Chapter 8

Drinking and Other Stupid Things

It was Saturday night. And like most Saturday nights in a small town, you could find the kids at a pasture party with a giant bon fire.

"Come on, Daryl! Let's go already!" Ryann stood at the bottom of the stairs impatiently. Just as she was about to yell up to Daryl again he came down the stairs slowly. "Wow, you clean up real nice." Ryann winked at him.

"I dunno. I don't think I should go." Daryl looked at the hard wood floor and shuffled his feet around.

"Why not?"

"No one's ever invited me to go before. I don't wanna be a party crasher and go where I'm not wanted." He looked at Ryann.

She reached up to touch his cheek but stopped when he flinched. "Daryl, you know I would never hurt you right?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Everyone in my life hurts me in one way or another."

"Well, I will not do it on purpose. I can promise you that."

She reached up slowly and gently placed her hand on his cheek. He flinched again but didn't pull away. They looked at each other feeling the same electricity flowing between them.

Ryann pulled her hand back, "I think we should go now."

"Yeah." Daryl took Ryann by the hand and walked her out to his motorcycle.

Daryl and Ryann pulled up to the party at about 10pm. She climbed off the bike first. She looked over toward the bon fire and noticed several people looking at them. She took Daryl by the hand and led him over to the fire.

Ryann's friend, Rebecca, walked over to Ryann. "Hey, Ry!" She looked over at Daryl with wide eyes. "So...come here. I need your advice." Without even speaking to Daryl, she drug Ryann off. Daryl stuck his hands in his pants pockets and looked around uncomfortably at his classmates.

"WTF Ryann? You brought Dixon with you?"

"Yeah, Rebecca. I did. Is there a problem?"

Rebecca placed her hands on Ryann's shoulders, "Listen to me, and I am only saying this out of concern for you. He is bad news. His dad and brother have both been in and outta jail, word has it that his dad killed his mom, and have you seen where he lives? Sweety he is nothing but white trash. You really should choose your friends a little more wisely."

Ryann looked over her shoulder at Daryl. He was alone by the bon fire. Everyone else had migrated away from him. When Daryl looked at Ryann he could tell something was wrong. He huffed and shook his head. He knew he was about to be abandoned once again.

"You know, Rebecca. You are so right. I don't know what I was thinking. Hanging out with trash is really beneath me, isn't it."

Rebecca looked Ryann in the eyes, "I am so glad you have finally opened your eyes."

"Yep, thank you for showing me the error of my ways." Ryann turned around and started walking back towards Daryl.

"Hey, Ryann. Where are you going?" Rebecca asked confused.

"I'm choosing my friends wisely. Walking away from the trash." She looked up at Daryl, wrapped her arm around his waist, "Let's get outta here."

Daryl smiled down at Ryann and gave her a kiss on top of her head, "With pleasure."