Death of the Perfect Girl

90- The Loner and the Invisible

"Can you drive any slower?" Poppy looked at Noah, squeezing her phone until it hurt her finger tips. Her lungs began to tighten.

"I'm trying to drive as fast as I can," Noah shook his head. "But I'm not about to get pulled over because Sadie's crying wolf-"

"Did you not hear anything I said? She was screaming and someome was saying her name. She's being chased by someone. I can feel it."

"Or," Liam shrugged,"someone could be pranking her. Just breathe."

Poppy shook her head staring at her phone. "I can't!" Tears filled her eyes. "I CAN'T BREATHE!"

Liam's eyes grew. "Pull over."

Noah groaned. "Why? Poppy's just overreacting-"

"PULL OVER!"

Noah sighed then pulled the car over to the side of the road, knowing it would buy the others more time. He took out his phone and began to text Charlotte.

Liam got out of the car and opened Poppy's door. He stooped down and turned her legs towards him. "Look at me!"

Poppy stared at her phone. "She's still on the line. I can hear her screaming-"

Liam grabbed the phone out of her hand.

She looked at him wiping her cheeks. Her wiped tears were quickly replaced with new ones. "I can't let anything happen to her," Poppy shook her head. "She's been trying so hard-"

Noah sighed. "You've been friends with her for a month-"

"That doesn't matter," Poppy ran her hand over her face, smearing tears on her cheeks and forehead.

Liam stared at her. He reached for her cheek and wiped it.

"She's a person," Poppy stared back at him, "regardless of what she did to me or you or anyone. This is my fault. I shouldn't have let her stay home tonight. I should've taken her with us."

Liam held Poppy's hand and stood. "Come on."

Poppy looked up at him. She got out of the car. He helped her to the backseat. She sat beside him, still gripping her phone. Liam slowly pulled it out of her hand, then held her head and rested it in his chest.

"Breathe," he rubbed her cheek with his thumb.

Noah glared at them, then looked ahead when he heard the sound of a swerving car skating down the road towards them. He furrowed his brows and squinted his eyes at the white dot growing larger by the second. "Guys, what's the color of Mr. Pearce's car?"

"White," Liam looked at him. "Why?"

Noah's eyes grew as the car began to spin. "Holy-"

In one swoop, the car swung it's driver's side into a tree, waking the neighborhood with a thundering crack and denting it, having it's front half on the sidewalk.

Poppy flinched and screamed then sat up, pulling away from Liam. "What just happened?"

Noah stared at the car wrapped around the tree. He slowly opened his door and got out, tears stinging his eyes. Liam followed him.

"Poppy, stay in the car," he said without looking back at her. Poppy, terrified, glued herself to the seat. She watched as the neighborhood began to flood out of their houses.

Noah and Liam walked over to the car, both praying it wasn't their past teacher. But as they drew closer to the car, Liam's heart began to sink. He noticed the plate number and felt his hope drain. It was obviously from the impact that Brody hadn't made it. He covered his mouth, holding his breath so he wouldn't shout Brody's name in panic. Poppy had had enough trauma for one night. She couldn't handle anymore. If only Noah thought that way as well.

"Oh my God- MR. PEARCE!" Noah let out a gut-wrenching scream, rushing over to the car door.

Liam immediately turned back to Poppy. She was beginning to get out of the car.

"Oh my God," Noah wept, taking out his phone to dial the police.

"Poppy," Liam shouted at her, running towards her,"go back! GO BACK!"

Poppy stood frozen, staring at the wreck. Liam quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her back towards the car. He pushed her into the backseat and closed the door. Then he got into the driver's seat. He stepped on the gas and began to drive.

"Liam," Poppy grabbed the handle,"what's going on?"

Liam felt his blood begin to boil. He was beginning to put two and two together. Poppy was right. Sadie wasn't joking. "He dropped her off at the school," Liam mumbled.

"What-"

"WHY WOULD HE DROP HER OFF AT THE SCHOOL?"

Poppy shrugged, shaking her head, then she froze. Her blood turned to ice.

Liam shook his head then slapped the wheel. "THAT'S WHY HE STARTED TEXTING HER! THAT'S WHY NOAH TOOK US OUT TONIGHT WITHOUT INVITING HER! AND THAT'S WHY SOMEONE'S CHASING HER!"

Poppy sank in her seat staring at the floor. "Noah...," she clenched her fists, digging her nails into the seat.

Liam hit the wheel again. "THIS WAS PLANNED!"