by Lucia Franco
“I guess I don’t, but sitting still and waiting around for a fish to bite would make my patience run thin.”
John laughed. “What is your thing?”
She shrugged. “Not getting dirty? Anything but country?”
John may have only had a couple of conversations with Alyssa, but her no bullshit attitude and forwardness called out to him. She was a breath of fresh air he wanted to inhale. She wasn’t like other girls he’d grown up with, and he liked that she wasn’t afraid to open her mouth and speak up.
“What kind of music would you like me to listen to? Rap? Because to be honest, I don’t really care to hear about hoes getting fucked and bitches getting slapped,” he said bluntly. “Not that there’s anything wrong with rap, it’s just not my thing.”
Alyssa barked out a laugh that caused a smile to spread across his face. Her laugh was contagious. “I listen to a little of everything, just not country.”
Leaning back, Alyssa relaxed into the seat. She listened to the song on the radio in an effort to expand her music tastes for John, mainly because it was John’s brother crooning. The lyrics caught her attention. They were full of love, sadness, a yearning to be close to someone. The emotion in his voice tugged at her heart, and she found herself actually wanting to hear the song. Turning up the radio, she brought her feet up and placed them on the dashboard and listened. Definitely not what she was expecting at all and she kind of liked it.
“Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” she said, wiping the dirt off his dashboard.
John laughed and pushed her arms away. She looked adorable. “It’s okay, really.”
“But I got dirt, mud, on your truck.”
“And?”
“And?” she repeated, looking at him with disbelief. “And, it was rude of me to do that. I’m really sorry.” Alyssa lifted the hem of her shirt and began rubbing away the dirt.
“That’s going to stain your shirt,” he warned.
Alyssa hesitated. Biting her lip, she was unsure of what to do.
“Just sit back and listen to the music. I’ll take care of that later. It’s really not that a big deal, honey.”
Honey? Alyssa swallowed and did as he asked. She kind of liked the sweet endearment. As the song came to an end, she sat quietly thinking about the lyrics. “Your brother’s song wasn’t anything I expected.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, for one, it was full of heartache. Like he’s missing someone.”
“Yeah, he wrote that song many years ago after he broke up with his girlfriend.”
“Oh my goodness! How sweet is that? Do they still talk?”
“If I write you a love song, would you warm up to me a little bit?”
“Slow your roll, country boy.”
John smirked. “I’m not sure what’s going on with them … though I’ve heard her name recently. They were separated for a long ass time. Something like ten years.”
“Awe. That’s so sweet.” She clasped her hands together. “It sounds like he never stopped loving her.
“I guess you could say that. They were childhood friends too.”
John glanced at Alyssa. She wore a dreamy smile even though she was soaked from head to toe. He turned down her street, and from the corner of his eye he could see the smile on her face fading. He wanted to ask her what was on her mind but decided against it being that their friendship was still new.
“So, what happened with your car?”
She shrugged with a loud huff. “Beats me. I don’t know a thing about cars. It’s actually my mom’s car.”
“Well if you like, once it stops raining, we can go back out there and give it a jump to see if that will help.”
She looked at John. “Only if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
An appreciative smile graced her face. “Alright, thank you.”
“Wait,” he stopped her with his hand on her arm before she got out. “Do you use your mom’s car for school every day?”
“Only until I can get a job and save some money to buy a car.”
“How about I pick you up and we can ride together on the days we have class?”
“I don’t know …” taking a ride from John those days meant she had to make friends.
“What’s there to know? I’ll just ride on over and get you, and at the end of the day I take you home.”
“It’s only been a few weeks of school and I’m already taking rides from guys I hardly know. That doesn’t look good,” she finished with a flirty smile. “Thanks again, Johnny.”
A weird sensation rolled through John, one he had never felt before. He liked the sound of Johnny rolling off her lips. He wanted to hear it again and again and again. And on top of that, he wanted to know everything he could about Alyssa Winters and why she was so reluctant to make friends.
“Anytime,” he winked.
Alyssa climbed out of John’s truck and sprinted to her front door. Dropping her sandals on the porch, she stomped her feet trying to rid the dirt caked on her skin.
Stepping into her new home, she tiptoed to the bathroom trying to leave as little as a trail as possible.
While John had been blatantly flirting with her since the moment they met, she thought it was adorable and sweet and completely friendly. He was easy going and smooth, and full of that southern charm she could quickly get used to. She couldn’t explain it, but deep inside she felt like he was one of the good guys. She didn’t want to get ahead of herself, but she could see him being a friend and that scared her. Friends weren’t hard to come by for her, she just chose to keep them at a distance since she moved frequently. She kept things casual and emotionless and learned not to get attached easily. It was better that way.
Slamming her textbook shut, Alyssa’s head popped up at the sound of the door closing. Her mother walked in wearing dull blue scrubs looking tired and worn out. The bags under her eyes had gotten more prominent, and her dirty blonde hair was a mess. She’d been picking up as many shifts as she could at the local hospital in an effort to get ahead. Quite the change from the California look she normally sported.
“Hey Mom.” She perked up. “What are you doing here?”
Lauren smiled. “Hey, sweetie.”
Alyssa had been raised single handedly by her mother for as long as she could remember. Her father had been a sporadic figure in her life, and Alyssa considered him to be an acquaintance more than anything. He had never stayed around long enough to get to know her. She knew her mother had a soft spot for him and always did as he asked, even when she claimed she’d moved on.
Deep down, she didn’t think her mother ever truly moved on from her father. First loves and all that.
“I feel like I hardly get to see you anymore,” Lauren said apologetically.
“Our schedules conflict with each other’s.”
“Unfortunately they do. So tell me, how’s school going? Make any new friends yet?”
Alyssa puckered her lips. Why make friends if they were going to leave again? “Kind of … There were a couple of guys I met when we first moved here and I have a few classes with one of them. They’re real friendly and nice, the total opposite from home. For some reason, the car stalled today and he insisted on giving me a ride home. He even offered to drive me to school on the days we have classes together.”
“But the car’s out front?” she questioned.
“What? It is?” Alyssa jumped up and raced to the window. She brushed the curtains aside. How was it sitting in her driveway when she hadn’t even gone back with John to get it yet? Better yet, how had he gotten the keys? Alyssa quickly grabbed her phone to shoot John a text only to realize she didn’t have his number. She looked up again, this time noticing a white piece of paper on the windshield. Slipping on her sandals, she ran to the car to retrieve the note.
You left your keys on the seat. Went back and jumped your mom’s car with Ford. I knocked to let you know, but you didn’t answer. Pretty sure you just need a
new battery.
Johnny
Alyssa smiled. Well, that was incredibly sweet and thoughtful of him and Ford. She’d have to thank him when she saw him next. She also needed to remember to attach the car keys to her regular set of keys. Her and her mother had one set to share, and she couldn’t afford to lose them.
“Sounds like my friends went back and jumped it for us. He says we may just need a new battery. Maybe I left a light on or the door cracked a little …” she trailed off. “Speaking of rides, how did you get home?” Alyssa asked with a tilt of her head.
“My boss was kind enough to let me go early, so my coworker dropped me off on her way home.” Lauren poured a glass of water and dropped a few ice cubes into her glass.
“So, does he have a name?”
“His name is Johnny … John … His name is John.”
Lauren nodded. “Well, tell John thank you for me.” She placed her glass on the table. “Hungry for dinner? I’m starving.”
“I can cook up some pasta if you want.”
Her mother thought for a moment. “How about we go out for dinner instead? I’m too tired to cook, and I don’t want you to cook either.”
“Mom, this town is super small. Where are we going to go?”
She chuckled. “It is small, isn’t it? Probably the smallest we’ve been in yet.” The sadness in her mom’s eyes when she looked away caused an ache in Alyssa’s heart. She didn’t want her mom to feel bad. “How about we take a ride to the next town over and grab something there?”
“Sounds good to me.”
Sitting in the booth sipping on her Coke, Lauren seemed awfully quiet and deep in thought.
“Mom, I know you want to say something. Go ahead.”
Lauren sighed, and Alyssa again noticed the bags under her mother’s eyes. They were growing darker. “Sweetie, I know South Fork is a far cry from what we’re used to—“
“You could say that again …”
“But I think I’m done shuffling you around. It wasn’t fair of me to do that, so I want to make a home here in South Fork.”
Alyssa giggled. “Of all places, Mom? Seriously?”
“Yeah, why not? Who knows, you may like the small town. The people seem really nice, and I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I like that it’s off the beaten path.”
“I guess … But how do I know you’re not going to get the itch to move again?”
She placed a gentle hand over Alyssa’s and looked her straight in the eyes. “You have my word.”
“Another thing—you know I don’t regret having you, I never have, but it hasn’t been easy, baby. I don’t want that for you, so make sure you keep your head in the books and your grades up. You understand me? I want better for you.”
Her shoulders sagged. Alyssa’s heard this speech for the past couple of years. It always started with, ’You know I don’t regret’, but how could she believe her mother’s words if she started the conversation the same every time? That part of the speech bothered her and she wished her mom would leave it out. It was almost like she was saying she didn’t want her. As if it was Alyssa’s fault her mom got pregnant at sixteen.
She tried to make light of the subject. “Note to self: Don’t follow my mom’s footsteps. Got it.”
“I’m serious, Alyssa. Stay focused on school. Don’t fall for the charm and sweet talking the way I did. I was young and naïve, I didn’t know any better. Just because you’re over eighteen now doesn’t mean anything either. If you screw around, there will be consequences to pay just like there was for me. I barely make it to support both of us, and now we don’t have anything to fall back on like we used to.”
As if that was what she wanted to do? “Mom, I’m well aware of that.”
Lauren looked into her glass, moving the straw. “I just wished I would have planned better and saved money. Now we’re starting over and it’s my fault.”
Alyssa could feel the pain in her mother’s voice. She didn’t want her to feel bad. “It’s okay, mom. You gave me everything I wanted.”
Lauren probably wasn’t the best role model, but Alyssa knew she did her best and didn’t fault her. Her mom had had more boyfriends than fingers to count on. But when she found out that her current flavor of the month was actually married with children? That was the final straw. It broke her mother, and one month later they were gone.
“Except stability. I moved you around too much. I was selfish.”
“Eh. Who cares? It’s been fun. I can call myself a world traveler.” She laughed, hoping to show her mom that she was happy.
Regrets plagued her mother’s mouth, thin lines curved the corners, and it was the first time she noticed them. She put on a front every time she looked at her and she wasn’t sure what to think of it.
Here they were in a small town eating pizza while her mother preached about stability and preventing babies. The two things her mother could never master.
He knew it. He knew she’d be walking alone.
John specifically left his house early because he had a feeling Alyssa didn’t have a ride to school.
Idling slowly up next to her, John rolled down the window. “Jump in.”
Alyssa didn’t hesitate. She flung the door open and jumped inside. Her mother told her she would drive her last night when they got home from having pizza, but working a double wore her down and Alyssa didn’t have the heart to wake her up. So she started walking to school. She was actually grateful John stopped to pick her up.
John said nothing, just turned up the music as he drove. It was on the tip of his tongue to say something about her not taking rides from him, but he left it. Something was going on with Alyssa. He could feel it the moment she stepped foot in his truck without giving him a hard time. He noticed her reflection in the passenger mirror as she stared out of the window. Her lips were puckered together and her arms were crossed firmly against her chest.
Ten minutes later they were pulling into the school parking lot. John put his truck in park and said, “Give me your phone.”
“What? Why?”
“Don’t ask me questions. Just hand it over.”
She handed it to him and he pushed a few buttons, programming his number. “There you go. Anytime you need a ride, I’m your guy.”
A small dimple appeared at the corner of John’s mouth as he smirked. Alyssa’s chest tightened. He looked damn cute with that dimple.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, and slipped her phone into her bag then climbed out of the truck.
Together they walked through the maze of cars in the parking lot in silence. The discontent written on her face gave John the urge to wrap his arm around her shoulders and bring her in close and erase that look. For some odd reason, he didn’t like seeing her sad.
Passing rows of cars and trucks, Alyssa spotted Ben standing off to the left leaning against his truck. He was dressed all in black, smoking a cigarette. She’d seen him around but they hadn’t spoken much yet. A high here, a high there. The intensity of his gaze made her feel like he could see right through her each time they had locked eyes, as if he could read her thoughts and knew her deepest secrets. He took a puff of his cigarette and blew it out, a diminutive smirk forming on his lips that caused a rapture of feelings to simmer inside of her.
“That’s Ben,” John said, breaking her stare.
“Who?”
“The one you’re staring at,” he said, glaring at Ben with disgust. “I wouldn’t suggest making friends with him.”
“I’ve actually already met him. We have a class together.”
“He’s bad news … heard some stories about how he likes to get rough—and not just with guys either. A couple of years back, rumors were circulating that he forced himself on a girl, not sure if it’s true though because there were no charges pressed or anything. I’m surprised he’s even enrolled in college to be honest. I figured when he dropped out of high school that he would go straight to working, guess not.”
�
��You know him?” she asked.
“Yeah, he actually lives near us.”
She puckered her lips, thinking about what John just said. Had Ben been rough with another girl, wouldn’t she have come forward and made everyone aware?
Alyssa glanced one last time at Ben, curious about him. He dipped his head slightly, acknowledging her.
Once they reached the square, Ford and Jace were there. Jace spotted both of them and nodded his head saying hi, his eyes landing on Alyssa.
“So you two rode together?”
John spoke up before Alyssa could say anything. “Well, I was already driving and happened to see her walking, so I made her get in. She can be a little hardheaded at times,” John nudged her.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” she said innocently.
A laugh rolled off his tongue. “Right …” Looking to his friends, he said, “So we still on for this weekend?”
“Yup. For sure.” Jace and Ford both stated in unison. “I’m always ready to get my truck dirty and drink a few beers.”
“Jace, your truck is always dirty—inside and out,” Ford laughed. “When has it ever been clean? I don’t even remember what color it is since it’s covered in mud all the time.”
Alyssa’s face scrunched up. “Isn’t that going to ruin the paint and interior?”
Jace shrugged indifferently. “I’m a dirty boy. It doesn’t bother me a bit.”
“Do you have a girlfriend? Doesn’t she care when she rides inside your truck?”
“I have a few girls, they’ve never complained before, but then again we usually hang out in the back of my truck …” Jace winked playfully.
Shaking her head, Alyssa said, “I have to get going. See you guys around.”
“Here, let me walk you to class,” John offered.
“It’s okay. I can find my way. See ya later.”
Alyssa glanced over her shoulder as she walked away and locked eyes with John. He tracked her every step, his heady gaze stripping her down. She needed to tread carefully. Facing forward, she hid a small smile, actually looking forward to seeing him later. She was doing her best to not make friends so quickly, but he was an easy person to like.
“Why do you sit out here? It’s so damn hot.”