CHAPTER 3: Unexpected Ride

Kiara hurried down the stairs, her backpack slung over one shoulder and a stack of books clutched tightly in her arms. Her phone was wedged between her ear and shoulder blade as she spoke to her best friend, Trixie, who sounded panicked on the other end of the line.

“Relax, Trix. I’m on my way now,” Kiara said, breathless as she reached the front door.

“Relax? Kiara, the test is about to start! If you’re late, Mrs. Porter won’t let you in, and you know how strict she is,” Trixie replied, her voice shrill.

“I know, I know. I’m moving as fast as I can.” Kiara reached the car park and froze.

Her mother.Sarah, and Richard were standing near one of the sleek black SUVs, preparing to get in. The sight made her stomach sink. She had hoped to leave unnoticed, but clearly, that wasn’t going to happen.

“Mom, Richard,” Kiara called out hesitantly as she approached.

Sarah turned, smiling when she saw her. “Kiara, where are you going in such a rush?”

“School, of course. Where else?” Kiara replied, shifting uncomfortably under Richard’s assessing gaze.

Before she could slip past them, Sarah raised a hand. “Wait. The boys are going to school too. You should ride with them.”

Kiara’s eyes widened in horror. “What? No, I’m fine on my own. I can—”

“It’s a good idea,” Richard interjected, his tone leaving no room for argument. “It’ll give you a chance to bond with them.”

“Bond?” Kiara repeated, her voice incredulous.

“Yes. You’re family now, Kiara. You should make an effort to get along,” Richard said, his expression firm.

Kiara wanted to argue but knew it was pointless. With a resigned sigh, she nodded. “Fine.”

Satisfied, Sarah and Richard got into their car and drove off, leaving Kiara standing awkwardly in the car park, clutching her books.

The sound of laughter behind her made her turn. The triplets were approaching, looking as smug as ever.

“Why are you standing next to our car?” Alex asked, his brows raised in amusement.

Kiara crossed her arms, already regretting the decision to comply. “Your dad said I should ride with you.”

Dylan chuckled, exchanging a knowing glance with his brothers. “Ride with us? Did he happen to mention which one of us?”

Kiara frowned. “What do you mean?”

“We’re taking separate cars today,” John said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “So, who’s your lucky chauffeur?”

Before Kiara could respond, her phone buzzed again. She quickly answered, balancing it precariously as Trixie’s frantic voice filled her ear.

“Kiara! Where are you? The test is literally about to start!”

“Just give me a second, Trixie,” Kiara snapped, her nerves fraying.

Desperate to get moving, she made a split-second decision and climbed into the nearest car, slamming the door behind her.

“Done. Let’s just go,” she muttered under her breath.

She shoved her phone into her pocket and looked up just in time to see John slide into the driver’s seat.

Her stomach dropped. “Wait, what are you doing?”

John’s smirk widened as he started the engine. “Driving, obviously.”

“No, no, no. I’m getting out,” Kiara said, reaching for the door handle.

A soft click filled the air.

“What did you just do?” Kiara demanded, her voice rising.

“Locked the doors,” John said nonchalantly, shifting the car into gear. “Wouldn’t want you to jump out while I’m driving.”

Kiara glared at him, her cheeks flushing with anger. “Unlock the door, John. I’m serious.”

John glanced at her, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Relax, Doodle. I’ll get you to school in one piece.”

“Don’t call me that!” she snapped, her heart racing.

“Why not? It suits you,” he teased, pulling out of the driveway.

Kiara folded her arms tightly across her chest, fuming in silence. She had no choice but to endure the ride, though every fiber of her being screamed at her to protest.

As they drove, John kept the atmosphere deliberately tense, humming along to the radio while Kiara sat stiffly in her seat.

“Why are you so uptight?” John asked after a while, glancing at her.

Kiara shot him a withering look. “Maybe because I didn’t ask for this.”

John shrugged. “You’re not exactly easy to get along with, you know.”

Kiara bristled. “And you are?”

He chuckled. “Fair point.”

They fell into an uneasy silence, the tension between them palpable. Kiara stared out the window, her thoughts racing. She couldn’t shake the feeling that John was playing some sort of game, but she couldn’t figure out what his angle was.

---

When they finally pulled into the school parking lot, Kiara practically bolted out of the car the moment John unlocked the doors.

“Thanks for the ride,” she muttered, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

John leaned against the car, watching her with a smirk. “Anytime, Doodle.”

Kiara didn’t bother responding, marching off toward the school entrance. Her phone buzzed again, and she quickly answered.

“Trixie, I’m here. Stop panicking.”

“You’re late,” Trixie hissed. “Get to class now before Mrs. Porter sees you!”

“I’m on my way,” Kiara said, quickening her pace.

As she entered the building, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Glancing over her shoulder, she spotted John still leaning against his car, his gaze fixed on her.

A shiver ran down her spine.

That evening, as Kiara sat in her room, a new message from GoldenAlpha01 popped up on her screen.

“You really shouldn’t trust everyone you meet, Cherry. Some people have dangerous secrets.”

She tossed her phone on the bed and got to her feet, walking around the room as she tried to figure out what exactly John is up to.

___

Kiara's phone buzzed late in the evening, pulling her attention away from her homework. Curious, she opened her email and froze when she saw the subject line: "Exclusive Invitation to Perform at the High School Fun Fair!"

Her heart skipped a beat as she read the message. The event was a big deal, drawing students, parents, and even local influencers. Performing there could skyrocket her music dreams. A smile spread across her face as she began envisioning herself on stage, the crowd cheering her name.

Excited, Kiara clicked on the attached list of guests to get a sense of who would be attending. But her excitement quickly turned to dread. There, among the prominent names, were Alex, Dylan, and John Carter.

The triplets.

Kiara's stomach twisted in knots. The thought of performing in front of them made her palms sweat. She could already picture their smug faces, their teasing remarks.

“No way,” she muttered to herself, shaking her head.

Without hesitation, she opened the email reply option and typed out a polite rejection.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I’m unable to perform at this time. Best wishes for the event!”

She hit send and leaned back in her chair, exhaling sharply.

Satisfied with her decision, she shut her laptop and climbed into bed. As she stared at the ceiling, a tiny pang of regret tugged at her. The fun fair could’ve been her big break, but she wasn’t about to hand the triplets another reason to torment her.

“Not worth it,” she whispered, turning off her bedside lamp.

Little did she know, this wouldn’t be the last time she’d cross paths with them and the next encounter might not be so easy to avoid.