‘What can I have that won’t make me look like a hog going out to eat at the trough?’
I scanned the menu one last time before making my final decision.
“Yeah, I think I will get the single cheeseburger.” I put my menu back down as Ethan motioned for the waitress to come over.
The waitress was an older lady, maybe around my mom’s age. It seemed the kids from school either wanted to work at the pizza place or nowhere at all. The other food places around the town relied on middle-aged or older people who were looking for extra money or a second job to keep up with employee status.
I gave the lady my order and looked over to Ethan who was waiting his turn. He ordered double of everything that he wanted and told the waitress to bag up the second portions.
“Food for later?” I questioned him after the waitress had left, about the double cheeseburger, a large order of fries, and onion ring
I quickly shook my head no. “He’s never hit us. He’s threatened to do so, but never has.”I didn’t want Morgan to think that Hope was in any danger. I would probably take him out myself if he would ever hit my mom or little sister.“He’s just an angry drunk. He likes to drink after work then get a mouth on him. The bangs you heard were probably another thing getting broke. My mom screams back at him, don’t know why because it gets him riled up even more, but she keeps it going.” I shook my head at the many scenarios that flashed through my mind of all the past fights. “They both need some serious help. They feed off each other to see how far they can push the other.” Another big bite and the double-loaded cheeseburger was gone.“What about your real dad?”I shrugged. “What about him?” I took the napkin and wiped off any bits of food that might be stuck to the sides o
The following morning, I spent a little more time on my overall appearance. I tried to remind myself that it was because of the mini-debate that was going on after school, but I knew deep down it had to do with Ethan. It seemed that our little get-together last night sparked something inside of me that I tried to shield myself from all during high school, the charm and the ways of the Ethan Lowry.I went into the kitchen to tell mom I was leaving. She looked at me in a way that she’d only given to Clarissa.“Did you do something different with your hair?”Seemed mom noticed that I was dressed up a bit more than usual and had even taken the time to fix my hair and make-up.“I just…uh…left it loose instead of pulling it back. Why? Does it look bad?”I put back the blueberry muffin and picked up an apple instead. I placed it in a Ziploc and tossed it inside of my backpack with all the other junk tha
I’d gotten to school earlier than normal. I had to give Hope a ride to school since she’d missed the bus this morning. She’d gotten back at nine from her friend’s house, ate dinner, then helped me finish cleaning up all the broken glass from the evening’s event. It wasn’t as bad as the earlier fight times. This time it looked as though we may have lost the last of the ceramic plates. It was a good thing that Styrofoam and paper plates were always handy.I parked my car in a different spot so that Claudia didn’t know I was there. She always got to school early for dance meetings and pep rally set-ups.I snuck down around the back and worked my way up to the soccer team’s room.Claudia would probably come looking down here in a little while, so if I got my shit done, I could be out of there before she began her stalking. The rest of the team met me in the soccer field workout room about a ha
I watched as all the other students piled into the classroom seconds before the bell rang. I noticed Ethan was the last in and he looked much calmer than he did last night. His jeans were faded and fit well in all the right places. The tight black t-shirt showed off his biceps, triceps, and every other muscle that the shirt nicely clung to. His hair was a bit messy, but it didn’t matter how he wore it as it always looked good.I smiled at him as he took his seat and he smiled in return, but that was the extent of our interaction. I thought for sure he would’ve at least said ‘hello’ or ‘hey, or ‘how are this morning,' but nope I just got a smile that everyone else got.Maybe I had read into this whole new friendship thing all wrong.Good thing I figured this all out before I let my mind dive into other possibilities.For forty-five minutes, I tried to concentrate on what our teacher was going over for the test tomorrow.
I noticed right away early this morning that Morgan looked different. Instead of wearing her hair up in a ponytail, she let hang free. It looked really good, like the kind of hair that I wanted to run my fingers through and get lost in the smell of it.That sounded kind of creepy, but there was just this draw towards her that I never felt before. I never gave her a second glance during high school, but now that I had there was a lot I missed out on.Our first-period teacher, Ms. Brown, began her lesson before I had a chance to even initiate a conversation, but I would definitely talk to her after class. &nbs
The sound of my name being called and the voice it belonged to startled me. I stopped and turned around to find Ethan jogging towards me at a fast pace. He tamed his speed down to a brisk walk the closer that he got until we were standing face-to-face.“What’s wrong?” I readjusted my backpack on my shoulder and hoped that this wouldn’t take too long. I glanced at the clock and saw that I was down to twenty-five minutes until show time for the debate.“I, uh…” He looked confused as to why he even came looking for me. “Your hair is different than it was this morning.”“What?” Now, I was totally confused. “You got out of class to tell me my hair looks different.”“Well, it was down this morning, and now it’s all pulled back.”I was flattered that he even recognized that difference in me.“I just got tired of it in my face. I have this debate c
“Damn, what was wrong today?” Brandon finished changing out of his practice uniform. He turned towards me after I had changed in record time and looked to be on the move again.“What do you mean?” I questioned why Brandon would ask me something like that. I had kicked ass out on the field even on the two new plays that the coach put in at the last minute.Jason patted me on the back. “He’s just pissed that you worked him extra hard. He might not have any energy left for Lia.”I snickered at Brandon’s choice for the evening.“Are you freakin kidding me? Lia, really dude.”“Hey.” Brandon shot us both a dirty look. “She’s hot.”“Yeah, I guess so. But there’s really nothing going on upstairs.” I grabbed my backpack and walked out with the other two players.“Dude, what I want from her doesn’t involve needing any brain cell
I shook my head no at the other four before giving my final answer. Once I said it, one of my team members lay their head down on the table thinking I’d just messed up big time. I knew this was right, Ethan and I had just studied all of this. Even though we are taught to go with what the majority ruled, I applied my captain's authority and gave my answer.I heard a loud whistle and clap when the instructor announced that I was correct and that we’d won the debate. I saw Ethan in the second row, and he gave a small wave to everyone when the attention was brought back to him for being so loud.I couldn’t believe that Ethan actually came inside and watched some of the debates. Good thing he wasn’t there for the two other questions that I majorly screwed up on because my thoughts were somehow on him and I’d misheard what the instructor had asked.I waved back to him before turning back to my teammates. They all gave me a hug on
There was a straight line in the carpeting from me pacing back and forth between the window and the door. The photographer got pulled away by Hope over an hour ago, which meant I would be front and center in less than thirty minutes. I wasn’t worried or even nervous about getting married, I knew Morgan was the one and only, but I was terrified of making a fool out of myself in front of all those in attendance. Sure, I was a cocky, confident ass in high school, but picturing myself becoming a mumbling idiot in front of five hundred people, some of whom I’ve never met, well, that’s got me anxious as fuck.So far over the past year of all of us living in The Keys, life has been more than great, it’s been the best time of my life. College was going well, my mom finally became the woman I knew that was hiding away from us for so long, Ms. Christine was more than I ever expected in a grandmother and kept all of us in line, Hope had friends, was high honors i
My hand clenched at my stomach. “I don’t know if I can do this.” I was used to being in crowds, like when I was in debate back in high school and with all the reports and public speaking, I had to do with several of my courses, but this, this was totally different.Clarissa smoothed out my veil and gave me a hug. “You’re going to be fine. Just focus on Ethan and don’t worry about the other five hundred people in the church.” And with that comment, she gave me her best non-convincing smile.Five. Hundred. People. And that was the attendance at the marriage ceremony, that wasn’t including all the others who would show up for the reception. It seemed Ethan’s grandmother knew half the population here in the Keys, and according to her, as we made out our guest list, you can’t leave so-and-so out of the invitations, that would be a recipe for disaster.So, since she was footing most of the expenses,
“Ethan, it’s almost dinner time,” I called out from the balcony that looked over our own private section of the beach. I was staying at Christine’s house, Ethan’s grandmother. Like she’d said back in Pennsylvania, she had a big house with a bedroom just for me if I wanted anywhere to stay. What I didn’t know at that time was that Ms. Christine was quite wealthy. It seemed she and her late husband had bought up a lot of oceanfront property way back in the day before Key West became a tourist site. Then, as the years progressed she sold off several plots of land to developers but kept some of it for her own personal oasis. Now, she has a six-bedroom house on five acres that looks out into the deep, dark blue ocean. I’d been in Key West with all of them for over six months now. Clarissa came to help me pack the night before my flight left. We’d put almost all of my summer clothes, laptop, and the basic necessities that I would need into two suitcases. I said goodbye to
It’s been over a month since Ethan and his family made the big move to Florida. We talk every day and video chat at least three times a week. He sent me pictures of him and Hope at the beach. His hair had gotten longer, and the constant sun exposure brought out all kinds of highlights. With his dark tan, good looks, and perfect body he could be a model for some vacation guide or something. I mean really, once someone would see Ethan on the front cover, they would want to go the Keys that minute.He told me Hope has already made some friends, and that he found a new love. But once he saw my hurt expression, he had to backtrack on what he just told me. He loves trying to surf and is even taking lessons from one of their new neighbors.I told him I’m doing well, but that’s a lie, and he probably knew it. I’m sure he could see and hear the pain every time he talked to me.I couldn’t help it, I just wanted him to come back home, but I kn
An hour later, me and Hope packed up two more boxes in her room. I think we spent more time playing around, dancing to her favorite songs than we did any actual work.I heard a soft knock on the door, and Ethan poked his head in. “I have to get Morgan back home.”Really? I didn’t know I had a curfew. Maybe this was his way of getting rid of me?“Aw, c’mon. We were having fun. I won’t get to see Morgan much longer.” Hope flopped down across her bed. She put on her best pouty face, hoping to get her own way.“You’ll see her tomorrow. Maybe.” Ethan would say anything to put a smile on his sister’s face.“Okay.” Hope bounced back up, put her arm around my waist, and led me back down to the living room.I gave her a quick hug and kiss, a promise to come back tomorrow, then followed Ethan out.The ride back home was…quiet. Like Ethan didn’t even turn
I couldn’t believe it had been ten days since we graduated.Ten days since we left it all behind and never looked back. We rode off into the sunset and lived like a king and queen.Okay, not really. We didn’t go anywhere except for a few parties and the special getaway that Ethan had planned for our graduation night. One in which I fell in love with him ten times over.After stopping in at a few get-togethers graduation night, Ethan took me a bed and breakfast a short distance out of town. Without me knowing, he had Clarissa gather up a bag for me so that I would have what I needed for the night and the following day. My sister decided to pack Victoria's Secret negligee, stockings, and stilettos, instead of my usual shorts and t-shirt for nighttime wear.Did I wear them?Hmm, let’s just say they didn’t stay on too long.Anyhow, Ethan had been acting kind of weird the past week. He hasn’t told me anything that wa
After the state final, mine and Morgan’s official we are back together celebration, our graduation rolled around quick.I couldn’t believe that in less than one hour we would all be high school graduates.Morgan bounced out of her house with her graduation robe flowing out behind her. If she didn’t hurry, we were going to be late commencement.I guess that would have to be partly my fault since I kept her a bit longer in my bed than I should’ve.What could I say? This part of the make-up was good…like really, really good. It felt great to have Morgan at my side day and night.The sound of my horn giving a short honk startled her. She jumped and jogged faster to the car.“I’m coming.” Morgan plopped down in the passenger seat and slammed the door closed.I smiled and looked at the clock. “You said those exact words about an hour ago.” My hand skimmed across her arm and gooseb
Two weeks later, I still hadn’t received a full on the mouth kiss from Ethan yet. I could understand wanting to take it slow, but now this was getting kind of ridiculous.Every evening ended with a soft, lingering touch, then just a peck on the cheek.I wasn’t complaining though, it felt great to have him by my side again. There were no more worries about whether he was hiding anything, like another secret bet or something. I had to trust him in order for us to move forward.My family, along with Hope, Ethan’s mom, and grandmother went to the state finals with him for soccer. Even though we were broken up for that time, like for three whole months, I still secretly sneaked to his games and practices. I watched from afar and marveled at his abilities, but I couldn’t let him know that I still cared.That I still wanted him.That I still loved him.But now, I could scream my head off for the man that was running down the
Ethan and I sat in the parking lot for almost an hour. We talked about everything and anything. Even though I really didn’t want to, I just didn’t want to relieve what had happened and wanted to try and move on, but I got to hear Ethan’s side of the story.He started at the beginning of the year before he got to know me and how his past captains of the soccer team had made him the designated person for ‘the challenge.’ I happened to be Clarissa’s little sister, Matt had wanted to take one last jab at her, and I had to suffer the consequences of his desire to torture.It seemed Matt and Ethan never got along, even when they played on the same team. He was as big of a bully as he still was now.Ethan revealed that he was never a fan of the shit that they did to girls, but never gave it a second thought because it never affected him directly.No matter the circumstance, it was still so wrong to do to any girl.Fortu