No Way Out

Shay- The Great Car Heist

The following week, Shay's life took a turn she hadn't seen coming. It went from slightly sketchy to flat-out criminal, the kind of situation you only hear about in wild stories told to scare kids into staying on the straight and narrow. Up until then, she'd managed to keep things under control—well, mostly. Despite Keisha's crazy schemes and Trey's shady "business ventures," Shay had kept her distance. She was supposed to be the smart one, after all. But now, here she was, staring down the barrel of what could only be described as the most ridiculous—and completely unnecessary—car heist of all time.

As always, it started with one of Keisha's so-called brilliant ideas.

"Shay, we need wheels," Keisha announced one evening, pacing back and forth in Shay's tiny living room like she was masterminding some elaborate bank robbery. "Trey's got some business he needs handled, and we gotta help him out."

Shay, who was currently attempting to focus on anything other than the mess her life was becoming, let out a groan from the couch. "Keisha, I don't know what you're cooking up, but we are not stealing a car."

Keisha stopped mid-pace, throwing her hands up dramatically. "We're not stealing it!" she protested, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "We're borrowing it. Trey's ex owes him money or something, and we're just gonna, you know, retrieve what's his."

Shay blinked, disbelief flooding her expression. "Keisha, that is literally stealing."

Keisha waved her off, like Shay was missing the point entirely. "Girl, it's a technicality. We're reclaiming what's his. Ain't nobody gonna call it stealing when it's a matter of principle."

Shay buried her face in her hands, letting out a long, exasperated sigh. "This is insane. I am not getting arrested because you and Trey are trying to pull some hood justice nonsense. Do you hear yourself?"

Keisha sat beside her, nudging Shay's arm with a pout so exaggerated it bordered on comical. "Come on, Shay. This could be the break you need to get that tuition money! Think about it. Plus, it's gonna be easy. Trey's ex is out of town for the weekend. We go in, grab the car, and get out. No big deal."

Shay raised an eyebrow, her voice thick with sarcasm. "Keisha, this is grand theft auto. You can't just gloss over that like we're borrowing a cup of sugar from the neighbors."

Keisha shrugged. "Same energy, really."

Despite knowing better—and with the mounting pressure of tuition hanging over her head—Shay found herself behind the wheel of a beat-up Honda Civic later that night, questioning every single life choice that had led her here. The Civic, of course, belonged to Trey's ex-girlfriend. It was a clunker—rusted, rattling, and barely holding itself together. But somehow, it had become the centerpiece of this entire scheme.

Keisha, seated next to her in the passenger seat, was grinning from ear to ear, like they were on some kind of joyride instead of committing an actual crime. Meanwhile, Shay's knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel too hard, her heart racing as they rolled down the dimly lit streets.

"We're gonna be fine," Keisha said, far too casual for someone who was in the middle of a car theft. "Just relax and drive."

Shay shot her a look that could've melted steel. "I swear, Keisha, if we get caught, I am never speaking to you again."

Keisha rolled her eyes. "Girl, calm down. Ain't nobody catching us. It's not like we're boosting a Ferrari—it's a Civic."

Somehow, that wasn't as comforting as Keisha seemed to think it was.

As they cruised through the quiet streets, Shay felt the weight of what they were doing settle over her like a pile of bricks. This wasn't just running errands for RayRay or helping out with a little side hustle. This was a whole other level of illegal. They were in the deep end now, and Shay wasn't sure she could swim her way out.

Sensing her tension, Keisha reached over and turned up the volume on the radio, trying to ease the mood. "Hey, don't worry so much. We're just helping Trey. Once this is done, you'll have your tuition money, and we can leave all this behind."

Shay let out a long sigh, her eyes glued to the road ahead. "I really hope you're right, Keisha. Because right now, I'm one wrong turn away from a full-on panic attack."

Things were going relatively smoothly—until they weren't. Shay pulled into the apartment complex where Trey's ex-girlfriend lived, the Civic rattling as it came to a stop. Keisha sat up straighter, squinting through the windshield.

"Wait a second," Keisha muttered, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the parking lot. "Is that—oh, hell no."

Shay's stomach dropped. "What now?"

Keisha pointed out the window toward another beat-up Civic, parked just across from them. Standing next to it, glaring right in their direction, was none other than Trey's ex-girlfriend—who was very much not out of town.

"Keisha," Shay hissed, her voice barely controlled. "You said she was gone for the weekend!"

"I thought she was!" Keisha whispered back, ducking down in her seat. "How was I supposed to know she'd be here?"

Shay's heart pounded in her chest as Trey's ex locked eyes with them, her expression shifting from confusion to anger in a heartbeat. This was bad. Really bad.

"She's coming over here," Keisha muttered, sliding even lower in her seat.

Shay's pulse raced. "Oh my God, Keisha. We need to get out of here."

But before they could make a move, the ex marched over to their car, her arms crossed, her face set in a glare. Shay's heart sank as she knocked on the driver's side window.

With no other option, Shay rolled the window down, praying this wouldn't escalate into something worse.

"What the hell are y'all doing in my car?" the ex demanded, her tone sharp.

Shay opened her mouth to explain, but Keisha, queen of chaos, jumped in first.

"Uh... this isn't your car," Keisha said, her voice dripping with fake innocence. "We're, um, just borrowing it."

Shay's jaw dropped. Borrowing it? Seriously?

The ex wasn't having it. "Borrowing it? You're straight-up stealing it! I'm calling Trey, and you better have a damn good reason for why you're in my ride."

Panic surged through Shay. This was spiraling out of control fast. She turned to Keisha, who seemed to be floundering, her usual confidence slipping.

"Keisha, we need to go. Now," Shay whispered, her hands shaking as she reached for the ignition.

Keisha, still trying to salvage the situation, leaned out the window. "Wait, wait! Trey said you owed him money, and we were just... you know, helping him out by taking the car as collateral."

The ex's eyes blazed with fury. "Oh, he said that, did he? Well, guess what? I don't owe him a damn thing! And if y'all don't get out of my car right now, I'm calling the cops."

Shay's blood ran cold. "Keisha. Now."

Before Trey's ex could make another move, Shay started the car, the engine sputtering to life. She slammed on the gas, the Civic rattling as it sped out of the parking lot, leaving Trey's ex standing in the dust, fuming.

As they raced down the street, Shay's heart pounded in her ears. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

"That was the stupidest thing we've ever done," Shay said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Keisha, somehow unfazed, shrugged. "Eh, could've been worse."

Shay shot her a disbelieving look. "Worse? How could it possibly be worse?"

Keisha smirked, kicking her feet up on the dash like they'd just pulled off the perfect crime. "Well, we didn't get arrested, did we?"

Shay groaned, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "Keisha, I swear, if I survive this, you owe me big."

Keisha grinned. "Girl, I got you. Just wait till the next heist."

Shay didn't respond. She didn't have the energy.

4o