Always Time (Part 2)

“What are we going to do?” Kenneth asks, furrowing his eyebrows. He looks down, focusing on throwing the ball from one hand to the other. The two of them are sitting legs-crossed on the grass, trying to come up with a plan.

“I don’t know...But our dads are going to kill us...” Rikkert admits tiredly. Kenneth nods slowly, but keeps his eyes on the ball.

“Rick, we have to make a plan. We have to get the dope away from us. You know...Get rid of the evidence.”

“Yep...Man, how are we going to do that?” He sighs and uncrosses his legs, stretching it out in front of him. He then falls onto his back, staring at the clouded sky above them. “How are we going to get out of this mess, man?”

“Perhaps,” Kenneth stops his game and joins his best friend, “we should just step away? You know...Distance ourselves.”

“What the hell, man?!”

“It’s just...Stepping away should be the easiest way out, right? My dad already arrested ten kids this week. Next...he’s going to get me. You know my dad. He can sniff out any crook. And it will be much more easier for him to sniff out his own kid.” He shifts uncomfortably. “I already think my dad has an idea that I’m involved...He’s been looking at me real funny lately...” Both sigh simultaneously. “We’re in some pretty deep shit, Rick...We should get out before we’re also behind bars...I mean, we still have time, right?”

“Hmm...Watch your language.” He then adds absent-mindedly. Kenneth ignores his reprimand and continues.

“There’s always time to pull out, buddy.” Rikkert’s heart jumps into his throat. Dad said the same thing...There’s always time...Is there?

“Is there?” He voices his question shakily, sweat breaking out on his forehead as dread starts filling his whole body. A car suddenly screeches around the corner and brakes at the edge of the field. Both bolt upwards into a sitting position. “Oh! Hey, Katiya’s here.” His frown dissipates into thin air and he smiles brightly as he rises to his feet. His friend frowns, before rising as well. He takes a firm hold of Rikkert’s shoulder and turns him around.

“Ken? What are you doing?” Rikkert protests, slightly wincing at the pain starting to radiate through his shoulder. Dropping the ball, Kenneth frees his left hand and wags a finger in front of Rikkert’s face.

“Look, buddy. I like you. You’re my brother, man...” His face hardens. “But you keep your hands off of my sister, you hear? No funny business. Because the day that you mess with Katiya, I’m going to mess you up so much that nobody in this whole town would recognize you. Do you hear me, Rick?”

“Ouch...” He tries to free himself from the grasp, but the free hand falls onto his other shoulder and the two strong hands keep him grounded. “Yes! Yes, I hear you, Ken. Now, let me go, please!”

“Good.” Kenneth drops his hands. “Let’s go then. We should ask Katiya to stop at Polly’s Pizza Place for us. I’m starving now!” He grins, picks up his ball and then starts racing towards the car. “Come on, slowpoke! Last one to the car pays for the pizza.”

“Hey! You cheat!”

“Thanks, Kat.” Ken grins as he digs into his pizza. “You really are a sport, sis.” She rolls her eyes, and pulls out of the drive-through.

“Yeah, right. But you owe me.” She glances into the rearview mirror. “You too, Rikkert. You two better pay up by next week.” She blushes as he answers with a radiant smile.

“Sure thing, Katiya. You want interest on it as well?” She giggles and mumbles something.

As the two young men dig into their dinner, she swerves onto the main road. Her eyes nervously flick from side to side. Wish I remembered my contacts...She glances back into the rearview mirror, and then notices the ball next to Rikkert. Her foot lodges onto the brake, sending the two passengers flying forward.

“Kenneth Goodwin, you better explain to me why that ball is in my car, and you better explain quickly.” She explodes. He pulls his pizza from the window and frowns as his cheese stays behind.

“Really, sis? Was that necessary?” Suddenly, a steel hand grabs his neck. His sister’s eyes spew out green fury as she hisses her warning to his face.

“Ken, you better talk, and you better talk now.”

“Geez, relax. I can barely breath.”

“Ken...” She warns him softly.

“Okay, okay...” He gulps. “I couldn’t leave it there on the field. And you said you’d give us a ride. So, I thought, you wouldn’t mind carrying my stuff in your ride, you know.”

“Are you bloody well crazy?!” She screams, releasing her death grip on him. Her hands clench around the steering wall and she continues her seething. “If Dad finds that thing in my car, I’m as much under arrest as you are. You want to know what will be the difference between me and you, though?” He opens his mouth to answer, but she interrupts him. “The difference between us is that you are guilty and I’m clean.”

“Katiya, I’ll vouch for your innocence.” Rikkert’s voice pipes from the backseat. He receives a glare, and decides that it would be wiser to keep his mouth shut.

“You, Ken, are in for a world full of pain. Mark my words!” She spits out, and starts the car again. They pull away at a break-necking speed.

“Katiya, careful. Dad will kill you if he finds you breaking the speed limit again.” Kenneth warns his sister.

“Oh, shut up.”

They fly past the police station. Detective Gill shakes her head as she exits the building, her arms overflowing with dossiers. The car flies over the crossing, ignoring the red stoplight. Suddenly, another car hastily reverses from a parking lot into the street.

Katiya slams her foot onto the brake, but it is too late. Her car crashes into the other and then flips over, rolling a few times, before stopping, slowly swinging from side to side as it lays on its roof. She hears a car door being thrown shut and the rushing footsteps of a person.

The blood spilling from her neck flows over her cheeks and past her eyes. Some spills into her mouth and up her nose. She wants to choke, but it’s as if she lost complete control over herself. Sounds start fading, the world starts spinning, and then everything goes dark.