Part 35 (1/2)

Steven was going to be seriously p.i.s.sed.

16.

Angel Trent drove like a maniac, whipping between the few cars along the Interstate and keeping us over eighty miles per hour the entire way. The jeep felt like it was going to rattle apart as we soared along.

With one hand firmly on the steering wheel and another clasped around my thigh, his eyes were fiercely locked to the road.

”We should slow down,” I warned him.

I could already feel the tension building.

”No,” he told me, a hint of his arrogance s.h.i.+fting back into his voice. ”I know what I'm doing.”

”You're driving like a crazy person,” I pleaded. ”They're not going to leave without us, right? Just...please, please slow it down. For me.”

He coldly turned to regard me for a moment, but then visibly softened. ”You haven't met my band manager...the guy's a complete p.r.i.c.k. He all but has it out for me. Thinks I'm a hotheaded, egotistical jerk.”

”Are you?” I asked, trying to swallow the mounting pit in my throat. I could feel anxiety begin to take its hold.

”Of course I f.u.c.king am,” Trent grinned. ”But our manager is paid to handle that. If he can't then, well, tough s.h.i.+t.”

I struggled to nod.

”Listen, I don't think I can stress too much how little time we have here, so I'm going to need you to be in-and-out when we arrive,” he reiterated. ”We don't really have the time to hang around, alright? If you need to say some goodbye's you can do it by phone once we're on the road.”

”Trent,” I croaked weakly.

”You run in, take care of what you've got to and lets get out of here.”

I was getting tunnel vision now.

Please, not now.

Be strong.

Be brave.

Trent was saying something else, but I couldn't hear him.

I focused on the first thing to jump out at me the logo on the glove compartment. I made it my core, my stone, mentally latching onto it with all of my strength.

It's okay, I thought to myself.

Just keep it all together.

You'll be so happy if you just hold on.

He's taking you away from here.

His voice came through again. He sounded urgent. I wondered what the matter was.

I faintly felt something around my face. I was being tugged away.

No! My stone! I need it!

I panicked, trying to flail.

Trying to tug at what was holding me.

My fingers clawed wildly at my face.

”...Down, Angel! Calm down!”

I paused, feeling my chest heave over and over. I realized that I was holding his hand rather, that Trent was holding my chin in his fingers, his eyes locked onto mine, and that my fingers were trying to pry him free from me.

We weren't moving.

”Angel, what's wrong? What is it?”

”I...I just...so fast...I can't...”

”Angel, settle down...we've stopped.”

I focused on that, pus.h.i.+ng down the crippling anxiety that had infiltrated my mind. I clamped my eyes shut and bit down on my lip, concentrating on our immobile position.

A car rocketed past, and the jeep swayed slightly. I almost leapt back into gripping terror, but Trent was pulling me close, stroking my hair.

”Look, it's okay, Angel, everything's okay...it's all fine now. I'm here.”

I fought back a sob.

Be brave, Angel.

”Are you...can you tell me what's going on?” He asked quietly.

I shook my head.

No. He can't know.

He can't know that I'm a freak.

”Okay,” Trent whispered, allowing me to slide back into place. ”I know the jeep rattling like that must have been scary. We'll just have to deal with my manager when we see him.”

I nodded aloofly.