"We're going to dine and dash," Draven finally revealed his master plan, smirking.

I looked at the waitress, which was standing a few meters from us while pretending to scroll through her phone. "I'm not so sure about that," I said, suspiciously glancing at her.

"Well, I don't have any money," he said, pretending he to be searching through his pockets. "Do you?"

"No, but-"

"Then we have no choice," he said, pure mischief radiating from him. "Oh, wait. I feel a sin coming."

I rolled my eyes. "You're such a weirdo," I said, laughing.

"I know I'm a little crazy, but that's all a part of my charm," he said and crossed his arms. "If you don't like it then get off my unicorn."

I raised my eyebrows. Unicorn?

That is officially the most bizarre thing I've heard him say. Well, actually no. Earlier he said that the 1975 is a movie when it's obvious to be my favorite band!

I faked a whine and pouted. "But I like your unicorn."

What?

If he can talk dirty, so can I. There were obviously no boundaries between us.

He laughed and leaned over the table, his eyes piercing through mine. "I knew it. Everyone wants me," he bragged.

I scoffed at his statement. "Egoistic much?"

"Nope. You all are just really insecure and sensitive," he replied.

"Oh, Aquaboy... if only I could just read your mind and try to understand the way you think," I said as I put my index finger under my chin, pretending to think.

He laughed, tilting his head back. Oh, my God, he was so sexy.

Okay, Alya. Calm down, he's just a boy. Although, a really sexy boy.

Ugh! I cannot with myself.

"Darling, if you could read my mind, you'd be having an orgasm."

I choked on my hot chocolate as soon as the words came out of his mouth. Definitely didn't expect that one.

"Okay, now's the time," he whispered, discretely pulling my arm. "C'mon!"

I was forced to leave my unfinished hot chocolate and sprint out of the diner, grabbing everyone's attention while doing so.

We kept running as the cold breeze embraced my body and we got further from the warm and secure diner.

"I feel alive!" I yelled and Draven responded with laughter. We were going through a dark and narrow street and there weren't any streetlights which made it look like something out of a horror movie.

It was honestly incredibly creepy.

"Hey, you two there! Stop right now!" I heard a voice yell. Soon afterward, police sirens filled in the silence. Blue and red lights exposed us and I started panicking.

We are going to get arrested. I will go to jail.

Fuck no! I can't let myself be thrown into jail. I'm too young for that!

Draven was losing his breath and suddenly, we were grabbed from behind and smacked against the hood of a police car.

"You two are going to get inside of this car and we will peacefully go to the Police Station. Nod your heads if you've heard what I said and you agree with me," a strong, male voice demanded as their grip around us tightened.

I don't know about Draven, but I nodded the hell out of myself, not wanting to get into trouble with the law.

Two cops put us in the back of their car and aggressively closed the doors. "You know what, Aly?" Draven asked me quietly as cops started driving.

Thank God they were chatting so they wouldn't hear the shit that is about to come from Draven's mouth.

I looked at him with tiredness and annoyance. I can't deal with his shit right now. "What?" I asked him rudely.

"I'm a rebel, but I do it with class," he announced proudly, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile.

I scoffed. "Yeah, because this is so classy," I replied sarcastically.

And with that, we continued the ride in silence. I was honestly shitting my pants right now and I couldn't hide it.

What the hell am I going to do after this? I mean, school starts in two months, but I want to go to a good university.

I want a good future.

My parents always said: "If you don't have a guaranteed future, then you're better off dead,".

And they would say it whenever I got less than 95% on any of my exams.

After which I would get my ass beaten. It's simply the way I was raised. If I didn't do something perfectly, it was like I didn't do it at all.

So what the hell am I supposed to do if this gets on my permanent record? I'll have no future and I would have to kill myself from the pure embarrassment.

When we finally arrived at the local Police Station, cops pulled us out of the car and led the way into a tall, white building.

It looked intimidating - big windows with metal bars on them and tall, spiky fence surrounding it all.

They sat us in some kind of a waiting room and gave us warning glares if we ever try to do anything. "Wait here," the other one ordered before they left us alone and entered another room.

"Aly, you're shaking," Draven softly said, taking my hand into his and intertwining our fingers.

I was looking at the floor, hiding behind my hair and using it as a curtain.

I can't even look at him without embarrassment completely flushing me. He will see I'm terrified and scared, which is not 'his little rebel'.

I won't be good enough for him anymore, just as I wasn't good for my parents. I will never be good for anyone in my entire life and I will end up being alone with seven cats and a talking pigeon.

"Hey, Al, look-"

"You two can come in here," a male voice interrupted him. I snapped my head in his direction and instantly got up, heading into the room. I heard Draven right behind me, but he wasn't my biggest problem right now. I needed to hear what will they do to us.

I sat on one of the chairs and Draven on the other as a tall and chubby man closed the door behind us.

The room was rather small and gloomy, without any windows, so only a fluorescent light was brightening it. There were only three chairs, two for us and one for the man, which was on the opposite side from us. A dirty metal table, which was in the center of the room, separated us from the officer, leaving enough space for me to breathe.

He sat down and looked at us with tiredness and disappointment. I saw a badge on his jacket and instantly realized - he was a Detective.

We are being interrogated by a Detective.

Bloody hell, that is scary.

He coughed, clearing his throat. "I'm Detective Berry," he introduced himself, looking at us. "Kids, what were you thinking?" he finally asked, breaking the tension.

His voice was deep and authoritative, which made me even more scared. I felt tears stinging my eyes, threatening to escape. I can't go to prison, I'm too young.

"Look, mate, we were just enjoying our meal," Draven said with sass.

I mentally facepalmed myself. What the hell is he doing?! We need to be on our best behavior, not talk like two-year-olds.

I literally want to kill him right now.

"The situation in the diner isn't the problem here. You sneaked out of the Foster Center in the middle of the night," he replied, looking at both of us. "That is not very responsible."

At this point, I was on the verge of breaking down and curling in a fetus ball. "We're very, very sorry," I said, my voice trembling. "We'll do anything," I begged him.

I'm about to cry, I can feel it coming.

Suddenly, Draven took my hand and intertwined our fingers. I still couldn't look at him because tears were streaming down my face and I felt worthless.

I am worthless and hopeless.

He gave me a tight, reassuring grip. "Look, mate. I've got a good heart, but this mouth..." he said stretching the words, "how can we get out of this mess?" he sighed, letting his guard down.

Did he just ask for help?

Draven? Draven Callum?

"We've already called your Foster Center and somebody will pick you up soon. This is the first and last warning, alright?" The detective looked at us and I nodded, still tightly holding Draven's hand.

But I still couldn't dare to look at him.

Detective Berry gave us both goodbye words and exited the room, leaving us completely alone.

I felt thick tension in the air and I really didn't feel like talking. I just wanted to go to bed and cry. Ice cream would be ideal, too.

Draven let out a soft chuckle and rested his head on my shoulder.

I couldn't help but think - I love people who can smile in trouble.

"A penny for your thoughts," he said, and I could feel him grinning. "Five pounds if they're dirty."

I laughed and closed my eyes. We're going to be just fine.

"Thank you," I whispered and leaned my head on his, closing my eyes as a wave of tiredness flushed over me.

I finally felt peace and I felt it with him.

✧✧✧