Five People Traveled With Four Seats, Then They Panicked When I Left Chapter 01

Five People Traveled With Four Seats, Then They Panicked When I Left Chapter 01

Our last road trip before graduation was supposed to be a good one.

My boyfriend, my two childhood friends, my best friend, and I had planned to do the full High Desert Loop together.

On day three, one of the cars broke down. That left us with only four seats.

My boyfriend Felix Hartley barely hesitated. He handed me a six-hour bus ticket.

“You don’t get carsick. Just tough it out. We’ll wait for you at the next stop.”

My best friend Pearl Gable started to say, “I can go,” but Sawyer Flynn and Alden Cross cut her off.

“You threw up yesterday. Don’t act like you’re fine.”

Felix was already hauling my suitcase to the curb, smiling.

“Rae’ll be fine. She never complains.”

Like always, I just said okay.

Six hours later, I got to the town we’d agreed on, only to find they’d changed plans and gone somewhere else.

The group chat was nothing but all four of them gathered around the barbecue, laughing together.

Nobody thought to tell me.

That’s when it hit me—all those years together.

If Pearl was cold, three jackets would magically appear.

If Pearl was tired, everyone stopped.

The more easygoing I was, the more they let me get the short end.

This time, I wasn’t going to chase after them.

I bought a ticket home and texted the company I’d said no to two weeks ago.

[Hi, I’d like to accept the job after all.]

I was done with people I’d known for over a decade.

—

The mechanic said the car wasn’t getting fixed today.

Felix leaned against the car and checked his phone, then handed me a ticket.

“Leaves at 1 p.m. Six hours. You’ll get there in time for dinner.”

I looked at the ticket.

“For me?”

“Yeah.”

He pointed toward the remaining SUV.

“Only four seats. Somebody’s gotta take the bus.”

Pearl spoke up, “I’ll go. Rae shouldn’t have to sit alone that long.”

She grabbed her bag, but Sawyer pushed it back down.

“You were sick yesterday. Remember?”

Alden frowned too.

“Your stomach can’t take six hours. You’ll be sick again tonight.”

Felix had already set my suitcase by the curb.

“Rae’s fine.”

He smiled at Pearl.

“She’s tough. You could dump her anywhere and she’d manage.”

Sawyer laughed. “That’s true.”

I used to laugh when I heard things like that. Back then, I thought they meant it as a compliment.

I took the ticket. “Okay.”

Felix patted my shoulder.

“Text me when you get there.”

Then he turned to Pearl.

“Weren’t you dying to get sunset shots at Crystal Flats? We should go before we lose the light.”

I paused. “You’re not going straight to the next stop?”

“Just a quick detour. It’s on the way.”

He was already climbing into the driver’s seat.

“The bus won’t take you there anyway, so just don’t worry about it.”

As they drove off, Pearl leaned out the window and waved.

“See you tonight!”

I lifted a hand back.

The car turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

I looked down at the ticket.

Six hours.

Not that big a deal, right?

I didn’t realize I’d left my sun hat in the back seat until I was on the bus.

I was about to text Felix when a new post popped up on my feed.

Pearl was standing by Crystal Flats, wearing my hat.

Felix crouched low, getting her angle.

Sawyer held the umbrella. Alden had her bag.

Caption said: [Just another day playing paparazzi for Her Highness.]

Pearl commented with three hearts.

I stared at it for a second. Then I closed the app.

I deleted the text I’d typed: [Don’t forget to grab my hat.]

Not like it was worth much.