Before I know it, a month has passed by. The leaves are changing and there is a chill in the air. Ant finally turned twenty-one and started a job with Dane at his fathers' company. I don't see them very much during the week, but with my classes and work, I don't have much free time anyway. I have to settle for talks on the phone and visits on Saturday and Sunday. Ant has laid claim to Friday nights as "boys night", they go do whatever they do and I usually hang out with Maddy. She and Frank didn't work out. Tammy found out and suddenly decided that he was the love of her life and couldn't be without him. So, he went back.
Maddy and I are hanging out in my bedroom listening to music when my pager goes off. Its Dane. I grab my phone to call him back. He picks up on the first ring. "Hey, baby! I missed you today." The excitement in his voice makes me smile.
"Hey, babe. What's up?" I ask
"It's football Saturday. We'll be on the way to pick you u
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
**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
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
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
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
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
It's late August in 1997, I'm eighteen and fresh out of high school. I was living with Ken, my abusive now ex, my dad died in April and I had to get away from that house so I ran to his. But... I'm back now. I couldn't take the shit from him and his bitch ass sister anymore. I was cut off from my friends and my family. It was him and his super religious family all day every day. I felt like I was in a cult. Maddy helped me get out quickly and get back to my moms' house. My mother and I already have a strained relationship, I was the kid she didn't want, but home sweet home... or so they say. Maddy had the bright idea to go out tonight. I haven't been out or seen our group of friends in six months, thanks to Ken. He hated all of my friends. He said they were trash. He was upper class, and most of us were the blue-collar type. That made them less in his eyes. He let me know every day that he was slumming by being with me. Super fun, right? "Are you ready?" I he
My 18th birthday was months ago and I just got out of the worst relationshit of my life. I knew it shouldn't have gone past the first date, but I did it anyway. He was controlling and verbally abusive from the start. It didn't help that my friends hated him and had no problem letting me know just how much they wanted to drown him in his own hot tub. My soul sister, Maddy, had a plan to knock him out and hold him down to the jets. She said it would take him out faster. But... I'm stubborn and can not be wrong; a trait I inherited from my dad. (Thanks Pops.) I don't care how right they are. Eight months of my life I'll never get back. Oh well, fuck it. Tonight we're going out and I am finally free to be who I am and not have to listen to what a piece of shit I am for dancing with my friends or laughing at someone's jokes. I love to dance and it's been months. We pull into the parking lot of Big Tex's Road Hall. It's not really a club; the owners turned their recepti
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
Before I know it, a month has passed by. The leaves are changing and there is a chill in the air. Ant finally turned twenty-one and started a job with Dane at his fathers' company. I don't see them very much during the week, but with my classes and work, I don't have much free time anyway. I have to settle for talks on the phone and visits on Saturday and Sunday. Ant has laid claim to Friday nights as "boys night", they go do whatever they do and I usually hang out with Maddy. She and Frank didn't work out. Tammy found out and suddenly decided that he was the love of her life and couldn't be without him. So, he went back. Maddy and I are hanging out in my bedroom listening to music when my pager goes off. Its Dane. I grab my phone to call him back. He picks up on the first ring. "Hey, baby! I missed you today." The excitement in his voice makes me smile. "Hey, babe. What's up?" I ask "It's football Saturday. We'll be on the way to pick you u
After a long night of terrible movies and worse snacks, we finally get up and moving around 9:30."Morning sunshine," Scott says. "Ready for some shenanigans?""Sure, let me go shower real quick," I say yawning."I'm gonna go next door and check on my brother and let mom know we are headed downstairs for the day." He says getting up from the bed. "I'll get dressed and stuff over there.""Ok, sounds good. See ya in a bit." I get up and grab my bag and take it to the bathroom. I check my pager to see if I missed any pages, nothing. Hmmm. Ok. Hopefully, they had fun doing whatever it was Ant had planned. I finish my shower and put on some light makeup and get dressed. Scott is back in the room and ready to go."You look nice," he says with a warm smile. "Thanks for being so patient with me while I was sick. I had fun last night. But you are grounded from movie selection from now on. Those were God awful." He laughed."He
I woke up to the sound of someone pounding on the dividing door between my room and Scotts. I look at the clock on the nightstand, what the hell it's almost 1:30 in the morning. I get out of bed and open the door."Thank God! I'm soo sorry!!!" Scott pushes past me, almost knocking me over. He runs to my bathroom and slams the door behind him. The next several minutes are filled with sounds of him vomiting and cussing the restaurant they had eaten at earlier. He finally comes out and looks like he's been run over by a Mack truck."What's wrong?" I ask concerned, but I already knew. I was grateful I skipped dinner."Food poisoning..." he moans. "I knew that meat tasted funny. But they swore it was perfectly fine.""Oh, shit. Are all of you sick?" I ask looking to the dividing door again."Not just me and Johnathan. Mom had cheese enchiladas." He flops across the foot of my bed."Well, that's good at least. Do you want to stay