Lake (Trinity Academy 3)

As I near the campus, and indicate to turn left, a car comes speeding from the opposite side. While I wait for it to pass by, my phone starts to ring, and I glance at the screen before I answer. “What’s up?”

“Kingsley’s starving. Are you on your way back?” Mason asks.

“I’m right outside the gates.”

“I’ll come down so I can help you carry the pizzas,” Mason offers.

“It’s okay. I can –”

The approaching vehicle suddenly swerves in my direction and not thinking twice, I press hard on the gas, making Mason’s Bugatti shoot forward as I turn the steering wheel sharply to the left.

The other car hits the rear end of the Bugatti, shifting me right off the road and onto the stretch of grass by the wall near the front gate. My body slams against the side of the seat and door. A flash of panic has me looking through the back passenger window, and in total shock, I watch as the other car flips before it crashes through the barrier only to disappear down the side of the mountain.

“Holy fuck!” My breathing begins to speed up, and my heart’s hammering like crazy against my ribs.

“Lake!” I hear Mason’s shout, but I’m too shocked to respond.

What the hell just happened?

My pulse races even faster as I unclip the safety belt, and getting out of the car, I run to the spot where the other car went over. Glancing down the mountainside, I can’t see anything.

I quickly pull my phone out, but I’m shaking so much, I can’t even dial 911.

“Lake!” I turn to the sound of Mason’s voice and watch as he runs toward me with Falcon right behind him.

I hold my phone up and stupidly point down to where the other car must be. “The car just went over.” My voice sounds distant, and I shake my head to get rid of the hazy feeling.

Falcon grabs hold of me, pulling me away from the edge where the barrier’s been crashed through then he keeps an arm around my shoulders.

With a look of disbelief, Mason asks, “A car went over?”

I nod and try to slow my breaths. “We need to call 911.”

Security comes running out of the campus, which has Mason shouting, “What the fuck are you doing in that booth? I came from the dorms and still got here before you.”

“We called for emergency services,” the one guard explains, then he looks at me. “Are you okay, Mr. Cutler.”

I nod but cover my mouth with a shaking hand while my eyes dart back to the broken barrier. “He didn’t even brake. He just slammed into the rear of the Bugatti, flipped once, and then he went over,” I whisper, shocked by what had happened in only a space of a couple of seconds.

Layla and Kingsley come running across the road, their eyes wide.

“I’ve never seen anyone run as fast as the two of you,” Kingsley says breathlessly. “What happened?”

“A car went down the mountain,” Falcon explains.

“What?” Layla exclaims.

“I need to call your mother,” Mason says while pointing at Layla then he takes my phone from me and dials a number. “Stephanie, there’s been an accident right outside the front gate of the campus. A car hit my Bugatti which Lake was driving before it went down the mountain. Get over here.”

Falcon leans a little forward and catching my eyes, he asks, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nod again. “Just shocked out of my mind.”

“Lake,” Kingsley comes to stand on my other side, placing a hand on my back, “don’t you want to go sit down? You’re shaking like a leaf in a shit storm.”

I nod. “Sitting would be good.”

Layla stays with Mason while Falcon and Kingsley walk me back to the Bugatti. When Falcon opens the passenger door, he cringes. “There’s pizza everywhere.” He shuts it and says, “I’ll go get a chair from the security booth.”

“Don’t worry.” Not caring where I sit right now, I lower myself to the grass, and lean back against the door.

The sound of sirens fills the air, and soon the area is covered with emergency services and police officers.

Someone crouches next to me, and when I glance up, I see Stephanie’s worried face. “Lake, are you alright?”

I nod for what feels like the hundredth time. “Thank God,” she whispers as she pulls me into a hug. “I think I just lost ten years of my life from worry.”

I turn my head, so I can rest my cheek on her shoulder, but before I can close my eyes, a paramedic hurries toward us. I have to assure him a couple of times that I’m fine before he checks my vitals and recommends I see a doctor.

When I’m finally done answering questions and giving my statement, I get permission to leave the accident scene.

“I just heard a security guard tell one of the cops the driver was West Dayton,” Kingsley whispers to Falcon.