Bare-Back Mountain

Chapter Four:

Maria was lazily skimming the pages of a thick text, laying on her stomach under a large tree and enjoying a luscious green apple. She hummed quietly, flipped a page, and once again her eyes flicked across the lettering, lighting up with amusement or squinting in a skeptical look. Her eyebrows leaned down against her eyes, making them appear small. As she flipped each page, a long strand of dark hair fell over her eyes which was quickly tucked once more behind her ear.

I approached slowly, unsure of how to begin. Finally, I took a deep breath and stepped under the shade of the grand tree, her concentration remaining unbroken.

"Ahem..." I cleared my throat. Apparently the book wasn't all that interesting, otherwise her coffee colored eyes wouldn't have glanced up at my oncoming, yet slow, tread. "Err...I-hi Maria."

"Oh. Hey Ray." She took another bite of her apple and looked down at the book once more. Her eyes skimmed quickly across the last paragraph. "Wait a moment... There!" She slapped down the cover triumphantly. "Now I can make fun of those ridiculous notions on the difference in salt concentration in certain lower towns of the deserts and how the water level variants differ greatly between one town from another, even though they're within miles of one another!"

I stared. "Um..." Maria blushed and giggled, sitting up and placing the finished apple next to her so as to dispose of later. She pulled the fat book up against her chest, the rose-color fading from her cheeks.

"So what can I do for you?" Embarrassed, I glanced at my feet.

"Do you know about the uh... the Fireworks Festival?" She laughed. At first I felt relieved. She's making this easy! Then, a second opinion: Too easy. I frowned and she stopped laughing, noting my distress.

"I'm sorry Ray! It's just, 'Do you know the Fireworks Festival?'" She giggled and tried to calm herself, a smile printed on her small face. "My father's only been going on about it for a month now! I personally can't wait for the silly frivolity to be done with. Although I do suppose it's important for a town to hold such days dear to them, as to remind them of their own worth..." She trailed off, lost in her thoughts. I frowned again. She's getting a bit on my nerves actually. I love how she's herself- the book nerd that she is... but honestly! I haven't got a clue what she's talking about half the time... I sighed and she returned to Flower Bud Village, or rather to Earth in general. "Oh! Sorry- got lost there. What were you saying? About the Festival, I mean." Back to business. Oh crap. My stomach had just fallen down to my toes where it firmly lodged itself, creating a heavy feeling in my feet but a black hole where it used to reside. Ok, deep breaths.

But it came out way too fast. "WillyougototheFestivalwithme?" She scrunched up her face in confusion.

"What?" I gulped down a lump in my throat and took a deep breath, eyes concentrating on hers like a deer caught in headlights.

"Will (breath) you go (breath) to the uh... (don't hesitate!) Festivalwithme?" Her scrunched up face wrought in confusion now went further into itself, raising an eyebrow, mouth opening. Her lips moved silently so as to process what I had said. She seemingly understood when the cloud cleared from her eyes and her face smoothed out, eyes widening.

"Oh!" She smiled. "You want to take me to the Festival?" She was smiling. Smiling was good. Or... or did they always smile before they gunned you down? Oh crap. I'm screwed! Or is screwed a good thing? Shit. I nodded weakly, fearing the worst. She laughed. Not good. Code red! Code red! Abandon ship! I was about to slink away embarrassed when she made a small sound so as to clear her throat. Then she cocked her head, as if to think. Thinking's bad. If she needs to think about it then- no wait. It's good? My mind stumbled blindly in its confusion, searching for an answer. "I'd like that." Processing... where's the goddamn answer? Light switch? Flashlight? Anything! Then: Reality.

"Really?" My eyes grew wide in disbelief. Wait- cool, smooth... right... "Great. Uh... see you then." Super smooth! I walked calmly away, tripping halfway over a loosened root in the dirt as I went. Despite the near fatal blow to my ego, I had to admit, I had been smooth.

"You asked Maria?"

"Don't sound so excited for me." I rolled my eyes at Eve, who was leaning on the bridge, elbows supporting her. I was facing her, leaning in the same fashion on my own side. "I mean, what's wrong with Maria? She's... intelligible." Translation: She's smarter than you.

"Hey! Like I'm not?" Eve looked hurt but I knew she thought I hadn't meant to say that on purpose. (FYI: I had) and then smiled. "So you aren't gay anymore?" Translation: So we can have sweet hot sex, right?

I shook my head. "Eve... I honestly don't know." Translation: I honestly don't know... but wouldn't have sex with you if I did. She turned, looking into the water. I came up behind her and saw her shoulders stiffen. I sighed, leaning over the bridge next to her. "How're you and Dan?"

"Just peachy." She replied coldly. Translation: We had sweet hot sex but I don't want to tell you about it because you might get a stiffy thinking about me. Or Dan. Can't be sure.

"Aww Evie, don't be mad at me! I'm just... confused right now. I'm not sure about anything, that's all. Look-" I took a deep breath. "It's not like I chose to be this way... if I am this way. I mean..." Translation: I haven't got a clue. Honestly, don't look at me for this translation. Seriously rambling here. I shrugged and her eyes softened, a small smile tugging up the corners of her mouth.

"Ray- you are too gay for words. "She gave me small shove but her resolve broke and a smile lit across her face.

"Am not!" I replied indignantly. But I was smiling as well. We both sighed simultaneously. "Jinx." I said. "You owe me a soda."

"Sighs don't count and you know it."

"I know. I just wanted a free soda."

I looked at the Café's calendar, a small little piece of paper that sat on Duke's desk so as to remind him when to close. Firework's Festival... three days from now. I grimaced without knowing why. I could be grimacing because I was looking forward to it and three days seems much longer when you're filled with anticipation. I could also be grimacing because let's face it, when you're dreading something, it flies at you full force. Three days wasn't a lot but it could also be a lifetime. So which is it? Damned if I know anything anymore.

I scanned the quiet Café, noting all the people inside. Blue sat, staring glumly downward, shifting his food all around his plate but not touching it. Eve leaned over the counter, silent and refined. Duke was chatting animatedly with Woody and Hank, who both clutched sodas and were laughing or nodding there head along with what was being said. Then there was me, facing my usual helping of sashimi and doing nothing. Not pouting, not cleaning or attending to anything or anyone, not eating. Just sitting. I was the hopeless hobo of the town, a laughingstock, a nobody.

If I hadn't been pouting before, I sure was now. My expression mirrored Blue's as I sat and stared down at my plate, wondering what the three days to pass would hold in store for me.