Zero to Eighty

"What do you mean she's fleeing the country? Is she illegal?" Ella screamed as our mother sat on one of the bar stools with the house phone in her hand.

Mom shrugged, "I don't know honey. We'll just have to find another talented bakery to make the cake exactly the way you designed it."

"The wedding is in two weeks?" Ella shrieked, "it took us two months to find the perfect baker and now she's like in hiding from the repo man!"

"Ella, she's not in hiding, she got deported," I corrected, a little extra sass in my tone than intended.

"Doesn't matter! She was the best baker in this area and now I don't have her," Ella slumped onto the bar stool next to mom. "My wedding's ruined!"

I needed a drive.

Windows rolled down, music blasting from the speakers and maybe even a cup of frozen yogurt would aid in calming me down. Ella was driving me up a fucking wall with all her wedding stress and I was tired of being on the other end of it. I get it. It's her wedding and she wants everything to be perfect. Blah, blah, blah. But at the end of the day she's getting married. Even if the flowers don't have all their petals, even if the cake isn't the perfect balance of sweetness, even if I trip and fall in the stupid heels-- Ella Suarez will be wed to her one true love.

"I'll be back," I backed away from the countertop with my dirty plate in hand.

"Where are you going?" Mom asked.

"For a drive and fresh air and maybe frozen yogurt," I answered, dropping the plate into the sink. I turned to Ella, "do you want me to grab you some? You could use a little sugar."

"No thank you," Ella said disgusted, "I'm going to break out!"

I threw my hands up, "suit yourself. I'll be home later."

I hastily walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door. Ella was still complaining about her cake as I pulled open the door to meet the hot air outside. I sighed, relived to be out of that drama. Pulling my keys out of my pocket, I unlocked my car and slipped inside. It was deathtrap in my heated car. Sitting in it for a few seconds sucked saggy ball sacks and I couldn't imagine ever leaving a child or a dog inside a blazing hot car.

I started the car and rolled down the windows. Plugging in my phone, I blasted upbeat, happy-feeling EDM, letting the concoction of bass and synths simmer me down as I drove out of the neighborhood. Passing by familiar streets and shops, my mind reverted back to Regan and how much I seriously missed my best friend. Any problems I had at home or at school I knew I could come running to him and he'd be there to make me feel 10 times better. I knew where to find him. If he wasn't in his room playing video games or laughing at stupid videos, he'd be at The Warehouse.

"Kenzie! What the hell? How'd you get here?" Regan questioned, running towards me as I entered The Warehouse opening.

"I took the bus," I answered, tears streaming down my face.

"It's hot as hell outside, you're gonna get a fucking heat stroke," Regan leaned down, pushing my sweat-soaked bangs out of my face. He grabbed my hand and pulled me further into The Warehouse where several large fans blew cool air through out the warm hangar. Regan sat me down on one of the chairs by a desk before running to the refrigerator and grabbing a bottle of cold water.

"Why did you take the bus? You know I would've just picked you up from school and brought you here. And it's only 1:30. School isn't even done. You're skipping," Regan guessed, pulling another chair and taking a seat next to me. "And why are you crying?"

"Kids were kind of being mean today, that's all," I replied, looking down at my feet.

"Hey baby sis," he started, lifting my chin up, "fuck 'em. Haters mean you're doing something right and I can promise that you're doing a shit load of right in this world."

"Thanks," I smiled.

"Wipe your tears kiddo. Let's drive," Regan held out his keys and shook them in my face. I grinned happily and took the keys out of his hand.

When I pulled up to The Warehouse I don't know what I was expecting. I kind of wished Regan would be inside to greet me and listen as I vented loudly. Then he'd hand me a beer and we'd laugh obnoxiously about the whole thing. But thanks to death, that wasn't going to happen. I hadn't stepped foot into this place since the big race a couple of weeks ago when I demolished Harry, so I wasn't entirely too sure of what to expect.

"Well look who's here," I turned my head. Louis was sitting on a spinning chair with his feet propped up on a desk as he drank a can of soda.

"Louis Tomlinson," I smirked and walked towards him. He pushed another spinning chair in my direction, gesturing for me to take a seat. "If I offer you something to drink, you're not going to start stripping are you?"

I groaned, "please don't remind me. That was a bad decision on my part."

"Next time you do anything scandalous just make sure I'm not in the same room," Louis chucked, "at the end of the day, you're still Regan's kid sister."

I didn't reply, only rolling my eyes with a smirk. I looked around the area. It was empty except for a few people walking around on the upper level. I heard a couple of engine roars and saw two cars racing out on the track.

"So what brings you out here?" Louis asked.

"Eh, my sister is stressed out about wedding stuff," I shrugged, "I didn't want to be in the mix of it all."

"Yea we're not too fond of your sister's choice in husband," Louis sighed. I raised a brow,

"Connor? Why not? He's a little too polished but I don't know, my sister seems happy with him."

"He's a little shady," Louis admitted.

"What do you mean, shady?"

"I don't know if there's any truth behind it but your favorite person ever Harry," Louis teased and I mock-vomited, "has it in his mind that Connor has something to do with your brother's death."

I was taken aback by Louis' words. This was the first of any speculation that Regan's death was anything but an accident. Sure I've thought that there was more to my brother's death because Regan didn't make stupid mistakes. But like crocodile dundee Steve Irwin, he died doing something he did often.

"How would Harry even come to the conclusion that Connor is shady? And why would he even concern himself with that business. It wasn't his brother who died that night," I expressed.

"Because if Connor really did have something to do with Regan, then that means he knows where Harry's father is," Louis answered and before I could reply he quickly added, "you've been gone three years Kenzie. A lot has happened since then… including a lot of thinking."

I thought about Louis' words over and over again. I never pegged Connor to be the center of some conspiracy-- especially if that conspiracy had to do with my brother. If Harry's gut feeling had truth behind it, then that would automatically mean that my brother was into some shady business too. I knew Regan better than I knew myself, and it was hard for me to even think that he'd be involved in any dangerous work. He could be cocky and a daredevil at times but I refused to believe that Regan had enough guts to even dip his feet into suspicious waters.

"I don't know," Louis shrugged, sighing and bringing his feet down from the desk, "Harry could be terribly wrong and just paranoid. Or he could be right."

"What do you think?" I asked, interested in what Louis had to say about his best mate's theory.

"I honestly don't know if Harry is right or wrong, but I can say that Connor does have an iffy vibe to him," Louis admitted.

"She's not going to believe that," a new voice entered our conversation and before I turned my head to meet that person, I already knew who it was.

"Harold," my eyebrows narrowed, glaring up at the curly-headed boy approaching forward.

"Antoinette," he smirked, "to what do I owe this glorious pleasure?"

"Nothing. I'm leaving," I grumbled, standing up from the chair. I looked at Louis, "nice talking to you Lou. I'll see you around."

Louis waved at me as I stepped back and started for the exit. Harry however, stepped right in front of me. I moved to the right but like a mirror, Harry mimicked. Letting out a loud groan, I stepped to the left. Harry followed my movements.

"Oh my gosh, we're not doing this right now," I yelled, pushing him slightly.

"Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Dying to help your bridezilla of a sister pick out table decor?" Harry taunted. I didn't respond. "Stay a while. Hang out with us… drive around."

"Why do you want me to stay? We're not friends Harry! We always argue. You know how to push my buttons and I can very well push yours. So don't get comfortable to the idea that we're suddenly going to start hanging out and going on boba runs together because it's not happening!"

"Look Kenzie, I'm sorry okay?"

"Sorry? Sorry for what? Sorry for having no sympathy when it comes to myself or my family? In case it slipped your mind, I go home everyday and pass by an empty room that once belonged to my brother. Or are you sorry that I kicked your ass in that race because Harry I hate to break it to you, you suck at racing. A toaster could do better,"

"A toaster?" Harry repeated, ignoring the other words I spat at him. "Clearly my racing abilities are at least comparable to a 4-slot toaster maybe?"

I smiled. Fuck.

"Maybe 3 slots," I mused. Harry grinned, taking in my sudden change in mood. He stepped closer towards me,

"Well then maybe you could teach me to be a 4-slot toaster?"

"You wouldn't be able to handle it," I retorted, pushing him away.

"I bet you a cup of froyo I could handle it," Harry challenged, a cocky grin forming on his face. "What do you say Kenz? Teach me and if I can complete the track with a much better time, you have to let me take you out for some frozen yogurt."

I eyed Harry suspiciously. Why did he all of a sudden want to spend time with me? What was his ulterior motive? It better to not get into my pants. Hell no, Harry can find some bimbo for that job. As much as it was in King Cockface's nature to do things for sex, I felt like this time had a reason deeper than sex. Not friendship… I really doubted Harry wanted to be friends with me. But the only way to figure out what he was up to was to dive right in. Play along, be five steps ahead, and then beat him in his own game.

"Kenz? Really? I don't think we're on that deep of a level that you could give my nickname a nickname," I quipped.

"Yet, we're not on that level yet," Harry corrected. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms around my chest. "Come on, you didn't answer me. A cup of froyo for a driving lesson?"

I was hesitant but with a groan I reluctantly accepted, "fine. It's a deal."

Notes

Hey guys!

Sorry for the long wait for another update. My grandma has been sick for a while, and she just died a couple of days ago. I'm still in shock and totally heartbroken about everything. Everything hurts and all I want to do is lay in bed. Despite it all, my family is doing strong and we've all come together during these tough times.

I hope you all liked this chapter. If you do, please vote if you haven't, leave me feed back if you have any, and subscribe. Thank you all so much for reading!

--Erica Jaine <33