Country Mile

NOT DARING TO LOOK BACK

Genevieve Henderson hadn't always been a "good" girl. Like most teenagers, she went through a rebel phase. She had landed herself in some serious trouble once before, but never, had she ever, run from the police.

The night's brisk wind in her hair made every part of her feel electric. Adrenaline was coursing through her with every heavy pound of her heart. Her mind was in a state she'd never experienced before; maybe it was the beer, maybe it was the chase, maybe it was the boy whose hand was locked onto her's. She wasn't quite sure which had her feeling higher, but she knew she wasn't ready to come back down.

She looked up at Archer when she saw him glance her way. His blue eyes held a shine unlike anything she'd ever seen before, and the smile spreading across his lips made it clear that he knew it.

Whether she was ready or not, she was coming down from her high, rather abruptly, when flashlights no longer waved from behind them, but in their faces. They froze at the sight of two more cruisers and four more police officers all gathering up the kids who managed to get around the officers by the field.

"Well, shit," Logan spat. "My brother's gonna fuckin' kill me if they impound his car."

"I think we all have a little more to worry about considerin' we all reek of smoke an' alcohol, underage." Delilah said defeated.

"ALRIGHT YOU FOUR!" an officer shouted while pulling out a small notebook. "COME WITH ME."

They slowly ambled their way to the officer and stood at the back of his cruiser.

"I'm assuming none of you are over 21, am I correct?"

The group nodded sadly.

"And did any of you partake in drinking alcoholic beverages this evening?"

The officer waited, but he knew no truthful answer was going to be given. He shook his head in disapproval. "Your wide eyes and silence aren't very convincin' of your innocence, but regardless, I can smell it on y'all from here."

"You," he said pointing a pen at Archer. "Full name and date of birth."

"Um, Archer Reid Hindley. April 22nd, 2006."

The officer jotted down his info. "You," he said pointing to Logan.

"Logan Craig Summers. March 27th, 2006."

"You."

"Delilah Katherine Prescott. August 5th, 2006."

"And you."

"Genevieve Lily Henderson. April 23rd, 2006."

Archer gave her a smile at their birthdays being but a single day apart.

"What a strange world," Archer said.

Genna beamed up at him, butterflies erupting in her belly for the hundredth time that evening. "The strangest."

The officer gave a slight roll of his eyes when he noticed the look on their faces. "Ooookay, love birds, time to fly."

"Officer Nunez," he called out. A dark haired woman stepped away from her cruiser and briskly walked over to the group.

"What's up."

"Take these girls down to the station, I'll follow behind you with these guys."

"My pleasure." She made a sweeping motion with her arm, "Right this way, ladies," she invited.

The pairs reluctantly parted. The girls climbed into the back of the cruiser. Aside from the dispatcher's calls coming in over Officer Nunez's radio, the ride was silent. The closer they got to the station the stronger those butterflies grew in Genna's stomach, but for a very different reason. Her sister's jittery energy was starting to overwhelm her.