The Fallout

Chapter 8

Elle's POV

Liam got out of the car to help me get Riley into the car. She was murmuring the whole time and I could not hear a word she was saying. She mentioned something along the lines, "mom, dad, love and a dark world," other than that, I heard nothing.

We put her in the back seat and closed it. When I sat down on the passenger seat, I was drained. The energy in me had been drained by carrying the drunk Riley up the small hill and into the car. All her weight was on me, she was as good as dead.

I buckled my seat belt then relaxed on the seat. I let out a heavy sigh. I then turned to look at Riley, agony washing through me. She had her eyes closed but she wasn't asleep...at least not yet. What was wrong with her? Why would she drink that much? She was just fifteen. I let out another sigh, tears were already pricking my eyelids.

"Are you taking her to the house like that?" Liam asked.

My phone was vibrating in my pocket, I took it out. Mom was calling. I rolled my eyes and left it to go to voicemail. I did not know what to do. I bit the corner of my lip, trying to think. I looked at Liam, contemplating my next move. I was thinking of ways to protect her, the last thing I wanted was for mom and dad to see her like this.

"My mom would kill us both that's for sure."

"But you did nothing wrong."

"I know." I said under my breath but loud enough for him to hear me.

"What now?"

"I don't know dude, I really don't." I raked my fingers through my hair, almost yanking it off my skull. I punched the dashboard out of frustration.

"Relax, don't you have a friend who has really cool parents? Then you can sleep over or something?"

"That's actually a brilliant idea Liam. I'll call Kylie right now." When he looked at me in confusion, I said, "Kylie is my best friend." Then I saw his lips form an "oh".

I called Kylie.

"Hey friend," she sounded like she had just woken up from sleep. "I need a favor."

"Yea?"

"Riley is super drunk and we can't go home when she's like this. My parents are awake, my mother would throw a fit if she saw her. Can we come sleep there? Is Mrs. Cargo there?"

"Uh..." She thought for a bit.

"I'm actually kinda... sorta, partially home alone, so, yea you can come." I did not know what any of that meant but I was thankful that she could help.

"Alright. Thanks friend, you are a life saver." I said into the speaker before hanging up.

"I guess we're going to Kylie's house then. That's sorted then." He ignited the car.

"There's one more obstacle though ." I said.

"What is it?"

"What's going to be my reason for sleeping over at Kylie's? I mean, the whole family is waiting for me to return with Riley bro."

"I forgot that you're a kid." He chuckled and I softly punched his shoulder.

"Just tell your mom that Riley is going through some emotional shit and wants some space. And that you'll try to get through to her since she's a closed book blah blah blah." Hm! He was good. Did he lie to his parents often?

"Genius!" I exclaimed and started dialing my mom's number. She picked it up before it even started to ring, was she waiting on me?

Her voice was shaking when she asked me if I had found Riley, it sounded like she had been crying.