The Price of Collision

"I've got this. I know these roads like the back of my hand. Let me get everyone home safe and sound!"

Carmen Smith's voice cut through the silence, and I jolted awake to find her gripping the car keys, her eyes shining with hope as she scanned the crowd.

That was when it hit me: Carmen had been reborn, too.

She nudged me when I did not respond. "Yvonne, I just figured everyone's exhausted tonight. So, I offered to drive your car. Don't read too much into it."

In my previous life, Carmen had exploited my allergy to alcohol, knowing I could not drink, to convince me to bring my car to the party.

Whenever someone mentioned leaving early to catch the last bus, she would point at me with a sly grin and say, "Why worry? We've got our very own chauffeur: Yvonne!

"She was our class leader once. Now she's here to serve, too. What's the big deal?

"Next time you're in a bind, just call her like I do. She's a sweetheart; she'll never say no."

Back then, I brushed it off as her being blunt, and I truly wanted to help my best friend.

However, now, her words stung with sarcasm.

It took dying once to see she had been treating me like a personal assistant.

I came back to the present and grabbed the keys from her. "The car's mine. If you're really that generous, why not pay for their rides?"

Carmen froze, then played the victim to the crowd. "Oh, so Yvonne just had to drive over today to flaunt her wealth!

"It's just an old car; no need to make a fuss over it."

At her words, everyone turned to stare at me.

"Always putting on airs, even after we've graduated."

"Carmen's the real deal, sticking with you as your bestie all these years."

"Isn't it just a junker? If it's that precious to you, lock it up at home and don't bother taking it out!"

Even my boyfriend, Patrick Gibson, tugged at my arm, pleading, "Come on, Yvonne. Carmen's just trying to be nice, offering everyone a lift home. Cut her some slack."

I stared at him, a wave of anger washing over me.

If I had not been given that second chance at life, I would never have known he had been sneaking around with Carmen.

I jerked my arm away. "Did you forget Carmen's been drinking? If she crashes my car, who's on the hook?"

Silence hung in the air for a few tense seconds as everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

"You know, that's a fair point. Never mind, Carmen. If she's not cool with us using her car, we'll find another way home."

Carmen frantically gestured, saying, "No way! I have to be the one to drive everyone home!

"Chill out, everyone! I barely had a sip!

"Plus, it's way past one in the morning. No cops around to bust us. Trust me."

She grabbed my car keys with a surprising amount of strength.

I knew exactly why she was so insistent.

In my previous life, my car was rear-ended by a luxury car. The driver claimed to be a rich foreigner who did not want to deal with insurance and just handed his car to me.

Did she honestly believe there were people so rich they would hand over a million-dollar car without a second thought?

Since I would not budge, Carmen's eyes were suddenly filled with crocodile tears. "It's so late, and we've got girls here. Taxis are too risky! It's safer in a car with someone we know.

"Yvonne, if you think we're taking advantage of you, I'll cover the gas for everyone," she said, pulling out a handful of greenbacks and thrusting them at me. "Is this enough?"

Patrick grabbed the cash and dropped my keys into Carmen's hand, then started mocking me, saying, "You just have to say yes, alright?

"Carmen's just worried about keeping us safe. I bet you're just green with envy because she's prettier and more likable than you."

I was ready to snap back, but Carmen had already jumped into the driver's seat.

The rest of the gang quickly shoved me into the backseat, groaning, "Come on, I'm about to pass out from exhaustion."

Once we were all in the car, I could barely make out Carmen's hushed, thrilled whisper. "Just you wait. This time, that million-dollar ride is mine!"

I took a deep breath and laughed to myself.

'If you're in such a rush to meet disaster, I'm not stopping you,' I thought.