They Left Me Behind on the Road Trip, So I Got on a Better Ride Chapter 03

They Left Me Behind on the Road Trip, So I Got on a Better Ride Chapter 03

I did manage to catch a ride.

Unfortunately, the driver wasn’t safe. He tried to grope me.

So I showed him exactly what my kickboxing training was for.

Three hours later, I stumbled into the tourist site, worn out. A fresh scrape on my forehead was still red and swollen from the scuffle.

The four of them were sitting down for lunch.

Four plates, four seats. No place saved for me.

Chloe spotted me first. “Ava! You finally made it!”

Mason glanced down at his watch. “That took forever. If you’d been any later, we’d have no time for the afternoon.”

I stood beside the table. “Did anyone order food for me?”

They all went quiet for a beat.

Liam spoke first. “I assumed you ate on the way.”

Chloe quickly pushed her plate toward me. “You can have mine if you want. I barely touched it.”

Ethan held his hand out to stop her. “Your stomach’s still fragile. Eat yours.”

Then he looked up at me. “There’s a convenience store nearby. Grab a sandwich to hold you over.”

“I’ll treat you to something nice tonight.”

Once, that promise would’ve melted all my frustration.

We’d grown up together in this city. Back then, all I needed was a little kindness to feel satisfied.

I nodded. “Okay.”

The convenience store only had two cold pre-made sandwiches. I ate one sitting by the window.

When I came back out, they were already rushing me to hurry.

Chloe wanted highway photos that afternoon.

She complained about the sun, and Mason fetched an umbrella.

She said the wind was cold, and Ethan draped his jacket over her shoulders.

Liam knelt to fix the hem of her dress.

The photographer they’d hired called out, “Let’s get a group shot of all five of you!”

The four of them automatically clustered together first.

I stepped over and stood on the far edge.

After the shot, Chloe pulled them in to look at the photos.

Ethan turned and called to me. “Ava, which one do you like best?”

I was staring at a message on my phone.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“You seem off today.”

“Just tired from the ride.”

He said “oh” and turned back when Chloe called his name.

On my screen was the message thread with the Russo family, who’d reached out to me two weeks ago.

Their scout had written: [Reach out anytime if you change your mind.]

I stared at the message for a long time, then left the chat open in the background.

I glanced over at the four laughing beside me. We’d grown up together. We swore we’d stay a team forever.

I didn’t want to break that promise.

That night we got to the rental house. There were one twin room and one king bedroom.

Ethan spoke first. “Chloe takes the king bed. Her stomach’s been acting up.”

Both boys nodded.

Mason turned to me. “Ava, you can crash in our room. We’ll add an extra mattress.”

I blinked. “Share a room with you three?”

We were close, but sharing a room still felt awkward.

He laughed. “We’ve known each other forever. Why make it weird?”

Ethan frowned too. “It’s just for one night. Don’t overthink it.”

The receptionist looked uncomfortable. “There’s a hostel ten minutes’ walk away.”

“I’ll stay at the hostel then.”

Ethan didn’t push further. “Alright. Text when you get there.”

I wheeled my suitcase out.

Halfway there, rain started falling.

Once, I would’ve messaged the group begging them to bring an umbrella.

I unlocked my phone.

Chloe had posted a photo of their room.

Ethan adjusting the air conditioner for her.

Mason asking if she had enough blankets.

Liam checking if she was hungry.

I locked the phone again.

I kept walking through the rain.

At the top of the steps to the hostel entrance, another girl saw me struggling with my heavy suitcase and helped me lift it.

“Traveling alone?”

“I’m with friends.”

She nodded. “They’re staying somewhere else?”

“Yeah.”

She didn’t press further and handed me a bottle of water.

At eleven that night, lying in my hostel bed, I realized I hadn’t checked in with the group.

I picked up my phone, then set it back down.

No one had asked if I was safe.

When I woke up the next morning, the group chat still held only last night’s messages.

Still no one had checked on me.