21
July was always my favorite month of the year. Summer time; hot, carefree, school still far away. Summer days at the park were filled with walks, bike rides, fishing and swimming at the lake, and bumming around on our four wheelers. Nights were reserved for bonfires at the sand dunes, and hanging in Izzie’s mosquito proof tent, playing cards and board games. And occasionally, we’d even go to the drive-in about twenty minutes away.
We were seeing a double feature, and Izzie and I were as excited as two chipmunks with mouths full of nuts.The Fast and the FuriousandThe Others. The boys were psyched about the first movie, but we were more worked up about the second. We’d heard that it was really spooky. The boys in question were Pete and his friends. My dad knew nothing of this of course, because there was no way in hell he would have let me go if he did. Yes… two fifteen year old girls with four guys in their twenties. I didn’t know it at the time, but today, thinking back, I realize it wassowrong.
Izzie and I were standing in line at the concession stand when I first spotted him in the line next to us. He was with her again, the girl with the boobs and heels. She wore stylish wedges, a jean skirt and white t-shirt. She was saying something and he was smiling. She looked sexy, and my whole body stiffened at the sight of her. I watched them unapologetically until he turned and finally noticed me. He stilled when he did, as though this were the last place he expected to see me. I didn’t smile. I didn’t wave. I didn’t retreat either or turn around. My brain was flushed with recollections of that horrible night when he shoved me out the door, threw me out like a bag of trash.
We stared at each other for a long beat, until his date turned and spotted me. He tore his gaze from me then, and said something to her. She didn’t seem too concerned. And why should she have been? I was just a kid. Nothing to worry about.
Izzie and I got a large bag of popcorn, a big Coke and a bag of Skittles to share. Izzie was giddy and giggly and I wondered if she had taken a little something. She knew I had no interest in drugs, but Pete and his friends indulged often.
Pete’s buddy, James, smirked at me as we inched closer. “You sitting on me, girl?” he teased
“Hell, no.”
“But there’s six of us, and only five seats,” he pointed out.
“Back off, Jamie,” Pete cut in. “In your dreams.”
I wondered where we would all sit. I didn’t want to sit on Izzie like I had on the ride there. I exhaled a breath of relief when Pete pulled out two lawn chairs from the back of his SUV. He had backed into the spot, and popped open the back hatch. Jamie and Steve sat on the chairs, and Pete, his friend Colin, Izzie and I were stretched out in the back of the SUV, cramped in like sardines. I didn’t know Colin very well, but he seemed nice enough. He didn’t give off creepy vibes like Pete and Jamie did.
We dug into our popcorn, and we were having a blast. But all the while, I was thinking of Gavin. I’d searched for his blue pick-up in the busy lot, but it was nowhere in sight. It was only when the boys pointed to the vintage Mercedes convertible that I noticed him. He had finished fixing the car and it looked amazing.
“That’s a sweet ride,” Jamie said. “And that chick is fucking hot.”
“That’s Foster,” Pete said. “He’s a dick. Killed a girl, ya know.”
“What?” Colin chimed in.
“Apparently, he was drunk… hit and run.”
I shook my head. It wasn’t even true.
The movie was on, and I stared at the screen, but all I could think about was Gavin and his date. Were they making out right now, steaming up the windows? Was he touching her the way I wished he could touch me?
At intermission, Izzie and I stumbled back to the concession stand to go pee — Pete had poured a few shots of vodka in our Cokes. To our dismay, there was a long line. Izzie was dancing, aching to go. Thankfully, I hadn’t indulged quite as much as she had, or maybe I just had a bigger bladder.
I spotted Gavin again, stepping out of the men’s washroom. I don’t know what possessed me but I bolted after him, despite the ten or so ladies behind me. Hopefully, Izzie could hold my spot. When I caught up to him, I grabbed his arm.
He jerked around.
“Having a good time?” I asked.
He drew in a long breath. “Never mind about me, Abigail. What in the hell are you doing with those guys?”
“What? They’re nice. I especially like Colin. He’s cute,” I chirped, a feeble attempt to make him jealous.
“They’re too old for you,” he scoffed. “Too old to be hanging out with fifteen year old girls.”
I laughed. “Well, at least they don’t shove them out of doors. I almost broke my neck. I could have been paralyzed.”
He smiled. “Yes… well, you didn’t exactly leave me much of a choice, Abigail.”
“Yeah, I get it. You weren’t too impressed with my little stunt.”
He shook his head. “Oh… Abigail. God, you have no clue…” his words trailed off and I found myself speechless.
He grabbed my arm. “Promise me you won’t hang with those guys again?”
