“This is only my second time to stay overnight without their parents being home. Billy, tell me, have you been here before and does this happen a lot?” Beth asked as she gestured with her hand in the direction of the ones still making out on the lounge chairs. “Please tell me the truth.
I need to know what to expect because I don’t get into fooling around with anyone just to have something to do,” Beth said frankly but wasn’t ready to go into detail about how she would never make out with anyone but Jesse.
“Yeah, I have been over several times. Allen and I are cousins and sometimes I come with him just for the beer and company. Everytime Julie and Becky’s parents leave for the weekend, they throw a party. They have been doing this several times a year for about three years. It’s usually the same people, Annette’s new, but you’re the newest.” Billy nodded toward the two girls Beth didn’t know. “Both of the girls who came in a while ago live in this neighborhood. One lives with her mom part of the year and her dad the other half. The other girl is home schooled. That’s why you haven’t met them before now. However, to answer your question, ‘does this making out happen a lot?’ I’m afraid so. What you’re seeing now is what always ends up happening at one of these parties. Not every time, but usually the same couples end up together. Believe it or not, I don’t get in to making out just for the fun of it either. When I heard you were going to be here, I kind of invited myself because I enjoyed talking to you Halloween night. I guess Randy was meant for you. Sorry if I spoiled it,” Billy said with a little sheepish smile.
“In no way did you spoil anything. I am glad you were here. It saved me from a very uncomfortable moment. I see I am going to have to get a few things straight with my friends.
The first night I stayed over here, there was beer but no boys and making out going on. It really aggravates me that none of them told me what to expect, especially Becky. She is supposed to be my closest friend.”
Hardly anyone ate the gumbo; they were too busy drinking and fooling around. Beth, Billy, Annette, and Derrick were the only ones to count down the New Year. As tradition on a New Year coming in, Billy leaned over and gave Beth a chaste kiss and Derrick did the same to Annette. At that moment, Beth felt completely alone and homesick. She missed Jesse desperately. She would have loved it to be him to bring in the New Year with her and the one to kiss her at the stroke of midnight. Beth could not help torturing herself by wondering who Jesse was kissing right now. She hoped it wasn’t that awful person, Trish.
It was around three in the morning when everyone started to leave. Beth was shivering as they stood around outside and talked about when and where they would meet up again. After a light sleet began to fall, they left with no decision made. They said they would talk about it and decide what to do at school the next week. Beth knew between now and the next time they all got together, she was going to have to do some serious talking to Becky.
It was a month later when everyone got together again. Susan made Beth stay home for two weekends to help do stuff around the house so Beth was ready to get out. The boys from school were going to race their cars down by the canal. They told everyone they planned to have campfires set up so anyone could warm up if they got too cold.
Tonight was going to be chilly so Beth put on her favorite jogging pants, sweatshirt, and tennis shoes. She was going to be comfortable and have a good time.
Beth ended up riding with Tammy and Annette. Julie, Becky, and Jana rode with Allen.
After getting something to eat, they arrived at the canal about 10 p.m. Beth talked Susan into letting her stay out until midnight again.
‘The Canal’ was a place where people raced cars and rode all-terrain vehicles. The middle was about a 10-mile long canal; on both sides of the canal were sand hills. People rode the all-terrain vehicles—motorcycles, three wheelers and four-by-fours on the tops and valleys of the sand hills. They raced the cars on the flat side of the hills. It was illegal, of course, and had
“Keep Out” signs everywhere, but that never stopped anyone from doing it.
A car race was about to start when they pulled up. After they parked they all climbed in the back of Allen’s truck so they could see better. Beth found it exciting to watch. She was jumping up and down and shouting them on. She didn’t care who won, but she thought the yellow car was the prettiest. From the back of Allen’s truck, she had a clear view of the finish line. The roaring sound of the revved-up engines was deafening. Beth automatically covered her ears with her hands. She was watching close, holding her eyes open wide so she wouldn’t blink, as she saw the yellow car roar across the finish line first. It was a close race; she heard several people hollering, and complaining saying the blue car won. Billy was one of the judges. He came up to Allen’s truck after the race. “I ain’t ever judging another race!”
“Why not?” Beth asked.
“Because everyone is mad at me and all I did was tell it like I saw it.”
“Don’t worry. You declared the correct winner. We all had a perfect view. Although it was close, the yellow car was the clear winner.”
Allen had an ice chest of beer in the truck. Beth had drunk a couple and was enjoying the excitement. They had a few more races but none were as close as the first. Beth was about to open another beer when she saw Cody. Knowing he would tell on her if he saw her, she started making her way back to the car. On her way back Beth thought she saw Jesse’s truck. Beth did not want him to see her but she did want to see him. As she was making her way closer, Annette walked up beside her. “Hey, Beth, where are you going? Come on; let’s go back to the gang and see what they’re up to.” Annette grabbed Beth’s arm and gently tugged.
“I’ll be there in just a minute. I think that’s Jesse’s truck.” Beth pointed to a dark area far away from everyone where no fires were burning. “I was going to sneak around and see if I could see him without him seeing me.”
“Uh…I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” The worried frown on Annette’s brow made Beth’s heart drop. She had a sickening feeling about the reason why Annette was trying to steer her away.
“Okay, tell me the truth, Annette. He’s making out with a girl, isn’t he?” Annette didn’t say anything for a few seconds then her shoulders drooped and she said quietly, “Yes. I had to go pee, so I walked where I thought no one could see me. On my way back I walked near Jesse’s truck.”
“Di-did you happen to see who the girl was?”
“No, all I saw were a girl’s legs sticking out of his truck and Jesse was…um…pumping inbetween them.
“Thank you for sparing me that sight, Annette. I’ve known what Jesse has done with his girlfriends for a very long time, but that doesn’t make it any less painful. Please excuse me. I don’t want to face anyone right now. Will you tell Tammy I’m not feeling well and I’ll be waiting in her car when she ready to go.”
“Sure, Beth. I’ll tell anyone who asks that you’re not feeling well.” A sob caught in Beth’s throat as she turned and ran back to Tammy’s car.
The next night at dinner while they sat around the table, Cody asked Jesse, “Which car do you think won, Jess, the blue, or the yellow? I think the blue car won.” Before Beth could stop herself, “No, Cody, the blue car did not win. The yellow car was the clear winner, and, no, Jesse does not know who won because he was otherwise preoccupied with other things more important,” Beth said sarcastically.
Beth felt a little slash of guilt when she saw the hurt come across Cody’s face. Beth really shouldn’t have been irritated with Cody. He hadn’t done anything to deserve her wrath, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. She was so mad at Jesse that rage spewed from her.
Jesse and Cody both stared at her. Cody was open-mouthed. Jesse arched an eyebrow, put down his fork, and gave the situation his full attention. Susan and Jordon hadn’t heard anything because they were having their own conversation.
“And how would you know, Miss-Know-It-All? Surely you were not there.” Cody, sittin
g beside her said.
“It’s none of your dadblame business how I know; I just do.” Beth shot back, “Why were you there, Cody? Hmm? How did you get there and who were you with?” Cody bristled at that. Although he had always been Beth’s little snitch, he always felt he did it for her own good.
Jesse was watching them exchange barbs. He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest and listened intently.
“Well, to answer your questions, I rode there with Jesse to watch my best friend race his car that I helped him work on. Whoever informed you was wrong. My friend Ronnie’s blue car won. They just need better judges out there.”
“No, they most certainly do not, and no one had to tell me. I was there with my friends and I saw for myself who won,” Beth shot back.
“Yeah, well that’s not surprising to hear you and your friends were there at the canal. I’ve been hearin’ a lot of rumors goin’ around school about you and your friends,” Cody said dryly.
Beth’s heart dropped to her toes. “Uh oh,” Beth thought. She had a sick feeling she just messed up big-time.
At that point, Jesse leaned forward. “What rumors, Cody?” Jesse asked quietly but deadly.
“It’s goin’ around that Beth’s been out drinkin’ and partyin’ just about every weekend since school started with the wildest group of girls in school. It’s been said that she and her friends got fake I.D.’s and snuck off to Louisiana and partied all night at a dance hall. She and her friends supposedly stayed at a hotel, got up the next mornin’ and went to the beach there. Then they got arrested for having glass on the beach,” Cody said.
From the expression on Cody’s face Beth had the inkling he was just warming up. She sat back in her chair and idly played with her napkin. She didn’t look at either Cody or Jesse. She was trying to act as if what Cody was saying didn’t matter to her. So, while Cody talked, she gave the impression she could care less while inside she wanted to wring Cody’s neck.
She knew she had pushed him into this by being mean to him. He wasn’t even the one she was mad at. She just used him to vent her anger at Jesse. Beth also had the impression Cody was about to tell everything he knew. She was surprised he knew so much and had not told on her until now. If she hadn’t made him mad, he might not have told on her at all. When he got to the part about her staying all night and partying in Louisiana, Beth could not help but dart her eyes toward Jesse. She didn’t believe he could look any harder or more furious; but, to her amazement, he managed to do just that. He looked as if he wanted to jump across that table and beat the daylights out of her.
She pulled her eyes away from his penetrating gaze and stared back into space again. “Good heavens,” she knew Cody wasn’t finished because he was already drawing breath. Beth was never so glad to know Susan and Jordon were in a deep conversation and weren’t paying attention to what was being said at their end of the table.
“It’s also goin’ around that Beth was at that big fight they had in the parking lot a few months ago when everyone was hauled off to jail. I was told the bruise Beth had on her cheek had been from a misplaced punch,” Cody said then looked at Beth with anger in his eyes and continued.
“There’s also a rumor that Beth was at a party at Becky’s house on New Year’s Eve. The girls’ parents were gone for the weekend and left the house to them. The guys at school were braggin’ bout how they had taken some of the girls inside to the bedrooms. It’s even been said that Beth let some guy named Randy feel all over her.” Beth knew Cody had to be running out of things to say because she couldn’t think of anything else significant she had done wrong. Nope, Cody pretty much covered everything. He covered everything from the beginning of school until almost the end, which was only about two and a half months away. And everything he said was true except the part about her letting Randy feel all over her. She could only guess Randy started that rumor.
Jesse’s stare was like steel. “I know one part of what Cody said is fact. Is everything else also true, Beth? Did you do all these things?” His eyes never wavered and his voice was as hard as metal.
Beth looked directly back at Jesse, “I don’t have to answer to you, Mr. Casanova,” Beth bit out still sounding sarcastic. “I may or I may not have. Or, maybe, Jesse…I have been doing what you were doing in the front of your truck,” Beth said in a cool crisp voice.
“JORDON!” Jesse bellowed out the instant those words left Beth’s mouth. Jordon immediately stopped talking, stood and walked over to where Jesse was and asked him what was wrong. Susan, seeing the look on Jesse’s face, went over to stand beside Jordon.
“Oh-my-God, what have I done?” Beth thought as she looked up at Jordon. She knew she was in a tremendous amount of trouble now and wished she had kept her big mouth shut and temper in control. Tonight just might be her last night on this earth. Jordon was going to kill her if Jesse or Cody told him everything.
“Apparently Elizabeth has been doing a lot of drinkin’ and partyin’, and possibly some other things concerning young men,” Jesse said to Jordon.
Jordon snapped his head back around to her and Beth could have sworn she saw fire dance in his eyes.
“BETH, go to your room and wait for me,” Jordon sternly demanded.
Cody piped in, “I think she needs a whippin’.”
“You need to tear her ass up!” Jesse ground out to Jordon.
Jordon looked questioningly at Susan. Susan shrugged her shoulders helplessly.
As Beth stood up to go, some of her hair had fallen from the twist she had it in.
“Elizabeth, have you cut your hair? Take it down,” Susan said.
Beth’s back was to them when she took her hair down. When her hair fell, it barely went to her shoulders. Susan gasped and tears immediately pooled in her eyes. “I feel I have failed my mother completely.” Susan said with a weary voice barely above a whisper. Jesse stared, nothing moving but his eyes as they slid to where her beautiful long hair once brushed against her hips and back up to where it now barely touched her shoulders. Then he shook his head as if sickened and walked away.
As soon as Jordon walked into Beth’s room and shut her door behind him, she started babbling. She couldn’t tell if he had his hands on his belt or just on his hips. “Daddy, I-I was just kidding about the guy stuff. And although I did taste one beer, I promise, I’m never going to do it again!” Beth knew everything Cody said was bad, but the messing around with guys would be the worst.
Before Jordon left her room, he told her she was not to even think about going anywhere with those girls ever again. In fact, she was to have absolutely nothing to do with them, not even a phone conversation. On top of that, he grounded her for six weeks. She was not allowed to leave the house except to go to school or church.
Beth eased down on the bed and starred at the closed door, “Well, at least I didn’t have to go cut my own switch,” Beth murmured.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Beth had told Becky what happened. Becky acted shocked and upset that she had gotten in so much trouble, but it wasn’t even two months later that Becky was daring Beth again to do something she knew she shouldn’t do.
“Beth, tomorrow night, Julie and I are going to meet Allen and Travis at their hunting lease.
They aren’t planning to hunt; they are just going to camp out. They are staying a couple of days and want us to come out the first night. They said they would cook for us. Allen is going to bring their dirt bikes and thought we might like to ride around. We agreed to meet them for a few hours. Do you want to go?”
“I didn’t think y’all liked to be anywhere without electricity much less riding around on dirt bikes getting dirty. I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it. I’ve never snuck out of the house before. It sounds kinda’ risky.”
“There’s nothing to it, Beth. The main thing is to make sure everyone is asleep. Then wait until the air conditioner kicks on to open the doors and just be very quiet. Don’t put your shoes on until you’re safely o
utside. Julie and I have been doing it since I was 13. And we have never gotten caught,” Becky reassured her.
“I don’t know yet if I will or not. I really don’t appreciate the way y’all have been treating me lately. You seem to purposely keep me in the dark about what all is going on when we get together. Like the last time I stayed over at your house, I had no idea the guys were coming over. If I had known there was going to be making out going on all around me, I would have stayed at the house. I don’t like being a spectator and I am certainly not going be a participator.
You only tell me the half of what is going to happen because eveytime there is always something extra that takes place. And I seem to be the only one who knows nothing about it,” Beth said aggravated. She didn’t care at this point. She was fed up with the way they have been treating her. If she made them mad and they didn’t want to have anything else to do with her, then so be it.
“I am so sorry. You are absolutely right; Beth, but sometimes I don’t even know what’s going to happen. Like the fight on Halloween, how was I supposed to know about that?
However, I promise if I know for sure what is going to happen, I will let you know everything from now on. Besides, school’s almost out and we have to have one more adventure to add to our sophomore year. All we plan on doing is riding the bikes and cooking out, that’s all.” Beth didn’t know if she accomplished anything by confronting Becky. She kinda’ felt as if Becky was just telling her what she wanted to hear. But, in the end, Beth said she would go with them for a few hours. She told Becky to tell Julie that she would meet them at the end of her driveway around midnight.
Unbroken Promises Page 6