Page 13 of Xavier

I drive through the intersection just as several police officers cut off the black SUV.

Their lights and sirens flash a second before a loud crunch fills the air.

“Are you alright, Brianna?” Lieutenant’s worried voice sounds from the phone.

I slow down and head toward the police station.

“Yeah, I think. What the fuck is going on?”

He sighs. “I wish I knew, but I’ll look into it.”

“Can you not tell my father about this?”

“Are you serious? He should know about this, especially because you are his daughter.”

I wince at his loud tone. “I know that, but I want to be the one to tell him, and preferable in person. Besides, this isn’t the first weird thing to happen to me in the past twenty-four hours.”

“I don’t think a break up is on the same level as this.”

I mentally roll my eyes. “I wasn’t talking about the breakup. My God, is that all anyone cares about? Someone almost kidnapped me last night after leaving the bonfire.”

“WHAT?” He yells into the phone.

“Don’t worry. Andy saved me last night from the attacker, but he got away before Andy could find out who it was.”

“You need to get home now. I’ll call your father and tell him he needs to be home before the storm hits.”

“He doesn’t need to worry about me on top of the storm.”

“The hell he does. You aren’t safe. That’s clear as day. Get home.” He hangs up the call.

I park on Main Street near the town square. I can’t head home right now. I need to clear my head and process everything first.

How else am I supposed to relay it all to Dad if I can’t think straight?

Austin and Candace walk past my car holding hands, but luckily neither of them notices me.

Pain sears my heart.

How could he do this to me?

How could my life be turned upside down in less than twenty-four hours?

Tears prickle my eyes before sliding down my cheeks.

I just want this pain to go away.

Pie.

My stomach rumbles from hunger.

Pie fixes everything, even broken hearts. At least that’s the southern way.

I grab my phone and call Uncle Zach. He answers after the second ring. “Hey, Bri. What’s going on?”

I jump right into my reason for calling. “Austin and I broke up. Can I get some pie from the restaurant?”

“Of course. Do you want some company?”

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