Chapter Nine

                                    

                                          
Before stopping off in the small town of Hell, Michigan, the group decided to drop into a small grocery store to pick up supplies for the weekend, with Ethan presenting three coolboxes he'd shoved into the car boot alongside everyone's luggage.
"Everyone, pick up whatever you need, it'll be a long drive if you forget anything." Sam advised as they wandered into the store.
Kai's headphones were still on his head, blaring Falco's Rock Me Amadeus, but he gave a nod, understanding what he was saying.  He walked instantly over to pick himself up several packets of twizzlers and some candy corn before looking up and seeing Sam and Dylan bickering over what to feed everyone.
"Pasta'll be fine, babe." Dylan sighed, "It's literally a food everyone likes."
Sam countered, "Yeah, but Loretta's vegan, Lila doesn't eat gluten, I have to figure them out too."

"Guess they'll have to starve." Dylan countered snarkily, earning a flipping off from Loretta, "Hey, not my fault you only like rabbit food."
Loretta cocked her head, "If that's what you think vegan food is, then I'm desperately glad I'm not marrying you."
She looked back at her phone, searching up the ingredients of the veggie straws she'd thrown in her basket – Kai's eyes then darted to Ethan, who, alongside Frank, had instantly gone to buy cases of beer and a keg, whilst Mitsy was buying some premix cocktails.
"You know those things are weak as hell, right?" Frank bantered, "Fuckin' Americans and your watered down pisswater."
Ethan rolled his eyes, "And I'm sure you Scots have booze that can knock me off my feet, huh?"
"You bet your Yankee arse we do!" Frank countered loudly, "One glass of Scotch makes your Tennessee Whiskey, spelled with no 'E', by the way, look like Highland Spring." he saw one of the employees, a young woman in her early twenties who looked irritated by his volume, glaring at him, "No offence, sweetheart." he then turned on his 'flirtatious' voice, which wasn't much different from his usual one, "Hey, you've got a nice pair of legs. What time do they open?"
The employee looked annoyed and uncomfortable, turning and walking away from the scene.
Mitsy shoved Frank in annoyance, "Don't be such a dick!  You'll get us kicked out of another store if you keep that shit up."
"Just askin' a question, love." he retorted, "Not my fault she canna take a joke."
Frank turned and noticed Kai was staring at them, asking, "What the fuck is he gawkin' at?"
Beside him, Ethan leaned in to murmur, "Ignore him, he does that a lot.  Freak."
Kai could make out the words over his music and looked down, picking up more twizzlers and nachos anxiously before looking over at Ren, who was getting himself some health drinks as he and Noah chatted.  Kai couldn't quite make out what was being said, but the way Noah leaned in to bump shoulders with Ren, both men laughing, a spiralling, uncomfortable sensation burned in the pits of his stomach.
Mariana then tapped his shoulder, and he jumped, turning to her – she was with Lila, the two of them carrying crates of Coca Cola and bags of potato chips.  Mariana signalled for him to lower his headphones, and as soon as he did, he winced, the cacophonous sound of the store and road harsh on his senses.
He noticed suddenly how bright the light was, could hear the others chatting amongst themselves, cars whizzing by, the click of the till.  It was agonising. 
"You alright, cariño?" Mariana asked, her tone as soothing as ever, voice like warm honey.
Kai nodded, not really wanting to speak much.