Chapter 64: Road Soda

The supply shed’s rusty hinges creak as Erica shuts the door behind us, sealing off the biting winter air. The memory of Skye’s egg challenge lingers as a stain on the floor. My breath fogs in front of my face as I rub my hands together, trying to generate some warmth.

“Damn, it’s so fucking cold,” I mutter, my teeth chattering slightly.

Erica’s blue eyes lock onto mine as she steps closer, her blonde hair wild from the wind. “Come here, you big baby,” she says, her voice gruff but tinged with affection.

She wraps her arms around me, pulling me against her body with her gloved hands. I can feel the heat radiating off her and smell the faint scent of cigarettes. My heart rate picks up as I melt into her embrace.

“Better?” Erica murmurs, her breath warm against my ear.

I nod, not trusting my voice. Lately I’ve been finding myself craving her touch constantly. ‘I think i might be getting addicted.’

The peaceful moment is shattered as the door bangs open. Riley strides in, all tanned skin and effortless grace in her indoor track practice outfit. My stomach drops as I feel Erica stiffen against me.

“What’s up? You told me to meet you here,” Riley says, her hazel eyes darting between us. There’s an undercurrent of tension in her casual tone.

Erica’s eyes narrow, her gaze as sharp as a knife’s edge. She slowly unwraps herself from me, her movements deliberate and predatory. The loss of her warmth hits me like a physical blow.

“Right,” Erica says, her voice low and dangerous. “Let’s get down to business.”

She reaches into her jacket pocket, the leather creaking softly with the movement. For a heart-stopping moment, I wonder if she’s going to pull out a weapon. But instead, her hand emerges clutching a cheap-looking smartphone. Its off-brand logo is barely visible in the dim light of the shed.

“This,” Erica announces, holding up the phone like it’s evidence in a courtroom drama, “is a burner. Untraceable. Perfect for our little... arrangement.”

Riley’s eyes widen, a mix of fear and anticipation flickering across her face. She takes an involuntary step forward, her athletic frame taut with tension.

Erica’s lips curl into a smirk, satisfaction gleaming in her blue eyes. “This Saturday,” she continues, her voice dripping with false sweetness, “you’ll get a text. It’ll have a location. That’s where I’ll pick you up.”

She pauses, letting the words hang in the air like a guillotine blade. The only sound is the whistling of the wind outside and our collective breathing, each exhale creating a small cloud in the frigid air.

“I don’t want anyone seeing you come directly to my house,” Erica explains, her tone matter-of-fact but underlined with steel. “Can’t have anyone tying your... disappearance to me, now can we?”

‘There she goes with that word again. But I don’t blame her.’

Riley swallows hard, her throat bobbing visibly. “I get it,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “I wouldn’t want to have you end up as the subject of a Serial-style podcast after all.” She awkwardly jokes.

‘Wait what the fuck ever happend to that Anita Scoops girl? Ehh oh well.’

Erica steps forward, closing the distance between her and Riley in two long strides. She presses the burner phone into Riley’s hand, her fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. “Don’t lose it,” she warns, her voice a low growl. “And don’t let anyone else see it. Got it?”

Riley nods mutely, her fingers curling around the device like it’s a lifeline. The look in her eyes is a strange mix of fear and determination, like someone about to jump out of a plane for the first time.

Riley clutches the burner phone, her knuckles white against its cheap plastic case. She looks up at Erica, her eyes wide with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. “So, uh... am I gonna have to drive far?” she asks, her voice wavering slightly.

Erica’s lips curl into a slow, predatory smile. “Yeah,” she drawls, drawing out the word like a cat playing with its prey. “It’s quite a journey. But don’t worry, it’ll be worth it.”

Erica begins to pace, her boots leaving imprints on the dusty floor. “When you get there,” she continues, her voice low and measured, “you’ll get further instructions.”

Riley nods, hanging on every word. Her fingers absently trace the edges of the burner phone as if trying to memorize its shape.

“You’ll leave everything you own in your car,” Erica says, her blue eyes gleaming with an almost manic light. “Every last thing. Your phone, your wallet, your keys. Anything that ties you to this world.”

She pauses, letting the weight of her words sink in. The only sound is the creaking of the shed’s old boards and the soft whisper of Riley’s accelerated breathing.

“I’ll send you the location to park,” Erica adds, her tone casual as if she’s discussing nothing more consequential than where to meet for coffee. “Somewhere quiet. Out of the way. Where no one will notice a car sitting for a while.”

Riley swallows hard, her throat bobbing visibly. “And the burner?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

Erica’s grin widens, showing too many teeth. “Oh, I’ll take care of that,” she purrs. “You’ll bring it with you. Once you’re... gone, I’ll dispose of it. No traces left behind.”

“Okay,” Riley says, her voice steady and sure. “Okay. I can do this.” Her eyes shine with an almost manic gleam, her whole body practically vibrating with anticipation. “I’m going home. Back to my Jason. My world.”

The moment Riley utters “Jason,” Erica’s entire demeanor changes. Her eyes flash with a dangerous glint like lightning streaking across a stormy sky. In an instant, she’s at my side, her arm snaking around my waist with possessive force. I can feel the tension radiating off her body, her muscles coiled tight like a spring ready to snap.

“Yup,” Erica says, her voice clipped and cold as arctic ice. Her fingers dig into my hip, pulling me so close I can feel the heat of her body through our clothes again. I smile wide as it happens.

“We’re leaving,” Erica announces, her tone brooking no argument. Her eyes, blue as a gas flame, lock onto Riley with laser-like intensity. “Wait ten minutes before you go. And Riley?” She pauses, letting the tension build like a rubber band stretched to its limit. “No more talking to us or Louis. At all. Got it?”

Riley nods eagerly, her whole body practically overflowing with excitement. “You got it,” she breathes, her eyes shining with an almost manic gleam. She looks like someone who’s just been told they’ve won the lottery, relief, and joy radiating from every pore. “I... thank you, Erica. Really.”

As Erica leads me out of the shack, I catch one last glimpse of Riley. She’s standing there, clutching the burner phone to her chest like it’s the most precious thing in the world. Her expression is a mix of hope and anticipation, like someone who’s finally seeing the light at the end of a very long, very dark tunnel.

The cold air hits us like a slap to the face as we step outside. Erica’s grip on me doesn’t loosen; if anything, it tightens as we make our way across the frost-covered ground. Each step crunches beneath our feet, the sound unnaturally loud in the winter stillness.

As we make our way to the parking lot, the winter landscape unfolds around us like a monochrome painting. Bare trees stretch their skeletal branches towards a steel-gray sky.

Suddenly, a high-pitched voice shatters the silence like a stone through glass.

“Senpai!”

Erica lets out a long-suffering sigh, her breath creating a substantial fog in front of her face. I can feel her body tense against mine, her fingers digging into my side with renewed vigor.

Before we can react, a blur of blonde curls and sparkly accessories comes barreling towards us. Mindy practically bounces across the parking lot, her platform shoes somehow finding grip on the slippery surface. She’s a riot of color against the bleak winter backdrop, her gyaru style as loud and unapologetic as ever.

Mindy skids to a stop in front of us, her eyes wide with excitement behind thick layers of false lashes. She starts circling us like an overexcited puppy, her words tumbling out in a rapid-fire stream.

“Senpai! Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I ran into you here! This is so kawaii! Ne, ne, did you see the new episode of ‘Magical Boy Raising Project’ last night? It was so sugoi!”

I can practically see the annoyed sweat drop forming on Erica’s forehead, anime-style.

As Mindy continues her enthusiastic orbit around us, I notice two more figures approaching at a more sedate pace. Tessa saunters towards us, her hands shoved deep in her pockets, a cigarette dangling from her lips. Despite the cold, she’s wearing only a thin jacket over her usual punk ensemble. Beside her, Brooke walks with quiet grace, her long brunette hair flowing behind her like a silk banner in the winter wind.

“Yo,” Tessa calls out, lifting her chin in a nod of acknowledgment. Her visible eye glints with something I can’t quite decipher.

Brooke’s gaze finds mine, and a soft smile graces her features. “Hey,” she says, her voice warm despite the chill in the air.

I feel a wave of warmth wash over me as I see Brooke’s gentle smile. After our heart-to-heart the other day, it’s like a weight has been lifted between us.

“Hey, gals,” I say, raising my free hand in a wave. “Nice to see you all.”

Erica’s eyes narrow as they land on Tessa, taking in the fading bruise around her eye. The purple has mellowed to a sickly yellow-green, like a storm cloud dissipating.

“Your eye’s healing nicely,” Erica observes, her tone neutral but laced with an undercurrent of pride.

Tessa barks out a laugh, the sound sharp in the crisp air. “Yeah, turns out I’ve got a harder head than we thought,” she quips, running a hand through her short, spiky hair. “Listen, I wanted to say sorry for the other night. Got way too drunk and emotional. Not my finest moment.”

Erica nods, accepting the apology with a tilt of her head. But then her eyes narrow, a dangerous glint flickering in their blue depths. “Funny you should mention that,” she says, her voice deceptively casual. “Jason here said something interesting about your exit that night.”

Tessa’s good eye widens slightly, a flicker of surprise.

Erica continues, her words measured and deliberate. “He said you seemed to sober up pretty quick. Even gave him a little wink on your way out. Care to explain that?”

“You did what?” Brooke hisses, her voice low and dangerous. Her hands clench into fists at her sides, knuckles white with tension.

Tessa’s visible eye widens, confusion etched across her features. She takes a step back, hands raised in a placating gesture. “Whoa, hold up. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says, her voice wavering slightly.

Brooke’s gaze darts between Tessa and Erica, her brow furrowed in concentration. She opens her mouth to speak, then closes it again, looking for all the world like someone trying to solve a particularly difficult puzzle. The awkward silence stretches on, broken only by Mindy’s oblivious humming as she continues to bounce on her heels.

Finally, Brooke seems to come to a decision. She takes a deep breath, her shoulders squaring as if bracing for impact. “Oh, right,” she says, her voice unnaturally high and strained. “Tessa was just, um, faking sobriety because she wanted to drive back to school that night.”

Tessa’s eyebrows shoot up, disappearing beneath her spiky bangs. She opens her mouth to protest, but Brooke barrels on.

“But she was clearly too drunk to drive,” Brooke adds hastily, words tumbling out in a rush. “Way too drunk. Couldn’t even walk straight, right Tessa? But it’s fine I never gave her the keys anyways.”

Tessa blinks rapidly, looking like she’s been hit over the head with a cartoon mallet. “Uh, yeah. That’s... exactly what happened,” she says slowly, eyeing Brooke with a mixture of confusion and concern.

Erica nods, her expression thoughtful. “I get it,” she says, her voice neutral. “Nothing makes me want to drive fast more than a few cold ones.”

[A/N: DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!]

I feel my jaw drop, horror flooding through me like ice water in my veins. “What the fuck do you mean? You get it?” I blurt out, my voice rising in pitch. “Are you saying you drink and drive so much that what she said was relatable?”

Erica’s eyes widen, a flicker of panic crossing her face. “No, no, I don’t drunk drive anymore,” she says hastily, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

“What the fuck do you mean ‘anymore’?” I yell, my voice echoing across the parking lot. A flock of crows takes flight from a nearby tree, startled by my outburst. “Was this something you used to do?”

Erica flinches, her usual confidence crumbling under the weight of my anger. She looks like a deer caught in headlights, her blue eyes wide and vulnerable. The winter wind whips her blonde hair around her face, adding to her disheveled appearance.

“Have you drunk driven since we started dating?” I demand, my voice trembling with a mix of rage and fear.

Erica’s face pales. She shakes her head vigorously, her voice small and nervous. “No, no, babe. Never.”

The parking lot falls silent, save for the whistle of the wind through the bare trees and the distant honk of geese flying south. Brooke and Tessa stare at me in awe, their expressions a mixture of shock and admiration. It’s as if I’ve just yelled at a nuclear warhead and lived to tell the tale.

I take a deep breath, feeling the anger drain out of me like air from a punctured balloon. The cold winter air fills my lungs, helping to clear my head. I look at Erica, really look at her, and see the fear and remorse etched across her features.

“I’m sorry I lost my cool,” I say, my voice softer now. “It’s just... the thought of you dying because you drunk drove... it terrifies me.”

Erica’s eyes widened, and a flicker of something unreadable passed across her face. For a moment, she looks lost, vulnerable even. Then, like a switch being flipped, her expression hardens. Her blue eyes turn cold, her posture straightening as she seems to remember her role.

“Did you just yell at Mommy?” she asks, her voice eerily calm and devoid of emotion. The words hang in the frosty air between us, sharp as icicles.

I feel a shiver run down my spine, but it’s not from fear. I meet her gaze head-on, my chin lifted in defiance. The world around us seems to be fading away. The biting cold, the curious stares of our friends, the distant calls of winter birds, all of it recedes into the background as I focus solely on Erica.

“When it comes to your safety,” I say, my voice steady and clear, “I don’t care to play by the rules.”

For a heartbeat, Erica’s mask slips. A faint blush creeps across her cheeks, barely visible in the pale winter light. Then, like a dam breaking, her carefully constructed facade crumbles. She sighs, her shoulders sagging slightly.

“This is... out of character for you,” she murmurs, a note of wonder in her voice. “To be so defiant.”

I feel my body start to tremble, but not from cold or fear. It’s the intensity of my emotions threatening to overwhelm me. I take a shaky breath, the icy air burning my lungs.

I feel my body start to tremble. The intensity of my emotions threatened to overwhelm me. I take a shaky breath, the icy air burning my lungs.

“Erica, I...” My voice cracks, and I swallow hard, trying to find the words. “I love you too much to lose you to anything, let alone something so stupid.”

“The thought of you dying, of being without you...” I trail off, my eyes filling with tears. They sting in the cold air, threatening to spill over. “I can’t bear it.”

I can see the moment my words hit her. Erica’s tough exterior crumbles, her face softening with a mixture of surprise and tenderness. In an instant, she’s pulling me into her chest, her embrace warm and solid against the winter chill.

“No, no, don’t cry,” she murmurs, her voice soft and soothing. “I’m right here. It’s okay.”

I bury my face in her bust, inhaling the familiar scent of her leather jacket mixed with a hint of cigarette smoke. My mind keeps conjuring up horrific images, Erica’s car wrapped around a tree, her body broken and still. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to banish the thoughts, but they persist, relentless and terrifying.

“I love you so much,” I whisper into the fabric of her jacket, my voice muffled but filled with raw emotion. “So much it scares me, and that makes me love you even more.”

Erica’s arms tighten around me, one hand coming up to stroke my hair gently. “I know, and I love you too” she says softly, her breath warm against my ear. “You are my entire world.”

As I try to hold back my tears, Erica turns to Tessa and Brooke, her voice soft but firm. “I gotta go, girls. I need to get him home,” she says, her hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. The gentle pressure of her touch anchors me, keeping me from drowning in the sea of my emotions.

Tessa nods, her visible eye softening with understanding. “Yeah, of course,” she says, seemingly confused by how this interaction played out. Brooke stands beside her, worry etched across her delicate features.

Mindy, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly pipes up. “Senpai, is he okay?” she asks, her voice high with worry.

Erica glances down at me, still nestled against her chest, then back at Mindy. She pats my back gently, her touch warm even through my jacket. “He’ll be fine,” she assures Mindy, her voice carrying a hint of affectionate exasperation. “You know how boys get super emotional when they’re in love.”

The words wash over me, simultaneously comforting and embarrassing. I feel my cheeks flush, the heat a stark contrast to the biting cold air.

‘No I’m not like the boys here though, this is different!’ I plead in my mind.

Mindy’s face lights up, her eyes sparkling behind her false lashes. “You two are so kawaii!” she exclaims, clasping her hands together in delight.

Erica sighs, the sound somewhere between amusement and resignation. “Sure, Mindy. Whatever you say.” She turns back to the others, her arm still wrapped protectively around me. “We’re heading out. See you all later.”

A chorus of goodbyes follows us as Erica guides me towards her car. Tessa’s gruff “Later, dude” mingles with Brooke’s gentle “Take care” and Mindy’s enthusiastic “Bye-bye, senpai!”

As we walk to Erica’s car, the world around us seems muted, as if the intensity of our emotions has dimmed everything else. The crunch of frost beneath our feet is the only sound that breaks the silence. Bare trees cast long shadows across the parking lot, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers against the pale winter sky.

Erica’s arm remains wrapped around me, her warmth a stark contrast to the biting cold. I can feel her heartbeat through her leather jacket, steady and reassuring. The car comes into view, its sleek red exterior gleaming dully in the weak winter sunlight.

As Erica unlocks the doors, the familiar beep echoes across the empty lot. She opened the passenger side for me, and her touch was gentle as she helped me in. The leather seat is cold against my back, sending a shiver through me that has nothing to do with the temperature.

Once we’re both settled in the car, the silence becomes almost tangible. The outside world feels distant, muffled by the cocoon of the vehicle. I can see my breath fogging up the windshield, creating intricate patterns of frost.

I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” I say, my voice sounding small in the confined space. “I didn’t mean to overreact so much.”

Erica turns to me, her blue eyes soft with understanding. “Nah, I get it,” she says, her voice low and comforting. She reaches out, her fingers intertwining with mine. “You know, when you were missing those two weeks in November, I... I cried myself to sleep every night.”

Her admission hangs in the air between us, heavy with unspoken emotion. I squeeze her hand, encouraging her to continue.

“I thought... I thought I was going to kill myself if they found you dead,” she whispers, her voice cracking slightly on the last word. The raw vulnerability in her tone makes my heart ache.

I nod, unable to find words adequate enough to respond to such a confession. The weight of her love for me, so intense it borders on terrifying, settles over me like a warm blanket.

“I love you,” I say finally, the words feeling simultaneously inadequate and all-encompassing.

Erica’s lips curve into a soft smile, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I love you too,” she replies, her voice filled with a tenderness that makes my heart skip a beat. “More than anything in this world.”

*****

[Brooke’s POV]

The car door slams shut with a dull thud as Mindy disappears into her house, leaving me alone with Tessa. The silence in the car feels heavy, charged with unspoken tension. I grip the steering wheel tight as I pull away from the curb.

“What the hell was that back there?” I blurt out, unable to contain my frustration any longer. “Are you trying to fuck up our plans?”

Tessa turns to me, her grey eyes glinting with amusement beneath her hood. “Calm down, Little Brook. It was just a harmless wink.”

I scoff, accelerating perhaps a bit too aggressively as we merge onto the main road back to Salem State. “Harmless? You winked at my brother, Tessa, In front of Erica. He was obviously going to tell her!”

The streetlights flicker past, casting alternating shadows across Tessa’s face.

Tessa leans back in her seat, a lazy smirk playing on her lips. The streetlights flicker past, casting alternating shadows across her face that make her look almost otherworldly. “Relax, Brooklyn,” she creates a new nickname for me on the spot, her voice smooth as honey. “It’s fine. Your brother’s reaction was... unexpected, sure. But that’s what makes this all so interesting.”

I grip the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white. The leather creaks under my fingers as we cruise down the empty suburban streets. Houses pass by in a blur of muted colors and twinkling holiday lights that have overstayed their welcome, a stark contrast to the turmoil churning inside me.

Tessa’s grin widens, her teeth gleaming in the dim light of the car. “You know, it’s funny,” she muses, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “Your brother continues to surprise me more and more. That little outburst back there? I really did not see that coming at all.”

I can feel my patience wearing thin, like a frayed rope about to snap. “Tess, fuck off,” I growl. “You said you missed Erica, right? Well, this is how we both get what we want. By trying to figure out how to stick a wrench in their relationship.”

The words hang in the air between us, heavy with implication. I chance a glance at Tessa, trying to gauge her reaction. Her face is unreadable, a mask of calm indifference.

Tessa turns to stare out the window, her breath fogging up the glass. The world outside is a blur of darkness and distant lights like a watercolor painting left out in the rain. When she speaks, her voice is low and contemplative, almost ominous.

“I wonder,” she murmurs, her words barely audible over the hum of the engine, “is this really what I want.”