In the morning, on the drive, I skip breakfast. I don't feel like eating. I want the painful hunger because it helps me deal. I'm struggling more today than I was last night when it actually happened. How could my mom just throw me out without an explanation, and how can she sleep at night knowing I'm out here. Sure I had a car, but still. It wasn't fair. And it needn't be like this. I, suddenly, press hard on my brakes. I swivel the car to the side and see a girl quickly racing to the side door. I nod, and she gets in.

"Thanks." she says, like its no big deal.

"Who are you?" I ask, surprised.

"Miley." she admits. "What's yours?"

"Kale." I say, simply. "Which way?"

"Honestly, I'll go anywhere." she says, sadly.

"Do you have a place to go to?" I ask.

"I ran away, Kale." she admits

"Come with me then. I promise I'm a gentleman. I have this car, but I have money for hotels if we need it." I offer. Light shines in her eyes as well as tears. I touch her hand, and she smiles.

"Wow. Thanks- you." she says, looking down.

"Hey, I'd be alone if not." I say, starting the car.

"That doesn't sound creepy." she says, sarcastically.

"Sorry, I'm not trying to be creepy, just saying. If we were to sleep in the car, you'd take the back. So, you could lay down. I'd take the driver's seat to be more alerted. I wouldn't do anything to you." I explain.

"Right, and what about when we take the hotel? Then what, we share a bed?" she snips.

"No, if there's only one bed, I'll take the floor. If two we'll sleep separately in our own beds." I say.

"Or that's just what you'll say now before you've done it." Miley says, sadly. I notice a scar on her neck sneaking down her back, to disappear under her shirt.

"I'm sorry. For whatever happened to you." I say, gently.

"You don't even know me." she quips.

"I know you better than I did." I say, earning a tight smile. I turn the car around into the way I was headed. We needed to stay on track.

"Any particular direction you're heading away from, so I know to steer clear?" I ask. I'm relieved when she points into the direction I came from. "Same as me, aight."

"Oh, really? What's your story?" she asks, actually curious.

"Too long." I quip, hoping we'd move on.

"Too long for a drive headed for nowhere?" she asks, smiling. I smile too.

"Mom kicked me out when I figured out that my dad was still alive." I admit.

"Wow, you're dealing pretty well though." she says, noticing my bluff. A tear, she cannot see, slips past my nose. I nod, and we continue in silence.