Novels by Poppy Tenant

After we left the watch lot and picked up Maddy, we decided to go to Bayfield Beach. When I was a kid, we would go every weekend. My dad would fish from a nearby pier and my mom would take us down the beach to swim. Lots of good memories here. I wiggled into my usual spot next to Dane and got comfortable, completely relaxed after much-needed alone time."What made y'all decide to go to Bayfield this late in the afternoon?" Maddy asked breaking the silence."Just something to do, "Ant said. "Don't like the beach Maddy girl?""I like it just fine. It's also cold as shit. I'm not getting in the water." She said"Who said you had to go swimming? We're just going to play in the sand and hang out on the strip for a little while." Dane said."I always forget about 3rd Street," Maddy said.The truck goes silent for the rest of the ride. Ant parks near the seawall and we all get out. It's dark by the time we get there, giving the oc

The week starts as usual. Classes. Work. Home. Talk to Dane on the phone. Sleep... then repeat. Finally Wednesday, just two more days till the weekend, I go to class as usual. But the professor isn't in, there's a note on the door. Family emergency. See you Friday. Well, looks like I have the rest of the day off. Now what. So I stop by the math lab to see if they need any extra help and maybe I can pick up some extra hours. Nope, they don't need me today either. Well shit. I wander the campus for a little while, checking out the random sculptures placed in the grassy common areas. My pager goes off, it's Dane, odd. Why isn't he at work? I find a payphone and call him back."Hey babe!" he says "I didn't expect you to call for another thirty minutes. Arent you in class?""The professor had a family emergency. So, no class today." I say blandly "I've just been meandering around the campus. I really don't want to go home yet.""Well..." he pause

Maddy and I are sleeping soundly when all of the sudden Ant jumps in the bed between us."Morning bitches!!" he sounds chipper, "Wakey wakey eggs and bakey!!"We are startled awake and completely dazed. "What the fuck?!?!" I say as I almost fall off the side of my bed"Get up. It's adventure time!" Ant is using his body to make the bed bounce while laughing."Who the fuck let you in my house?" I ask pissed off as I look at the time on my pager. "And why did they let you in at five fucking thirty?""Morning Babe!!" He sounds chipper and ready to face the day. I really hate moring people. "Remember, we are going to work on my uncle's house out in Lake Palmer. We talked about this the other day silly girl." He countered my irritation with over-the-top chipperness."You said y'all were going. Not WE were going. I never signed up for a house rebuilding," I'm starting to wake up."Whos building a house at five fucking thirty in

Tammys has run her mouth one too many times. Maddy is on top of her landing punch after punch. She's trying to block but she can't get her hands up before Maddy's fist comes back down on her again. Tammy manages to buck Maddy off, but she tackles her to the ground again. Ant and Dane finally get Maddy off of her and Tammy sat up, her face is already starting to swell from the assault. Blood is coming from her nose and mouth, black eyes are already starting to form. Frank helps Tammy to her feet and she shits some of the blood out onto the ground. And then there it is, she runs her mouth again, "You're lucky you caught me off guard bitch! Next time there won't be any sucker punches."Maddy starts to fight to get away from the boys. "I didn't sucker punch shit. I beat your ugly ass. And you saw that shit coming." Dane and Ant look at each other. I see a slight smile cross Ant's lips and he lets go. Maddy breaks free from Dane and she is on her again. This time she has her up ag

**TOLD BY MADDY** Vi is my best friend. I would take a bullet for her without a second thought, and I know she would for me too. But ever since she got with Dane, there's been a distance forming. I keep telling myself it's a new relationship and it's puppy love, you know all that good shit. There is just something about him that gives me a bad feeling. I know he cares about her, and God I know she loves him. I have this nagging feeling he's going to hurt her in the end. I don't think it's going to last. He spends Friday nights with Ant, why? They're together every single day. Why do they need a Boys Night? Every damn day is a boy's night. She's not bothered by it, I don't know why I am. I'm happy for her, especially after the year she's had. Losing her dad, that abusive asshole, her mom falling deeper and deeper into depression... I'm proud of her for taking classes and getting a job. It keeps her moving and she doesn't focus on the bad. That is part of the re

Lunch was fun, the entire group went to a local Pizza Inn to hit the buffet. Chuck let me know that he was not there to play football. He was a spot filler. So he did not touch the ball or get tackled. "Nothing like a group of filthy sweaty men to get the blood pumping," he said. Dane and I sat on the outer side of the large U-shaped booth. He kept his arm around me, every now and then he would lean in and kiss the top of my head, once he whispered in my ear "MINE" before the kiss. There was a lightness to him now. I ate my pizza and chatted with Maddy and Chuck about everything and nothing at the same time. Most of the large group ate and left, leaving our booth and the small table in front of it where Scott and the Grape-Apes sat. I have been wondering all afternoon what Ant said to them when they went on the field to Tattle on us for not letting them in the truck. "Hey babe," I began. Dane looked at me with love in his eyes. "I have to know what Ant