chapter thirty-five:
❛ dylans worries  ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)

the reason i always say "please don't be a ghost reader" this isnt just because i want votes, i mean i do, but ive been writing on this app for 3 almost 4 years and it helps me stay motivated because that means people are reading my stuff. and unlike other people, they have so many views on their books and i know my writing isnt the best but i love to write and it just helps me stay motivated. and i know i unpublish and republish my chapters and i get thats really annoying

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

Arizona's hands gripped the wheel as she navigated the winding, poorly paved road that seemed to stretch endlessly into the darkness. The car's headlights were the only thing cutting through the night, casting shadows on the road as they rumbled forward, somewhere between Texas and Mexico, with no real plan except to get Miguel back home. Beside her, Dylan was fast asleep, his head pressed awkwardly against the window, mouth slightly open, a soft snore slipping out now and then. Arizona shook her head, almost smiling at how oblivious he looked.

Suddenly, the car bounced over a series of bumps, jolting both of them. Arizona tried to steady the wheel, but the rough stretch of road shook the entire car. With a loud, dramatic gasp, Dylan jerked awake, clutching the seatbelt across his chest as his eyes flew open.

"What's happening?!" he yelped, looking around wildly, like he'd woken up in the middle of an action movie chase scene. "Are we... are we being chased? Is it the cartel?"

Arizona snorted, her eyes still on the road. "Relax, Indiana Jones. Just a bumpy road."

Dylan's hands were gripping the seatbelt so tightly his knuckles were white. "Oh... right. I knew that." He gave a nervous laugh, but his eyes darted around, still not quite convinced they were safe.

Arizona glanced over, amused. "You good?"

"No, I'm not fine!" Dylan blurted, clearly still processing the fact that he was somewhere south of the border, in the middle of the night, without any backup plan. "I mean, I didn't even tell anyone we just left! Not my mom, not even Sam! Oh my god... Sam's going to be so pissed at me. She's going to think I abandoned her. This is going to ruin everything!"

Arizona sighed, giving him a sideways look. "You seriously think Sam's going to hate you for helping out Miguel? Chill out. We'll stop at a gas station soon, get some service, and call everyone to let them know what's going on. They'll understand."

Dylan ran a hand through his hair, clearly not convinced. "You don't get it, Arizona. I didn't even think about what they'd think... and my mom—she's probably freaking out. When she finds out I'm gone, she'll kill me! And crossing the border? She'll ground me for life."

Arizona rolled her eyes, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Dude, it's not like you ran off to join a cartel. We're going to help a friend. Parents can understand that, you know? Just... try not to overthink it."

Dylan shook his head, exasperated. "Easy for you to say. Your family's probably used to you running off on road trips. Mine? Not so much. My mom's probably glued to the phone, and Sam? She's going to be so mad I left without even telling her."

Arizona chuckled, trying to keep her patience as she navigated a particularly rough patch of road. "Look, I get it. But this is bigger than just us or our parents. Miguel needs us. I'd rather be grounded than sit back and do nothing."

Dylan shifted in his seat, his fingers nervously drumming on his leg as he stared out at the dark, deserted road. "Right, right... for Miguel," he muttered to himself, taking a deep breath. "But, like, what if something goes wrong? What if we break down in the middle of nowhere, or we run out of gas, or we don't have enough money?"

"Oh my god, Dylan, calm down!" Arizona exclaimed, half-amused, half-exasperated. "It's not the apocalypse. We're driving to Mexico, not trekking through the jungle. And we've got cash for gas, so we're good. You're seriously overthinking this."

Dylan let out a long, dramatic sigh, leaning his head back against the headrest as he ran a hand down his face. "I'm just saying... I'm not exactly the 'run-off-on-a-road-trip' type, okay? And this whole thing just feels... crazy."

Arizona softened, glancing over at him. "Hey. I know it's not your usual scene. But you're doing this for Miguel. That takes guts, and honestly? I'm glad you're here. It'd be boring as hell by myself."

He managed a small smile, finally letting out a deep breath. "Yeah, yeah. I just... I hope you're right. And I hope my mom doesn't literally murder me when I get back."

"Trust me, you'll be fine," Arizona said confidently. "You've got me, right? Nothing's going to happen. Now, maybe catch some sleep, okay? You're gonna need it if you want to keep up."

Dylan gave her a reluctant smile, leaning back and settling in, though his face was still full of worry. He adjusted his seatbelt, glancing at Arizona, who remained focused and determined. He knew she was right—it was worth it, for Miguel. But he couldn't quite shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something way more intense than he'd ever expected.

As the first light of dawn painted the sky in shades of pink and gold, Arizona pulled her car into a sleepy, deserted gas station off the long, dusty highway. She turned off the engine, feeling the cool morning air brush her skin as she stepped out. Across the lot, Dylan was already stumbling toward the convenience store, eyes barely open, mumbling something about caffeine. She smirked at his groggy state, pulling her phone out as she began pumping gas.

Arizona hesitated, then dialed Diego's number. She didn't even have time to take a breath before he picked up, sounding frantic.

"Arizona! Where did you go? Grandma's worried sick! Did you know that Miguel ran off to Mexico? Please tell me you didn't go with him!"

Arizona sighed, steadying herself. "Diego, I'm fine. Yes, I went to find him and help him look for his dad. And I'm not alone—I brought Dylan with me."

She heard a muffled noise on the other end of the line, like a scramble for the phone. Suddenly, her grandmother's voice cut in, fast and urgent, half in panic.

"¡Arizona! ¿En qué estás pensando, niña? ¡Tienes que regresar ahora mismo! ¡Tu abuela está preocupada!" ("Arizona! What are you thinking, child? You need to come back right now! Your grandma is worried!")

Arizona winced, holding the phone away slightly. "Grandma, please, I just want to help Miguel. He deserves to know who his dad is."

Her grandmother's voice grew sharper, with a note of fear that Arizona wasn't used to hearing. "¡Arizona, ven a casa ahora mismo! Johnny ya fue para allá a buscarlo," she said, her voice urgent. "¡Si encuentras al papá de Miguel, es peligroso! No tienes idea en lo que te estás metiendo." ("Arizona, come home right now! Johnny already went down there to find him. If you find Miguel's father, it's dangerous! You have no idea what you're getting into.")

Arizona frowned, her grip tightening on the phone as confusion and frustration started to churn in her chest. "Why would it be dangerous? I don't get it. What's going on?"

There was a beat of silence, and then she heard a new voice come through, calm but firm. Carmen. "Arizona... please, listen to me. You need to grab Dylan, turn around, and come home," she said, each word deliberate. "Hector... Hector is a dangerous man. He's involved in things Miguel doesn't know about. He's... he's a crime lord."

Arizona's heart stilled, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say. She blinked, her jaw slack with shock. "What?!" She glanced over at the store, where Dylan was wandering around, completely oblivious, grabbing random snacks from the shelves. He had no idea what kind of danger they were walking into.

"Carmen, I'm sorry... but I have to do this," Arizona finally replied, her voice trembling but resolute. "Miguel's out here, alone, and he deserves to know the truth. I can't just leave him."

"No, mija," Carmen pleaded, desperation thick in her tone. "Come home. Johnny's handling it, and it's too dangerous for you and Dylan."

Arizona shook her head, her determination only hardening. "Johnny? He's gonna need backup."

Before Carmen could protest, Arizona ended the call, tucking her phone into her pocket as she took a shaky breath. The sun was now creeping higher, casting a warm glow over the deserted gas station, but an unsettling chill settled deep in her bones. She turned toward the store, watching Dylan laugh over a particularly ridiculous snack combo, completely unaware of the storm they were about to step into.

Arizona knew the risks now, but leaving Miguel alone in this was not an option. Her mind was set; there was no turning back.

Inside the convenience store, Dylan picked up a random snack combo—flamin' hot popcorn and a jar of salsa—and snickered at how ridiculous it looked. He muttered to himself, "Who even thought this was a good idea?" Then, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw Sam's name on the screen, and a grin stretched across his face.

"Yes, service!" he whispered to himself in relief, quickly hitting "answer." Holding the phone to his ear, he started with his usual sarcasm, "Hi, hello, this is Dylan Smith. How may I help you today, Sam?"

But instead of the laugh he expected, he was met with a dead-serious tone. "What the hell, Dylan!" Sam's voice burst out so loud he almost pulled the phone away from his ear. "You just left without telling me? Without telling anyone? Both you and Arizona just up and disappeared!"

Dylan froze, his smile vanishing as her words sank in. He looked around, feeling suddenly exposed in the quiet store. "Sam, look, it's fine," he tried to reassure her. "We just thought we'd, you know, help Miguel out. Arizona figured—"

"Help Miguel?" Sam's voice was layered with frustration and anger. "Dylan, do you realize how worried everyone is? Your mom, Aunt Lydia, Demetri—everyone is freaking out! This isn't some little road trip. It's serious! It's dangerous!"

Dylan bristled, taken aback by her tone. "Dangerous?" he replied, his voice rising in defense. "Miguel doesn't even know his dad, Sam! Arizona and I just want to make sure he's safe. It's not like—"

"You don't get it, Dylan," Sam interrupted, her voice sharp with frustration. "Miguel's dad isn't just some random stranger. He's dangerous, Dylan. Carmen was at the house last night, and she told us he's tied up in serious crime. This isn't something you two can just go solve on your own."

Dylan paused, her words rattling him, but he forced himself to push back. "Sam, we're not going to do anything crazy. We're just... checking on Miguel, okay? We'll be careful. It's not like we're going to knock on his dad's door."

"No, it's not okay!" she insisted, her voice breaking slightly. "You're out there with no backup, no plan, no clue what you're dealing with! This isn't some game." And with that, she ended the call abruptly, leaving him standing there in stunned silence.

"Shit," he muttered, feeling his heart hammering in his chest. Shoving his phone back in his pocket, he spun on his heel and jogged out of the store. Outside, Arizona was leaning against the car, watching the pump tick up as she filled the tank. She looked up as he approached.

"Come on," she said, her tone casual. "Let's keep going. We need to get to Miguel before he does something crazy."

Dylan let out a short, incredulous laugh, rubbing his face. "Sam just told me that Miguel's dad is a crime lord, Arizona. And you still want to keep looking for him?"

Arizona's expression flickered but quickly hardened. She crossed her arms, her eyes steady. "Yeah, Dylan. I do. Miguel's out here alone, probably scared, and he's our friend. We can't just bail because it got 'a little risky.'"

"A little risky?" Dylan scoffed, practically throwing his hands up. "Arizona, this isn't just some little adventure. This guy is dangerous. Sam said my mom and Aunt Lydia were at their place last night, freaking out because of what Miguel's dad is involved in! Johnny's already out here looking for him. If we just leave, they'll find him, and—"

"Johnny?" Arizona shot back, frustration tightening her voice. "Look, Miguel's Johnny's student, not his son. If it were me out here, alone, you think I'd want to wait around for some adult to handle things?" She stepped closer, meeting his gaze. "We're not backing down just because it's scary."

He felt his resistance falter under her determined gaze, but he shook his head, digging his heels in. "Look, I didn't even tell my mom. I thought we'd come out here, check in on Miguel, and get him back, but this... this isn't something I signed up for. I'm not going to risk everything because you feel like playing hero."

Arizona clenched her jaw, clearly fighting back frustration. "Fine, Dylan. If you're that scared, I'll drop you at a bus station. But I'm not turning around. Miguel is out there alone, and he's my friend. I'm not leaving him."

The tension between them was thick and unforgiving, both of them too stubborn to see the other's point. Dylan took a step back, nodding stiffly. "Fine. Find him yourself. I'll go home, Arizona."

Without another word, she turned back to the pump, her hand gripping it tighter. They climbed into the car in silence, and as Arizona turned the ignition, neither looked at the other. The road ahead felt colder and harder than ever, but neither was ready to admit their own fear or regret.

Arizona leaned against her Jeep, her arms crossed, eyes on Dylan as he clutched his bus ticket. His shoulders were tense, and he glanced nervously between her and the station.

"You really going?" Arizona's voice was softer than usual, tinged with a mix of disappointment and worry.

Dylan swallowed hard, shifting his weight, looking torn. "Yeah, Ari. I wish you would just come with me. This whole thing... it's dangerous, and—" he hesitated, "we don't even know what kind of guy Miguel's dad is."

Arizona let out a sigh, offering him a crooked smile. "Chill, Dyl. Need some lavender oil?" She jerked her thumb toward the bottle of essential oil in her car, hoping a little humor would ease his nerves.

Dylan chuckled briefly but shook his head. "Yes—wait, no!" He scrunched his face in frustration, clearly annoyed by his own nervousness. "Arizona, I'm serious. This is no joke—"

Before he could finish, a loud crash echoed across the lot. Both of them looked over to see Johnny and Robby in the middle of a brawl. They were surrounded by several guys, all of whom seemed determined to knock them down.

"What the hell?" Arizona muttered, squinting at the scene as adrenaline kicked in.

Dylan froze, a look of horror on his face, but Arizona didn't think twice. She took off running, the gravel crunching under her boots as she closed the distance. Just as she reached them, she noticed one of the men creeping up behind Robby, his arms raised to strike.

Without hesitation, Arizona lunged forward, doing a handstand and swinging her legs in a powerful kick that connected with the guy's jaw. He stumbled back, crashing onto the pavement. As she regained her footing, another man ran toward her. She met him head-on, pivoting just in time to dodge his punch, then countered with a quick jab to his face, sending him staggering.

Johnny, having just taken down his own opponent, grinned at her. "Hell yeah, Bubblegum!" he shouted, impressed.

Arizona shot him a smirk, adrenaline surging. But as her gaze flicked to Robby, her expression hardened. She marched toward him, arms crossed, glaring. "This doesn't mean we're friends now, Keene. Don't think I forgot you're the guy who shaved off one of my best friends' hair," she said coldly, jabbing a finger toward him.

Robby's face fell, a hint of regret flickering in his eyes. "I'm sorry for what Tory did to you," he said, almost quietly.

Arizona's eyes narrowed. "Don't apologize for her. She's the one who tattooed me. That's all on her," she snapped, her voice tight. She rolled up her sleeve, revealing the faint outline of the word "Traitor" on her forearm. Robby glanced at it, his expression clouding with guilt.

At that moment, Dylan cautiously approached, looking around at the unconscious men scattered across the pavement. "Hi," he greeted Robby, a cold edge to his voice. It wasn't lost on anyone that Dylan hadn't exactly forgiven Robby for their last encounter, which had ended with Dylan landing a punch.

Johnny quickly jumped in, clapping his hands and glancing around, scanning for any more potential attackers. "Alright, listen, you kids should head home," he insisted. "This is my problem. I'm the one who should go find Miguel."

Arizona scoffed, shaking her head. "Not a chance, Johnny. Imagine what happens if more guys like this come at you alone. You need backup."

Robby nodded, chiming in supportively. "She's right. This isn't a one-man mission."

Dylan's face paled, and he glanced back at the bus station as if calculating the distance. "I—I can't fight," he stammered, his hands shaking slightly. "I don't know what I'd even do if more guys showed up."

Arizona met his eyes, giving him a look that was both determined and pleading. "Please, Dyl. I need you here with me," she said softly, her voice laced with sincerity.

Dylan's shoulders slumped, clearly conflicted. After a long moment, he finally let out a sigh. "Alright, alright, fine," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I'm only doing this for you, Ari. And if this goes sideways... it's on you."

Arizona's face lit up with a grateful smile, and she reached over to give him a quick squeeze on the shoulder. "Thanks, Dyl. We're all in this together."

ASH SPEAKS!

seems to be heartbreak season in jealousy jealousy... arizona and miguel arent the only ones in season 5 of this book to have issues...

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)