-10-

The ride home was a quiet one. Brooks was upset from what she overheard Bobby say and Bobby was thinking about what all had happened the past few days. The silence finally got to bobby. “What’s wrong?”

“Bobby, how could you be so cruel in there talking to Terry?”

“What are you talking about?”

“When you told him you had nothing left to fight for. He asked you about me and you told him I wasn’t worth it.”

“I never said that…”

“Not directly, but you said it by not saying I was worth fighting for. You said I was a big girl and could take care of myself, as if I’m not worth you time.”

“I never meant it to come out like that Brooks, and you know that.”

“Do I? With all of the trouble I’ve been having with moving here, have you ever once come to my defense? Even earlier this week, I try to help you out and you walk out on me. How’s that for appreciation?”

“Oh, excuse me little miss independent for trying to imitate you. You have always wanted things your way and you went for it. You have always got what you have without any help from anyone else. Why should I start helping you now? You think I owe you for talking to Terry for me? You know you didn’t have too, or is it your need to feel needed?”

“Bobby, you know it has nothing to do with me holding it over your head…”

“So, you don’t deny needing to feel needed. You have always tried to fit in and when you didn’t, you just had to go one better hoping you would fit in somewhere. You calling Mr. Smalls probably had more to do with you getting to live through me.”

“That is not true Bobby, and you know that. I have only tried to look after you. I saw how happy you were when you were doing this before and thought it would make you have a little more self confidence in yourself.”

“Really? Why did you show up?”

“I showed up to cheer you on Bobby. Is there anything wrong with that?”

She had Bobby on that one. He hadn’t thought of that. He really started to feel bad now. Maybe she was serious about only having his best interests at heart. Maybe he had been so blinded by his losses that he had failed to see his gains. He rest of the ride back to Brooks home was ridden in silence.