Don't Stand By Me (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER SEVEN

KIARA

JULY 31ST: 15:52

This heat was fucking killing me. Even with the windows wide open and the fresh air spilling in, I was still sweating like a pig. Dixon had decided to bake cupcakes that morning to 'cheer us up' and to rid the RV of the smell of fresh corpse, so the heat from the oven had taken hours to finally float out the window; it was stifling. It didn't help that it felt like a sex van, and of course I was the only one not getting any. Dixon and Elvis were joined at the hip, flirting and giggling since they had woken up in a way that was both sickeningly sweet and weirdly inappropriate. I was gracious enough to pretend I hadn't heard them moaning and groaning when Cassie and I had finally decided to go to sleep - they owed me for that.

Something was even going on with Brent and Violet, who had barely spoken after their weird moment when Violet tried to grope him followed by her climbing into bed with us. But with them, it seemed off. While they were cuddling and sharing kisses, Violet had a faraway look in her eyes I couldn't decipher. It was strange, seeing her distant in a way where she wasn't even speaking to me about it. There were times in the past where I had to beg her to stop telling me what was going on between her and Brent.

She had seemed in good spirits, though glued to her phone whenever Brent turned his head away. Which, with the amount of water he was drinking, was quite often. My mind was elsewhere, only taking small sips of my juice and gazing out the back window of the trailer, where Dixon's small car was easily visible. I watched as it swayed along the road, unable to tear my gaze away. There was a man there. A literal human being was shoved carelessly into the trunk like he was an old sleeping bag. My brain could make out the sounds of everyone around me; Cassie humming behind the wheel, Dixon and Elvis in fits of laughter over some story Violet was telling while Brent dozed off next to her, oddly quiet.

I stood, ignoring the chattering of the other three and made my way to the front of the RV, plopping down in the passenger seat.

"Hello there." Cassie smiled, eyes trained on the side of the road.

I took the time to properly take her in, her side profile shining in the sunlight. She was gorgeous, tanned and dark featured, her rounded face with a dainty nose pointed high.

"Hi." I supplied quietly, tilting my head.

"You like to stare, doncha?"

"Maybe you're just nice to stare at."

Fuck.

"Is that so?" The corner of her mouth tilted up in a smirk, "I would say the same but I just can't take my eyes off that beautiful Ford Fiesta in front of us right now."

I released the breath I was holding with a chuckle. I was being stupid. Last night, when Violet had cheerfully called both of us gay before promptly passing out, it had been awkward briefly. I knew she had done it on purpose, to push me towards the other girl, but I couldn't help but panic. My mind was flooding with possibilities, the worst of which being she was insanely uncomfortable around me and Violet had read her completely wrong. But judging off the smile on her face and the ease of her tone, maybe Violet had done me a favour.

"Are you holding up okay?" Her tone was soft, likely to shield our conversation from everyone else.

I smiled, but it felt strained, "Alright, considering. It still doesn't feel real."

"Same here. I'm half expecting Dixon to run for the hills. But he seems a bit too smitten at least."

"How nice for them," I drawled, "falling in love in the middle of a crime."