We were back in the grocery store parking lot, parked next to my car, thankfully, and I couldn't get out of that car fast enough.

Foster got out too and he had his arms crossed over his chest, his teeth sunken into his bottom lip.

I stuttered, "thank you." I hurriedly pulled out my car keys and struggled to press the unlock button.

I felt a hand on my elbow and I jerked forward, slamming against the car. I turned around to face Foster. I held my keys to my chest. "What do you want? You lost," I almost said Rudy, "the other guy. Leave me alone."

His emotionless eyes stared into my brown ones. He said, "stay low for a few days, alright?"

My breath caught in my throat. "Uh—"

"Do you understand, yes or no?" His voice held no room for any other response.

"Yes," I whispered shakily. "Be invisible, got it." A shot of a fear struck me, wondering if I was ever going to see Rudy again.

He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Bye then..."

"Parker," I replied instantly. I don't know why. I pressed my fist to my lips after I said my name.

He smiled slightly. "Parker."

I felt my face become hot.

"Call me Florencio."

Florencio Foster. Interesting.

He walked away from me back to his car. I turned my back to him.

Get in the car, Parker! What are you waiting for!?

"Parker?" He called out softly.

I held onto the door handle, not looking back.

"I want my car door fixed."

Then he drove off.

-

"Sorry, mom! There was a huge car crash on the way to the store! Took forever to get everything."

That was the completely unbelievable lie I had to tell my mother four days ago. That night Florencio dropped me off at my car, I found myself in a Super Walmart, ten at night, bagging chicken.

My mom and I were currently in the kitchen and she was cutting my hair, former hairstylist, and she always criticized me for how flat it was. It really wasn't.

"Your hair is so dark, just dye it black, sweetie. I think you'll look much better. I'll help you." She trimmed the ends.

I clenched my teeth. "No. It's alright. I like my hair how it is."

She sprayed something in my hair and handed me a mirror.

"Wish you'd let me dye your hair."

I sighed and handed her back the mirror.

After a shower, talking to my best friend, Gina, on the phone, and having lunch, my mind still wondered over to Florencio.

He was mysterious and crude. He intrigued me. It was bad.

I never did anything... bad.

I was a picture perfect daughter and student. Well, maybe the whole delaying college thing isn't pleasing my mom, but I turn nineteen in three months. I had plenty of time for college. The topic made me feel anxious so I quickly put the thought out of my mind.

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated. To let out some frustration, I decided to go to the local pool to swim. No, I wasn't a professional swimmer. I didn't have an interest in any sport, but I read a self help book and it said to try physical activity.

I pulled my pool cover over my simple dark blue one piece and slid my sandals on.

"Where are you going?" My mom asked, cutting our neighbor, Edith's, hair in the kitchen.

"Swimming," I replied. "I just needed to do something."

She mumbled something under her breath. Edith laughed and whispered, "my daughter too."

I turned around quickly before they saw my angry expression.

I slammed the door purposely and I practically ran to the car before my mom could say something.

The sun was setting now, it was seven, and the indoor pool closed at nine. I had a good two hours to swim.

I sighed as I felt a headache coming on, I leaned my head on my hand, one hand on the wheel.

I was almost to the indoor pool when someone ran in front of the car.

I gasped loudly and pressed down on the break, making myself fly forward, only to be pulled back by the seatbelt.

My heart was beating so fast I thought it would burst out of my chest. I rested my forehead against the wheel, taking deep breaths. I gripped my hands together tightly, trying to stop them from shaking.

I heard an aggressive knock on my window and I shot up. I rolled the window down.

"I-I'm so sorry, did I almost hit you? Is there someone— Florencio?" I squinted and realized it was him. His handsome face was shadowed over by a hood.

"I tell you to stay low and you go and almost hit me with your car?" He sounded angry and I returned the anger.

"Excuse me!? You can't just run in front of a car and blame it on the driver if they hit you!" I was fuming and I was about to drive away when he leaned his head in the window.

"Ugh! Get out! You're trouble. I don't need that in my life." I was biting my lip as he came closer. I held my breath, distracted by the way he was looking at me.

I didn't notice his hand reaching in and unlocking the car. I was too late to lock them again because he opened the door.

"I'm being followed," Florencio said. "So get in the passenger seat."

"What the hell?" I was too shocked to even fight against him as he unbuckled my seat belt and started to push me.

"Stop it!" I yelled. Where were the other cars? Was no one seeing this?

His phone rang and he stopped trying to move me to answer it.

"What, Sam?" He snapped. "Yes, I know he's following me. Yes, I know he has a gun when the fuck doesn't he?"

I grimaced as I slid myself over into the passenger seat. "Well, get in." My voice was hard. I had no reason to trust Florencio but I didn't need to die. I didn't want to.

He slid in the car, saying goodbye to the person, Sam, on the phone.

He started to drive and I heard a gunshot.

"Oh my god, Florencio, drive faster please." I don't know where that came from but he got us out of this last time.

I heard tires screech from behind us. I gulped. Florencio pulled into the busy freeway and squeezed himself between cars. People honked at us. He made a sharp turn at the exit.

He parked in a Holiday Inn parking lot at the back of the building.

"No," I managed to get between my shuddering breaths.

Florencio's phone rang. He picked it up. After a few seconds, he hung up and shoved his phone back in his pocket.

"Rudy is half a mile away from us," Florencio said softly. "He doesn't know exactly where but he can find out easily, okay?"

"What does he want from you?" I whispered. "I assume you're in a gang or whatever, but can't you just give him what he wants?"

His expression was cold. "No. He wants money that I can't—don't have. Now get out."

I let out a deep breath. "Fine."