Prologue
#SIY
“Alright, we’re heading out!” He waved at the group with an easy smile. “We’ll go ahead. Thanks!”
I followed him to the car, my steps light against the pavement. He held the door open for me, a quiet gesture that felt automatic, then circled around to the driver’s side. The engine rumbled to life, and soon we were gliding away from the warm hum of the party.
“So,” he began, his voice breaking the comfortable silence, “what’s your plan after graduation?”
I kept my gaze on the passing lights outside. My plan? I didn’t really have one. “I don’t know yet—depends on my mom,” I said, giving a small shrug. “You?”
“EAC, right?” He smirked as if it were already decided.
I frowned slightly. “EAC? I thought… never mind.”
“Why? You don’t want EAC?” His eyes flicked to me, then back to the road.
I hesitated. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to—it was just… my parents might have different plans.
“I’m going out tomorrow,” he said suddenly.
I turned to him, surprised. “I thought we were going to church?”
“Can we reschedule? Ry and I have plans.”
I nodded, though disappointment pricked at me. “Sure. I’ll just go with EJ.”
---
We’d left Sam’s party earlier than the rest. He’d had more to drink than I liked, and even though I was sober, he refused—stubbornly—to hand me the keys.
“Can you even drive? Let me,” I said for the third time, my tone clipped with worry.
“No! I’m fine,” he shot back, the slight slur in his words doing little to convince me.
“You’re driving too fast!” I exclaimed as the speedometer climbed. His grip on the wheel was tight.
“The faster I drive, the sooner we get home—”
“Yeah, straight to heaven! Pull over and let me drive!” My voice rose, but he kept his foot on the gas.
God, someone stop me before I strangle him.
“Relax. We’re almost at your place,” he said, dismissing me.
I folded my arms, my anger simmering. I hated drunk driving with every cell in my body.
“You said you’re going with EJ tomorrow?” he asked casually.
“Yeah.”
“Why not Yaz?”
“My sister’s busy with her friends. EJ and I already planned to go to the mall.”
He frowned. “You’re always with EJ.”
I rolled my eyes. “And you’re always with Ry. What’s your point?”
“Stop! Someone’s crossing!” The words flew from my mouth before I even realized I was screaming.
“What?!” His head snapped toward the road.
In an instant, the car swerved violently, tires screeching as we lurched toward the edge of the highway.
“Oh my God—there’s a van!” My chest constricted, my pulse roaring in my ears.
“I don’t want to die yet!” I cried, clutching my seatbelt as if it could save me.
“s**t! s**t! s**t!” He slammed his foot down, but the brakes barely caught.
“Why isn’t it stopping?!” My voice cracked.
“Brakes are busted—I forgot to get them fixed!” His words were raw with panic.
I gripped the belt tighter, a thousand thoughts blurring into one: I’m too young to die.
“Cover yourself!” he shouted.
In a single motion, he unbuckled his seatbelt and threw himself across me, wrapping his arms around my body like a shield.
The collision hit like a thunderclap—metal tearing, glass exploding, the world shattering into chaos.
---
“Ahhhhhh!” I shot upright, drenched in sweat. My chest heaved, my heart pounding against my ribs.
It was just a dream.
…Or was it?
