Chapter 45: Ride to Die

I was fully aware that you need a driver’s license to legally drive a car. Do I care?

*NOPE.*

The day I *gladly* do something legal is the day I’ll… uh, I don’t know but it won’t be good.

I had my foot roughly pressed against the gas peddle as I sped down the east-side’s neighborhoods. I was being a complete hypocrite after nagging at Jack to slow down before he gets pulled over by the cops.

And look at me now.

I howled like a wolf that had just been freed from a trap. A cage made by humans that were trying to tame me.

*Ha. Not in a million years! *

After flying my way up and down the neighborhoods I finally came to a dead end and pushed far too hard on the brakes, swerving the steering wheel sharply to the side and making the car practically do a 360, leaving a black circle beneath the car. I finally took in a shaky inhale as I came down from my high. Not once in my life have I ever taken drugs and I don’t plan on it. My greatest addiction that I consider a drug would be this maddening adrenaline rush.

*Damn, I’mma get myself killed. Maybe I should watch horror movies. That gets the adrenaline pumping too, right? …Nah. This is more fun. *

I stuck my head out of the window and looked down at the wheels to see if I had damaged the car. It was a Tesla, that unfortunately looked a lot like Julian’s, and I didn’t want to get it all scratched up already. This was the first time I had ever owned something this nice… the least I could do was keep my head on straight and try to take care of this baby.

“Now then…” I mumbled to myself as I thought about where to drive and show off my hot new ride. I almost had a full tank of gas thanks to Gabriel and I planned on using it allllll up. That, and I wanted to stay out of the mansion for a little while longer. It was beginning to suffocate me and I was still trying to avoid Julian’s sexy- I mean, frustrating ass. I ran my hand through my messy hair as I tried to think about my destination. “Oh, right… I’m almost out of cigs.” I continued to talk to myself out loud till I reeved up the engine and drove off once again. This time I only went a little bit above the speed limit instead of going at the speed of light.

Lucky me, I ran across no cops on the way to the nearest gas station. With a bump of my hip to close the door and the beautiful ‘beep’ of locking doors, I left my gorgeous black Tesla in the parking lot and went inside the gas station. Thankfully there was barely anybody inside.

*I wonder when was the last time I’ve been inside a gas station to do something legal? Shit, was there ever a time I haven’t stolen something from little stores?*

It was frustrating that I couldn’t get another high that I loved but I was already driving without a license. The last thing I need is to draw attention to myself and get arrested for multiple things. I approached the counter with the money that’s called my ‘allowance’ while glancing through the rows of cigarettes, trying to find my favorite brand. As soon as my green gaze captured the sight of my favorite, toxic smoke, my attention was broken by the call of my name by an unexpected voice.

“Sukia?” I glanced over to the man that had called my name. And of all people, I didn’t expect it to be my hero from the movies.

“Liam?”

The man, just as handsome as last time, happily grinned when I spoke his name. “Wow. You remembered my name! Does that mean I left an impact on you?”

“Fuck.” I scoffed as I approached him on the other side of the counter. “You left an impact on somethin’, I’ll give ya that.” I looked him up and down, noticing his clothing and figuring out what he was doing here in a flash. “Sooo, you’re a gas station guy?”

He ran his hands through his dark hair as if trying to keep his cool yet still looked at me with hesitation. “Why do you say it like that? Do you think it’s bad?”

“There ain’t nothin’ bad bout having a job. Trust me.” *You don’t gotta go down the roads I did.* I kept my thoughts silent off of my tongue and instead gestured to the cigarettes I wanted with a flick of my finger. “Those. Grab me a pack.” a naughty smirk crossed my lips this time. “Give me a discount while you’re at it. Make up for the shit-storm you caused me last time.”

“That *I* caused??” Liam looked taken aback. He and his friends must still be completely convinced that Julian was at fault. Which, my idiot stepbrother was, but it wouldn’t have happened if Liam had just stepped back and let me handle it.

*Who am I kidding? I should’ve never said yes to going to that fucking stupid ass movie anyways.*

“Yeah. *You*. I want that discount. Hurry up.” I spoke with impatient sass while holding out my hand. If this was some other employee I would’ve had my knife out and threatened them with a whirlwind of curses.

Liam watched me for a moment with a narrowed gaze. For a second I was convinced that he was going to decline and I’d have to go to a different gas station but before I could make up my mind on what to do, he smirked at me. “Still just as sassy as last time. You’re scary. How about this… I’ll give them to you for free if you go out on a date with me?”

My jaw dropped with shock. “A, wait, what? What did you just say?”

“A *date!* Are you *deaf!?*” I heard an old man shout from behind me. I didn’t even notice that I was creating a line.

“Fuck off, geezer!” I snapped at him and flashed him my middle finger.

“You better say yes, these happy customers are starting to look unhappy.” Liam chimed in with a tease.

I groaned in annoyance as I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You call me *scary* then ask to go out on a date with me? Where is the logic in your brain?”

“What can I say?” he gave a shrug of his shoulders. “I’m a sucker for horror movies.”

His response actually made me snort and almost got a laugh out of me as I recalled where I had even first met the man. “You know what? Lemme see your phone, funny guy.” Liam looked confused but still obediently handed me it. I easily found the contacts and saved my number in it. “Give me a text when you wanna hook up.” the flirtatious wink I gave him immediately made him blush up a storm. In his flustered state, I snatched up the cigarette pack in his hand before he could even realize what had just happened. “See ya.” I gave my farewell without looking back at him and he was still too dazed to even respond to me before I headed out the door.

As I went back to my fancy, new car I grinned as if the devil had just possessed me.

*New ride. Free cigs. Hot booty call. Best. Day. EVER. *

I was in a good enough mood that I willingly went back to the Augustus Mansion. Countless things crossed my mind and how to spend the rest of my day now that it kicked off with a bang. And, for once in my life, I didn’t feel like getting up to illegal chaos like usual… I actually wanted a calm, peaceful day.

*Gabriel must be rubbing off on me… fucking hell. *

Once parked in the huge garage, I checked the Tesla one last time for any scrapes before going back inside.

*Maybe I could go swimming? Maybe I could invite Amy over and swim together? Maybe I can take a stroll in the rose garden? Maybe I can take a stroll and smoke my free pack in the rose garden? Better yet, maybe stroll in the rose garden with Mom? Or maybe–*

My thoughts were interrupted when I bumped into somebody, colliding with them hard enough that I fell backward.