The Immortal's Gamble

Chapter 29 Road Trip

"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" A voice screamed into my ear, their arms shaking me awake. Not in the mood for such things, I groaned and turned over, taking with me a pillow over my face. It was too damn early for all this.

"What do you want?" I growled, sitting up and pulling my hair up into a pony tail, it was battle lost. I wasn't going to get anymore sleep with the person here. Standing in front of me was a bright looking Bri who was smiling at me as though we were going to Disneyland. Narrowing my eyes at her, I swung my legs off the bed and went into the toilet. But my movements were too slow and she followed me in.

"What do you want now Bri?" I mumbled with a toothbrush in my mouth. She was practically vibrating on the spot, like... Hah. I smirked to myself only to have her fingers in my face snapping at me.

"Now who's the one not listening?" She smirked and I grumbled out a sorry. "Listen alright, I said, we're going to the beach!" She screamed and bounced up and down. The beach? A smile played on my lips only for it to fall when I remembered what happened between Arden and I.

"Laura, what happened?" Arden pleaded as we walked to the car. Looking straight, I ignored him but my resolve was dissolving.

He unlocked the door and we got in, but just before we entered our street, he took a detour.

"If you're not going to talk, I'm going to make you talk." He stared ahead at the road that was turning to foilage, speeding his way deep into the forest. My heart thumped at the thought of what he was going to do.

"Stop being so childish, Arden please." I groaned, "Let's go back. It's getting late." I pleaded but the stubborn bull was just driving straight ahead. Until a good fifteen minutes passed, and we were nowhere near civilisation.

"Now, will you speak?" He asked, then gently adding, "Please?"

"What do you want me to say? It was a one time thing, I promise it will not happen again." I rattled off my standard list of excuses, but he made a sound of annoyance and turned in his seat to face me, staring at me with a raised eyebrow. His every expression told me that he wasn't going to let me go without an explaination.

"Must you really know?" I sighed and he nodded with determination, his eyes sparkled as he inched closer to victory.

"Even Bri was pissed off. Talk to me, what happened Laura?"

"I-" I sighed mentally rearranging my thoughts before deciding to start from the beginning.

"Charles Kingsley, he has always been that good looking and always in his best attire. And perhaps his dimples helped made him look less predatory." I shook my head, "I thought I was the luckiest girl in the entire world when he asked me out. A few months into the relationship it was clear what he wanted, sex. Days before our sixth month, I broke it off. Coincidentally, there was a party going on, and not wanting me to be moping around at home, Bri insisted I go with her."

"Oh Laura.." He whispered but it was just the beginning and I carried on talking.

"I wasn't much of a drinker so I stuck with the ciders. Until Charles came over with a drink, claiming that despite things being over he wanted toast to our relationship. So I accepted it. Next thing I knew, I was struggling against him in bed. He tore my dress off, and had his way with me. Until the door opened and he froze on top of me like a deer caught in headlights. I thought that in walked my saviour but I was horribly wrong. It was his group of guys." My breath caught in my throat and I swallowed the bile that was rising.

"They came in, laughing and watched as he did his thing, once he was done, two of his friend took a turn before they left me in the room. Bri later found me after hearing Charles brag about me in the hall." I took a deep breath and Arden's hands came around mine.

"It was the worst possible period of time I ever experienced. They didn't use protection and for weeks before I had my period, I was praying that I wasn't pregnant, that I didn't get infected since they are always sleeping around. Even months after, I was still worried that my period was a once off thing. He never let me forget, stalking my social media, popping up and saying things to me under his breath. He kept me under his thumb as his own personal entertainment. That's why I snapped when he stepped up that's why on top of my mum at home I have to deal with Charles in school. So can I just go home right now. Please." My voice broke as the dam of emotions I tried suppressing broke lose. Releasing my hands, he shifted the gears and drove us home. But what hurt the most was his silence, he didn't utter a single word after everything I spilled out.

"Earth to Laura here?" Bri snapped her fingers in front of me again. This habit of hers was really getting annoying. But I guess going to the beach was Alex's idea. Bri was still talking and ransacking my toiletries, rolling my eyes, I pushed her out the toilet and remembered to lock the door. Taking a well deserved bath, I lathered myself with my favourite vanilla body soap before realisation dawned on me that I forgot to take my clothes.

Wrapping my towel around my body, I stepped out and saw Bri sitting on my bed and I gave her a sheepish grin. "I did wake you up by jumping you so I forgive you for chasing me out. But you need to wear what I chose for you. And I took the liberty of packing your stuff for the beach so all you gotta do is change and we can go. You my friend are in need of a serious day of relaxation and I shall make dure of it." She ordered and marched out of my room.

I mused at the fact that she was such as whirlwind. But she was one of a kind and my best friend for a reason.

My eyes moved to the bed and I saw that she took out clothes I have never worn out and suddenly I regret giving her the power to choose my clothes. Shorts and a singlet? I take back my words, she's an energiser bunny from hell.

"Well look at you. Finally awake." Alex teased and I rolled my eyes, walking down the stairs. Bri narrowed her eyes at me seeing that though the clothes I was wearing were of her choice, I pulled on an outerwear that ended at my wrists. I scowled at her and moved to Penny. Being the last to wake, Bri took the liberty and invited everyone over. Well, almost everyone. Arden turned up late, and was obviously hiding and when he turned up, I couldn't hide the flinch when he walked past me without a world.

"You alright?" Penny whispered as we gathered outside to settle the car arrangements, Alex and Arden were arguing while Bri was mediating.

"You and Arden seem really frosty." She continued but just before I could get a word out, three loud claps sounded.

"Okay, so Alex will be fetching myself and Laura, Penny you and Soren will ride with Arden." She instructed, "What are you waiting for, chop chop, we've got a long day ahead." She clapped again, shooing us like a mother hen. I felt a stab to the heart as I was moved by Bri who was oblivious to my feelings, Penny frowned but rubbed my arms and mouthed a sorry before making her way to Arden's car.

The whole trip, Bri and Alex were bickering like an old married couple while I sat at the back. Pushing in my earbuds, I scrolled through my playlist before settling on a song and allowed the singer's deep voice to whisk me away into oblivion.

*************

Apparently, I fell asleep, as I was woken up the same way as this morning. This time, a screaming Bri, I growled at her as I stepped out of the car much to Alex's amusement.

"Okay, now that sleeping beauty is awake, let's sort things out." She started, but when she stepped back I cocked an eyebrow up in question until I saw Arden stepping in with a guy I have never met.

"Guys, this is Rhys, he's one of my oldest friends and we'll be joining him on this trip, since you know, the beach house we'll be staying in belongs to this rich kid." Arden introduced, ruffling Rhy's hair and everyone nodded.

"Well, hi guys." Cue the crickets, it was deafening silence aside from the crash of the waves and this was when I finally registered my surroundings. I was at the beach and I could smell the salt in the air.

Children were screaming and running on the sand with their friends. Couples feeding each other food, tossing each other into the water. Families roaming the sandy area for a good spot. It was a myriad of colours and sounds. I was finally here.