pastime, but it always was for me. I would make up stories for the different cars going by. I would follow their car for as far as the eye could see, telling myself that that car was on their way to the Grand Canyon. Or to California. Or to Vegas. It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that the whole family decided to take because their father was diagnosed with cancer, and this trip was his last wish.
Yes, I can be kind of morbid. And weird.
Every car had a different story, and that’s what fascinated me so much. Each of us have a different story to tell. One we’ll pass on to our loved ones. We’re all different, and that’s what I always wanted to get through the heads of the small-minded people who live here. My family hunts for treasure. So what? There are plenty of shows out there right now where people are doing the same thing. One of them was even about the gold hidden in the Superstition Mountains, but the Jacobs got that shit shut down really quick.
It was fine by us, we didn’t like it either. That was one of the only times my father was happy that the Jacobs had that kind of pull, so they could demand it.
And now, here I am, heading up to Leedsville with three guys. Ever since we passed the Leaving Clary sign, my heart’s been in my throat.
I’ve never left Clary before. Only just outside the small town to go to the mountains. Clary and the Superstitions are my home. I’ve made up a thousand different stories about going different places, but they were never true. My father didn’t like to go out, but even when he did, I wasn’t allowed to go with him.
My heart beats rapidly. I rub my palms down my shorts, and my foot starts tapping the floor of the car. Excitement and nerves burn through me like I’m made of the driest brush.
Wyatt is in the backseat with me. He does a double-take just as he finishes talking about how he made Meghan’s whole table move in the lunchroom, even though we decided not to sit there anyway. We headed outside to sit by ourselves so we could talk about what supplies we were going to buy in Leedsville. The prospect of leaving Clary had thrilled me then. Now? I’m not so sure.
Wyatt knocks his knee into mine. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, planting a fake smile on my face. There’s no way on this earth I’m telling them what’s going through my head right now. I’m walking a tightrope with these guys. They were picking on Meghan today, but it could so easily be me tomorrow. Right?
I don’t know. Maybe not.
I sit back in the seat and take a deep breath, closing my eyes. I want to open them. I want to take in the scenery. I want to be in the driver’s seat of my life for once. I always chalked up Dad never letting me go anywhere to being a bit overprotective, but it’s hard to fight those feelings. If he was overprotective, what was he trying to protect me from?
I guess I didn’t even need to leave Clary to have something bad happen, but still. I’m rattled.
Wyatt puts his hand on mine. “Dakota?” Fuck. My real name? He must be worried about me.
I’m so screwed. Why can’t I just fucking relax? Act like this isn’t a big deal. Going to Leedsville? Sure. Easy. Done it a hundred times.
“Pull the car over,” Wyatt instructs Stone.
“No,” I shout. “I’m fine.” My voice is high and tight, cracked with fissures so that anyone listening can clearly tell I’m not alright despite me saying otherwise.
Because they are listening, Stone pulls over.
I growl. “I’m fine.”
Wyatt gives me a look. He knows I’m full of shit.
Fuck. So do I. I just need to get over it though.
Lucas turns around from the front seat. He takes one look at me and frowns. “You’re white as a ghost.”
“I don’t know why,” I say. I rub my arms to try to warm them. “Maybe I’m still tired. Or it’s an effect from the drugs.”
Stone turns in the seat now, too, and I’d rather claw his eyes out than have him see me like this. I close my eyes, pretending that if I can’t see him, then he can’t see me.
“Maybe I’ll just get out and walk around for a bit,” I say, throwing the door open. It opens up onto