“No. Move.” He tries to get by me, but Ev crosses his arms over his chest. Using his large football player frame and muscles to good use as he blocks Gage's exit.
“Gage, take some pictures with Leo. It won’t kill you,” Ev defends from behind me.
“You’re choosing sides, brother. You fucking owe me.” He concedes and settles on the little seat in the booth, scooching so he is as far from me as possible. I have a sneaking suspicion that Ev is the only person Gage listens to.
I type in all the settings like Ev did, going a little slower than he did because I am indecisive and have to read the instructions. And then the countdown begins.
Gage is just scowling at the screen, arms crossed over his chest, reminding me of that meme of the grumpy cat, and so I pose completely opposite him and give a cheesy smile to the camera.
The next photo, his position doesn’t change, so I hold up two bunny ears with my fingers behind his head, and right before the flash, he goes to swat them away, snapping the exact moment he is scolding me with my wrist in his grasp and I am laughing at him.
The next countdown begins, and I look at Gage and stick my tongue out at him. He returns the pose, and I know this one is going to be my favorite. The fact that he even did it with me shows progress in our friendship.
The next, I yell at Gage, “Hurry, you pick now!”
Gage holds up both his hands and flips the camera off, so I copy and do the same.
For the last photo, Ev shoves his big body in, squishing me against Gage, who shrieks out a, “Oh fuck you, man! Get off—”
The flash interrupts him.
When we look at our reel, I love all of them. I couldn’t choose a favorite. From scowling, grumpy Gage, to flipping the camera off, to him mid yell as Ev is barely in the photo, giving me a kiss to the cheek. I realize that in each one of these, I have a real smile on my face. I hardly recognize myself, and for the first time since dating Ev, I think I see what he sees in me.
I barely glance at the trees that pass us by on our drive home because my eyes are running over the photobooth reels over and over. I wish I could live in those moments forever. I wish I could remain in that city forever, with them. I was happy. Unburdened. Blissful. Maybe a future that resembles today is possible? Maybe I can have the things I have so long denied myself but Ev continues to promise me. For the first time, hope blooms inside my heart. Maybe, just maybe…
“So, what did you think about the city?” Ev’s hand is stroking my thigh. Continuously providing me with security in his touch.
“I think that I never want to leave.”
His laugh fills the space, and Gage just scoffs, like he has reached his limit of us today. “Well, we do have to go back home, but that doesn’t mean we can't live in a big city one day. Although, if you ask me, Portland isn’t far enough. We need to go to New York or Chicago or Boston. Not Portland.”
“I’m okay with that. Wherever you go, I’ll go. As long as we are together, I don't care.”
Gage groans from the back. “Fucking kill me now.”
“Thanksgiving break is here. You going to be okay, Leora?”
Ski is driving me home after work. The old rickety truck tosses me around as we drive down the pot hole–filled road of my trailer park.
Today was the last day of school, and now we are off for a week. I’ll hide out at Mill’s as much as I can, but Mom still expects me home to make dinner and keep up on the housework. She doesn’t pay much attention to where I am most days, which is a blessing.
“You know me. I’ll be fine.”
I see the clench of his jaw, the worry in his eyes. "Are you sure you don't want to talk to the police, Leora. I will help you. I can take you in."
I lay my hand on his, "I'm not an adult, they will take me from here. From everything I have worked so hard to build, from you and Everett. Not much longer and I'll be eighteen. I can escape. I can survive till then. Trust me." I give him what I hope is a reassuring smile then a gentle kiss on his cheek.
"Okay, sweetie. Call me if you need anything at all."
Looking out the window as rain drops drip down on the glass, I stare at the trailer for a moment. The peeling brownish orange paint, the broken fence that was probably once white, the muddy front yard. You think I would get used to the sight of it, but I haven’t. It still sends a spike of fear through my body, never knowing what I will find on the other side of that screen door. But whatever it is, I'll survive it. I always do.
Stepping from his truck and into the wet Oregon air, I take in a deep breath. When I walk into the house, I am surprised to find Mom up and about. Normally she stays in her room unless she needs another drink.
She turns when I enter, and my stomach drops. I know that look. Her lips are thinned into a straight line. Her blue eyes narrowed. And suddenly I remember that I forgot to buy another bag of frozen peas.
“What the fuck are these?” She holds up a stack of paper. I know what they are without even needing to get close to her.
“My college applications.”
