*First of all. I'm so sorry to all of those who have been waiting for another chapter! I promise that I'm gonna work my ass off to make it up!*

You stayed in the field for long minutes. You couldn't help but re-run what had happened in your mind. Over and over again it played. You looked up at the sky for a moment. You watched as a couple of cow birds flew overhead. When they passed you took a deep breath and headed for the house.

You walked slow, brushing your hand across the high grass as you passed it. What would happen now? Even worse, what would happen if Luda and Hoyt found out? Would Thomas tell them?...Or had he already? You swallowed a lump in your throat as you stepped up the stairs and grabbed the handle of the screen door.

You pulled open the back door, stepping up into the kitchen. Luda stood at the sink doing dishes. She turned to you and gave you a solem look. Your blood froze. She always smiled when you entered. Never once had she given you this look. Not once.

She looked you up and down before she sighed and nodded towards the table. You glanced at it and looked back to Luda. She had turned to face the sink now, with her back turned to you. You stood there awkwardly as you watched her back.

"Sit."

Her voice was cool and calm, yet nothing you had ever heard before. Not wanting to get in even more trouble, you carefully stepped over and silently pulled out a chair. You sat down slowly, almost making no noise except for the light creak the chair made as your weight settled on it.

Luda sighed soft and then turned. She gave you a soft look before crossing the kitchen and over to the doorway.

"Hoyt! She's back!"

There was silence throughout the house. You thought he may have been out but your heart dropped as you heard his footsteps coming down the hallway.

Hoyt's figure appeared in the door. He looked pissed. He looked to Luda first before he turned to you and scowled. You sat back further into your chair, wishing it would consume you into a black hole. You watched as Luda leaned into his ear and whispered something. Hoyt growled in response but gave a nod.

"Fine."

He hissed those words, making your skin crawl. Luda gave him a stern look before she turned back to look at you. She stared into your eyes. They were calm. Did that mean you should relax? She walked to the table and sat down. Hoyt seemed to follow her actions only moments later.

Now they were both sitting in opposite sides of you. Luda on your left and Hoyt on your right. All you could do was stare ahead of you, staring into the doorway. You stared at the table, trying to avoid Hoyt's stare. You lifted your head a bit to look into the hallway and jumped a bit.

Thomas stood in the doorway almost out of sight. You could still see his tall, dark sillioute hiding within the shadows of the hallway. He moved out a bit and you could see the half of his face. He was staring directly at you. He tilted his head slightly, curious to why you didn't say anything to him. He knew exactly why you were there. He now wanted to see what would happen to you.

You flinched as Hoyt cleared his throat loudly. You turned to him, facing his glare. You clenched your jaw and shriveled back slightly. Thomas turned his head towards Hoyt's voice. He knew this wasn't going to be good.

"I saw that shit you pulled out there. Think we can't see you or something?"

"I...I didn't-"

"You didn't what?!"

"...I didn't pull anything."

"Horseshit! You sayin I'm blind now?!"

"No...I-"

Luda cut in quick. She knew it would eventually become like this...only it had happened faster than she had previously thought.

"Hoyt, let me handle this."

She turned to you calmly and cleared het throat quietly.

"Y/n."

"...yes?"

"Is what Hoyt saw you "pull" true?"

"I didn't pull anything."

"...so. Thomas...made the first move?"

Hoyt shook his head.

"Bullshit he did!"

"Hoyt. Please. Would ya give her a chance?"

Hoyt huffed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms and slumping down like a little kid.

"Anyway. You're saying that Thomas made the first move?"

"Yes...he did."

"Mhm."

Luda paused for a moment before she turned to look out in the hallway.

"Thomas! Get in here please!"

Your eyes locked onto his frame. He stood there a minute before he slowly started moving into the actual doorway. He stopped as the light hit him. He looked over at Luda then straight to you.

"Thomas, come on in here and sit down."

Thomas hesitated. He took a careful step forward and pulled the chair out. He sat down with his head hung somewhat. Almost as if he knew that there was trouble.

"Thomas. Did you kiss her?"

He sat still and looked up at you. He gave a sigh, then looked to Luda and gave her a single nod. Luda paused a moment then nodded in return. She turned to look at you, then to Hoyt.

"I told you so, now didn't I?"

Hoyt sat up and shook his head.

"I can't believe it! There's no way he'd ever do it. I mean, c'mon! I'd expect this sort of this from her but not him!"

"Hoyt."

"What, mama? I'm just stating facts!"

"That's enough, Charlie."

"I mean seriously, what does Tommy here find so interesting about her anyway? She's just another one of those highway hookers!"

"Charlie!"

"But she is! I've seen them together and she ain't nothing but another one of them!"

"I said enough!"

"If I'm being honest, she's nothing more than those other two and look where they're at. Ones dead and the other Thomas used as a-"

Thomas shot up, his chair sliding back with a loud slide. He stared down Hoyt. Hoyt looked back up at him with a somewhat of a defeated look. Thomas had heard enough for his liking. He didn't want you to know about them and he certainly didn't like Hoyt talking about you that way.

You had just sat there, taking it in as you stared down at your lap. You had only raised your head when Hoyt mentioned the other two girls that had wondered into their own demise. Just like you had. However, you were more or less dragged into it.

You hunched your shoulders and rubbed your arm. It wasn't like you choose to come here in the first place so why did he have to treat you like shit? You clenched your jaw and grimaced at the floor. Why? Why hadn't he just left you? Whyg did he have to keep you? Why couldn't he had just left you die? Why?!

You squeezed your arm, digging your nails into it. You could feel the pressure of them as they threatened to break through. You curled your fingers, dragging scratches into your skin as you did so. Your eyes stung as you tried to fight away tears. You knew they were on the verge of giving you away to everyone in the room.

Thomas looked at you for a moment before he gave you a sympathetic look. He vould see the frustration you held as you stared a hoke through the floor. Thomas grunted and slowly held out his hand to you. You looked up. Your gaze softened as you laid your eyes on him. You knew that somehow he had known that now was the time to get you out of here.

You hesitated but reached up and took it, standing up as well. He led you around the table, behind Hoyt and through the doorway, leading into the main hallway. He turned and glared at Hoyt just before turning and following you.