motorcycle since there’s no opportunity for us to chat. I sense by how tense Parker’s holding himself that he wants to talk about this. I find myself dreading the moment when we reach the club, because I know he’ll make an attempt to explain himself.
When we stop in front of the club, I step off the motorcycle and remove the helmet. I shove it into Parker’s chest before he even has a chance to stand up. He sits there with a hurt expression on his face, waiting to see what I’m going to do next. I can tell by the look in his eyes that he wants me to hug him and give him a proper good night, but I can’t pull myself to do it. I mutter a quick “bye” and move past him toward my car. I don’t even look back to see how he’s reacting.
Plopping down into the driver’s seat, I don’t put the key into the ignition right away. I just sit there, staring at it in my hand. The roar of a motorcycle’s engine causes me to look out my back window to see Parker’s taillights driving out onto the street. A depressed sigh leaves my lips as I turn the keys in the ignition, starting the car.
Buzz…Buzz…
That horrid sound emanates from my pocket. Pulling out the phone, I unsurprisingly see a message from Unknown:
Poor Kevin’s suffering from a broken heart. At least you put him out of his misery…literally.
“Kevin?” I ask the empty car, dropping the phone into my lap. I pound on the steering wheel furiously, trying to get out all of my aggression toward Unknown. A sad cry pierces my lips. Angry tears roll down my face at the thought of something bad happening to Kevin. Grabbing the phone, I type a reply:
What the fuck did you do to Kevin? You sick fuck!
It only takes a few seconds before the phone pings with another message:
Temper, temper, Dani. Follow the breadcrumbs and you’ll find your answer…
I throw the phone into the passenger seat and just sit there, staring out the window through misty eyes. I never really pray, but for once in my life, I find myself praying for Kevin’s safety.
A knock on the passenger side window causes me to raise my head from the steering wheel and wipe the tears from my eyes. A second, louder, knock has me turning to see who it is. Alex stands outside the car, shivering in the cold. Her black and white face paint is smeared, and it’s obvious she’s had a few drinks.
“What are you still doing here?” she asks close to the window, her breath fogging it up.
I clear my throat as to not sound like a frog when I speak. “I was just leaving.”
“Hold on a second,” she yells at someone behind her, probably her ride home. She turns her attention back to me. “You look upset. Want to talk?”
“Not really, no,” I reply, but the tears get in the way and it comes out all phlegmy-sounding.
“Come on, open the door,” she says, jiggling the handle.
“Not right now, Alex, please.”
“What kind of friend would I be if I left you here crying your eyes out? Now open the damn door,” she says with a soft laugh.
I reach over and flip up the lock. She proceeds to stumble into the car, falling into a sitting position on the seat. “Whoa, that could have been disastrous. Remind me not to drink so much next time,” she jokes, but when she sees it doesn’t make me laugh, her face turns serious. She places her hand on my shoulder, rubbing back and forth. “I’m going to fucking kill, Parker, you know that, right? Did he do this to you?”
“No, it wasn’t him,” I choke out.
“Good, because I seriously wasn’t looking forward to prison life. So, then what’s wrong? I know you’re not crying like this over nothing.”
I want to answer her and spill everything, but I don’t want to drag her into this. Then again, maybe she’s already a part of this just by simply knowing me.
A heavy breath parts my lips before I speak. “There’s a lot going on that you don’t know about.”
“Then tell me. Is this about all the crazy shit that’s been going on around here lately?” She shakes off her drunken stupor and seems focused on my answer. It’s almost like our conversation is sobering her up.
“Yeah, it is actually.”
“What’s wrong, Dani? Just tell me.”
“If I do, you have to promise not