Ripped and Stitched

6: What They Don't Tell You

That night...

When the cops arrived at the bonfire, chaos ensued as everyone scattered left and right. Brady watched as Max managed to run off the side road and into the residential area just as the cop blocked off the exit. Even Julia had escaped through the other entrance.

Brady and Alison stared at each other for a second. The cop cars were making their way through both entrances now, the only option was deeper into the woods on their right. They both looked at the cops starting to get out of the cars and then bolted.

The only problem was that it was pitch black out and they were both still slightly buzzed. Brady tripped over Alison's foot and then a few minutes later, she almost ran into him when he stopped in front of her.

"Where are we going?" she asked in between breaths as she struggled to keep up with him.

"There is no 'we' here," he said back.

Alison rolled her eyes. "We're running together, genius."

"I don't care, in fact-"

Brady did not get to finish that sentence though because Alison tackled him to the ground just as a light flashed behind them. They hid behind the tree as the cop continued searching.

"We're so screwed," he whispered. "I'm gonna get in so much trouble my parents won't let me play at basketball camp."

"Shut up," she hissed.

The cop finally turned back and once the coast was clear, they stood up and cleared the dirt and leaves off of their clothes. Brady began walking deeper into the woods.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Anywhere but here," he answered. "I'm not getting busted and losing out on basketball camp."

"So you are just going to keep walking deeper into the creepy woods?" Alison questioned. "We don't even know where the woods end."

"Do you have a better idea?" he asked back harshly.

"Well the cops turned around," Alison pointed out. "We can just go back and then wait for them to leave the park. Then we can take your car and just drive home."

Brady was mad at how much better that plan was. He had never liked how much smarter Alison was than him. He silently agreed with a curt nod and they walked back towards the park.

He snuck a glance at Alison as they walked. Her anger from earlier was gone, now she just looked disheveled...and tired.

Brady and Alison were not that close. Sure, they had known each other there for a couple of years now but Brady's best friend was Max and Alison's best friend had always been Julia. They only hung out because they were dating the other's best friend. They were friends, but at the same time they both knew that if one of the couples broke up, their friendship would not last. Still, he felt bad about the words they had all exchanged earlier.

"I'm sorry about your dad, and Hailey bringing it up," he said quietly. "That's not an easy thing to deal with."

At first her fingers curled into first but then she uncurled them and her expression softened.

"I'm sorry too," Alison said finally. "I shouldn't have lashed out at you guys."

It was quiet between them for a while until they arrived at the parking lot. Brady quickly found his perfect white Porsche all the way on the other side of the lot. Alison looked around and noticed Max's bike and Julia's car still in the parking lot as well.

"Oh no," Brady groaned. "I don't have the key."

"What?" she asked harshly. "Where is it?"

"I must have dropped it somewhere," he said with his head in his hands.