The Girl Who Chased Justice

Chapter Two The Drive Way

Chapter Two the Driveway

After I finished getting ready for school, I grabbed my backpack and walked into the living room. I set my bag down in the same chair by the door, just like I had every morning for years. But today, something tugged at me.

This is the last time I will ever do this, I thought. The last morning routine before everything changes. Before I leave this house. Before I left this town.

The thought made my chest tighten.

I walked into the kitchen. Everyone was already at the table except Mom, who was still at the stove. She turned, carrying a plate, and set it gently in front of me. On that plate were two sunny-side-up eggs, two sausages, two strips of bacon, and a country-fried chicken steak. My favorite. She always made it on my big days.

"Thanks, Mom," I said.

"You're welcome," she replied, serving everyone else before finally sitting beside me.

We folded our hands, and the room fell silent.

"Our Heavenly Father..."

Mom's voice was soft and steady, but I could hear something underneath it. Pride. Maybe even fear. As she prayed, every word settled over me like a warm blanket.

Gratitude.

Guidance.

Protection.

Strength.

Everything I needed this year.

When she finished, we all answered together.

"Amen."

My stepdad cleared his throat.

"Tara. It's your graduation, so you get to say it today."

"Really?" I asked.

He smiled.

"Really."

I grinned.

“You can now eat your food.”

Everyone laughed before digging into breakfast.

The quiet did not last long.

A sharp knock echoed through the house.

Everyone looked toward the front door.

Mom checked her phone before turning the screen toward me.

My heart skipped.

Dad and Jethro were standing outside.

"Go ahead and get to the door," Mom said.

I walked—because running inside the house was a rule that never changed—and opened it.

The second I did, I threw my arms around both.

"Hello," they said together.

"Hi," I laughed. "What are you guys doing here? I thought we were meeting at the school."

"We are," Dad said with a smile. "But we wanted to give you something first...

Jethro grinned as he held out a black blindfold.

"You have to put this on."

I raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"If you don't," he said with a smirk, "I'll take your graduation present back."

"No!" I laughed. "Fine. I'll wear it."

Jack chuckled as I slipped the blindfold over my eyes.

"Careful," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "No peeking."

“ok”

Jethro took one hand while Dad took the other, carefully guiding me down the porch steps and into the driveway. The cool morning air brushed against my face as I tried to guess what they were planning.

"You can take it off now," Dad said.

Jethro untied the blindfold.

My eyes slowly adjusted to the sunlight.

Then I saw it.

A Barbie-pink 1965 Classic Mustang convertible sat in the driveway, sparkling in the morning sun.

My mouth fell open.

"No way..."

I looked back and forth between Dad and Jethro.

"You guys...?"

Dad smiled proudly.

"Happy graduation, Babygirl."

Tears filled my eyes.

"You bought this... for me?"

Jethro nodded.

"We've been planning it for months."

I covered my mouth, trying not to cry.

"It's... it's beautiful."

Dad wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"You've worked hard for this day. We wanted you to have something you'd never forget."

I threw my arms around him.

"Thank you."

Then I hugged Jethro just as tightly.

"I love you both."

"We love you too," they answered.

Jethro laughed.

"Come on. Let me show you everything."

He walked me around the Mustang, explaining how to put the convertible top up and down, where everything was, and all the tiny details he knew I would want to learn.

My fingers traced the smooth pink paint.

"I can't believe this is mine."

"It is," Dad said.

"And yes," Jethro added with a grin, "it's automatic."

I laughed.

"Best. Gift. Ever."

From across the driveway, I heard someone clapping.

Derek had just walked over.

Derek whistled.

"Now that is a graduation present."

"I know," Tara said with a smile. "It fits her perfectly."

As everyone admired the Mustang, Derek quietly stepped beside Tara.

"You look really nice today," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Tara looked over at him and smiled.

"You noticed?"

"It would've been impossible not to."

She laughed softly.

"Well... you clean up pretty well yourself."

Derek's cheeks turned bright red.

"Really?"

"Really."

For a moment neither of them said anything.

They simply smiled at each other.

"You know," Derek finally said, "after graduation... maybe we could go for a drive."

"In the Mustang?" Tara teased.

He laughed.

"I was thinking maybe dinner first."

She pretended to think about it.

"Hmm..."

"Oh no."

"I guess..."

Derek looked nervous.

"...I'd like that."

His face lit up.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"It's a graduation date." He spoke.

Of course, I thought to myself, it is not a real date and took a deep breath.

Without thinking, Derek reached over and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

She blushed but did not pull away.

"I'm looking forward to it," she said quietly.

"So am I."

Before either of them could say anything else, Mom's voice shattered the moment.

"Why did you get her without talking to me first?"

Everyone turned.

Dad faced her calmly.

"I didn't know that, as her father, I needed permission to buy my daughter a graduation gift."

The happiness vanished from the driveway.

Something inside me snapped.

I stepped between them.

"You need to stop your crap. All of you."

Everyone fell silent.

"It is my graduation, and you're ruining it."

No one spoke.

The driveway became eerily quiet.

I had never yelled before.

Not like this.

"And now," I said firmly, "I want everyone to apologize and stop arguing."

Mom opened her mouth.

"Okay, that's enough."

But there was not much confidence left in her voice.

I looked at each of them before taking a slow breath.

Walked over and hugged my mom and stepdad.

“Thanks for the laptop.”

"Thank you," I said, calmer now.

I hugged Dad.

Then Jethro.

"Thank you for the Mustang."

Just then, something caught my eye.

A brown car sat across the street.

Parked.

Still.

Watching us.

A large professional camera pointed directly toward our family.

Dad noticed it too.

His expression changed instantly.

He gently moved me behind Jethro.

"Stay here."

The moment he started toward the car, its engine roared to life.

It sped away.

"Get it!" Dad shouted and pointed in the direction the car went.

Without hesitation, he jumped onto his motorcycle.

Jethro climbed onto his own.

Derek looked toward Tara.

"I'll be back."

She nodded, though worry filled her eyes.

"Be careful."

"I will."

The three motorcycles followed by more, roared to life and disappeared down the street after the mysterious brown car.

I watched until they were out of sight.

Something was not right.

But I must worry about that later now it is time to go to school.