School felt pointless. I wasn't focused enough to get decent grades. I feel like I'm on autopilot throughout my classes, and Marie is still ignoring me. Once Tate realized I had been taking the bus, he started to drive me to school. 

He's been the only good thing that's come out of the last week. 

Tate and I are so different. He's violent and blunt. He wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet in someone's skull. That's a horrifying thought.

But there's a part of me that is a little thrilled when he says that he'd kill for me.

The world is a dangerous place. His lifestyle revolves around the kill or be killed philosophy. Our new friendship is strange, but just what I need right now. 

"How come we never hang out at your guys' house?" I asked Tate during homeroom. 

"That would be a bad idea." He answered right away. "We don't own our house, our family does. If you're seen going entering or leaving, people would ask questions. If they find out about your father, you're dead." 

"Oh." Fair enough. "That sucks. I wanted to see what all of your rooms looked like. They wouldn't think that one of you were just bringing me back to your house to get laid or something?"

Tate rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to risk your life so you can see how I decorate my room."

"Well, when you put it like that..." 

"How are things going with your mom?" He asked.

I sighed. I was able to get the money back and I had decided to press charges as we had a legal contract that forbade her from taking my money without written consent. It was one of the hardest decisions that I've ever had to make, but I couldn't let this go. I kicked her out of the house as well and finally paid the landlord. "I haven't talked to her since she got out on bail."

"I know this is hard for you, Luna. Trust me, I know how it feels to have your parents let you down, but you do not have to be a product of your environment. You don't need her." That was the nicest thing Tate has ever said to me. 

"I know. I'm an only child. My family has always been my parents, Marie, Jackson, and me. Both my parents are gone. Marie is ignoring me and things with Jackson will never be the same a they were when we were kids. I'm only 18 and I'm all alone." A single tear slid down my face. "I don't know why I'm venting to you. You don't really care."

Tate grabbed my hand and stood up. "C'mon. We're leaving."

The old Luna would never skip any class nevertheless just stand up and walk out the door when the teacher is doing role call. 

But I am not the old Luna. 

Things are different now, more complicated. 

So, when Tate lead me out the door, I followed without hesitation even when the teacher called us back. 

***

Tate drove us in silence. 

I had no idea where we were going and I didn't care. He probably missed the drunk, fun Luna that would be all smiles and giggles. Now he was stuck with depressed, negative Luna. 

We were on the road for over an hour before he spoke. "You're not alone. You have me and the guys."

"For how long? You are all going home at the end of the year. Even if I wanted to go with you guys after high school, your gang would kill me because of my father!" This time, there were no waterworks, just acceptance of the way things would be. 

Tate didn't say anything for minute. "You need to have some fun."

"And broody Tate can show me how to have fun?" I shot back. 

"Hey! I can have fun!" 

"The sexy kind of fun, maybe, but the joyous kind of fun that you see friends having in movies, I doubt it." I was grateful that he changed the subject. I'm a miserable person, but that doesn't mean that I like to be miserable, just that I am. 

"I'll show you. You are going to have the best day of your life, dammit. Starting with some road trip snacks." He pulled into a gas station parking lot. 

"We've been on the road for over an hour already. How much longer do we have to go?" I whined, jokingly.

"About two more hours, so go buy us some snacks. I have to make a phone call." He pulled out his phone and started walking away.

I bought us some sour patch kids, chips, and slim jims. I thought about going for something more healthy like trail mix or peanuts, but healthy isn't fun. Today's about fun. 

After I paid of the food, I left. Tate was standing right outside the door. 

"I'll be back sometime tomorrow... It's none of your business...bye." He hung up his phone with a frown on his face. When he noticed me standing there, he smirked. "Ready to go?" 

"Yup." I handed him the bag of food. 

***

Two hours and various car games later, we arrived. 

"Lake Erie, huh?" 

"Want to go to the beach or the amusement park?" He asked.

"Paying $50 for a ticket to get in is not my idea of fun, so let's go to the beach." I answered. Roller coasters aren't my thing anyway. 

"I would've paid for you, but okay. I'm assuming you don't have a swimsuit, so let's stop at Target." It was unseasonably warm today.

Target is a magical place. You go there for one thing and leave with at least three things you don't need. The swimwear was in the front of the store. Tate grabbed the tiniest purple bikini that I've ever seen. "Perfect." 

I laughed. "First off, this definitely isn't my size. Secondly, the bottoms are way too revealing."

His eyes scanned my body. "You look amazing. Don't be afraid to show it off." 

"I'm not afraid." I protested. "Fine, you can pick out mine as long a it's the right size, but I get to choose yours."

"Okay." He agreed right away. 

He's so going to regret this. I walked over to the men's section and picked out the tightest bright yellow speedo I could find. 

We met back up at the cash register. Tate's smug face turned to shock when he saw that I was holding. "What the fuck?"

I smiled and plopped the swimsuit on the conveyor belt. 

"I chose something hot while you went with a damn speedo?" He complained. 

"If I have to show some skin, you're going to too." I looked at the one he chose. It was the same purple bikini, but it was actually in my size. "I'll pay for yours, if you pay for mine."

"You paid for the snacks. I'll pay for these." Tate argued. 

The cashier was a blonde haired, big boobed, barbie-like woman. Tate hardly even glanced at her She was completely professional and just did her job. "$55.78 is your total." 

"How?" Tate looked at the screen and noticed that the bikini was almost $40 for the top and bottom. "Damn, you're an expensive date." He joked and pulled out his wallet. 

I only glanced at it, but Tate had a lot of cash in his wallet. He pulled out a $100 bill and paid the lady. 

When we were back in the car, I couldn't help but ask. "Why do you have so much cash on you?" Normal people use credit or debit cards more often than cash. 

"I'm not supposed to use my bank account while undercover. It's risky. I have more money back at my house, but if that goes missing or if I get into some kind of trouble, I feel better if I have enough money with me." He explained. 

I guess that makes sense. 

When we arrived at the beach, it was almost noon.

I got changed into the still kind of small swimsuit. Looking at myself in the mirror, I realized that it actually looked pretty good on me. 

I left the bathroom and met up with Tate. 

He looked both hilarious and hot at the same time. 

To see someone as manly and tough as Tate in a bright yellow bikini bottom-looking thing was just perfect. He normally only wears black.

How he managed to pull it off, I don't know. Maybe it was just in the way he carries himself. I know he doesn't like it, but he's still confident in his own skin. 

Or maybe it's just his abs. 

"Damn, Luna." He smirked. "You look sexy."

"And that's different from any other day how?" I joked. 

"It's not." He replied seriously. 

We got sandwiches from a beach bar and sat down on the sand. 

"I know your home life sucks right now. Mine did too. I've never met my mom. My father was second in command when he got arrested. He snitched to save his own ass. I know this day is about fun and we're not supposed to talk about any heavy stuff, but just know that I get it."He casually bit into his sandwich. 

"Thanks Tate. For everything today." 

"Don't go getting soft on me now Ludwig." He teased. "This day isn't over yet. We haven't even gone in the water yet." 

I smiled. How is it that someone I hated so much less than a month ago means something to me now? How did thing change so drastically? 

"C'mon, let's get you a little wet." Tate winked and stood up.

I grabbed his hand and for the second time today, followed him wherever he wanted to go.

Which was just into the lake. 

I'm not going to sleep with Tate Marks again. It's going to be hard enough when he leaves next month after we graduate. 

Then, I truly will be all alone.