August 23rd, 2023
"Drive slowly,
I know every route in this county,
And maybe that ain't such a bad thing,
I'll tell you where not to speed..."
Bailey
"First day of senior year, Bailey! Get up!" Grandpa Matt shouts, barging into my room.
I groan, shoving my pillow over my ears before he pulls it away and takes a seat on the edge of my bed.
"None of that. I need you awake for this, I'm in a hurry."
In a hurry? What?
Poking an eye open, I groan my acknowledgment.
"I have to go into the shop early today, and Harlow had to be at school early to fix her schedule for the semester, something about her classes getting mixed up. Anyways," he pauses standing up and backing towards the door. "I called Beckett and asked him to give you a ride. Be ready by 8:30 and meet him outside, okay? I love you Bailey, have a great last first day and send me a picture of you and Harlow, bye!"
"I will, I love you too, bye," I groan out, happy it's not loud anymore and turning back into my pillow for more sleep.
He's always barging in here in the mornings to say random crap, I love him for it, and sometimes I catch what he says, but barely.
He's going to work now.
Wren's schedule is wrong.
He can't take me to school.
Beckett's giving me a ride.
8:30.
Picture of me and Wren.
He's going to work now.
Wren's schedule is wrong.
He can't take me to school.
Beckett's giving me a ride.
8:30.
Picture of me and Wren.
My eyes pop wide open, as if my brain just registered what it was repeating on a loop.
No, I'm half asleep. I didn't hear him right.
I turn over to grab my phone from the nightstand so I can call my grandfather and ask him to repeat what he said. But when I turn on my phone and read my most recent notification, I already have the confirmation I was looking for.
Unknown Number: Hey Bailey, it's Beckett. I told Grandpa Matt I'd give you a ride to school today. I'll be ready by 8:30 and meet you outside?
And immediately after I read it, a text from my next murder victim comes through.
Grandpa Matt: Don't be mad, I really did have to be at work early, and I really did call Harlow first. Boyo was my last option. I love you, Bailey! Have the best last first day!
I respond to my grandfather first, telling him I'm expecting him to cook a good dinner tonight to make up for this. To which he replies he will, and then I go back to Beckett's message.
Saving his number in my phone, I hesitate before typing a reply, deleting it, typing another reply, rereading it, and pressing send.
Me: Thank you, Beckett. See you then.
I stare at the message for a beat, and wonder how I went from never speaking to him, to him having my phone number all of a sudden. Checking the time, I get my second scare of the morning.
8:00.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Shooting out of bed, I hurriedly threw open my closet door to start looking for something for my last first day of high school.
YOU ARE READING
to live for the hope of it all.
Romance"If you are ever lucky enough to come across something so beautiful it shifts your whole world, don't ever let that go." Beckett Davis: I've been in love with Bailey Connors since I was 7 years old and she gave me back my soccer ball. We've been nei...
