost like she was on a rollercoaster. Up and down up and down with emotional highs and lows...

Now she was on a high again and enjoying it.

"But yeah, he's a bit older ya know... But I still like him, and he'd know what to do to help me." Even now though she wasn't likely to talk about him coming over on some nights, sneaking into her window and holding her as she fell asleep.

No, that was still her secret.

"Up... Yeah.. They might be. I dunno though..." Her head leaned back against the window, closing her eyes once more. Yeah they were already there... But she felt good right now and well. Lazily she opened an eye and saw a light on in the living room. "Yeeeah... They're up. But yeah.. Uh. Thanks for everything... I... I should probably go... Shouldn't I?"

"Oh," Claude said, a sheepish grin crossing his face. "Kind of like me, then, eh? Warding off evil men that are you to get you?" He felt kind of disheartened. There goes asking her out then. Oh well. There were was the rest of the female population.

"Yeah, well, just in case your night in shining armor doesn't know what to do, give me a call, alright?"

He reached down into the car to slip an arm around her shoulders. "Come on, I'll walk you to the door. Don't want you to pass out before you make it inside."