Page 3 of Omega for the Pack

“Before you write it off, please think about it,” said Lori. “I really need you. My cousin is a catty bitch, and I need someone there. I don’t have any fucking friends except for you.”

Ugh, when she put it likethat….

“Fine, I’ll think about it,” I said as she parked the car in front of the establishment. It was already crowded with people at 8 pm, surprisingly. Friday nights were busy, and I gulped with nervousness. I never enjoyed going out partying with Lori, but I needed to get out of my comfort zone.

And not be so scared of what my parents would think.

Just a couple of hours later,I was already tired of partying. The music was blasting as I tried to talk loudly enough for Lori to hear.

“What are you saying?” shouted Lori for the fifth time, drink in hand and very wobbly.

“You’re not supposed to be drinking. You’re driving us back,” I said, but it looked hopeless now. I wouldn’t trust her to drive at this point at all. She was already extra giggly with the guys and didn’t seem stable to me.

“You can drive my car,” she said as another guy handed her a shot, and she gulped it down.

Shit.I didn’t have a license, and she knew it. I only had my driver’s permit, but I had never gotten around to getting my license. As a college student, I couldn’t afford a car yet and planned to get one when I got a real job. And there’s no way my parents had time to teach me to drive since they were always working.

While I contemplated what to do, a guy approached me as I sipped on water.

“Let me buy you a drink, pretty lady,” he said.

“No, thanks,” I said. “I may need to drive today.”

“Ah, got you,” he said. Then he slowly veered away from me. No one wanted to party with someone who wasn’t drinking. I was just a little too boring for this place, but someone needed to be the responsible one. Two hours being here was more than enough, and I wanted to leave. No guy here intrigued me enough to talk, and Lori was surrounded.

I grabbed her wrist and started tugging her towards the door.

“Noo, I’m not ready to leave!” she slurred, setting her glass on the bar counter on our way out.

“I know, but it’s getting late,” I said.

“You’re just scared of your parents,” she said snidely once we were outside. Anger rose in my chest, but I knew she was super drunk, and there was nothing to gain by fighting with her. I’d have a rational conversation with her tomorrow.

“No, I’m not,” I said. “Let’s get you to your stupid car.”

“At least I have a car,” she said.God, she was combative when she was drunk.

“But you’re too drunk to drive it,” I said. “Give me your keys.”

She floundered as she dug into her purse and shakily handed it to me. I was going to have to drive, that was for sure. I would have to sleep at her place until she could drop me off tomorrow. I crashed at her place a few times before, so I didn’t mind that. We were like sisters.

After making sure she was settled in the backseat, I hopped into the driver’s seat. My heart pounded hard as I twisted the key into the ignition. Lori had shown me a couple of times how to drive, so it wasn’t like I didn’t have a clue of what I was doing. I wasn’t one hundred percent confident, though.

“Keep your foot on the brake,” said Lori, now more alert since her life was in potential danger in my hands.

I backed the car out, looking over my shoulder a million times. I didn’t want to accidentally murder anyone tonight. For a split second, I wondered what would happen if I did. I shuddered with relief when I finally backed the car out of the parking lot and was on the road. I was driving way under the speed limit since there weren’t many cars around.

“I think I’m getting the hang of this,” I said, trying to keep the car centered on the road.

“Thank goodness,” sighed Lori. Through my rearview mirror, I saw her lean back and close her eyes. But looking at myrearview mirror for that couple of seconds was a big mistake. When I heard the sound of metal crashing and twisting, I snapped my gaze back.

I crashed into the stop sign. I quickly slammed on the brakes, and Lori flew forward, grabbing onto my seat.

“What the fuck?” she shouted, looking at the damaged sign on the ground.

I was panicking as I looked around. It was nighttime, and cars were still going down the road like nothing happened. Suddenly police sirens and a loud voice on the intercom sounded behind us for me to pull over.

“Shit,” I said as I pulled over to the side of the road.

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