A Second Chance At Life

Down In a Minute

"Woah, Speed Racer over here," Ella said, laughing. I'd taken fifteen minutes to shower, dress, and tiptoe down the stairs.

I gave her a sarcastic smile. "Where are we going?"

"Didn't I say it doesn't matter?" she said with a wink, walking backwards down the driveway. "It's a surprise!"

I became suddenly wary. Surprises were the worst. I began mentally preparing myself to fake enthusiasm.

Ella turned the corner off my driveway and I picked up my pace. When I turned, I saw Dodgezilla. I suddenly remembered its cranky nature.

"Oh my God, Ella, won't it wake everyone up?" I said, starting to panic.

"Psh, she's never woken anyone up so far," she teased, climbing into the cab. By climbing, I mean stepping. That girl was tall. "Come on, Lacey, are you going to let fear run your life? Or are you going to live a little?"

I stared at her warily. On the one hand, no one would wake up, and we could go wherever she planned on taking me. On the other, someone would wake up and find me missing.

I hesitated. "If I get in trouble for this, I'm blaming you," I said, hopping up into the truck.

Ella turned the ignition, and Dodgezilla purred to life. "See? No fire or screeching. I told you it only happens once we hit fifty-five," she said with a smug grin.

She pushed past the house at a smooth twenty miles per hour, and we had nearly made it past when the engine backfired. Her smug grin faded to a look of horror.

I turned in my seat, fully expecting bedroom lights to turn on. "Remember what I said about if we get caught? It's your fault entirely."

Ella kept her eyes on the road, coasting. No lights came on. She flicked her eyes to the rearview mirror, and smiled triumphantly. "And now whose fault will it be?"

"Still yours," I said, clicking my seatbelt in place. "Now, where are we going?"