Chapter 149 - Whatever It Takes

Lance. 

After the phone call. I think of how this will work. I am already thinking of worst-case scenarios. I don't know how this is going to turn out but Ford seems to think that his uncle will be the help we need.

Something about the whole thing is bothering me.

The unknown is driving me insane.

"Yo, dude. Are you actually thinking about breaking the guy out of a hospital?'' Eren asks me with disbelief in his eyes.

It is not settled. These are just my thoughts. I am wondering if it is possible. We wanted to run away together. That was the plan before his father locked him up. That is what I want to stick to. That plan to get him out of the mess that I put him through. no one can tell me that this isn't my fault. Everything that led to this moment is my fault. The relationship—I am the one that pushed for it. The secret—I am the one that said we should. He tried to be strong and refuse me but I ended up seducing him into this. the tape—I am the one that made him have sex with me in school. I am the cause of all his demise and he is the one suffering for it. I just need to figure out a way to get him out of this.

"Can Manuel do something? Maybe get us in. I will do the rest.''

Jack coughs nervously. I know he is about to object to this. he doesn't think this is a good idea. He hasn't said anything but I know him. "What?'' I ask him, waiting for his negativity. I know he is going to try to be the rational one, but right now. I don't need rational.

I need my best friend to be on my side.

"Nothing, I just think,'' he pauses. There we go. Like I said. He will try to talk me out of this. Eren seems to be on my side right now. Please don't turn your back on me, Jack.

"You just think what?'' I ask with an eye roll and a huff.

"Why don't we just wait. I mean, he just told you his uncle was going to get him out. Shouldn't we wait until he can't?''

I want to wait but I also want to be prepared. I don't want an ambush situation. I don't want to end up losing him all because of the people that are supposed to be his parents. The people that he is supposed to rely on failed him.

I am not talking about physically losing him—I am talking about mentally losing him. Ford is not strong enough. Keeping him in that hospital will only make him lose his mind. I don't want that to happen before they all realize their mistakes.

Before it is too late.

''I can't wait any longer. I at least need to know there is a way I can do this if his uncle fails us.'' I cry out my pain. I am frustrated and it is getting to me.

"It can work. It will be pretty easy for him to get us inside.''

My attention shifts away from jack and to Eren. He seems to be the only one giving me what I need right.

"Your phone is ringing,'' Jack pipes up just as I am about to ask Eren how we can manage it. If this is a possibility. I will break him out of that prison that his father put him and we will run away together.

I pick up my phone and it is another unknown number. "Hello,'' I answer the phone immediately.

"Lance Wellbon.'' The voice is calm. I recognize him immediately even though I don't know him.

"Uncle Max,'' I breathe out his name. this is the moment I have been waiting for. There are two ways this will go. One, he will tell me that he helped him. Ford is free. Two. He didn't do anything.

"I am outside your apartment building."

I jump up from the couch. In my heart. I am hoping he is here with good news. If Ford was with him, he would have come up. There wouldn't be a need for this call. So, something must have gone wrong. This is me thinking of the worst-case scenario again. I am supposed to have dinner with mom now, I don't feel up for it. Especially with everything that is happening. If I cancel, she will panic again. She will call and pester. I don't even know what to do.

"I'll be down in a second,'' I tell him before ending the call.

My two friends are watching me with curious eyes. They are in this with me even if they don't realize it. Once I get back up, we will know what to do next. I just really hope it doesn't have to come to that. For once, I wish things will just go my way. I wish we can just be together without all these problems.

"His granduncle is downstairs,'' I explain to them.

"The one that is supposed to help?'' Eren asks.

I nod immediately "I'll just go to him. Hear what he has to say. know what I will have to do." This is just me telling them that they need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. This doesn't seem like good news. I feel weird in my heart.

Like his pain is in me right now.

Does that even make any sense?

"Alright dude, we've got you.'' They both assure me. I didn't need it because I know that they do. They are my friends—my ride or die.

I get downstairs and his car is evident in my parking lot. The shiny BMW calls out to everyone in the whole neighborhood. Anyone that sees the car, will know that it doesn't belong here. The windows are tinted but once I stop in front of the backseat. They slide down revealing an old man. "Get in,'' he tells me, before winding the window back up. I don't know this man. I have had one call with him. This could be a mistake. Entering a car when you don't even know the person but it involves Ford. He is my priority. The most important person to me and it has to do with him. So, I have to.

I run over to the other side of the car and open the door. He raises a brow at me as I enter. "Hello Lance,'' he breathes out. I take a closer look at him. Mr. Max is old. Like really old but he also looks young. I don't know if that makes sense. His hair is completely grey his eyes are blue. He looks like he has aged well. Maybe it is all the money his family has.

"Hello sir,'' I stutter nervously.

I wish he would get to the point. Tell me what he is going to do about Ford. Is he going to leave him there or fucking save him?

"Call me Max,'' he smiles and even his teeth are perfect.

"Okay, Max.'' 

He smiles "Are you hungry, you don't mind if we go for dinner. I haven't eaten anything all day,'' it is a question but somehow feels like a demand. He seems like the kind of person that wouldn't take no for an answer. I wish he would just get to the point. Tell me if ford is okay. What the fuck is going on.

"Sure,'' I agree in defeat because I am going to kiss his ass if I have to.

We get to a restaurant called Bambini. It is Italian and very close to my house. This is one of the places I wouldn't be caught dead inside. Expensive places that I can't even afford. After settling inside, he faces me "I know you have questions."

I nod.

He smiles "I need to know that you are rational Lance. Before we have this conversation. I don't want you thinking blindly because of the love you have for Brad."

Deep down, I knew. I felt it in my bones that this conversation wouldn't be good. I watch him as he cuts down on his steak. It feels like he is cutting Ford's heart into the pieces of the meat. He is betraying him.

"You're not helping him,'' I conclude.

"Lance, I want you to listen to me. listen before you react. Can you do that?" he asks me. his expression is solemn. I have already made up my mind. If he is not on Ford's side anymore. I will do this on my own. I am not going to sit down and listen to all this bullshit. All the adults in our life think they can just control us—make us do things the way they want.

I won't take it.

"Okay,'' I lie.

He smiles "Great, so I had a talk with his father. The man is not the best person. In fact, he is basically what I would call a spoiled brat,'' he smiles like he has said the funniest thing ever.

I just want him to get to the point.

"He showed me something that made me see things from his side. You remember that Ford is not well.''

I fold my hands into fists under the table. I hate that word. I hate that this is always their reason. He is not well. He deserves to be locked up.

I don't want to listen to this.