by Adam Kunz
“Is everything okay, Mom? You sound off.”
“Oh, you know me, I’m just a ball of nerves over you being all alone on the anniversary coming up,” she answers.
“Mom, I’m not going to be alone.”
“You know what I mean, Laney. You usually come home during this time of year, and it’s just going to be a little extra stressful with you not,” she explains, and I can hear her getting a little choked up. “And with Robbie being out of prison-”
“You’re going to worry yourself sick, Mom. I’m going to be fine. I’ll be surrounded by people.” I want to believe what I’m saying to her, but I’d be lying if I said that I’m not worried.
“Are you sure there’s no way I can convince you to come home instead? Your father and I would be so happy with you here.”
“I think I need this, Mom. I need to clear my head and get away for a bit. Besides, I’ll be home for the week of Christmas, and all the way up through the New Year. We’ll have plenty of time together, promise.”
“Okay, but please be careful. Don’t make me worry about you more than I already am. And don’t forget to call me when you get there.”
“I won’t forget to call you, I swear. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, dear,” she says, sounding a little less stressed than before.
After hanging up, I resume my lookout for Nia, and since I have no idea what the rental looks like, I’ll have to wait for her special honk. Feeling tension in my shoulder, I let go of the handle on my bag and begin massaging the area where my shoulder and neck connect.
BAM!
A startled shriek leaps through my lips at the sudden loud bang on the metal door. A figure stands there outside, their face shadowed by the fur-trimmed hood of a heavy black jacket. I take a moment to catch my breath, but am finding it hard since the person in front of me is wearing almost the exact thing Robbie was the night of the attack.
“You gonna open the door, or what?” the guy asks, pulling his hood down so I can see his face clearly now. I recognize him as one of the guys in my chem lab, but his name escapes me.
Shaking out of my terrified daze, I realize he can’t get in because our dorms work off of an ID card swipe system. You have to live in the dorm to be able to get inside.
“Sorry,” I say while opening the door. He mumbles his thanks as he stares at me like I’m strange for being so startled by him, which just makes me feel like a million bucks.
I lean against the wall and tilt my head back to look up at the ceiling. Clenching my eyes shut, I start muttering to myself. “You can’t live your life like this, Laney. Always in fear, always high stress ... what quality of life is that?”
Pushing myself from the wall, I move to stand by the door again and peer out at the snow, which seems to put me somewhat at ease. I focus on the white puff balls falling from the sky, swirling around in the light wind blowing outside, and concentrate on my breathing.
I have to get calm before Nia shows up.
“What the hell is that?” I ask out loud when I see a van pull up to the curb that seems to be held together by pigeon crap and some rust. I’m surprised to hear Nia’s special honk sound from the vehicle.
Pushing open the door, I step outside, dragging my rolling duffel bag behind me. The first person I see is Jared exiting the side of the van. He’s bundled up in warm layers, but since I’ve seen him model in art class, I know he’s highly chiseled underneath all of those clothes. He’s pretty much a work of art himself.
It’s been a while since I last saw him, and I was surprised to hear he was coming along for this trip. I mean, I know why he’s here. Nia’s answer to most problems is sex, and since I’ve been holed up in my dorm for about two weeks, I guess she assumed my lady bits needed some tending to.
Actually, the last time I saw Jared was during Nia’s boyfriend’s birthday party at his frat house. I had more drinks at that party than I’ve ever had in my whole life. That night, I experienced my first shot luge, and after taking more slurps than I can remember from the nipples of a boob-shaped ice sculpture, I ended up slouched on a couch with my head in Nia’s lap. The next morning, I must have turned fifty shades of red when I realized Nia’s lap had been replaced by Jared’s, and my nose was buried deeply into his crotch. He and I were fully clothed, thank God. Through the awkwardness, he was nice enough to take me out for breakfast that morning at the diner down the street. Over a cup of coffee and a Belgian waffle, I had asked him how exactly we ended up in the position we did that morning, and his response was a laugh followed by “I have no idea.”
Unfortunately, I didn’t hear anything from him after that. He’s quite popular with the ladies, and even the gay men on campus, since most of them have seen him in all his glory. Mrs. Jackson’s art class always fills up because each student is promised a few drawing sessions with Jared as their subject.
As I approach the van, he moves toward me, taking hold of my bag’s handle. Our hands embrace for a moment until I release my grip, allowing him to take it. I’m pretty sure if we weren’t wearing gloves just then, my hand would’ve ended up as a warm pile of goo on the sidewalk from his touch.
“Here, Laney, let me get that for you.” His deep voice washes over me like a warm chocolate fountain. Being sexy seems to be so effortless for him. It just oozes from his pores. His striking green eyes coupled with the light layer of scruff surrounding his chin and jaw area, and his perfectly combed, jet-black hair, only accentuate his sexiness.
“Thanks,” I stammer due to the cold wind assaulting my face.
“My pleasure,” he replies with a gorgeous grin that extends to both dimples.
It should be illegal to be that stinking good looking, I swear.
Peering into the van, I see Emma and her boyfriend Noah sitting in the backseat snuggling, and Colton right next to them glued to his phone. Nia’s boyfriend, Terrance, is sitting in the front seat next to her, which leaves the middle row for Jared and me.
“Here, you can take the front seat, Laney. I know you get car sick easily. I was just up here keeping Nia company on the drive over,” Terrance says while opening his door.
Jared returns after putting my bag in the back and moves to slide into his seat.
“That’s okay, Tee. It’s not that far away,” I reply.
He smiles at me, clearly happy that he gets to ride up front.
“All right. If you’re okay with it, I’m okay with it,” he says.
“Are you sure, Laney?” Nia asks, and I sense some concern in her voice.
“I have a feeling I’ll be fine,” I respond, looking at Jared, who is foolishly smirking at me while tapping the space next to him.
Maybe this weekend will be exactly the break I need.
“So, I have to ask you something, Nia,” I say, tapping her on the shoulder.
She looks at me through the rearview mirror. “What’s up?”
“Where the hell did you get this van from? After this trip, I suggest you demand your money back, my friend,” I reply, settling back into my spot.
She laughs. “Tee, maybe you should answer this one, my love.”
“Well, the rental kind of fell through,” he begins, but is cut off by Nia.
“Kind of fell through? Kind of fell through? Tell the truth, Tee,” she chastises in a playful manner.
“Okay, so I may have forgotten to actually secure a rental car. And with it being the holidays, all the big vans were checked out already. So, I made some calls and we ended up with this wonderful automobile,” he explains.
Nia giggles. “Oh, and by the way, that’s the third time he’s had to explain this, Laney. You’re not the only one who inquired. I’ve already given him the first part of his punishment, but the second part will come later tonight at the house.”
“TMI,” Emma shouts from the back, causing everyone to laugh.
“I guess if it gets us from point A to point B, then I’m fine with it,” Jared interjects. He slides his arm around my h
ead rest and drapes his hand down by my shoulder.
Smooth move.
“I, for one, can’t wait to be out of this death machine,” Colton jokes from behind me. “This damn hunk of junk you call a van better not get in the way of me seeing Trevor this weekend, that’s all I’ve got to say.”
*****
By the time we cross over the Holden Ridge town border, all of the liquor stores we pass have closed. It’s only eight o’clock at night, but with this being a small town it seems most of the shops don’t stay open late.
The search for alcohol continues to be unsuccessful, and to be honest, the front seat is getting a little heated with miscommunication over the directions. Nia and Tee are practically a married couple with the way they act. And, like a married couple, they fight over the simplest of things, but always make up later. They’ve been together since freshman year and have been going strong ever since. I think they, as well as everyone else, need to unwind somewhere before we get to the rental property.
“How about we stop there,” Tee says, pointing to a neon sign that reads: Larry’s Bar.
“Really, baby? That place? Are you crazy?” Nia asks, sounding repulsed.
“Sure. Why not? If we’ve been able to survive this long in the POS we’re riding in, I’m pretty sure we’ll be fine in a dive like that,” he replies, finally admitting to his horrible choice of a vehicle.
“I for one could really use a drink,” Noah chimes in from the back, and everyone else seems to agree.
“All right, but just remember that you all wanted to stop here,” Nia states, still sounding hesitant. “And the moment I hear a motherfucking banjo strum up, I’m getting the hell out of there, with or without you guys.”
Pulling into the parking lot, I see that there are only a few vehicles parked outside the bar-two cars and a handful of motorcycles. It’s odd that there aren’t more people here since this is probably the only place serving alcohol right now.
I can’t help but feel uneasy about this place, just like Nia. For a split second, I worry one of the cars belongs to Robbie, and he’s waiting for me inside. Then I realize how ridiculous that thought is, and am able to push it aside.
The exterior of the building is worn and has clearly been battered by the elements over the years. The wooden deck leading up to the entrance creaks and bends under the pressure of us walking over it. As we pass by the giant window just before the front door, I try to peek in, but the curtains are shut. I half expect the interior to look just as impressive as the outside.
“After you,” Jared says, holding the bar’s front door open while ushering me in.
He’s really quite wonderful.
I thank him and he nods to me after flashing a grin. He has to have a flaw. No one can be this perfect. Maybe he’s only doing this to get laid - that’s definitely a possibility. Men have done more for less.
When we enter, the first thing I notice are the Christmas icicle lights strung throughout the space and wrapped around the wooden posts supporting the awning above the bar. Cheap-looking paper reindeer and snowmen fill the walls, adding to the “charm” of the place. No one’s sitting at any of the tables or booths, but the six or so stools in front of the bar, however, are occupied. An elderly gentleman with a scraggily beard and a white(ish) wife beater is posted up behind the counter, pouring drinks.
“Welcome to Larry’s,” the man behind the bar calls out to us. “I’ve got HR Brewery’s Sugar Plum winter ale on draft, if you’re interested. You lot are all twenty-one, right?”
“Yeah, we’re all legal,” Noah replies.
The man laughs. “Glad to hear it.”
Nia seems like she doesn’t want to touch anything. Her arms hug her sides and a strained expression is stretched across her face. She looks highly uncomfortable until Tee wraps his arms around her, which seems to relax her a bit. He proceeds to lead her toward one of the booths in the back near the billiards room. Emma slides into the booth next to Nia, followed closely by Colton. Noah and Jared head toward one of the large pool tables in the back after securing a few beers from the bar.
The cheap pleather material that lines the booth squeaks harshly as I move to sit next to Tee. I’m finding it hard to get situated, and by the looks of it, so is everyone else.
Nia groans. “Dammit, I have to go to the little girl’s room,” she murmurs. “I don’t want go in here though. They probably don’t even have a ladies’ restroom. It’s probably unisex.” Her lip curls up at the corner as a look of repulsion appears on her face.
I giggle at how silly Nia’s being, though I do agree this place is kind of skeevy. “I’ll go with you,” I announce, and Nia perks up.
“Me too,” Emma chimes in. “Safety in numbers, right?”
“What’s with girls always going to the bathroom together?” Tee asks and has the three of us pausing from getting up from our seats.
Before any of us ladies have a chance to answer, Colton asks, “Tee, are you a male or female?”
“What kind of question is that? I’m a man,” he replies, looking confused.
Colton chuckles. “Exactly. It’s not for you to understand, my friend.”
“That’s the best explanation I’ve ever heard, Colton,” Nia mentions as she begins to scoot out of the booth again. Colton just goes back to looking at his phone, seeming satisfied with himself.
Leaving the booth behind, the three of us hurry over the scuffed wooden floors toward the dimly lit neon restroom sign located in the corner of the bar.
“Oh, there is a God,” Nia says when we see a door with “women” etched into it.
Emma and I both laugh as we push our way into the restroom behind Nia. We stop dead in our tracks when we’re bombarded by the physical state of the room in front of us. It appears that no one has cleaned this place ... well, ever. A little rickety old wooden bench sits off to our right under a tampon dispenser with a sticker that reads “Git-R-Done” slapped on it.
Seriously?
The stalls look to be in okay shape, but Nia doesn’t seem convinced of this fact in the slightest. There’s this stench in the air, like a combination of a cheap air freshener (or perfume, I can’t decide), piss, and vomit. The moment we all get a whiff, our hands shoot up to cover our mouths and noses to defend ourselves from the offensive odor.
“Remember, the key is to hover,” Emma jokes. Nia turns to her and flashes a withering look. All I can think right now is how I’m thankful I don’t have to use the bathroom, and am here only for moral support.
“If I die, please make up something more glamorous than this story, promise?” Nia whines.
“Promise,” Emma and I laugh together before Nia apprehensively enters one of the three stalls. Emma strolls over to the sink and flips on the faucet in order to give Nia some noise cover so she can pee in peace.
“I may have something that will improve our current situation, ladies,” Emma says while digging around in the small purse she has dangling from her shoulder.
“You’re not going to light up in here are you?” I ask, my paranoid eyes darting over to the door even though the likelihood of someone walking in on us is practically nonexistent.
“Oh, come on, Laney, lighten up. It’s just a little harmless weed,” she says, bringing out the joint and a lighter from her bag. Igniting it, she takes a puff and then presents it to me. “Besides, I think we could all use a little loosening up, if you know what I mean.”
“Fine. This weekend is all about relaxation anyway, right?” I say while taking the joint in hand and pressing it to my lips.
Emma smiles. “Exactly.”
Against my better judgment, I take a drag from the small, rolled-up white piece of paper and hold it in until I begin feeling the effects. As I exhale, a happy haze begins to swirl around my brain. Drawing in one more deep pot-filled breath, I hold it longer this time until the feeling fully encompasses my mind.
“That’s my girl,” Nia says, exiting the stall and approaching the sink
to wash her hands. “You’ll have to save some of that for later, Emma, since I still have to drive.”
“Will do, bestie,” she answers after taking another drag from the joint herself.
We do our best to swat away the smoke filling the tight quarters. Nia grabs the air fresher resting on top of the paper towel dispenser and goes to town, spraying more than she probably needs to in order to mask the lingering pot smell.
As we burst through the bathroom door, our laughter echoes in the small hall. I don’t really feel high, but there’s a nice buzz working its way through my system as we move toward the door leading back into the bar area. We all stand up straight and put on serious faces while exchanging glances amongst each other. When Emma’s eyes meet mine, we can’t help but break out into a fit of giggles. Nia gives us both love taps on the shoulder in an attempt to get us to behave.
“Just for the record, I envy the buzz you both have going on right now,” Nia states, reaching for the door handle. “Unfortunately, someone has to be the responsible one, and that someone is me.”
“We really appreciate it, Nia,” Emma snickers out.
“All right you two, try and act less ... blitzed,” Nia jokes before pushing open the door.
“Aye, aye,” Emma and I say.
Feeling like a complete lightweight after taking only two puffs, I attempt to walk a straight line to the booth, but find it difficult. It’s been ages since I last smoked, and I usually only use it in times of great stress, especially when the meds just aren’t doing the trick, though I’ve never mixed both together.
When we reach the table, Colton and Tee seem to be in a deep conversation about the psychological differences between men and women, and where exactly a gay man fits into the spectrum. The three of us slip into the booth as the two guys continue with their discussion. Even with a buzz, the pleather seat still feels cheap and noticeable as hell when it screeches horribly underneath me. Settling in, I notice Tee lean over and sniff near my face right after doing the same thing to Nia.