Earth to Eli

Chapter 8

~Vance~

Everything happens in a blur. One second, I'm grinding Sam's face into the concrete driveway- which was well deserved. Fast forward a few more seconds and I notice Eli trying to break up the fight. Fast forward to now where I'm being slammed roughly up against a cop car.

"You're under arrest for disorderly conduct, whatever you say can and will be held against you in a court of law," The officer drones on, going through the rights that I technically don't have.

To my satisfaction and relief, Sam has already been put in hand cuffs and into a separate squad car. To my dismay, so has Eli. I hear Charlotte behind me pleading with the officers to release him.

"You know you should let Eli go, he was only trying to break up the fight," I demand to the officer currently putting me in cuffs.

"I can't do that until we take him in for questioning, now quit your yapping and get in the damn car," The officer commands.

I hear Veronica's wailing cries for attention from somewhere in the crowd. Even in all of the chaos, her voice grates on every nerve in my body.

"NO! Please don't take my baby, officer!" She shrills dramatically like a damsel in distress. My eyes roll back in my head and a scowl forms on my face one last time before the officer pushes me down into the cop car.

"Don't worry, Vance! My Daddy has the best lawyer in New York, we'll get you out!" She sobs with crocodile tears and mascara streaming down her lovely face.

I get one more fervent glance at Charlotte before the cop car begins to pull away from the curb. My stomach clenches involuntarily when I notice her staring straight back at me, deep into my soul.

Pure and unadulterated malice and hatred is written on her face. She really despises me. Why does this cause a small ache to form in the place my heart once was? She mouths the words 'you're dead.'

On the route to the police station, the car takes an unexpected turn into a parking lot. We pull up in front of what looks to be a brunch cafe.

"Wait right here. I'll be back," The officer barks at me over his shoulder. "Oh yeah, as if I have any other choice," I scoff with sarcasm. He slams the door firmly in my face and runs into the restaurant.

I take this as my opportunity to enact my plan to freedom. Thanks to that dim wit for leaving the police car running, my escape will be quite effortless.

I focus my attention on the electricity coursing through the running vehicle. Electricity is an element I've always had an affinity for, so I tap into the energy instantly.

When I hear the satisfying click sound of the doors unlocking, I slip out of the back seat and manage to get the driver's side door open, my hands still cuffed behind my back.

Just as I'd suspected, dim wit also left the handcuff keys resting on the passenger seat. I hastily guide the key into the lock and free my hands from their prison. Instead of putting the handcuffs in the car, I pocket them. I'll use these later.

I walk briskly to the main road and hail a taxi, urgently directing them towards the University.

Upon entering the dorm room, something immediately feels off. The door is unlocked, and the lights are on. It doesn't take me long to discover why.

Charlotte sits at the sofa with her legs crossed and fingers tapping impatiently on the coffee table. She's been waiting for me. The moment I step across the threshold, she pounces.

"What the hell were you thinking? You got Eli arrested!"

"I could ask the same question of you. Sam? really? Your standards must be in the pits of hell, going for something like him," I can't stop the words from bitterly crawling from my lips.

"You're such a prick," she sneers.

"What would that make you then? A saint? Pretty sure a saint would never do the things you have done," I fire back. This jab seems to land hard, a pained look briefly flashes in her eyes. I want to retract my words immediately after they leave my mouth.

The hurt on her face is gone so quickly that I question whether it was there to begin with. Her expression shifts back to fury, and she storms out of the dorm.

"Wait, where the fuck are you going?" I demand.

"To break Eli out of jail obviously, something no one else is going to do," With that, she slams the door forcefully in my face.

Things are eerily silent in here without Eli. I think of him scared and alone in a jail cell, or worse. I can't remember the last time I've felt truly remorseful for my actions.

I guess there is a first for everything.