Tommy woke to the sounds of his brother retching ...thru his half sleep fog, he suddenly smelled the stink of vomit, and stumbled out of the room, trying not to gag.

Tara looked up from her coffee.

" Is your brother awake?" She asked, already knowing. Jax was watching too, over his company laptop.

His head still pounding, Abel finished the brakes on the mini van, replaced the belt , and changed the oil. He enjoyed working on it, or anything mechanical, but the fact it was a minivan somehow embarrassed him. Mom needs something cool, n fast, he thought, as he struggled with his next project, their ancient riding mower, and it's seized blades. Taking it apart then reassembling wasn't a problem, but more of a chore for him, and he felt calmly focused .

Abel was cutting the edge of the backyard when he noticed someone talking with his mom near the bonfire pit...

" I've got his cell phone, and backpack, Mrs Teller, I was there when things got crazy "

Megan lifted his worn book bag from her bike.

" It wasn't his fault either, I saw it happen !"

Tara seemed to remember a younger version of this attractive young woman. It had something to do with a broken ankle and ice skating a few years back, when she was working in the ER.

There seemed a pleasantness about her that she instinctively liked.

" We learned all about it down at the sheriffs office last night...is it Megan? " Tara enquired, not wanting to discuss that. The girl nodded , smiling back.

" That's fine, but if you need me as a witness, I'm good. Im afraid I don't know your son very well tho...but I'd like to see how he's doing, and give him his phone ...he's in my English Literature class "

Tara noticed the mower was still running, and Abel was on it, but it wasn't moving.

" He's right over there, sweetie, I'm sure he'd be glad to meet you..."

Megan smiled back and walked towards the back yard.

Abel riffled through his backpack while they both sat at a weathered picnic table by the bonfire pit.

" Alot of them will back you up, because Billy Tabshaw jumped you. I tried to tell your mom that, but I don't think she wants to talk about it."

Megan shared, studying his eyes. They were the bluest she'd ever seen.

He looked up, and noticed the sunlight shining in her hair. The red highlights almost shined back, and if that wasn't distracting enough, he could almost taste whatever scent she was wearing ...he experienced alot of the local ratchets, and Mrs Fraze, the milf on Creed's Mill Rd...but this wasn't the same. It penetrated him thru his heart, and groin, leaving him nervous and excited all at once. This wasn't the smell of sex like he knew...it was stronger and ... well, he thought...scary...but in a good way...

" I don't remember that.." he found his phone.

" I don't remember anything...me and Skeeter were up at the quarry getting drunk!"

Looking in his eyes, Megan felt he was being honest, and wondered if he had blacked out. Rumor was the boys got a jar of " shine " from that family up by Parkers Creek.

A banner scrolled across the screen.

"Service suspended untill further notice...

Love, Mom and Dad "

" Fuk it " he half smiled, tossing it aside.

" What ?" She was watching his smile, then dug out a package of bubba gum. " U want some ?"

His face turned pink. " I never learned to blow bubbles.." he confessed, accepting the purple square.

" Seriously? " She laughed, gently touching his arm, giving him a pleasant chill.

They were talking about a book on their assignment list for English, THE MIRACLE WORKER.

" That's made up shit, right ?", he asked , working the gum into a soft wad . I wonder if she tastes as sweet as this he asked himself.

" No way, it's a true story...she contacted scarlet fever when she was about two years old, and went deaf and blind. Have you read any of it?"

Not wanting to get all involved with his disability, he shrugged it off at first, but suddenly changed his mind.

" I can't read like u can.." he avoided her eyes for a few seconds.

" Oh..." She said, " Are you dyslexic? My dad was too, sometimes he'd ask me to read to him. Have you tried something like that?"

He was looking right into her eyes now. If he was feeling embarrassed, that was gone...

" I'll ask Mrs Brewer then...I guess you wouldn't be interested in testing the idea with me would you ?"

Megan watched him smile. " Sure , but you gotta blow me some bubbles first "

I'm not gonna make this easy , she grinned inside. He has cute blonde whiskers too, and that mustache wont get too much gum in it!

Abel slid the book towards her. I'm fuked he thought, but the prospect of listening to her voice obliterated any fear.

"Can you at least show me how you do it?"

" Oh my God... pay close attention to my tongue and lips, it's simple...!" She leaned closer, as Abel did the same. He gently breathed in, and fought the impulse to kiss her.

As he watched her tongue and lips, his insides began to quiver.

" She's the one! " was all he could think , over and over again.