strangers

chapter 3 Ashton

There are over 7 trillion nerves in the human body, and certain people manage to get on every single one of them.
I unfolded the note my brother left on his bed this morning before disappearing like a pie. Jake and Oliver were each standing by my side. I read it aloud.
" I went to Ferhaven. And I took your bass." I looked up from my paper. " What the hell ? I hope he didn't take my Squier Jazz Presicion bass, that shit's $1000!" I read further. "By the way, it's your jazz one I took with me. You might wanna get here quick, because I can make quite some cash out of this one on eBay. You have seven days. Better get packing. -L" what is this? " I hope this is a joke. What is he up to? What the actual f-" Oliver cut me off "Calm down, calm down. I'm sure he's not serious. Why would he take your bass with him and tell you? He's just messing with you." Ugh. Why?! "He took my most expensive bass to the other end of town! And he expects me to get there in a week? I can't even drive, I'm only 15!" This made no sense. I know my brother, and even though he likes to piss me off all the time, he's never done anything so frustrating. This was probably just his way of luring me to his place for some reason.

I angrily marched down to my bedroom. Jake and Oliver followed me. I took my suitcase and stuffed it full of clothes. " Ash, what are you doing?" Oliver asked hesitantly. " I'm packing up. I need to get my bass back before my parents get home, which is in five days, and I need to teach my brother a lesson." Jake shot me a confused glare "So... What are you gonna do?" "I'm going to Ferhaven, duh. I might take the bus or something. I don't know. But when I get there, my brother is dead. Wanna join the trip?" I asked with a half sarcastic smile. Jake was the first to answer. "Sure, I'm in. Also, we won't need to take the bus because I know a guy, he's a truck driver, and he can drive us to Ferhaven! He has a minivan that he uses when he's not driving the truck, so he'll-" " Say no more, I'm in too." "Alright guys, go home, tell your parents you'll be on a road trip, pack your stuff and uh, Jake call your truck driver friend and see what time he could come pick us up." We all agreed that we would call each other when we're ready, and we would all meet up at Jake's and wait for our ride.

Jake and Oliver's parents came and picked them up, and I was all alone again. While I waited for their call, I made myself a bowl of mac n' cheese. I took a nap after that, even though it was noon, because I was quite tired from staying up so late last night.
When I woke up, it was four, and I panicked a little. As I got up, I I heard my phone vibrate somewhere in my bed, but when I found it under my pillow, it stopped. I checked who called me and it was someone named Cheezus. I thought it might be Jake or Oliver messing with me, so I called back several times but no one answered..