stars will fall - byler

.5

i turned my body around when i heard a voice coming from the couch as i walked to the front door the next morning.
-"where the hell are you going?" my father groaned.
-"i'm going on that camping trip?" i looked at him and his new weekly girlfriend that sat on the couch together, smoking and watching television.
-"what camping trip?"
-"i told you about this a few days ago." i lightly groaned, annoyed he was acting so oblivious.
-"i didn't think you were being serious."
-"well, i was."
-"how long will you be gone?" he asked with his lungs full of smoke.
-"until friday night."
-"it's wednesday morning, will." he mentioned.
-"i realize." i sarcastically responded.
-"watch your tone, or you're not going anywhere!" he snapped, making me want to punch him in his face. he rolled his eyes and leaned back into the couch.
-"can i leave now?" i motioned my hands at the door.
-"yeah, whatever." he mumbled, focused on the tv.
i rolled my eyes and walked out the door, harshly closing it shut.
i tossed my backpack in the trunk before jumping in the drivers seat and heading towards my friends houses, picking each of them up one by one.

after everyone was in, the last one to pick up was mike. i drove my car on the bridge over the eno river to get to mikes neighborhood.
i pulled up outside his house and waited for him to come out. we sat there while listening to music for what seemed like forever, waiting.

-"is he still coming or what?" dustin whined
-"i'll go get him." i groaned, hopping out of my car and making my way to the front door. i rung the doorbell once, waiting to hear a response from the other side but nothing came from inside the house. i rang it a few more times before i was greeted with ted at the front door.
-"is mike here?"
-"yeah, somewhere." he yawned, letting me inside. i looked at my friends in the car before entering behind him, watching him walk away after shutting the door. i walked up the stairs of the house, assuming he was still asleep since it was nearly 10:30, but his bedroom was empty. i groaned at the mess he left in his room before walking back downstairs and looking around the house. i stopped in the kitchen when i heard voices coming from behind the basement door. i peaked my ear through the cracked door to get a closer listen.
-"no, el.. i'm sorry! i just never get to see them anymore." mikes voice defended, apparently talking to el on the phone.
-"no, i cant cancel. i've canceled too many times already, i can't just constantly put you over them!"

i tried to hear what el was saying on the other side but it was too low for me to hear.

-"el, i promise.. i'll come right over after we get home. it's just 2 days. i'll talk to you soon, bye."

i walked away from the door when i could hear footsteps coming from behind the basement door. i ran towards the front door and acted like i have been waiting for him when he came up.
-"shit, sorry for the wait." he apologized, grabbing his bag from the stairs and pulling it over his back.
-"you ready?" i opened the front door and walked outside with him.

he got in the very back behind lucas and max after putting his bag in the trunk.
-"finally!" lucas groaned.
-"thought you ditched us again." dustin complained.
-"would you shut up?" mike rolled his eyes before pulling his headphones over his ears, acting unusually snappy.
i pulled out of the driveway, beginning the drive to the campground, preparing myself for the long drive.

about an hour into the drive, i noticed my gas tank was on empty. i looked in my rearview mirror and chuckled when i saw lucas sleeping against the window and dustin snoring and drooling over his shoulder. i looked behind them and saw mike facing out the window with a gloomy look over his face.
i knew it was about the phone call earlier.
i wonder why el was so mad about him leaving with us.. she's never usually so controlling.
-"i'm going to get gas real quick." i mentioned to max in the passenger seat as i pulled up to the gas station. i parked the car and left the keys in as i got out.