Anything Goes on a Friday Night

by Sara Daniell

  I looked at Finn. He was my plans. Everything else fell second to him. Finn smiled and took a drink of the beer his dad let him have. His dad offered me one too, but I declined.

  “College,” I answered respectfully. I’m sure he didn’t want to hear me oogle over his son.

  “Good choice. What are you going to study?” When he smiled, I could see where Finn got his charm.

  “I want to be a teacher.”

  “What kind?” He leaned back in his recliner and rubbed his full belly. “There are a lot of different kinds of teachers. Music, Art, English to name a few.”

  “Special Education, but I’ll have to get my Master’s for that. Which I plan on doing. I want to be certified in elementary education first.”

  Finn put his arm around my shoulders. We were already sitting really close on the couch, enough to make me a little uncomfortable, since we were with his dad, but Finn wouldn’t let me move. I raised a brow at his arm, and he laughed at me.

  “She’s smart, Dad. Like really smart. She’s going to be a great teacher.” Finn was beaming.

  “Finn, you still plan on welding?”

  “Yes, sir. Plan on owning my own shop. None of those plans have changed.”

  They continued their conversation, but I stopped paying attention when my phone dinged.

  Alyssa: What are you doing tonight?

  Me: Can’t really talk right now. I’m hanging out at Finn’s dad’s. But we don’t have any plans yet. Why?

  Alyssa: Party tonight at my house. Channing-free. I swear! You should bring him. I want to meet him! We all do!

  Me: I’ll talk to him and see what he wants to do.

  I put my phone away and looked apologetically at Finn and his dad. “Sorry, it was my friend.”

  “No problem.” His dad smiled. He and Finn continued their conversation, and I listened to them talk about memories and Finn’s plans for welding. I’d ask Finn about the party later.

  THE WHOLE WAY, I kept asking Finn if he was sure that he wanted to come to the party tonight. After he told me for the millionth time he was, I stopped asking. Well, until now.

  “Finn, you really don’t have to.”

  He laughed and stopped at the red light. We were five minutes from Alyssa’s house.

  “Ellie, stop being silly. Of course I want to go. I want to meet this other life you live when you come over here. Stop worrying that I won’t have fun.”

  I chewed on my bottom lip as I directed him through the subdivision. We parked on the side of the road with all of the other vehicles and got out. It was so hot that my hair was sticking to my neck. As we walked in, I took the tie from my wrist and pulled my hair into a messy bun.

  I saw Alyssa peek out of the large bay window and smiled. She immediately opened the door and came running out. Shit-faced-drunk. I laughed when her arms flung around me and Finn. When she pulled back, she pinched Finn’s cheeks, making him laugh.

  “Aren’t you a handsome little fellow,” she slurred, giggling the entire time. She turned and made her way up the front-porch steps. “Come on in; the party’s just getting fun!”

  We went in, and immediately I was bombarded. I introduced Finn to everyone, and then we followed Alyssa into the kitchen.

  Holy-hell, look at all of the liquor.

  Alyssa noticed me looking, and she laughed. “The only rule to attend this party was to raid your parents’ alcohol cabinet and not come empty-handed. Everyone’s parents are gonna be piiiissed.”

  Finn laughed. “And we brought nothing.”

  Alyssa shook her finger at him. “Don’t you worry, you gorgeous thing, you. I got you covered. That’s why I’m awesome, and Ellie loves me more than anyone else on this entire planet.”

  I laughed and spotted pure grain alcohol and fruit punch. My eyes must have lit up because Finn took notice.

  “What’s that look for? I swear your eyes just twinkled a little.”

  I looked at Finn and shook my head. “It used to be my favorite mixed drink, but I’m good. No drinking for me tonight.”

  He fixed me a drink anyway.

  I stared into the red solo cup and shook it a little, watching the ice move around.

  “Drink up, Ellie. I’ll be your DD. Have fun with your friends.”

  “You sure?” I asked him, looking at my drink again.

  “One hundred percent sure.”

  I smiled and started sipping.

  I CAME OUT OF the bathroom, or rather stumbled out. I tried to play it cool, like I was completely fine, but I wasn’t. I was a step past buzzing but not yet completely wasted. I regained my balance and walked toward the living room where Finn was supposed to be. There were only a few people hanging out in there. I looked for him, but he wasn’t anywhere in the house. I could hear laughing and talking outside. I went out back and saw that they had a huge bonfire going. I spotted Finn adding more wood to the fire.

  I made my way over to him and grabbed his arm when my legs started to feel like Jell-O.

  “Hey, you. Sorry. Alyssa talked me into starting a fire. I figured you’d be fine since these are your people and all.” He laughed. “You’re drunk.”

  “No, I’m buzzing. Hardcore.”

  Music started playing, and everyone started dancing. Finn spun me around and caught me, so I wouldn’t fall or stumble into a tree. We were both laughing so hard and acting like fools. Everything was great, and everyone was having fun until he showed up.

  Channing strutted his stupid self right through the crowd of people, took me by the hand, and out of Finn’s hold. He tried to kiss me, but I was able to squirm out of his hold and back into Finn’s arms. I could feel Finn’s entire body tense. I closed my eyes to try to stop my world from spinning. I felt Finn take a step, and I slapped my hand on his chest and held it there firmly.

  “No! Let him! I’d love to see what this fuckup’s got!” Channing yelled.

  “Finn, don’t!” I begged, but it was too late.

  Finn and Channing were going at it, punching and hitting until they both ended up on the ground, rolling around like a pair of damn idiots. I was pissed. I was scared. I didn’t want either of them hurt. Not over me.

  Two guys I had never met finally broke it up. One held Channing, and one held Finn. Blood was smeared over both of their faces and dirt and smut was all over their clothes. I felt my lip start to quiver. The tears were coming. I pushed through the crowd of people and into the house just as they poured from my eyes.

  I went into the bathroom and slammed the door.

  This night was supposed to be fun. Finn wasn’t supposed to get involved with Channing. That part of me was over and done, and I wanted Finn to have nothing to do with it! But of course, Channing had found me. Of course, he’d found out where I was and who I was with. I fucking hated small towns.

  I heard a knock on the door.

  “Go away.” I didn’t care who it was. I just needed to calm down.

  “It’s me, Ellie.” Finn knocked again. And again. And again. “I’m not leaving until you let me in. I’ll stand here all night, and eventually Alyssa’s parents will come home. And guess what? I’m not even leaving then. Then Alyssa will get in trouble, and—”

  I opened the door and glared at him. He smiled apologetically. I moved so he could come in. Once in, I shut the door and locked it again.

  Channing had really fucked him up. His lip was bleeding, and the right side of his jaw was already starting to bruise. How will he explain this to his mom and stepdad? I sighed heavily and started looking through drawers for something to clean him up with.

  After finding a wash cloth, I wet it with cool water and started cleaning up his face.

  “I’m so sorry. Seeing him do that to you, I lost it, Ellie.”

  “It’s okay. I’ve been there before. I made Katie eat pavement.” I smiled evilly. The more I calmed down, the more I was angry with Channing and not Finn. Channing had it coming.

  “He left. Some guy had to drive him, though, beca
use he was high on something.”

  “Not surprised,” I continued to clean his lip. After I was done, I rinsed out the rag and threw it in the clothes hamper.

  We came out of the bathroom, and everyone was gone. I felt horrible for crashing Alyssa’s party. We found Alyssa in the kitchen cleaning up. She was so drunk that she was struggling.

  “Alright, missy, you’re going to bed.” I slung her arm over my shoulder and helped her walk. Finn followed us on our way up the stairs. After we put her to bed, we went back down and started cleaning up.

  “Are you mad?” he asked, throwing stuff into a trash bag.

  “Not at you. I’m so sorry, Finn. He wasn’t supposed to show up.”

  “It’s okay. Really. I’ve been wanting to beat his ass since I first learned how he hurt you, and then the yearning grew stronger after he started showing up at random.” He smirked.

  “He had it coming.”

  I HELD MY HEAD IN my hands while I stared at four acceptance letters on the kitchen table. Senior year had come and gone so fast. It was a month until graduation, and I still hadn’t made up my mind. The last time Finn and I had talked about college was when we were at the lake during the summer. I thought I had my mind made up then, but I didn’t.

  I picked up the acceptance letter to Schreiner University here in Kerrville. It would be so easy. Finn was already accepted to the community college about an hour away. We’d be together. I’d keep my job at Kroger, and he’d keep his job at his uncle’s. We could find a cheap rent house or apartment.

  Two of the acceptance letters, one to Vanderbilt and the other to Johns Hopkins, were definite no’s. I only applied to those for the hell of it to see if I could get accepted. But the last one, the one I wanted so badly I’d bleed for it, was to Stanford in California. It was the college I’d worked so hard for and the one Grandpa wanted me to attend. The only thing keeping me from going there was Finn. I was okay with that, but a part of me was scared. What if I gave up Stanford, and Finn and I ended up not making it? I wouldn’t resent Finn for it, but I’d sure as hell be mad at myself forever.

  I set the letter for Schreiner University down and closed my eyes, leaned back in my chair, and sighed heavily. I had to make a decision. I emailed Schreiner University and Stanford to let them know I was still deciding. They both needed an answer soon, so I could start the financial aid process, since I wanted to take summer classes.

  I looked at my phone when it started ringing. Of course, it was Finn.

  “Hey,” I said, sounding happier than I felt. I was on the verge of a panic attack. Life decisions were hard.

  “What bit you in the ass?” he teased.

  “Being an adult. I don’t want to adult, Finn.”

  He laughed. “Want me to come over?”

  “Yeah. We need to talk.”

  “Oh. Why don’t I like the sound of that?”

  “Just come over.” I hung up on him before I started crying.

  WE ENDED UP GOING out to our spot at the river. Dad and Nancy were on their way home, and I didn’t feel like having this conversation with them there. When I left after graduation, wherever I was going, I was going to get the hell away from those two. Their opinions didn’t matter. I wished they did, but they made their choice to not be involved.

  I held my purse where all four letters were folded. Finn pried it from my hands.

  “What are you hiding in here?”

  A tear fell down my cheek when he opened it. “Grab all four envelopes.”

  He did and then set my purse down behind us. I shifted on the metal of his tailgate to get comfortable. My feet dangled, and I waited for him to finish reading them.

  “What if we don’t work out, Finn?” I asked as he looked at the letter from Stanford for a second time.

  “But what if we do?”

  I looked at him. “I’ll go to Schreiner University. If you want me to.”

  He looked at the letters again and shook his head. He held them up, so I could look at them and his face. “Are you fucking kidding me? I hold years of hard work in my hands, Ellie. You can’t just throw away your dreams for a boy.”

  “I don’t see it as throwing away anything. I don’t see what’s so spectacular about those colleges, if you aren’t there with me. Schreiner University, it is. I’ll email them Monday.”

  “You’re insane,” he scoffed.

  “And what if I go to Stanford, because that’s where I’d go if I wasn’t with you, and we’re apart and—” I started freaking out, and my breathing sped up. I couldn’t finish what I was saying. I couldn’t even fathom being away from Finn.

  He set the letters down and got off the tailgate. He held my face in both of his hands. “You silly girl! Are you crazy?” He laughed. “I’ll be right here. Nothing will change. Time and distance are nothing. But Ellie, what if you don’t go? What if you give up your dream, and for some reason, we don’t work out?”

  He let go of my face but remained in front of me.

  “Didn’t you just say we would work out?”

  “That was until I saw where you were accepted to! I won’t let you throw that away for me. You are not going to settle for less!”

  “Settle for less? Finn, I won’t be. Because going to Schreiner University is choosing you. That’s better than Stanford.”

  He looked like he could scream at me. He threw his hands up and let them fall back at his sides. “I refuse to let you do that! Listen, I have an idea. I know my grades suck, and getting into college isn’t really easy for me, but I will look into welding colleges there. Where is Stanford?”

  “Stanford, California.”

  “Holy shit that’s far!”

  I laughed coldly. “No kidding. That’s my point, Finn. It’s so far.”

  “I’ll apply somewhere around there. I’ll try. But you’re going there. Got it?”

  I didn’t answer. I just stared at him.

  “Elena Johnson, you are fucking going! I will email them myself if I have to. And won’t that be embarrassing for your boyfriend to email them?” He raised a brow at me.

  “You wouldn’t.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Try me.” He folded his arms defiantly in front of his chest.

  “Fine!” I cried.

  “Don’t yell at me! I’m just trying to do what’s best for you!”

  I shook my head and looked away from him. “You better get accepted.”

  He held my chin and turned it gently so that I was looking at him.

  “I’ll try.”

  “And if you don’t?” I pouted.

  He kissed me. “And if I don’t find something, we’ll make that work too. Don’t worry that pretty little head of yours.”

  I smiled a little. “Easier said than done, but okay. I’ll try.”

  He kissed me again. “I love you, Ellie.”

  “I love you too. Too much apparently.”

  We both laughed.

  “SAN MATEO!” FINN SAID excitedly, running toward me in the hall. I was pulling books from my locker and almost dropped them.

  “What?” I asked, laughing as he helped me with my books.

  “San Mateo Community College. It’s twenty-five minutes from Stanford. They offer welding certification. My welding teacher at the Vo-Tech did some research for me and found them. He called to get more information, and he helped me put in my application online. We should hear back in a week!”

  “Really!” I jumped a little; I was so excited. “Oh my God, Finn, that’d be so awesome!”

  “I know!” He kissed me. “See, I told you not to worry!”

  “Now get your ass accepted!”

  He nodded. “Plan on it. I gotta go to work. I’ll see you later!”

  I watched him leave the hall and finished getting my things before going out to my car.

  I needed good news today. I’d left the house this morning after fighting with my dad. I honestly just didn’t care anymore. I was eighteen and only a few weeks away from leaving th
is hell-hole for good. But it sucked. I hated what my relationship with my dad had become.

  If I had known Dad would be home, I would’ve just gone straight to work after school. I thought he was working, so I wanted to come home and rest a bit before going in. This was my last night at work, and I wanted it to be a good one. Now, I wasn’t so sure, with the way Dad had started yelling at me as soon as I walked through the door.

  “When did you plan on telling me that Finn was coming with you?” he yelled, spit flying from his mouth. “I found out from one of your teachers in the grocery store!”

  “If you cared, maybe I would’ve thought to tell you! You haven’t even spent more than five minutes with Finn! You haven’t taken the time to know him; why on earth would you think I’d want to tell you? You’ve been so consumed with work and that fucking bitch to care a thing about me or what goes on in my life!”

  Dad raised his hand like he was going to slap me. I lifted my chin and waited for it. I dared him to touch me. I waited, but it never happened. He lowered his hand.

  “Nancy is trying, Ellie! She is trying to figure out why she is the way she is! She started counseling, but you wouldn’t know that because just like you think I don’t care about you and your life, you don’t give two shits about mine! I love Nancy, and whether or not you want to accept that, that’s the way it is!”

  “It’s not the fact that you love her! It’s that you’ve totally disregarded everything I’ve told you that she’s done to me and have chalked it all up as lies! You’ve made me out to be a liar when I’m not! You don’t give a damn about my feelings and how I’ve been affected through all of this! God, Dad! I hate you! I can’t wait to leave, so I never have to see you, Nancy, or anyone else in this fucked up family again!”

  Our fight was interrupted by the phone ringing. It was a Friday night, so I braced myself for the worst. Our home phone never rang. We both looked at it, breathing heavily from our anger. Dad answered it.

  “Kyle?” He listened to my brother, closed his eyes, and leaned heavily against the counter in the kitchen.