by Mitch Goth
Outside of a high school in a small town on the outskirts of Waco, Texas, a crowd of kids poured jovially out into the streets and parking lots. Celebration was in the air.
To any other person, the late afternoon of this day wasn’t much worth remembering. But for eighteen-year-old Megan Mickelson, it was a day to be lauded. It was her last day; it was everyone’s last day. She had just walked out of the doors of her high school as a student for the final time.
Megan was always a popular girl in her school, the blonde hair, blue-eyed, all-American type. Despite her sought after looks and high standing at the school, she was happy to be leaving. To her, it was far from the end of any world. It was just a turn of a single page in a rather lengthy book.
As she strode away from her school, breaking away from larger thickets of departing students, Megan looked back at them all and knew that this wasn’t the end of anything spectacular. Sure, she’d made some friends, but the joy of true friends is that they always seemed to stay in touch, so it wasn’t much of a bother to her. The rest she would see come reunion time. Besides, there were more important things on this young girl’s mind besides who she would miss when she went off to college.
Megan had been publicizing a party she was having at her house for several weeks, and that night was the night. All the planning had been done. The rest of her day was full of jobs to do. She had to call in all of her close friends to help set up, she had to make sure her parents truly were going out for the weekend still, and she had to pick up all the various party favors she promised to everyone in her advertising. Her mind was alive with all the things she had to get done.
“Hey, Megan.” One of her friends jogged up to her. “The party still goin’ down tonight?”
“Hell yeah!” Megan exclaimed in a joyful southern drawl. “Be there ‘round five if you’re still lookin’ to help set things up.”
The friend gave a nod and headed off towards her car. Everyone had places to be right after school. All the kids had to go home to their happy-faced parents, get the long speeches about pride and the future. But all that would be worth it, because it was all leading up to Megan’s party.
Her house was a considerable distance into the Texan countryside. There weren’t any neighbors for over a mile, no cops doing nighttime drive-bys. It was the perfect place. Her large, open backyard was open to anyone’s imagination. It would be the blowout of the year, just as long as she got the final pieces put together soon.
“Megan,” another voice called to her.
The joyful teen spun around to see a tall, football star boy approaching with a wide smile on his face. She sent a smile back.
“What’s up?” she asked coyly.
“I heard through the vine you’re havin’ a helluva party tonight?”
“You heard it right.” She nodded, playing through her long blonde locks as she spoke. “Come ‘round nine or ten. It’ll be runnin’ hard by then.”
“Cool, see ya around.” The tall footballer walked off to meet a group of his friends down the sidewalk.
It would be the night to remember, Megan was sure it would be. But, as fast as her heart was racing over her recent encounter, her head was racing faster. So much to do, and no time. It was anxiety inducing. By the time she reached her car down the block from the school, Megan was nearly shaking with anticipation and nervousness. The night was all up to her. It couldn’t fail, and nothing was getting in her way.
A mind-numbing headache hit Megan. She hopped in her car and raced off to avoid the stress. It was in this rush that she looked over a detail of her surroundings. If she had noticed, it might have saved more than just the party. For, as this young, ambitious, and highly pressured teenager drove off toward home, a large RV parked down the way was witness to every move she made.
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