I heard him scoff and another whiff of smoke hit me.
That’s right. Devil’s Night was tomorrow.
“You guys getting up to anything?” Sara asked them. “It’s so boring without the horsemen around.”
“Fuck them,” Miles said. “We can stir up our own shit.”
I ran my fingers through my hair, flipping it to one side as I turned toward the window. Miles was the only person I’d heard of who didn’t worship at the horsemen altar. Wonder why?
The energy at school since they left, though, was in the dumps. The basketball team was suffering, and there was no excitement anymore. Everyone was caught in suspended animation.
Miles swerved the car to the right and slammed on the brakes, pulling the car to a sudden stop. I shot out my hand to the back of his seat to stop myself from lunging forward.
“Get out, bitch,” Astrid said.
Huh?
The door on Sara’s side opened, and she shifted next to me. “Thanks for the ride, guys,” she chirped.
I froze, every muscle tense. What?
“You know where Winter lives, right?” Sara questioned them.
Wait, they were dropping her off first? I held in my groan. Shit. Thanks a lot. Why would she leave me with people I didn’t know?
“Don’t worry,” Astrid told her. “We’ll get her home.”
“It’s fine,” I rushed out, gathering my bag and phone. “I’ll get out here and call my driver.”
“Don’t be a bitch, bitch,” Astrid shot back but with a teasing tone.
“Have a good night, Winter,” Sara said, and then she slammed the door.
I exhaled. It’s fine. It would be fine.
Miles shifted into gear and took off, and I hit the back of my seat, gripping my phone.
I needed to learn how to be rude. I should’ve just said ‘no’ to the ride.
We drove in silence for a few minutes, and I gauged from the straight line he was going that we were hopefully on the highway, heading to my house.
“Is that car still behind us?” I heard Astrid ask.
“Yep,” he said in a
clipped tone.
My heart picked up pace. Someone was following them? If something was going to happen, I wanted to be out of here before it did.
“So,” Astrid spoke again, “what do you see exactly?”
There was silence, and I straightened, coming to attention. “You’re talking to me?”
“Yes.” She laughed.
I shook my head. “I don’t see anything.”
“Well, I know, but is it like black or white or what?” she pressed. “Like when I close my eyes, sometimes I see a kaleidoscope of colors and sometimes it’s just dark.”