Interlude I

I pulled a shirt over my head and rolled my shoulders after. I looked over at Patrick beside me who was looking over. "Hey, Ken," He said. I turned and saw Kenny. He waved at Patrick and said hi. I didn't get it. I didn't understand why everyone liked him. I liked him. Of course I liked him, he was a good guy, but everyone else did for some reason too. He walked over getting his plastic bag and gave a few guys a high five and talked ot the other guys who were Seniors too. I got my bag together and started walking out. I waited out back for him to come out.

When he did he nodded. "Hey, man," He said. "What's up?"

"Nothing," I said. "You?"

"I'm cool," He said. We started walking over to the cars. I was parked in the back of the lot so nobody would see anything. I felt the rush. I didn't think this was such a big deal, I mean Kenny wasn't a dealer, but it still gave me some sort of rush to do this. "So you and Natalie are a thing now?"

I shrugged. "I guess," I said. "Not really, I don't really want that much of a commitment. I don't think she does either. We're just hooking up for now." I had gone on about Natalie to the other guys. I mean I didn't like her that much. I obviously liked her a little but it wasn't like I was going to ask her to marry me or anything.

"Huh," He said. "So you gave up on Amanda I'm assuming."

I looked away. I was trying not to think about that. "Yeah," I said. Kenny wasn't trying to be a bastard by bringing it up. He didn't seem like he was, but I guess he was just keeping the converation going. I looked over at him. "I heard you and Amanda had a thing on Friday." I didn't know if I believed it but they were actually talking today. She even fucking volenteered to help him with his group. I knew that's what Natalie would do at least but I was already stuck with her.

"No," He said. "I just needed to ask her something."

"You planning to get back at Grace?" I asked looking at him quickly.

He looked at me raising his eyebrows. "No," He said. "I wouldn't use Amanda like that ever. That's a dickhead move." He looked away saying that. I instantly regretted saying that. I wanted him to like me. I wouldn't ever do that either but that's just what the other guys were saying in the morning. We got to my car and he fished a little bag out of his plastic bag of clothes. I handed him the money I had waiting in my hand. "Thanks," I said.

I felt the rush. I didn't want to get arrested and shit for this, but it was cool to know I was doing something like this. I tucked the bag into my pocket and Ken just held the money looking at it. He didn't count it. He looked up at me. "No problem," He said.

"Is Amanda going to help you out tomorrow too?" I asked.

He thought about it. "I don't know," He said his eyebrows going down. "I think Meredith might stay with her friend for an extra day or something, but she said she'd help me again if Meredith wasn't here." He smiled nodding at me. "Want her back or something?" He laughed a little to himself.

I smiled a little shaking my head. "Nah," I said. "I've got Natalie, I guess."

He held his hand out for a handshake. "Leave the girls for the rest of us, tiger," He said. I shook his hand. We always did this. I don't know why. I guessed he did it like it was a tradition but it made it feel more like a drug deal than it had before. He was just giving me a little weed. I don't even think he does this with anyone else. He might, but we haven't talked about this like that before.

"I'll leave Amanda for you," I said.

He smiled laughing. "Cool, man, that works for me." He turned and started walking. "See you tomorrow." I got into my car tossing my bag into the bag and saw him keep walking. He walked off passed the couselor's cabin I saw as I drive the length of the mostly empty lot. He always did that. And he kept walking. He walked into the woods and disappeared. Nobody knew where the fuck he always went but he always went there.

I shook my head. I didn't get that guy at all. That's probably what made people instantly like him. He was so fucking out there we all wanted to get a little grasp of what he was like. But I didn't even fucking know. I took out my phone and saw a text from Natalie. I sighed and put my phone on the seat next to me and drove home.

I needed a break from her for a few hours.