YOU CAN'T TAME ME.

"So, wanna talk?" Lyla's voice broke my trance. I parted my gaze from the beautiful scenery to her. "What do you expect me to say?" I asked her back. I had no intention of spilling any beans to the unknown woman driving beside me. One day, she came unannounced, my mother's best friend. I had not even heard her name from the mother in all these years, and now here I was moving in with her. If the situation was not that bad, I wouldn't be here in this car. "Roslyn Carter, I don't want a question as my answer. Speak." 

Her dominant voice sent a shiver in my back making my back straight. Well, I didn't think my name would sound like that. I diverted my gaze to the road and answered while crossing my arms, "My friend, Betty was in trouble and I helped her." 

She humphed. I could feel her smirk from my back. "I don't think a student would be rusticated just for helping a friend." The sarcasm was dripping off her words. How is she my mother's friend who cannot even speak aloud?  "Betty's boyfriend took some pictures of her and blackmailed her to leak them." I summarized the whole story in one sentence. Silence spread through the car. It was starting to get uncomfortable when she again asked, "I heard you broke his nose. Is that true?"

Just thinking about that asshole, my blood boiled up, "That asshole deserved that." 

"Language, young lady." That's something my mother would say. "But you are right. People like that deserve this." I gawked at her. Yeah, that's something my mother would never say. She was a peace lover and never saw violence as a solution while I was the total opposite to it. "Greta is worried for you." I took a deep breath hearing my mother's name. "Yeah, she is too naive for this world's cruelty." Lyla poked her one eyebrow in response, "Never expected wise words from you but your mother is Greta. So..yeah."

Of course, when she first heard the news, she was shocked, angry, and scared for me. Though she scolded me it was less compared to before. I might assume that she also thinks I did the right thing. Not expecting that the next day, Lyla would be here to pick me up. 

My mother had tears in her eyes when she saw me off. She kept saying that it was for my own good. She will call and FaceTime me every day. Knowing my mother, she might think that I would hate her for taking this step but I was somehow relaxed. Actually, I needed a change in my environment. People around me treated me differently. Girls gossiped about me, boys tried to pick me for a fight, it was all the same. I could use a new environment with a new mindset. My graduation was done this year and I was free. Though I did a degree in computer science, my taste and passion were something else. Well, people might assume a girl like me would be interested in boxing, fighting, riding a bike, or something like that. Don't get me wrong, I do these things but none of them I want to pursue as my career. It was music that I was interested in. Music was my escape and with time, it grew on me. The beats, the rhythms, the instruments, and the voice, such a combination could soothe someone's soul, and heal them from within. 

I am still confused if I should pursue a single thing or explore all of them. I let it on fate and time, till then I will enjoy my time in New York. "Can you tell me something about you and your family?" I did not have time to search for her on the net. Also, searching in front of her might be embarrassing and awkward, so I asked instead. The car was stopped at the red light and Lyla turned to me, "Well, my name is Lyla Gomez. I am a painter. I live in Manhattan with my husband, Maximus Gomez. He runs many businesses in various sectors. We had two children. My eldest son, Parker Gomez is currently running the businesses with his father and my younger daughter is completing her post-graduation in fashion designing. She is currently interning in one of the fashion companies."

"Wow.." I gazed at her. Well, I assumed her to be rich with her clothes and car but she might be richer than I assumed. My father was a normal clerk, my mother was a homemaker and I was an unemployed graduate who was still confused about her life. "You might get along better with my son. He also is interested in boxing and loves gymning." I side-eyed the woman who now gave a raise to the accelerator moving the car. "I like my own company better."

I was not interested in communicating and befriending anyone. "As you wish." She replied. I sighed that she did not get offended by my words. People might think of my aloneness and affirmative words as my arrogance and rudeness. This was the major reason, people thought twice before communicating with me. I had no issue with that though. "Here, we are." My trance broke at Lyla's words and looked around. The gate was opened by the guard and we entered the building. Like I expected, it was a posh and luxurious one but I composed my expressions like it was nothing new for me. We got down once we reached the basement. One of the guards got out my luggage from the trunk when I stepped ahead taking the luggage, "I like to take it by myself." I stated. The guard gazed behind me letting the woman behind me decide. Lyla slowly nodded her head and the guard left the luggage. I took it with me and followed her into the elevator. Pressing the top button, we stood in silence. In minutes, we reached our destination. The door opened, and a woman in her early forties was standing. "Greetings, Mrs. Gomez." 

"Afternoon, Estella." We moved in when her gaze met mine. I bowed a little in respect and in response she said, "Welcome, Ms. Carter. Hope you will have a nice stay with us." 

"Hoping the same, Miss Estella," I answered back while I stepped into the house not knowing what this stay would bring for me.