Chapter 12: Midnight drive

Saturday night arrived with the roar of engines and the glow of headlights cutting through the cool night air. The usual crew—Aiden, Jake, and Eagle—gathered in an abandoned lot on the outskirts of town. Eagle stood proudly beside his brand-new Chevrolet Camaro, its bright blue paint gleaming under the dim streetlights.

"Look at this beauty!" Eagle grinned, patting the hood of his car like it was a prized stallion. "You boys ready to eat my dust tonight?"

Jake whistled low. "Man, did you drain your life savings on this thing?"

Eagle laughed. "Every damn penny was worth it."

Aiden leaned against his matte black Dodge Challenger, hands tucked casually into his jacket pockets. He didn't say much, but his sharp gaze scanned the open road ahead.

"Alright, boys," Jake said, cracking his knuckles. "One lap. No shortcuts, no funny business. Just pure speed."

Engines roared to life, and the smell of burning rubber filled the air as the three cars lined up side by side. Jake in his Mustang, Eagle in his Camaro, and Aiden in his Challenger.

"Three… two… one… GO!"

The cars shot forward like bullets. The night blurred around them as the headlights painted streaks of light on the empty road.

Aiden's Challenger hugged the curves tightly, the engine growling with power as he accelerated out of every turn. But no matter how hard he focused on the road ahead, Keller's face kept flashing through his mind—the way Keller had looked at him when holding that bloodstained uniform.

Those sharp eyes. That unimpressed frown. The faint scent of soap.

Keller.

The thought gnawed at his focus, clawing at the edges of his concentration.

Up ahead, Eagle's Camaro pulled slightly ahead, his taillights glowing like red eyes in the dark. Jake was right on his tail, whooping out the window as they sped down the open road.

But Aiden's mind was elsewhere. Keller's voice echoed faintly in his ears, something about the uniform, something about—

A blaring horn snapped him back to reality.

Too late.

The Challenger's front wheels hit loose gravel. Aiden's hands jerked on the wheel, and the car skidded sideways. Tires screamed against the asphalt before the Challenger collided head-on with a rocky outcrop on the roadside. Metal crunched, glass shattered, and the world went dark.

When Aiden came to, his head was spinning, and his leg throbbed with sharp pain. Jake's panicked face loomed over him.

"Aiden! Hey, stay with me, man. You hear me?!"

Eagle appeared on the other side, his face pale as he surveyed the wreckage. "Jesus, Aiden. You scared the hell out of us."

Aiden groaned, trying to move, but his left leg screamed in protest.

"Don't move, man," Jake said firmly. "We've called an ambulance. Just stay still."

Hours later, Aiden was in hospital room, his leg wrapped tightly in a brace and crutches leaning against the wall beside him.

When he hobbled out to the hospital lobby, Jake couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.

"Man, you actually look kinda cute like that. Like a grumpy little penguin with those crutches."

"Shut up, Jake," Aiden muttered, glaring as he awkwardly adjusted his balance.

Eagle smirked. "Honestly, you might start a new fashion trend with that hospital gown and crutches combo."

Aiden rolled his eyes.

"Alright, let's get you out of here," Jake said, jingling his car keys.

As they walked toward Jake's Mustang, Jake glanced at Aiden. "So, where to? Back to your home? You'll have people waiting on you hand and foot there."

Aiden froze for a second before shaking his head. "No. I'm not going back there."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Dude, come on. You'll have staff, good food, a proper bed—"

"And a three-hour lecture from my dad," Aiden cut him off, his voice flat. "No thanks."

Jake sighed. "Alright, then come crash at my place. My mom will stuff you with homemade food, and the housekeeper can cater to your every need."

But Aiden shook his head again. "Take me to my apartment. The one near school."

Jake frowned. "Seriously? That dump? Why would you—"

"Because I'm done using his money, Jake," Aiden said quietly but firmly. "I'm done letting him control me. That's it. That's the reason."

Jake stared at him for a long moment, his lips pressed into a thin line. Then he sighed and nodded.

"Alright, man. Your call."

The ride to Aiden's tiny apartment was quiet, save for the faint hum of the radio. When they pulled up in front of the worn-down building, Jake turned to Aiden one last time.

"Look, bro. If you need anything—and I mean anything—you call me. Day or night. I'll come running."

Aiden nodded, gripping the crutches tightly as he hobbled out of the car. "Thanks, Jake. Really."

Jake rolled down the window as Aiden limped toward the entrance. "Hey, try not to break the other leg, alright?"

Aiden smirked faintly. "No promises."

Inside the dim apartment, Aiden sank onto the worn-out couch with a heavy sigh. The crutches clattered to the floor as he leaned his head back, staring at the cracked ceiling above him.

His leg throbbed, his body ached, and exhaustion pressed down on him like a weighted blanket. But none of it drowned out the image in his mind—the faint smell of soap, Keller's furrowed brow, and the way he'd held that uniform.

It wasn't Amy who lingered in his thoughts.

It was Keller.

And Aiden couldn't understand why.