Chapter Text
You’re group was just supposed to be passing through, you weren’t even supposed to stay the night. But Brad was tired, and Kaylie was too.
You think maybe they just wanted a chance to fuck in the woods. Or maybe they thought it would be funny leaving you alone with Derek.
Either way, you hope it was worth the nasty surprise come daylight.
Brad looks down at the snapped fan-belt in his hands, his stupid class ring glinting in the morning light. He scoffs. “What the fuck, Kaylie?”
The tall brunette almost laughs. “Don’t look at me, jackass, I didn’t do it!”
She’s pacing next to the side of the car, looking at you incredulously, like maybe she thinks you’ve snapped the fan-belt in retaliation to leaving you with Derek last night. While you are very upset about being left with Brads less-than-respectful, totally-not-a-creep best friend, you wouldn’t ever want to strand yourself here with these people.
You couldn’t even really call them your friends, you went to college together and Kaylie couldn’t stop roping you into things. These weren’t exactly the people you wanted to be spending time with, but it wasn’t like you had any other options.
You roll your eyes and rest your back against the now-useless car behind you. The hot Louisiana sun beats down on you, sweat dripping down the side of your face. This was your first time in Louisiana and this wasn't really how you had wanted it to go. It's a beautiful place though, muggy air and deep, mossy green leaves.
Just as you're admiring the scenery, a rusty truck rattles up beside your stranded group. There's streaks of blood leading out of the truck bed, a large, disemboweled, deer carcass lays limp. There's rabbits feet and other animal parts hanging like decorations from any place they could be hung. Kaylie gags.
"Car troubles?" The man in the truck calls out, leaning towards the passenger window. He's wearing a red button up over a dingy white tank, there's dirt and what looks like dried blood caked all over him. Despite this, there's a kind look in his eyes and a wide smile on his lips.
Derek, ever the mans-man, steps forward with his chest puffed out and his hands on his hips. He clears his throat loudly and leans into the window of the mans truck, effectively blocking him from view. He looks from side to side, like he's trying to subconsciously intimidate the smaller man. It doesn't seem to be working.
"Yeah, busted fan-belt. You know of any gas stations around here?" Derek refuses to look the man in the eye, like he's not worth it. The man in the truck has a look of realization cross his face before its gone completely, like he'd only just now remembered something. A sleazy smile replaces the previously kind one.
"'Course, there's one up in Ambrose." He points a dirt-crusted fingertip towards the side road just fifty feet away, eyes squinting to get a better look at you behind Derek. "Bo's got a gas station up there, he'd have a fan-belt— no problem."
Derek nods quick, leaning away with a false bravado, and trudging back over to Brad to whisper conspiratorially with him. Brad jerks his head your way, seemingly offering you up for something. You can't believe you don't get a say in this either.
"You willing to give us a ride up there?" Derek looks back to the man, pointing at you and then back to himself. Stuck in a truck with Derek and the Roadkill man. Great.
You shake your head in disbelief. At least you won't be alone with Derek, like you were last night when he tried to cop a feel and got a two pound purse to the head.
The Roadkill man looks delighted. His gaze hasn't left you since Derek got out of his line of sight. Your skin crawls, but again, at least it's not Derek. You shift uncomfortably as the man answers.