Partners In Crime

22 Pry

"How did you know?"
"Please. I wasn't born yesterday."
This was undeniably true. It's not like Rodney was doing a good job of covering his tracks. For a second he didn't know what to do. Johnny Boy knew too much and he was far beyond denying it.

"Does anyone else know?" That was the main thing he wanted an answer to. Because other than Maddie, he wasn't sure if there were others.
"Not that I know of, no. You should be grateful I haven't ratted you out yet. But I'm no snitch."
Suddenly, the arrogant, buzz-cut boy's face was a sneer.
"Well even if you were to snitch," Rods began. "I would deny it."
"Why do you do it anyway?"
"Because this school is a dump. I need to get away from it all."
"That compensation doesn't justify throwing your education for."
"You're the one to talk. Why do you do all those pranks?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you!" Johnny exclaimed.
Rodney had his back facing him, not noticing lights appearing abruptly around him.
"Well, that's the last time I'm ever talking to you!" he was acting like a petulant petty child.
It got blindingly brighter and brighter as if the two were being swallowed whole.
Next was the sound of a low roar of an engine, getting louder and louder, to the point where Johnty acknowledged it.
"Run." Johnny's voice was soft but hearable.
Rodney covered his ears.
"La la la! I can't hear you!"
"RUN!" Johnty screeched.
That seemed to do the trick as the boy lowered his arms, ambivalent. Then he screamed.

A Rolls-Royce Sweptail thundered down the road towards the breathless boys. Its wheels were highly powered washing machines. Its endearingly dangerous sleek paintwork was drenched in rainwater and its windscreen wipers were scarily stagnant. The car was charging them at a rapid speed. What was it? Ten in a five-speed limit?
Regardless it was terrifying. It was something that came right out of a horror game. The boys bailed.
There was nowhere to hide and there was no time to stop. The kids didn't know where the car came from nor did they care. What matters is that they stay alive. The next few minutes with the decisions they make would be dependent on their improbable survival.
They rushed into the C Block right when the car was seconds away from running them over. It Toyko drifted, speeding away.

Inside, the kids spat out some of the water and wiped themselves down. It took a while. The rain started to die down and the storm was gone, but not before leaving destruction in its wake. It felt like a fever dream, but it was all too real. Thankfully, it was over...for now.

"That just happened," Johnty wheezed.
"Yep." Rodney agreed. "You don't tell a single soul."
"We almost got killed and you want us to keep quiet?"
"They're not going to believe us anyway. Besides, you said you're no snitch. Don't snitch."

He then went back downstairs.

_____________________________

"You mean to tell us the whole time we've been going on a wild goose chase?!" Derick's head was spinning.
"It's more of a red herring." Johnty corrected pedantically. "But that's beside the point!"
"We almost turned into pancakes in an old-fashioned hit-and-run. And that's your only takeaway?"
"You're right. I'm sorry." Derick apologised. He felt nauseous. Something tells him that those two weren't the driver targets. This brings into question: why go after Charlotte? Was she behind something the others don't know about? Or was she just part of the crossfires? Based on what Johnty said, Derick knows for a fact it's door number two.
"It's just a lot to take in. So why did you tell me now?"
"Kids got suspended, grounded for three months and forced to work part-time to pay off the damages. I think it's safe to say that I'm snitch-free."

His best friend had a point. But with Rodeny, you could never tell. The boy was manipulative and selfish. But he's also cunning, strategic and dastardly. Derick, Chelsea, Johnty...everyone got played by his hands, all pawns of his elaborate and convoluted chessboard. And yet, Derick wasn't surprised.
"Where did he go?"
"I dunno. And I frankly didn't care. I had my scars to heal, so I did what I did on the roundabout. The rest was history. Do you think he caused the fire alarm?"