Disconnected

November 29th 2014

Nov. 29th, 2014

    Audrey didn't know why she'd been woken up at one in the morning and told to meet Karson at Chick-fil-a. She was pretty sure it wasn't even open yet, so what was the point? She showed up anyway in a distressed blue sweater, some UGG boots, a cream beanie, and a random pair of jeans.

    When she got out of her car she quickly realized that everyone else was dressed in pretty much all black. Andi's face sort of screwed up when she saw Audrey. "What the fuck are you wearing?"

    Audrey threw her head back and groaned. "No one told me about the dress code."

    Bradley turned to look at Karson. "Did you invite her? I thought we agreed only Andi was coming."

    Andi couldn't help but smile when Bradley said that. She knew it sounded mean, but she and Bradley hadn't had sex in a while and she was beginning to wonder if his interest in her was waning. They'd almost had sex on Thanksgiving but had gotten into another fight instead.

    When Andi turned to look at Audrey the smile dropped off her face. Audrey looked hurt. "Why didn't you guys want me here?"

    Bradley and Karson exchanged a look. "It's just that Bradley and I are about to do something kind of illegal and we need someone to film. The first person we thought of was Andi because she's Bradley's girlfriend and she's normally the one, out of you two, that's less of a goody-two shoes." Karson smiled sheepishly at the end. Audrey still looked hurt and all of a sudden Andi looked mad.

    "What do you mean kind of illegal?"

    "We're going to break into the Chick-fil-a playground for dare week."

    Andi stepped closer to Bradley and stood on her tiptoes so they were chest to chest and eye to eye. "If you go through with this and we get caught, it's over. We're done."

    Bradley swallowed hard. Karson, behind him, was so shocked he'd stopped unpacking the camera equipment. His jaw was practically on the ground. "Andi- don't. You and Bradley-"

    "Have been off for a while now. If he's going to start acting stupid I want out."

    Audrey was shocked too. She met Bradley's gaze and started to shake her head. It was her subtle way of telling him not to go through with it, but this was Bradley's stupid thing to make Andi mad. This was his free ticket out. She'd call it all off and he wouldn't have to break her. He'd come out unscathed in the end and she could be with Karson. He'd be good for her. He's smart.

    Andi noticed Bradley's eyes soften and she turned around to see Audrey staring right back. Andi squinted over at her and Audrey after a second switched her watery gaze to Andi. Audrey hated break-ups. They were always so sad and emotional and sometimes even angry. She knew this would be all three.

    Bradley snapped out of whatever trance he was in and started to head towards the playground. "Ready Karson?"

    Karson locked eyes with a sad Audrey and then an angry Andi. "Yeah, I'm coming." Then he scampered off after Bradley after handing Audrey the camera.

    Audrey sniffled a bit and shivered. She felt so dumb for forgetting a coat. She turned the camera on and hit record before following the boys through the gate they'd cut the lock off of and into the playground area.

    "Am I supposed to follow you guys into the actual play thing?"

    "Ummm...yes?"

    Audrey rolled her eyes. "You guys owe me big time."

    Audrey climbed the ladder and followed them into the tunnel.

    Out in the parking lot Andi was grumbling and kicking rocks while hoping that no one noticed the four random cars in the Chick-fil-a parking lot. Sadly, that did not happen.

    The police showed up. "What's going on here?"

    "My idiot boyfriend and his best friend have roped my friend into filming them breaking into the playground for a YouTube video."

    The cop motioned for his partner to follow him into the playground. "Do they have weapons?"

    "No," Andi heard herself scoff.

    "Where in the play thing are they?"

    "I can get them down for you."

    "Why thank you."

    "May I see your bullhorn?"

    "Sure?" The cop hesitantly handed over the bullhorn.

    Andi put it up to her mouth, "Would the two huge ass holes please get out of the slide? Audrey, you too."

^^^

    An hour later they were all in a holding cell. Except Andi, she was on the other side notifying parents. Or trying to. The problem was they were all asleep.

    Eventually Audrey curled up in the corner using her hat as a pillow. Karson sprawled out on the floor like a starfish. Bradley didn't go to sleep. He sat on the bench at the back staring vacantly into the space above Andi's head. Andi recognized that look. It was what he used to wear a lot when he'd messed something up on purpose to get out of a relationship. It was a mix of guilt and relief.

    Andi approached the holding cell and snapped her fingers until Bradley came back down to earth. She motioned for him to come close. "You did this on purpose."

    "I-I-I feel like subconsciously it was on purpose yeah, but I honestly didn't think we'd get caught."

    Andi rolled her eyes. "I get it okay. But why couldn't you just break up with me like a normal person? I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

    "I just, I didn't want to be over you, but I was and I thought maybe it would hurt less for you if you did the breaking up."

    "Well, it doesn't," Andi snapped.

    Bradley sighed and hung his head, "I royally fucked up."

    Andi sighed. "Yeah, you did. Promise me one thing."

    "What?"

    "Give me time."

    "Like, leave you alone?"

    "No, we can be friends. I still enjoy your company, but you know how jealous I get and, just give me some time okay?"

    Bradley furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't-"

    "Somewhere inside the brain of yours, you understand me. You're just in denial you ass hat."

^^^

    Audrey's parents arrived first, followed shortly after by Karson's parents. Audrey was grounded on the spot, even after Bradley and Karson explained that it was really their faults. Karson was grounded too, so was Bradley. The only person to come out unscathed was Andi and boy did it feel good to be on the top of the dog pile.