Page 26 of Tastes Like Watermelon Moonshine
Jacob ignores me and starts walking down an art lined hallway. This stuff is expensive. Mom and Dad had a few similar pieces in their Tuxedo Park home, but this… This is a step above. How is the owner okay with all these drunk people here? And why in the world does someone need a place this big? Owning a large home didn’t do anything good for my parents. Living in the small bungalow in Clear Creek… Well, that brought Mom, Izzy, and I closer together. Well, until I’d gotten drafted and messed everything up.
“Who owns this palace?” I meant to say place, but it came out aspalaceinstead. It's fitting though. Someone royal has got to live here.
Jacob shrugs and raises his hands in an awkwardI-don’t-knowsign. “Um, s-someone’s friends' parentsss.” He stumbles again, this time without a foot plate to trip him. “Something li’e that. I don’ really know. I’m just here for the fun.” He raises his arms and his whole body wavers. How did I not notice that his words were slurred earlier?
“How much have you had to drink?” I stop in the hall, the smell of pot suddenly assaulting my senses, and the faint pounding of a bass beat greets my tired ears. I take a good look at Jacob’s eyes. Bloodshot. He’s either high, or stupid drunk already. And he’s underage.
“You’re something, man.” I shake my head and rub a hand across my forehead. “I’m only staying long enough to say somethingto the people I know, and then I’m leaving. I’m not going to get in trouble for underage drinking or any drugs. I’ve got a baseball career that I can’t afford to lose.” But what ifdrinking can take away the memories of Raegan? What if this is my chance to put that behind me, and move on?
Jacob props himself against the wall. His mouth moves as if he’s talking, but no sound comes out. He rolls his eyes. “Okay, Misser Goody-oo-shoes. What happ–” He leans forward and tries to look down his nose at me. Which he can’t since I’m taller than him. “Texas turn’ you in’o a pansy? You were ‘ooler afore you move’ out there.” He blinks a few times, before pushing off the wall and weaving his way clumsily down the hall. “If you don’ wan’ to have fun, sui’ yourself. But I’m ‘aving so’e fun.” We reach a massive staircase leading to a lower level.
The loud bass beat reverberates up the steps, making my heart pound and my head ache. I wonder if I’ll even last for five minutes here. At the bottom of the steps we head down another hall before entering a room that I’m guessing looks like a club. I’ve never been to one, so I don’t know what a club looks like.
It takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the strobing lights taking up one corner of the room. The rest of the room is bathed in darkness, dotted with flush mount lights that are so dimly lit you can barely see them.
A bar, with decent lighting, fills one wall. Nearly everyone has a cup of something. This is so not my type of place that I almost turn and leave the room. But, before I can head out the way that I came, a guy I knew in my Atlanta high school notices me and motions for me to join him. And, of course, in his group is Becca. She notices me, and hunts me down like I'm some delicious prey for her to feast on.
“Austin!” she shouts over the music, while batting her lashes; her eyes not fully opening. She’s been drinking as well, evidenced by the bottles in her hands. A part of me is beginning to worry. Maybe I should book it before this ends my career. “Fancy seeing you here.” She presses a beer into my hand and her claws stroke my arm. The smell of alcohol mixed with potsmacks my face when she opens her mouth. “This is going to be such a good time. I’ve had two Whiteclaws and I’ve even had a smoke or two.” She giggles, gripping my arm tightly to keep herself upright. “I think it’s just been two.”
I tug my arm from hers, backing away. “I’m not into drinking, since I’m, ya know, underage.” Her talons inch my way, but I smack them away, the beer she handed me chilling in my other hand.
“Wanna smoke with me? There’s a cozy spot in the bedroom over there.” She wiggles her brows and manages to grab my arm, sliding her fingers down to my wrist. The hairs on my arm rise. Suddenly her hand is in my coat pocket, and I push her away.
“Get off me,” I say as I scoot around a pool table. She pops her lower lip out, and her eyes shoot daggers. She moves like she’s going to jump over the pool table and grab me, but thankfully another girl pulls her away.
I keep backing away, not bothering to look behind me. Hands settle on my shoulders, and I hit what feels like a wall.
“Just me, man.” A familiar voice speaks behind me. I would know that voice anywhere. How did I lose touch with this guy?
“Travis.” I turn around and bro-hug a guy I’ve known nearly my whole life. We were never best buds or anything, but we got along, and played baseball together. “Wondered if or when I’d see you.” I pull away and take in the familiar blue eyes and dirty-blond hair. Travis; the guy who would do late night batting practice, encourage everyone on the team, always had a pep talk at the ready. Just an all around good guy.
Not much has changed on Travis. He still wears his hair in a faux hawk, his quirky smile hasn’t changed, but he’s broader and beefier now. He grins as he eyes me right back.
“Looks like Texas was good for you. Heard you got drafted by the Bottle Caps.”
Pride fills me, puffing out my chest, and raising my shoulders.
“Can you believe it?” I shake my head in wonder, and clap a hand on Travis’s shoulder. “So, what have you been up to? Is there a place to sit and talk here, maybe outside? It’s a little loud and gross in here.”
“Yeah, there should be a door to a patio somewhere around here.” Travis leads me toward a wall, and after a little searching, he finds the door and opens it. Fresh air and daylight fill my senses. Ahhh, it feels good.
“Much better out here.” I take a deep breath as Travis closes the door behind us. I glance around and see patio furniture and a fancy fire pit. “So, tell me what you’re up to these days.” I sink down into the cushions on the patio furniture. I stare at the bottle in my hand. I could take a sip, chase away the memories. Instead I set it on the patio by my chair and hook an ankle over my knee.
“Well, I’m still at home. Helping with some coaching at the high school while I save up for college.” Travis stretches out in another chair, and shakes his head at me. “Still can’t believe that high school is over. Felt like we’d be there forever.” I nod and laugh. It’s natural, hanging out with Travis. Why didn’t I look him up once I moved back? I’m sure he’d always be up for a game of catch, or some strength and conditioning.
“So, what’s Texas like? Is everything bigger there like they say?” Travis leans forward and props his elbows on his knees.
“I’ve got a few pics, here-” I shove a hand into my coat pocket to get my phone, but it’s not there. “I swear I put it in my pocket when I walked in.” I stand up and check every pocket. “I texted Mom as I walked up to the front door, so it’s here somewhere. Can you call it?”
Travis taps the screen of his phone, but there’s no buzzing or ringing anywhere. The line rings a few times, and Becca answers.“Hi. This is Austin’s phone.” She giggles almost maniacally. I smack my forehead. Of course, she grabbed it from my pocket when she was getting ready to eat me alive earlier.
“Ugh. Now I have to get it back from her. Who knows what she’s done to it. I don’t have a lock on it.” I throw my head back and let my shoulders slump. If only there was a way I could leave without having to run into Becca.
“I can go and grab it for you. I heard from Jacob that she’s been all over you since you moved back.” Travis pats my forearm.
“I’ll take you along as back up. Then I’m heading out. This party just isn’t for me.” I toe the ground before I turn toward the door. “I’m a different guy from who I was before I moved to Texas.” I mean, not all that different. I thought I’d found God, but now I question it. Wondering where God and I stand. But who I am now is at least more mature.
“You got a girl keeping you straight?” Travis flashes a toothy grin. “No teasing here, man, you always were a good egg.” He punches me in the arm and we both laugh.
