Chapter 1
I pulled into the long narrow driveway. It was beginning to be dust dark, almost twilight. Dani was sitting next to me in the passenger seat. She was listening more to the radio than she had our whole conversation over here. Some pop done-me-wrong song was playing on the radio. I personally didn’t like it. Not because it was pop but because I just simply didn’t like the song. They played it too much and it had a terrible ‘modernized disco’ beat. Just wasn’t my taste.
When I found a parking spot between two trucks I could have practically walked under I put the car in park and took the keys out. “I liked that song.”
“Bonfire music is much better. Custom mix by the boy who invited us himself.”
She rolled her eyes, “whatever you say.” We both knew it would be multiple country songs from many different time eras, hip-hop including a 90s Snoop Dogg and 2013 Tyga, pop songs that either are too old or never went out of date, finished by different types of rock music. The playlist wasn’t in that particular order but neither one of us are new to this scene.
We both got out of the car and Dani decided to take her risk walking under one of the trucks. Both of us hoping she didn’t get caught. The driver might not like it or could already have too much beer in his system and is already feeling proud.
Walking up the yard to the back where tons of sticks and hunks of wood were in separate stacks. Meeting up with everyone felt really nice. It was honestly nice to get out of my house. I had been cooped up for about a month with the exception of school. I hadn’t braced myself for the sight and smack of reality when we showed up and my ex was sitting there making out with the same thing he left me for. Scratch that. Cheated on me with then left me for. Before I caught myself I was staring and frozen. They both looked up at me, Dani grabbed my arm and I walked away with her. “Brylyn he’s not worth it.” I knew she was right and I knew why and I knew what she said but that didn’t mean it ever stuck with me. It never stayed with me long enough for me to remind myself.
Three hours into the party Dani ended up getting dared to dance/run through the fire almost burning her jeans. She also met some random dude from the school across town and they had already swapped numbers. I won’t know for a while about her being serious about him or not. Dani doesn’t date. Well she does but it’s never serious and it never lasts long. She usually just loses interest really quick or just finds it easier to end it before anybody gets too seriously involved. She says it’s easier that way but she barely knows their name before she ends it. I don’t ask too many questions.
I went to go linger around and find some people I knew. I also had hopes of avoiding seeing anybody else. I popped into the kitchen to get a drink. I opened the door and almost ran into some random boy almost knocking a couple drinks out of his hands. “I’m sorry.” I automatically blurted out.
“Oh no it’s fine, I didn’t really wanna get these anyway honestly. I just came to get them because it got me away from the biggest most annoying part of the crowd for a little bit.”
“Oh. Well do you want me to ‘accidentally’ make them spill all over the floor?”
He laughed, “As much as I would like to say yes to that offer I’m gonna have to say no.”
“Well the offer is still open.”
He looked out the door and turned back to me, his shirt had drops on it from the drinks sloshing. “Austin, I would hold a hand out but I’ve got my hands full here.” I smiled back at him, “Brylyn.” He nodded and went on his way. I figured I wasn’t going to see him again. Honestly that was an odd conversation. I liked his hair. Dark and floppy but not overly floppy. Not Justin Bieber-y. His mom was probably proud of that hair. I walked over to the counter and got one a red solo cup. I filled it up with ice from the back in the sink. I was only semi-familiar with this house. It was my friend’s house but not a best friend. I poured sweet tea into my glass and was on my way out the door when I saw the small container of Jack Daniel’s behind the liters of coke. I looked both ways before adding a bit to my tea. Not too much, about a cap full. I wasn’t much of a drinker but I knew I would eat and be here way long enough for it to be completely out of my system. Plus Dani can always drive because she doesn’t drink.
I went the opposite way of the direction I came in, the jack in my tea was much better than it sounds like it would be. I took a sip, I liked the dull burn it gave me as it was going down.
Before I knew it I had ended up all the way at the barn. I didn’t know what time it was but few cows they had were in the barn. They must have put them away before anybody showed up. I heard them and I knew where the door was. I walked into the backside of the barn where I knew there would be a gate separating me from the cows. There was a radio tacked up and it was playing lowely. Who plays music for their cows? I walked over and turned it up a couple notches. Luke Bryan was playing. Of course. He just released a new album.
I slid my phone out of my pocket. My brightness was up higher than I thought and it hurt my eyes. I saw that Dani had texted me wondering where I went off too. I responded quickly and told her I had went to go get a drink.
I turned the radio back down and stood there a few minutes longer. I eventually decided to make my way back.
I ended up on the opposite of the house in which I left but it was close enough. So I just used the front door and made my way back to the kitchen. I put a little more ice in my drink. I had my back turned to the door when I heard it open. “You’re back?” I turned around to see Austin again. “Yeah, went for a walk and came back to the kitchen.”
He almost squinted and then looked at the floor. Like he wanted to say something but he didn’t. He decided to walk up beside me and grab a piece of ice, put salt on it, and pop it into his mouth. “This is a heart attack on ice but I don’t really care because I like it.”
“Why don’t you try pepper on it?”
“Makes me sneeze. You from around here, I’ve never seen you before?” He spoke with such clarity but it was just small talk.
“Yeah lived here all my life. What about yourself?”
“Been here all my life too. You might want to try some of that food over there, it’s pretty good.”
I nodded, “Yeah I probably should since I gotta drive home later.”
His head cocked to the side, “You been drinkin’?”
I was putting food on a small party plate, “Yeah not much. Barely enough to count but I’ll be leaving late enough to get pulled over for anything. So which high school did you go to?”
He shrugged his shoulders, “Which year?”
“All of them.” I popped a chip into my mouth.
Leaning up against the table, “well first two I was at Coffee and then I got in some fights so I ended up at Irwin my last year.”
“Senior at Coffee. How come I never saw or heard about you.”
“I don’t know.”
I was curious as to what happened that third year and where he was but I didn’t wanna ask someone I didn’t know that well about it. If he had wanted to me to know he’d have told me or it was personal.
We talked for a little bit longer. Lengthy small talk. Basically playing 50 questions. He offered me his number and I took it not knowing whether I’d ever use it or not. I probably wouldn’t but it was nice that he offered.
The closer it got to midnight the closer I needed to go find Dani and get home. Eventually I found her sitting in a lawnchair behind where the huge flames had once been but now they were kind of dulled out.
