“Is this why you two whisper behind my back? We’re supposed to be best friends. Best friends don’t keep secrets like this unless they have something to hide.”
“Babe. You know how I feel about you.” Colter goes to hug her, and she takes a step back. “Don’t shut me out, Ro. Alexa, you better tell her the truth right now or I will,” he threatens.
“So you know. You know who Alexa has been seeing for months, but me her best friend. I don’t get to know. Screw you both.” She grabs Colter’s keys off the counter and stomps toward the door while we chase after her. She enters the driver’s side, and Colter hops in the passenger seat. The car starts, and I can’t bear the thought of her mad at me. I can’t let her think that Colter and I ever would go behind her back. I slide into the backseat as she peels out of the driveway then slams on the brakes. “Both of you get out.”
“You don’t even have your license. Just a permit. Trade me places. My dad will kill me if he finds out you were driving my car,” Colter begs her. Rochelle hits the gas and swerves to miss a car parked on the side street.
“Rochelle,” I scream. “Okay. I’ll tell you. Just please stop the car.”
For some reason she speeds up.
“Rochelle. Stop the car.” I go for my seat belt, and Colter tries to reason with her. “You’re not thinking clearly, and you’ve been drinking. Don’t drive mad.”
“You’re both liars,” she screams.
“Colter hasn’t lied to you. He’s not to blame in this. Be mad at me. I’m the one keeping secrets and lying to everyone. I lie to you. Your mom.” I can’t hold back my fat tears as they roll down my cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
“My mom?”
“Ro, please stop the car.”
“Tell me his name. Right now.”
“James.” Her gaze meets mine through the rearview mirror. Time freezes in place.
“James who?” she whispers.
I suck in a deep breath. “I think you know.”
“Ro, look out,” Colter screams, going for the steering wheel. It all happens so fast and yet so slow. Metal clinks. Glass shatters. The seat belt I’m wearing jerks me back in the seat. The car skids across the road. I knock my head against the back-passenger window as the vehicle rolls three or four times down an embankment, I’ve lost count.
I’m shaken, but I think I’ll be okay. My head throbs, and I can’t think clearly. “Ro, Colter. You guys good?” No one answers me, and my blood runs cold. Chills fan up and down my arms. I focus on the front seat of the car. Colter is slumped forward with blood gushing from his forehead. A chunk of glass protrudes from his eye. Bile lurches in my stomach and claws its way up my throat, burning for release at the gruesome sight. “Rochelle?” I cry. The whole driver’s side of the car is smashed in. Her body is twisted at an odd angle partially under the steering wheel and partially hanging out of what’s left of her door. Neither of them was wearing their seat belt. A woozy sensation washes over me, and I touch my forehead. I glance at my fingers seeing my own blood. My hand goes to my stomach. My baby. Please let my baby be okay.
I black out and when I come to, I have no idea how much time has passed.
Oh God. It’s growing dark, and all I can hear is the water churning in the nearby river. “Rochelle, please answer me. I’m sorry. I take it all back. I take it all back.” I blink trying to get my tears to stop but it’s not working. “Colter. Tell me you guys are okay. Don’t shut me out.” I pull on my seat belt, but it won’t budge. “Someone help. Help,” I scream till my throat goes raw.
“Can anyone hear me?” A man calls out, trying to open Colter’s door.
I go to speak but my voice dies in my throat.
He gives up on the other door and yanks mine open. “I’m ok,” I manage to croak out.
“Don’t move. I’ve called 911.”
“I need to help my friends.”
He glances to the front of the car and drops his head, scrubbing a palm over his mouth. Reaching around the seat he checks Colter’s pulse first.
“Is he breathing?”
“I’m no doctor. Can’t be sure.”
“Rochelle?”
“I can’t reach her from here.”
“I need out of this car.”