Chapter 42

It had been a week since our camping trip, and life had settled back into its usual rhythm. School was starting to pile up again, with assignments and deadlines creeping in faster than I would've liked but there was one thing that kept me going, Macklin. With the season over, he wasn't as stressed about games, which meant we actually had more time to hang out. Even after my longest, most exhausting school days, we could unwind together, watching a movie or just talking until I eventually fell asleep on his shoulder.

This morning, though, I was running solo. It was 9 AM, and I had just dropped off Gabi at her job interview. She had applied for a paid internship—one that was a pretty big deal, considering it was only fifteen minutes from our apartment. The only downside? Parking.

Since she wasn't an employee yet, she would've had to pay for parking, and even though it was just five dollars, Gabi was adamant about avoiding unnecessary expenses. So, she asked me to drop her off, and in return, I got to keep her car for the day. It worked out since I needed to do a grocery run anyway.

Now, I was on my way to Target, going over the list of things we needed in my head. Bread, eggs, chicken, pasta noodles, rice, vegetables, fruit—oh, and more popcorn and chips. Gabi and I had planned a girls' night tonight, which meant cute movies, facials, and at-home manicures and pedicures. It was a much-needed break from the chaos of school, and I couldn't wait.

As I pulled into the Target parking lot, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. Mom.

I smiled, answering as I grabbed my purse. "Hey, Mom!"

"Hi, sweetheart," she said, her voice warm as ever. "How's your morning going?"

"Busy. Just dropped off Gabi at her interview, and now I'm about to grab groceries." I stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind me. "What's up?"

"Well, I wanted to call and let you know that your dad and I are visiting this weekend and Will's parents are coming, too."

I nearly stopped in my tracks. "Wait, really?"

"Yes," she said, amused at my surprise. "We've been meaning to visit for a while, and since it's a long weekend, we figured now would be a good time."

"That's awesome," I said, though a flicker of nervousness crept in. "Where are you guys staying?"

"Well, since you and Gabi don't have enough space for all of us, Will offered his place. He's got two spare bedrooms, so it works out perfectly."

I nodded to myself, stepping into Target. That made sense. Will's house was definitely more equipped to handle visiting parents than our tiny apartment.

"Oh, and before you start worrying," Mom added, "I know Macklin is going to be around, and I just want you to know, I already like him."

I blinked. "You haven't even met him."

"I've seen the way he plays," she said knowingly. "And how he interacts with his teammates. He seems like a good kid. Plus, from what I hear from Will's parents, he's been a great friend to him."

That eased some of my nerves. "That's true. He's... really great, Mom."

"I can tell. And I can't wait to meet him properly."

I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety settle in. It was one thing to date Macklin, but introducing him to my parents made things feel more serious.

"Anyway, we'll see you on Friday," Mom said. "And good luck with your groceries. Don't forget to buy actual food and not just snacks."

I laughed. "No promises. Love you, Mom."

"Love you too, sweetheart."

I hung up, slipping my phone into my pocket as I grabbed a cart. My mind was still spinning from the conversation, but I had a grocery list to tackle.

I moved through the aisles, grabbing everything we needed—bread, eggs, chicken, pasta, rice, fresh vegetables, fruit. I hesitated in front of the snack aisle before tossing in two bags of kettle popcorn and a variety of chips that was in a box pack so it was at least a much better deal than party sized bags. Gabi and I deserved them.

I was just finishing up when my phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from Gabi.

Gabi: Interview's done! Can you pick me up when you can?

Perfect timing. I paid for the groceries, loaded everything into the car, and headed back to get my best friend, already excited to hear how it went.

Before pulling out of the parking lot, I reached for my seatbelt and clicked it into place. The morning air was warm and with one hand resting lightly on the wheel, I let out a soft sigh, settling into the drive. My playlist shuffled between SZA, Jhené Aiko, and Frank Ocean, a perfect mix of laid-back, soothing tracks to keep me relaxed.

Traffic wasn't too bad yet; just the usual Monday morning rush, people heading to work, early coffee runs, or in my case, picking up a certain Gabrielle from her job interview.

At a red light, I tapped the next song button on my steering wheel.

The second the next song played, I froze.

Luke Combs.

"Just 'cause I'm leavin'— It don't mean that I won't be right by your side."

I blinked. I definitely did not add this to my playlist.

And then I remembered. Macklin.

A small smirk tugged at my lips as I recalled how adamant he was about getting me into country music. "By the end of the month, I swear you'll love it." He had queued up this exact song the other night, grinning like an idiot while I shook my head at him. Now, I was almost positive he had sneakily added it when I wasn't looking.

I didn't hate country, really. It was peaceful, even. Just... not my usual thing. But maybe I'd give it a shot.

A distant sound pulled me from my thoughts.

Sirens.

Faint at first. Then louder. Closer.

A strange feeling crept into my stomach. Something wasn't right.

Glancing at my rearview mirror, I squinted at the road around me. Nothing unusual. Just the regular line of cars waiting for the light to turn green.. but the sirens were still blaring, growing more intense by the second.

Then suddenly.. there was movement. A flash of silver.

My breath hitched as I saw it. A car. Flying down the road at an insane speed.

For a split second, my brain couldn't process what I was seeing. The car was weaving recklessly through traffic, barely squeezing between other vehicles.

And then— It blew through a red light.

My pulse spiked. My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

It was coming straight toward me.

In the mirror, I saw the police cars chasing after it, their sirens wailing, their lights flashing in rapid bursts of red and blue.

Oh my God.

My foot instinctively hovered over the gas getting ready to step on it and swerve out of the way, but it was too late.

Everything happened in the span of a heartbeat.

BAM.

The impact was instant.

A force like nothing I had ever felt slammed into the back of my car. My entire body lurched forward, my seatbelt cutting into my shoulder as it yanked me back. My head snapped forward, my vision blurring as a sickening crunch sound of metal on metal filled the air.

The car was spinning.

I couldn't tell what was up or down. The world outside turned into a chaotic blur—streetlights, buildings, moving cars all twisted together in a dizzying whirlwind.

Another impact.

The car flipped.

For a split second, I was weightless. Floating. And then—crash.

Glass shattered. Metal groaned. My body slammed against the seat, my head snapping sideways. Pain shot through my skull.

Darkness.

No sound.

No motion.

Just stillness.

A sharp, searing ache radiated through my neck and shoulders. My hands trembled. Something warm trickled down the side of my face.

I forced my eyes open. Why was everything sideways and so blurry?

It took a second to register. My car had landed on the driver side, trapping me in.

Smoke curled through the air, the scent burning my nose. I could barely move.

Distantly, I heard voices. Someone shouting.

Sirens. Flashing lights.

My fingers twitched weakly at my lap, searching for my phone. I need to call someone. The police, my parents, Macky. I need to call—

The music was still playing.

Faint. Almost surreal.

"Just 'cause I'm leavin'— It don't mean that I won't be right by your side."

Then everything faded again... everything turned black.

-=+=-

I'm not even kidding I'm tearing up as I wrote this and the upcoming chapter... BAWLINGGG—

When I tell u in my past fanfics that main lead WENT THRU SHITTT. But since my writing skills improved since it's been years since 13 year old me, I feel more connected to this story. It's more real.

I never cried while writing my other stories.. uhm

:D