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“You are as big an ass as he is,” Nat snaps. Xavier tries hard not to let out his laughter at Nat, who looks like she is about to explode. “Fine, whatever! You two won’t let me get home any other way, and all I want to do is get out of here. So, let’s go.” Huffing, she’s already storming off to where all the cars are parked at the edge of the field. We’re out in a field on an old, abandoned farm that no one has lived at for years. It’s like a rite of passage. Each year’s senior class takes ownership, and once we graduate, it gets handed down to the next year.
It’s safe for parties because there’s no water around and the ground is flat for as far as the eye can see. The only building around is an old barn, with rusted corrugated-iron walls, where everyone usually crashes to sleep if they don’t have a car. Parents know where we are, the police don’t have to worry about noise complaints, and as long as we don’t do anything stupid, like get in our cars and drive, they leave us alone, even though they know we’re drinking underage.
“Thanks, buddy, and good luck. I don’t know what’s gotten into her lately. She’s ready to scratch someone’s eyes out the moment they look at her. Probably hormonal or some shit.”
“I heard that, Xavier, careful or it might beyoureyes,” Nat calls back, still marching away from us. I know I need to get moving to catch up to her.
“No worries, talk to you later.” Jogging off across the field, the dry grass crunches beneath my feet. The warmth of the fire gets less the farther we move away from it. I didn’t realize how quick Nat is walking, burning off her frustration and anger.
Getting level with her, I’m now trying to hold in the laughter too. Her arms are swinging like a soldier, fists clenched. Glaring straight ahead and not even looking the slightest bit sideways. The funny thing is she has no idea where my truck is parked. I’m just going to let her keep going until she wears herself out of steam and then stops and asks.
It only takes a few more seconds and Nat comes to a halt in the middle of the makeshift parking lot.
“Well?” She’s still pissed.
“Well, what?” I know what she means but I can’t help myself.
“Don’t be a jerk, otherwise I’ll just keep walking.”
“Wow, Xavier is right, you are wound up tonight. Follow me, crazy girl.”
“I wouldn’t push it if I was you.” Her glare tells me she means business.
There is silence all the way to the truck, even after we start driving.
Glancing sideways every so often, all I can see is the back of Nat’s head as she stares out the window. If I didn’t know her so well, I would be getting a real complex right now.
Turning the music up a little louder, I break out into song. Not sure my vocal range is set forBohemian Rhapsody,but if anything is going to get Nat paying attention to me, it will be my dreadful singing.
She’s still not looking at me, but I know she’s coming around, because I can see her shoulders bouncing up and down slightly while she tries to hold in laughter.
As I hit my high notes, it’s enough and breaks her. The giggle leaks out and she looks at me, holding her sides with her hands to stop from hurting with laughing so hard.
“You sound like a thirteen-year-old who hasn’t hit puberty yet, the way your voice is breaking. Thank God you didn’t audition for music to get into college.” She tries to keep a straight face while she talks, but it’s not working.
“I’m offended that you can’t see my hidden talent. Why don’t you pick a song and show me your singing. Bet you can’t beat me.” Finally, a slight smile is on her face instead of the scowl from before.
“Beat you how, by being worse than you or better? Because if it’s better then it’s not even a competition. I will win hands down. Hmmm, let me see.” Picking up my phone, she starts searching my music. “Wow, your music tastes are pretty varied.”
“Whatever the mood is at the time. You’d be surprised at what I listen to sometimes.” Including some songs that I won’t admit to, because I would never hear the end of it from my buddies.
Before I can say another word, the music starts pumping and Pat Benatar’s voice is belting outHit Me With Your Best Shot, and I don’t know why I’m surprised but Nat’s voice is so much better than mine, almost worthy of being called a singer, maybe.
“I can’t believe you know all the words.” Looking across at her, I see her really getting into it.
Her mood from before is all but gone as she starts dancing in her seat, singing at the top of her lungs. She’s so engrossed in the song that she hasn’t even noticed where we are. Until I turn off the road and the truck starts rumbling over the gravel road into the trees.
“Wait, Jordan, where the hell are we? Take me home now, I’m not one of your football floozies you can take parking after a party.”
I can’t help laughing.
“Just calm down, Nat, I promise it will be worth it—the surprise, I mean.” Her eyes are telling me I better keep talking. “And what the hell, football floozies? How old are you, eighty?”
“Well, what else do you want me to call them? I can think of a few things, but my mom taught me to be nice and not call people nasty names.”
“So, the words were nasty, I thought they would be more on the naughty side.” I guide the truck around the last twist in the road.
“Well, you would think that, wouldn’t you, with your experience with them.” Her words hit a little too close to home on my past.
