Chapter 9

                                    

                                          
Sarah was on a mission. She had to get to a party that may not even have had a location yet. And there was probably only one person left who could get her there.
                          
By the time Caleb had taken off with his parents and left her standing alone on the sideline, the crowd had significantly thinned. But after searching the remaining faces in the stupid band uniforms that looked like they belonged on an eighteenth century Prussian battlefield, she realized that Bennett was now not among them.
                          
If she couldn't catch him in the parking lot, then her plans were totally shot.
                          
Running across the track and exiting the stadium, Sarah frantically looked for the boy among the locals packing up and getting in their cars. Whether by sheer luck or something more deliberate, she found him, putting his silly, feather-topped hat into the trunk of a Mini Cooper.
                          
She could hardly believe her eyes.
                          
"Hey, Bennett!" Sarah called out before rushing over. Three other girls were also standing by the tiny car, all in various states of undress. Not wanting to appear rude, she threw them a collective, "Hi."
                          
"What's up. Hi. Hey," they muttered back with minimal enthusiasm as they either balanced on one leg, had their head stuck in a sweater, or struggled with a zipper.
                          
"Guys, this is Sarah," Bennett said, also tossing his jacket into the trunk before slamming the door shut. "That's Sonja, Venus, and Bess."
                          
On the surface, the kid's introductions were polite, but his mood was definitely more reserved than during their first meeting. He couldn't even muster a smile.
                          
"It's nice to meet you all," she said, stepping to Bennett's side and leaning in so only he could hear. "Is everything okay?"
                          
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Sure. Why wouldn't it be?" he asked before turning away. "So are you guys ready to go or what?"
                          
The girls--now fully dressed in non-band clothes--picked up the rest of their stuff and replied in the affirmative before piling into the car.
                          
Although Sarah had no idea what she could have done to piss him off, she still needed Bennett's help. Grabbing his arm before he could slide into the driver's seat, she made her best puppy dog eyes. "Can I ask you for a really huge favor?"
                          
He stopped with one leg inside the car and looked at her, puzzled. "What? A favor?"
                          
The way he asked made her feel ashamed for even bringing it up, but it was too late now. "Uhm, a tiny one, really. It might not even be an imposition--"
                          
"Hurry up, will ya?" he interrupted, glancing at the others.
                          
She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "Right. Well, I need a ride," she said.
                          
He finally smiled, but it was less of a friendly smile and more of a 'you have to be shitting me' smile.
                          
"You need a ride?" he repeated before shrugging. "Then call an Uber."
                          
Shocked at his curt dismissal, Sarah didn't have a chance to reply before he got behind the wheel.
                          
"Wait!" she exclaimed, putting her body between him and the door. "I mean, I don't want a ride home. I need to get to the secret after-party that everyone is supposedly going to."
                          
He furrowed his brows and looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "Who told you about that?" he whispered.
                          
Sarah swallowed hard. Although she hadn't planned on revealing it, she now had no choice. Ugh. This was awkward.
                          
"I got the invite from Caleb, but he had to go home first--"
                          
"Even if I wanted to take you, as you can see there's no room," Bennett said, not even letting her finish.