The Bad Idea

✨ Chapter Eleven | Plates

— Aubrey —

My feet ached within minutes of running down the streets of downtown LA for my fucking life, but it was a pain easily overshadowed by the adrenaline surge caused by the fear of getting my fucking face pummeled.

I thought I'd lost them through the alley, only for the black lowrider to zip through a side street and chase me through the neighborhood, while I resorted to hopping over fences and running through yards.

I couldn't keep running like this.

I was fucking horrified. If they were just going to teach me a lesson earlier, they'd kill me now for sure.

I was a dead man.

Even if I lost them, they'd find me eventually.

I felt the tears of regret and panic well up... I missed my grandpa. I couldn't believe this was happening to me. I missed waking up to his homemade croissants, the way he made cappuccinos so perfectly. I missed his gardening, and the roses we planted. I missed the way he was always there when I needed someone, when I had nothing and no one else...

I nearly ran head-first into the blue car that had just slammed on its brakes directly in front of me. My palms slammed against the hood and I pushed myself off, stunned.

I could barely catch my breath as the pitch-black window slowly rolled down.

"Oh, hey. You're fucking hot, what's your name, short-stuff?"

"W-what?!"

It was Eli.

It was Eli in his stupid blue Subaru with a tattooed hand on the wheel as he leaned an elbow out of the driver's side window.

"Oh my God...!! Eli, I --"

"I'm looking for my boyfriend -- you seen him?" Eli smirked. "He's short, but you can tell he works out. His hair is fucking gorgeous, but not as gorgeous as his tight, round little ass --"

"Eli, I'm straight up about to be murdered right now, dude!"

He laughed. "Oh right... He also makes stupid fucking deals with gangsters, and doesn't tell me. And then he tries to take care of it all on his own when he knows better --" He glared, still smiling. "What the fuck, Aubrey?"

He looked me up and down for a second, grinning, and my heart raced.

He wasn't...furious with me?

He wasn't shocked?

He wasn't scared?

I turned around, panic still on my face as we both saw the black car take a turn too fast. It knocked over the corner house's mailbox at the far end of the neighborhood street we were on before it started heading straight for us.

"Get in the car, maybe?" He suggested, still managing to sport a wide grin with a hand on the steering wheel when I turned around to look at him like a deer in headlights.

My heart pounded into my chest and I threw myself into Eli's car, struggling with my shaking hands to put the seat belt into its mated lock.

Eli slammed the gas and gunned it, tires screeching while I felt my stomach swing up into my throat.

"Holy shit, Eli!" Tears of relief were now replacing the feelings I had earlier. "Eli, I'm so sorry..." I gasped for air, my mind racing. "How were you... How did you..."

"Ricky told me."

"...What?!"

"He heard from Patrick. I guess they're dating now or some shit, since yesterday when I sent Ricky to get the guys coffee for the second day in a row -- how weird right? I definitely didn't see that coming..."