Keily Book 3: A Future With My Bully

I glanced at the clock on my phone. The numbers glowed in darkness. It was early—so early that even the sun wasn’t up yet. But despite the hour, excitement thrummed through my veins. It filled me with a jittery energy that refused to be contained.

I felt like I had drunk five coffees.

James stood beside me. He helped me apply bug spray in preparation for our road trip. He made sure to cover my shoulders and back, where I couldn’t reach. I didn’t like the cold, sticky spray but I knew it was necessary.

“Thanks, James,” I murmured. I offered him a smile as he handed me the bottle.

He returned the smile, his eyes warm with affection. I loved the way he looked at me. It made my insides feel gooey.

“No problem,” he replied, his voice soft in the stillness of the early morning. “Anything for you.”

I sprayed insect repellent over my arms and legs. All I could think about was how much fun this was going to be! Our road trip promised endless possibilities—new experiences, new memories, and the chance to spend quality time with friends before college pulled us in different directions.

“Your turn,” I said, when I was done with the spray.

“I don’t need it,” James objected.

“Of course you do,” I said.

I wasn’t going to be a pushover. Not when I came to doing what was best for James. He must have realized and accepted this, because he turned his back to me. I stood on my toes to reach his neck. I sprayed it, right above his shirt and below his head. I made sure to get his ears as well. Then I sprayed his arms and legs.

No bugs would be biting him!

We loaded up the car with camping gear and supplies. The thought of hitting the open road made me want to jump up and down like a little kid. I struggled to contain my excitement.

This road trip would be unforgettable.

As we finished packing the car, the quiet of the early morning was interrupted by the soft shuffle of footsteps behind us. I turned to see my parents coming out of the house. They were still clad in their pajamas.

“Morning, Mom. Morning, Dad,” I greeted them with a smile.

“Good morning, sweetie,” my mom replied, her voice warm with affection. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself.

“Good morning. You are up early,” James remarked. He closed the trunk of the car.

“We had to say goodbye to you two,” Mom said. “Have a fantastic trip and remember to be safe.”

My dad nodded in agreement, his brow furrowing slightly with worry.

“And watch out for the wildlife, especially bears. Be careful that the bears don’t eat your food,” he warned.

James and I shared a knowing glance, a silent exchange of amusement at our inside joke. We had already planned to take precautions against hungry bears, but my dad’s warning served as a gentle reminder to stay vigilant.

“Don’t worry, Dad,” I reassured him with a smile. “We’ll be careful. Promise.”

My mom chimed in, a hint of amusement in her voice as she corrected my dad’s words. “And be careful that the bears don’t eat you!”

“I can’t make any promises,” James teased.

With my parents’ well-wishes and warnings ringing in our ears, James and I climbed into the car and set off. We pulled out of the driveway and I looked back at my mom and dad. I was so glad to have them as my parents. They were such loving and supportive people.

We drove to Addison’s house.

As James and I pulled up, I could hardly sit still. The early morning sunlight shone through the trees. It cast a golden glow over the quiet suburban street as we got ready to go to the cottage.

Addison and Sadhvi walked out of the front door. Their backpacks were slung over their shoulders and they smiled when they saw us.

“Hey, guys!” Addison exclaimed. “Ready for the best road trip ever?”

James nodded eagerly, “Definitely! I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”

He got out and opened the trunk. He helped both girls put their bags inside. Then they climbed into the car. Addison wasted no time in pulling out a bag of snacks.

“I got food!” she exclaimed and began handing out granola bars.

“And I have a playlist,” Sadhvi said, as she connected her phone to the car’s Bluetooth.

“You two come prepared,” I remarked.

Lucas, Lola, and Matt were driving in a separate car. I doubted their car would be as much fun as ours.

As Sadhvi turned up the music, the car instantly filled with the infectious beat of our favorite tunes, signaling the beginning of our epic road trip. Energy bubbled in the air as we all joined in, sing-shouting along to The Weeknd.

“I said, ooh, I’m blinded by the lights

No, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch

I said, ooh, I’m drowning in the night

Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust!”

I was off-key, but I didn’t care. Neither did James, who was singing loudly next to me.

Addison’s stash of snacks made the rounds. From salty chips to sweet candies, there was something to satisfy every craving as we indulged in our guilty pleasures. We munched away between verses of our favorite songs. The car quickly filled up with wrappers and trash.

As the houses faded in the rearview mirror, the scenery outside transformed into a picturesque landscape of rolling hills and forests. Each passing mile brought new vistas to admire, and we couldn’t resist pulling over at scenic viewpoints to take photos.

We smiled.

We laughed.

We struck different poses.

The sun climbed higher in the sky. The warmth of its rays filtered through the windows. With the wind in our hair and the open road stretching out before us, we felt truly alive.

James turned the music down and everyone groaned.

“I just needed to tell you that we’re stopping for gas!” he said quickly. Before we could respond, he had turned the music up again.

“Oh, I’m sorry, sorry that you love me,” Tate McRae sang over the speaker.

As we pulled into the gas station, the thrill of our road trip had us all buzzing with energy. Addison laughed louder than usual. James’s fingers drummed the steering wheel. Sadhvi had a smile in her voice.

“I’ll get more snacks,” I said as I got out of the car. “And I call shotgun!”

“No one was planning on taking your spot, next to James,” Addison said.

“I totally was,” Sadhvi said. Addison’s head snapped to her, and Sadhvi shrugged. “That way I have more control over the music!”

This made Addison laugh. She got out of the car and stretched her legs, while James filled up the tank. Sadhvi eyed my seat but stayed put.

As Addison made a beeline for the restroom, I walked to the convenience store. The automatic doors opened before me. My eyes scanned the shelves for the perfect treats.

From salty chips to sweet chocolates, I grabbed a variety of snacks. With my arms laden with goodies, I made my way to the cash register. As the cashier rang up my purchases, the door opened.

A new group of kids barged into the convenience store.

There were three boys and one girl—I’d guess they were a little bit younger than me. They all had dark hair and the same lean bodies which made me think they were related. The one boy’s hair hung on his shoulders, while the other had wild curls. The other boy wore glasses which made him look different from the rest.

“We should get chips. Ethan and I really like them,” the one with curly hair said.

“I don’t,” Ethan objected. He was the one who wore glasses. “Noah, why don’t we share a soda?”

Noah shook his head, his shoulder-length hair swaying. “I want candy.”

“Me too!” The girl said.

“You always want candy, Sophia,” Ethan pointed out.

Their boisterous laughter filled the air with an unwelcome energy. I didn’t know any of them, but my gut feeling told me to leave. But I couldn’t as my snacks were still being scanned. I pulled my card out in advance.

When I looked away from my purse, I noticed Noah staring at me. He locked eyes with mine. His expression turned disdainful. The corners of his mouth visibly pointed down.

“Look at the pig with all that food for herself!” Noah sneered.

My heart sank. The other three kids began laughing. I felt faint, as if I would fall over. But I didn’t. My cheeks burned with shame.

I turned my back on them and paid for the snacks.

“Hey piggy, look over here!” Sophia taunted.

Screw her. Screw them.

I turned around and looked.