Don't Stand By Me (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER SIX

VIOLET

July 31st: 03:27

I was slowly losing my mind. I had been ever since I had finally come to my senses I realised what a horrible fucking idea this whole ordeal was. It seemed as though I was the only person with any sense as everyone else went along with it with no questions asked. Was it me? Was I the insane person here who thought dragging the dead body of a wanted Mob Boss' son across the country was the worst idea ever? Apparently so. I couldn't go to prison, they'd eat me alive in there. Not to mention my father would absolutely disown me for 'shaming the Hasting's name'. And I had so many plans, so much to do. I couldn't waste half of my life not being able to put those plans in motion.

The thought of going to prison genuinely could have brought me to tears. I wouldn't survive it, and I knew that well. But what else could I do but go along with it? I thought about calling my father; he could get me out of this surely, but I couldn't guarantee that he'd help everyone. Like he said, there's always a patsy. And I couldn't risk that being Kiara. Or Brent, of course. Even though he technically killed him-

"So what's the sleeping arrangements, babe?" Brent wrapped an arm around my waist. I wriggled gently in his hold.

"I think me and the girls are gonna take the queen bed. I'm really shaken and just want them with me. If that's okay?"

Cassie nodded eagerly and Kiara stared at me with wide, questioning eyes. I knew some sort of talk was going to be had between us later. And I was not looking forward to it. She nodded also, still staring at me.

"You can take the couch bed. Elvis and Dixon can have the bunk beds."

"Surely they'll share." Kiara snorted, a wry smile on their face.

"I'm simply giving them the option." I chuckled, pulling a face at her.

Those moments were the ones that jarred me the most from this whole situation. Joking and laughing as if nothing were wrong, but the second that we stopped, all thoughts and emotions came flooding back, twice as painful. Everything we were doing, every second of fear, guilt and pain filling my brain until it suffocated me. It was as if a switch kept flipping back and forth. I hated it so much. If I felt this way, I couldn't imagine how Kiara felt, knowing that if we left enough DNA behind that she would be implicated immediately.

I wonder how they even had her and Brent's DNA in the first place; maybe it was a foster kid thing?

Once we had all clambered up from our seats and pulled out the couch bed, we began setting up for sleep. The sky was beginning to brighten and we needed at least a few hours rest before heading out on the road for such a long journey. Once Brent was tucked in, I gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead and left him to sleep, not really wanting to get into a deep discussion with him about the day. Part of me felt a gnawing guilt, knowing he too had gone through a lot today and likely wanted someone to talk to. I just couldn't bring myself to be the one to do it.

Cassie, Kiara and I stood, a bit away from Brent's snoring form on the couch bed, chatting quietly.

"Surely they'd be back by now?" Cassie looked concerned, "What if something happened?"

"I'm sure they're just fucking." Kiara shrugged, then winced at her own candour, "Sorry, your brother. Must be weird."

Cassie laughed lightly, "Nah honestly, good for him. He never likes guys."

"And Elvis is the best one." I nodded, "By a long shot."

"So's Dixon," Cassie frowned, "Of course they'd have to meet like this."

"Sure love comes when you least expect it, I'd like to think." Kiara smiled softly.

"Yeah." Cassie breathed, gazing at Kiara.