You Are the Key

Chapter Two:

“Do I wanna hear the good or the bad news first?”

I was with Zoe when she was told she couldn’t go with us to New York. She’d have to get a ride with Eric, or she’d have to stay home. She wanted to come with us so bad, and was immediately pissed off when she heard exactly what parts of the plan were being switched around. It was understandable, though. Nobody had ever planned this… this little cancerous lump in our excursion. Nobody would ever dare to even think it.

“Why, is your girlfriend going? Tell me Steph isn’t calling shotgun and that you’re not replacing me.” Zoe paused. “I could beat her ass!”

“Zo, what’s wrong?” I asked and she shushed me. Soon the phone was on speaker.

“Shaun has to bring her along, or she’s gonna make up some shit story that were going to New York to buy drugs or something.” It was Gavin on the phone.

“Well, did she threaten Shaun, or you? It’s your fucking car.”

 “Zoe, how do you think I feel? If Jackie goes to the cops and tells them anything about drugs, they’re not even going to listen to the rest of what she has to say – and we’re gonna get arrested. You know how much coke Bran’s gonna bring, too, and if we get pulled over, because we have the cops on our asses, then we’re all done for.” His sigh was audible, and sizzled over the connection. “You’re gonna have to ride with Eric...”

“Doesn’t Eric have a full car anyways?” I asked.

“Who’s that? Robbie?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” I said, curious on who all would be staying in the cabin with us once we got to camp. “Who’s gonna be riding with Eric?”

“I think it’s gonna be him, Carson and Dee. Plus, he’s loading up the Bronco with everyone’s stuff. If you don’t mind sitting next to Dee and Carson, then I don’t think he’d care if you went along with him, Zo.”

“But Eric’s a real a-hole.” Zoe groaned and fell back onto the bed.

“Anyways, that’s the bad news; the good news is that you won’t have to room with him if you don’t want to. Robbie and Brandon will share a room. Shaun and his sister are gonna share a room. Dee and Carson are gonna share and Eric’ll get his own room. Either that or I’ll share with him and you get your own, or you can room with me.” His voice crackled on the other line.

“He’s such an idiot for telling her that he was going. Shaun shouldn’t’ve said a damn word to Jacklyn.” Zo hit her pillow. “She’s gonna ruin everything with her Jesus Freak talk, too. You know she’s gonna try and force the Holy Ghost down our throats.” She huffed out a sigh and I laughed, knowing it was true.

Brandon was asleep on the floor just a few feet away and I tapped him with my foot. “You’re gonna hurt your back.” I told him and he sat up, ruffling his hair. Bran mumbled a few incoherent words and crawled up onto the bed, laying his head in my lap.