Forlot: The Car on the Side of the Road - Book Forty-Two

Chapter Eight

It was early in the morning. And he still had not shown up. He promised to pick me up around seven o'clock. I had been sitting on the porch for over an hour. My feet were on the brick pathway that led to the sidewalk. My head was in my hands. I was staring at the empty road, hoping to see Rick's car. He was borrowing his parents' SUV for the road trip. All eight of us could not fit in his car.

Yes. His closest friends were tagging along. I would not have minded had they not been jerks. They believe that the world revolves around them. Pathetic. Orion, Gage, and Cash enjoy playing with me. No, they do not touch me. Then they would be more than jerks. Because I am not tough and keep to myself, I am the victim of lots of their pranks. Now I do like pranks. I love anything that makes me laugh. Funny things make me forget my life. If only some of these hilarious people were my friends.

I glanced up at the sky and clasped my hands together. I prayed hard. I prayed for a friend that would stick by me and protect me from Rick and his buddies. If it was a boy...maybe we might become a couple. I also prayed that Rick would come already. He made me want to rip out my hair. He was more than late. He was receiving a punch in the face from the girl whom he claims to love.

I climbed to my feet and picked up my backpack by the straps. That was it. I was not waiting for him anymore. He broke his promise. He should have just called me if he had car trouble or something. He was possibly busy getting drunk with his friends. Maybe he cancelled the trip or forgot it. I hoped. I could now leave him and his pals behind me. No more pranks or feeling worthless.

I pondered what Mom asked last night. Do I truly want to salvage my and Rick's relationship? Is the spark still there? Is anything in the relationship worth saving? An easy answer for each question. They are all the same. A big no. As of now, I am no longer Rick's girlfriend. I do not care how many times he apologizes. He knows that I will return to him if he keeps apologizing and making empty promises. Not this time.

Those fellows that I mentioned play sick pranks on me every chance that they get. It does not matter if I plead while on my knees or state that nobody else loves their pranks. They continue breaking me. One of their worst was when they, as well as Rick and the girls, left me all alone in the middle of the woods - at night. You cannot begin to imagine how I felt when I woke up to get some water and discovered that they vanished. I was sweaty. I felt my heart beating against my chest. I tried calling Rick. It went to voicemail. So I texted him nearly every second. He did not reply. I feared the worst. A group of murderers entered our campsite and kidnapped them - or killed them.

I called Dad and explained my situation. He told me to stay at the campsite and build a fire if I could. I turned on my flashlight and shined its bright light at the trees. I could not start a fire because I was out of wood. And I was not going into the woods to grab some. I hid in my tent and zipped it up. I curled up into a ball in a corner of the tent. I was quivering and praying. I did not want to be killed by a maniac. I was prepared to do whatever I could to defend myself. If I killed a person, so be it.

I collapsed into Dad's arms when he and Mom arrived. I had passed out. I woke up to my parents. I was in my bed and asked what happened. I was a bit dazed. Tears were running down Mom's face. Dad was frowning. He handed me said phone and ordered me to read a text. I figured that I was in trouble. I told them where I would be that night. When I read the short text, I was furious. My blood boiled. I knew why my parents were upset.

It was from Rick. This is what it read:

Gotcha, Ella! Sorry for ignoring your call and texts. We were playing a prank on you. We sneaked out from the campsite and drove to my house. Do not worry, baby. I am driving back to get you. Hope that you were not too scared. Haha.

My bottom jaw dropped. I let my phone fall on my bed and tried speaking. I could not. I was speechless. But I was so ticked that I grabbed my pillow and sat up. Dad took my phone before it could fall off the bed. I put the pillow in front of me and punched as hard as I could. I was a bit surprised that my parents never intervened. I guess that they understood my fury. Dad was the most upset. He said that he would teach Rick and his friends a painful lesson. I convinced him not to. I did not want him to hurt them and be arrested.

Thinking of this incident made me realize how stupid I was. I should have cut ties with Rick and his pals then. I should have broken up with that idiot and moved on. But nooooooooooo. I told myself that he could change. He and his friends. I do not have the backbone to walk away once and for all. I should not have even agreed to this road trip!

I spun around and reached for the doorknob. I heard a car screech to a stop.