Nice to see you guys. Must have missed visiting days a couple times huh?" Shawn finally said as Jay drove with Deanna in the passengers seat.
There had been nothing but silence between them as they signed papers for his release.
"We were busy. A little isolation might have done you some good."grumbled Jay.
"Doubtful," added Deanna.
"So...since I can't sell weed anymore, can I have my disability check."
"Sure...then you can pay the bills." Grinned Jay.
Of course. He knew better.
"Probation isn't free. It has to be paid."
"Better find a job."
"With what vehicle?"
"Should've thought of that before."
Shawn sighed hard. He knew it. Why did he expect any compassion from either of them?
"Can I atleast have my phone back...so a work can call me?"
"Maybe after your piled up chores are done at the house." Said Deanna, glancing to Jay who looked to be getting a huge kick out of this.
Shawn had to take a deep breath to keep from choking them both.
He was still a prisoner.

"Hmm... Dishes...laundry...windows...dinner...floors...why again is the government paying you disability? You seem fine and able to me." sneered Deanna.
Shawn had collapsed on the couch, feeling faint and a sharp pain kept pulsing up his leg but didn't dare show his discomfort outwardly.
"Can I have my phone now...please."
"...Sure... I'm feeling nice today." Said Deanna dropping it in his lap, "Now move you're in my spot-DAD-DINNER!"
Shawn pulled himself to his feet and went straight to his bedroom, plugging up his phone then rolled into his bed.
He was screwed. Who would hire someone like him right out of juvie?
Time to prepare for jail...
Once he powered his phone on he grinned at the 15 missed calls from Kelsey.
He hated he missed her graduation but maybe it would be best that memory would be void of his presence.
I'm home under Nazi rule. Nice to send a text and not wait days for a reply through mail though.

He wanted to laugh at how quick he got a response.

Omg! Omg! I got to see you. My mom is gone on a cruise right now. I have to see you! You promised a night out!

As much as I'd love to. I have no vehicle.

You didn't think I was already aware of that? Would you get in trouble if I picked you up?

I'm already in trouble and not getting out of it for awhile. So what does it matter?

So....yes?

Yes but wait until they go to bed. They're eating dinner now. And I really need a nap anyways. Call me in about two hours.

I will! Can't wait!!

As much as he longed to see her he also dreaded it. One of her last letters told of her acceptance to a college out of state.
He was stuck here to walk to a job just to hand all the money over to probation for a year.

Shawn's eyelids slit open slowly as his phone buzzed at his head, "Hello?"
"Hey...it's good to hear your voice."
"Is it? Don't be lying church girl."
"I'm not lying in the slightest! I missed you...so much."
"What time is it?"
"Quarter until eleven. I called you a couple times but I guess you were napping still."
"Damn...sorry."
"It's okay. So...can I come get you now?"
"Yeah...I'll get dressed and meet you at the bottom of the driveway."
"Awesome! Be there in ten!"

Thoughts raced through his mind as he got dressed in a black T-shirt and old jeans.
Six months was a long time. What if she found her a boyfriend? What if that was for the best? What if this was a trap to get him sent away for good?
What if this violates his probation in some way he wasn't aware of yet?

He sighed hard as her car slowed feet ahead of him; slowly he approached the passengers side door, peering inside as he opened the door softly to see if she had come alone.
Even in the dark he noticed her face brighten as he sat down in the passengers seat.
"Oh my God, I can't believe this- I missed you!" She shoved the gear into park and swung her arms around his neck,  burying her face into his shoulder.
"Missed you too..."
"Are you alright?" asked Kelsey as she lifted her head and rested one hand on his shoulder and the other on his chest.
"I'd say wonderful if you'd like me to lie...let's get out of here before Hitler notices I'm gone."
"Of course!" said Kelsey, moving her hands to the gear shift and steering wheel though she wanted nothing more to keep touching him.
It still felt surreal. All that time without him drug on longer than an eternity.
"... I tried to stand up to them about my money, you know."
"Good!"
"Yeah... you'd think so... I'm screwed. Apparently I have to find a job with no vehicle. I'm not going to make it through a year of probation."
"They never got your truck out of repo?"
"Nope. They're assholes. They want me to go to jail. Then they get free reign with my disability...not that they don't already."
"... You're eighteen now. Call them in for fraud!"
"Seems like a good idea until Jay comes back to murder me."
"You need to get out of here...move with me. I'll make sure you get to probation."
"I'm not allowed to move out of state."
"Not exactly true. You can put in a request to have probation transferred."
"Where are you driving us?"
"To my house-is that okay? My parents are on that cruise I told you."
"So...you're the one kidnapping me this time."
Kelsey laughed, "Shut up. You agreed. It's not kidnapping."
"That's what I thought last time."
"And it was dropped!"
"Only because of you... I literally owe you my life."
"You didn't do anything wrong. How many times do we have to go through this?"
"What happens if your parents find out? If I get arrested it violates my probation. I'll be gone for a year. Real jail."
"I'm eighteen too. There's nothing they can do. Do you not want to see me?"
"That's not it I'm just...stressed..."
"I'm sorry... I really think you should try to transfer. I'm going to Maine University. Away from all these crazy people."
"I'm not going to be your burden. You got enough on your mind, going to college."
"So...you want to stay here?"
"Hell no."
Kelsey pulled into her three car garage and turned the car off.
"Did they give you your medicine correctly in there? I noticed you started writing less and less. Are you okay?"
"...Kelsey..."
"Did something happen to you in there?"
"... I don't really want to talk about it."
"But you... nevermind...you wanna go chill in my room? You look tired. I'm sorry if I pushed you into seeing me... I just missed you so much."
"No I wanted to see you... I...yeah, I'd like to go inside."
No words were spoken as they left the car, went through a door that led from the garage to one of the biggest kitchens Shawn had seen in his whole life.
He followed her past all the stainless steel appliances and down a hall to the left lined with paintings of what seemed like family portraits through the years; she climbed up a carpet lined set of stairs and stopped at the second door on the top of the landing, turning the door knob and stepped inside.
Shawn tried not to gawk at the spacious room that had to be nearly as big as his whole house.
Pink had to been her favorite color or maybe just the theme of the gigantic space; her long dresser, a chaise lounge, rugs in front and beside her canopy bed.
"Um...does Barbie live here?"
"Shut up! Pink is relaxing."
Shawn smiled, the sensation of such a big smile feeling odd and foreign to him now.
"I'll take your word for it." said Shawn as he sat on the chaise lounge, watching her hang her keys upon a many pegged board beside the mirror on her dresser.
"So...this is my prison. Warden is on vacation... I'll be on work release soon."
"You're not funny."
"You're just good at holding in laughter. You know I'm hilarious," she sat down on the elongated part of the chaise.
"Feels weird not being confined... I don't think I would've survived real jail."
"You're not going to have to find out."
"I've not had a job since I was 15...and it's not just that. I'm going to be on eggshells with those two psychos. They'd make up something to get rid of me...told you before I was just trash."
"Stop it. Stop talking down on yourself. Something happened...you need to tell me..."
"I had a lot of time to think."
"About?"
"Everything..."
Kelsey crawled up in his lap and rested her head on his chest.
"You're too good for me..."
Don't let her trap you like this...her soft hands resting on his, the smell of lavender in her hair...
He tried to scoot over to hide the embarrassment of how easily she aroused him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing...leg going numb is all..."
Her hands moved up to the back of his neck.
He found himself leaning in to her, not wanting to. There was no rational way this could work out.
But with his lips pressed upon hers, rational thoughts was far from his mind.
Thinking was halted as her lips kissed his neck; his hands gripped onto the back of her short shorts, pushing her up against him.
Not until they had both slung layers of clothes all around the lounge and she was atop his lap did he realize what wrong he was doing.
This was not supposed to happen like this.
But as she collapsed onto his chest, breathing hard he thought maybe she needed this and knew what was up with his different attitude.

"Kelsey...you know I can't go with you."
"Why not? The transfer-"
"No. Forget the damn transfer. They won't agree to it. I'm the bad one okay? So I have to pay for it. You are good and achieved your goals. You get to go on and have a good life."
"Then I won't go yet. I'll wait until your probation is over."
"No! You're going. You couldn't wait to hear from a college to get out of here."
"... Love is worth sacrificing for. A year off isn't bad."
"Get up..." Shawn pushed her off and went to collecting his clothes.
"What did I do? I was there writing letters through the whole deal..."
"I'm not being the reason you ruin your life. I'm going home."
"Why? Am I not good enough for you?"
"Yes. Too good. I shouldn't have... I'm sorry... I should've stopped myself...I needed to tell you it's time you...move on. Go to college. Be successful. Be happy. I never even should've wrote you that first letter."
"I don't want to move on without you!"
"You have to."
"I won't leave."
"Yes you fucking will! I'll be damned if I'm the reason you get stuck in this piece of shit town."
"Not forever...just until you can come with me."
Shawn inhaled sharply. She wasn't going to listen. He was going to have to be drastic.
"Look, I appreciate all you've done but... I don't love you."
Tears welled in Kelsey's eyes as she shook her head, "Yes...you do...please..."
Oh my God
"I don't. You wanted me to come over. You... I'm a guy okay? That was meaningless sex. You think you can brainwash me with...fuck...I didn't want this. I don't want you." Shawn almost choked on the last four words.
But he couldn't let her stay and waste her life.
There was no more arguing from Kelsey; she had her face in her hands sobbing.
Shawn opened his mouth a few times to say something but just slipped his shoes on and left out the door.