Chapter 18

"Everything ready?" I asked them as I packed the bag with my necessities; a bottle of mango juice, one pack of Oreos, and a book.

"Yeah, but I think we should eat lunch before we leave, chill for some time at my home then go. It is still one." Harris suggests.

"Can we eat at your house? I want to eat something homemade." I said, zipping up my backpack.

"Sure, and speaking of homemade food, mom made the food that you like," he said wiggling his eyebrows.

"Mandi!!" Jenny and I yell at the same time. Mandi is a traditional Arab food that consists of rice, meat, and some spices like cloves and cinnamon. And since Harris' mom is an Arab and can make any type of food perfectly, Jenny and I go to his house many times. Well, not for the food only...

"I hope your sister is there," Jenny says getting into the car.

"Yeah, she could come and be with us," I said, throwing my bag behind me to the back of the car.

Harris's sister, Kauthar, two years older than us, is literally the best companion you will ever get. She is funny, an extrovert, and the perfect person to be with when you feel down because, in an instant, she will make you tear up in laughter.

"Nope, she is with her friends, sorry."

"Guys, I think we forgot something," I said, looking at the space in front of me mindlessly. I was about to put something at the back of the car other than my own bag, but then... I am sure of it, whatever, we will buy what I forgot if we need it.

"It's okay, Kate. It's just going and coming back." Jenny says, turning from the passenger seat and hitting me.

"Ow, what the hell, Jenny?!" I yelled, hitting her back.

"Well, you forgot something! What if you forgot the snacks?" she asks and that's when I remembered.

"Yes, that is what I forgot."

~°~°~°~°~

"Even if the stars and moons collect! I'll never want you back into my life! You can take your words and all your lies! Oh, oh, oh! I really don't care!!" Jenny and I screamed at the top of our lungs, singing Demi Lovato's 'Really Don't Care'.

"Guys!" Harris shouts our names but we didn't listen. Whenever we three go on long road trips like this one, the first thing we do is blast a song on AUX and start singing, the main reason is to make me forget about the length of the road and to ease the nauseous feeling in my stomach.

"Wait! Can we stop for some snacks? I need to refill my energy!" Jenny says reaching for her phone and pausing the song.

"Jenny, we just ate." I deadpanned.

"Well, you are the one who forgot to bring them, so shut up," she said flipping me off.

"Okay, let me park over here and we'll- what the..." Harris trails off as he sees something through the front window, I quickly turned and followed his shocked gaze to see a black Mercedes car.

"Oh my...." I myself trailed off as I see it. It can't be him, why could it be him? He won't come here by himself, and he doesn't even like those types of places.

"Jenny, Harris, if this is really what I see and it really is him, then sorry to break it to you, but we will be going back home." I forcefully spat the words. Even though I just saw him one day ago, I kind of, miss him. But I must remember that I promised myself I will cut off every connection that I had with them all, they are no good for me and also for my closest.

"Seriously? Just because your lover boy is here doesn't mean we will go back! I have been waiting for this since yesterday!" Jenny whines.

"Jen, stop saying that." I said and huffed. He? My lover boy? Psh...

"You should really overcome your worries about him. Who is he to make you scribble on your plans?"

"My plans actually," Jenny butts in.

"Who is he to not make you use your phone to blast music in it?"

"My phone actually,"

"And who is he to stop you to go to that festival and have fun?"

Both of us looked at Jenny expectantly, she took in a breath to say something, but sighed and shrugged, "Okay fine. There is nothing to say now."

"So?" Harris looks back at me and smiles. He puts his hands in the middle of us, his palm facing upwards. Jenny puts her hand in his and I put my hand on top of hers.

"No matter who's problem, issue, or concern it will be, we're all in this together," Harris says, eyeing both of us.

"And if he tries to hurt you, we will be there with you," Jenny says.

"Because we are best friends forever." I finished. All of us smiled at each other and tried to group hug.

"Well, let's go shopping for snacks!" I whooped and got out of the car.

"I want to buy some candy," Jenny says.

"I want to buy the usual Cheetos and Oreos." I said, "What about you Harris?"

"Last to get in the shop is a rotten egg!!" Harris shouted instead of replying then started to run, I hear footsteps behind me as I run farther from it and a whine from Jenny. All of us were laughing and giggling when we entered the shop, making everyone look at us weirdly.

"Oopsie," Jenny says and we all walk to the biscuit and snacks aisle.

"Ooh, what is Jackie? Is it a nice biscuit? It looks good." I said, but when I looked up, they are not there, they left me. I walked slowly to them as I was reading the contents of the biscuit. It has chocolate chips, almonds, peanuts, melted chocolate inside, and...

I bumped into someone then bounce backed away, shit. Please don't be an old la...

"Allison?" I said as I see her regaining her balance. She was about to say something, but when she realized it was me, she smirked.

"Well, it is you again. Kate, right?" she says as she held the soda can from one hand to the other.

"Hey, nice to meet you." I quickly said and walked away.

"Wait," she said, stopping me in my tracks.

"What do you want?" I asked, snappier than I intended to snap.

"I just wanted you to know that I came with the crew."

"What do you mean?" I asked her puzzled.

"You will see," she said smirking and walking away.

"Geez, this girl has problems, " I muttered under my breath.

"Kate!" Jenny called me and came up to me. She was holding a cart full of snacks.

"Why did you pick all of this? It's too much." I said looking through the stuff she picked.

"Where is Harris?" I asked before we hear a startling bang.

"Don't you even try to!" Harris shouts from the other side of the shop. Oh shit, a fight? Jenny and I looked at each other, sharing the same 'oh no' look, then rushed to Harris. If he is in a fight, then I don't know how to stop him. Because when Harris is angry that he got himself into a fight, only God knows what to do.

"Harris!" Jenny and I called him simultaneously. When we reached him, he is grabbing the front cloth of another guy, his face is hidden with the hoodie, but I can say that he has a great physique.

"Harris!" I said before he punches him and gets into trouble. I grabbed his arm and try to lower it, but he didn't even budge.

"Can you just stop acting like a child and stop?" Jenny says from his other side.

"Well, can you guess who the fuck is here?" He growls and throws the guy on the floor. He quickly stood up and tried to walk away, but I stepped to him courageously and grabbed his thick arm.

"Who are you?" I asked him. He tensed but didn't try to move my hand. Instead, he turned to me and revealed himself.

"Hey, love bunny." he says smiling a dimpled smile.

"Don't even try," Harris warns him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I am shopping," he says as if it explains it all.

"KATE!!" I got startled when someone called me from behind. I turned around and looked down. I smiled and crouched down to her level.

"Hello, Abigail." I greeted her and she hugged me tightly.

"I am happy you came. You are going to the festival right? I am going there too!" she rushes on.

I nodded and let go of her, "Yes I am, what a coincidence," I said looking at both Harris and Jenny.

"So, let us go together! Carter told me that you would co-"

"Hop in the car everyone! Let us go now. Xavier and Cole are waiting in the car." Carter cut her off, held her hand then went outside, not giving me a second glance. I stayed crouched for a moment, thinking of how we would collide here. I am surprised to see them all here, that is why Allison said that she came here with 'her crew'.

I stood up and dusted my knees, "I am so confused," I said. Harris scoffed and folded his arms, "If this Carter guy talks stuff about you like that, then I would slaughter him."

"What did he say?" I asked him quickly.

"He said that you guys made out and, he started talking about the details of the 'deed' you have done. I'm disappointed Kate." he said. I froze in my spot with my mouth hanging open. What did he just say? Why would he lie like that? We haven't done anything major. But still, I didn't tell them about that. Ah shit, here we go again.

"And what the hell did you do?" Jenny asks folding her arms too.

"I..."

"You know what? We will be talking about this later, let's just buy those God damned snacks and head there, whether they are there or not. Geez I want to have fun!" Jenny says and walks to the cashier with the cart. I look down at my hand, still, the Jackie cookie is in my hands, "Do you know this brand of cookie?" I finally asked him.

"Yeah, it is so good, you better try it." he said, throwing his arms on my shoulders and heading to the cashier, then to the car, then to our final destination; the festival.

The vibe that we had earlier died down a little, but the AUX is still blasting, with me murmuring the verses of the songs. When we reached the parking lot of the festival, the car was filled with different types of wrappers everywhere, and we were almost bloated.

"Here we go!" Jenny said and quickly got out of the car, Harris and I following.

"In a very confusing and a strange way, I prefer this than parties," I said and Harris laughed. "Me too, but our friend here," he points at an excited Jenny who is looking at everything with a smiley smile, "loves everything," he says, flying his arm in the air.

"Talking behind my back? I know I am beautiful, now come on and let's play!" she yells and disappears through the chaos. We followed her and stopped when we reached the bumper cars.

"Harris versus Jenny, I'll just sit with one of you," I say and both said the 'Einnie Minnie Mo' game.

"Jenny!" I yelled the winner and all three of us walked to the entry.

"Ready, set, go!" Harris yells and both of them started driving and bumping the cars, making us go back and forth. It is so much fun, all of us were laughing, screaming, and yelling our names, until we all called it off and played enough.

"Let's go to the Ferris wheel!" Jenny says and we all nod.

"Yo, Kate!" someone called me from not so far away. Oh no, not again. I turned to my left to see Cole and Allison coming towards us.

"Hey, Cole." I said, looking at Allison. She lazily looked at all of us and gave us a big wave.

"I can't believe you made it! We will be having so much fun!" he says smiling excitedly.

"Uh... What? My friends and I came here on our own, not with you." I stated the facts. He dropped his smile and masked a confused look.

"But Scott said that you guys will come here with us!" Allison said, faking a worried tone.

"Um... I think we should just go, Kate." Jenny pipes in and tried to move me away from them. "No, I want to understand as to why you said that," I said.

"I think there is some shit going on here." he said, looking sideways.

"Does any of you know anything about this?" I asked Harris and Jenny. Harris shook his head, but Jenny said nothing.

"Jenny?" I called her. She looked up at me and nodded her head slowly, "Sorry Kate, I thought everything would be better with a bigger crowd."

"So you are saying that you went to them and planned this whole trip?" I asked with my eyes widening a fraction.

"No! He is the one who came to me! He told me that if I make you guys come here, then we would have the best time ever, and we can free our mind." she explained.

"Do you freaking think that I can free my mind when he's around??" I ask unbelievably.

"I don't know... I am sorry," she said lowering her head.

"I can't believe you did this."

"Same, I thought it was purely your idea." Harris says piping up to me.

"Can you please stop accusing me? I said I am sorry." she said, holding my hand, "My only intention was to just make us feel better, I swear to you."

"We are adding this to the list that we will be discussing later then," I said and squeezed her hand in return to make her feel assured that I am not mad at her, but I am so furious at the one and only, Carter Harrington.

"Where is he?" I asked Cole.

"He was with his little sister, I think around the Ferris wheel." he said pointing to the direction where it leads there.

"I am going there." I said, marching through the crowd and leaving all of them behind. I started looking around the whole people surrounding me, the wind not helping and the sky grumbling.

"Love bunny." I hear him. I swiftly turned around and saw him standing next to the entrance of the Ferris wheel. I walked fast and stood in front of him, giving him my dirtiest expression.

His smile widened and grabbed my arm, "I have been waiting for you." he said, pulling me closer to him, but I flinched away.

"What is wrong with you? Why do you try controlling what I do or where I go?" I raised my voice asking him. His smile wavered a bit, but still, he is smiling broadly.

"I do not know, why?" he asked dumbfoundedly.

But before any of us answered or questioned, the shooting of guns and screams of people filled the air.