The sky was dark when we got back to his house. I saw people outside on the grass, there were colorful lights, and there's a grill being lit on by Janice. We got out of the car with the beer and we sat it on the table. Beef, ham, wurst, probably every single type of meat product is there, minus emu. Nobody has emu in their fucking fridges. I saw Lily laying on the porch, drinking from a red party cup. "Why the hell did you get Corona?! That shit's expensive, you should've bought Coors, or fucking Budweiser," Janice slapped Art's head. God it felt weird changing your internal thought process.
"I just got a raise Jan-jan, let me just get you something nice, Corona is sweet, it's good," Art/ Crown covered his head as Janice continued beating him up. Fuck it. I'm gonna call him Art/ Crown in my mind now.
"Still, this shit is expensive," Janice stopped hitting him and gave him the tongs. "Go cook the damn meat, and don't get it burnt!" Janice said as she ripped the beer boxes open and places the contents in an ice box.
"Sorry about that," Art/ Crown said as we walked to the grill. "I'm gonna cook, how do you like your meat?" Art smiled.
"uh... Cooked." I said. I really don't care.
"Certainly, what's your preferred doneness level?"
"Cooked? I don't really care, whatever you're having," I said.
"Certainly Miss Loud," He bowed dramatically. I smiled. Fuck this dork. Don't make me laugh. I sat down behind him on a plastic chair, and I looked from behind as he started cooking. I saw the people lingering around, around 10 to 13 people were there not including me and Lily. I took my cigarette container out and I put a joint in my mouth. I lit it up and I smoked it. "Is that weed?" Art asked.
"A spliff, weed and regular ole tobacco," I replied.
"Gimme some of that shit," He said with a smile. I got up, went to him and gave him the spliff on my lips. "Not gonna get in trouble because of weed tomorrow?" I asked him as he smoked a puff. I took it back and put it back on my lips. He coughed.
"Nope, I got leave tomorrow, tonight I'm gonna get drunk," He said. I took a long puff, and I gave it back to him. He smoked it. He coughed.
"You're gonna fucking regret that tomorrow." I laughed. As I took another hit.
"Absolutely, but as they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, and tonight is beer, Mary Jane, and of course, the most debaucious thing ever, beef. Marinated and sliced into perfection." He blabbered. Is he high?
"Are you high already?" I asked him with an amused smiled on my face.
"No I'm not! But I do feel a bit bouncy." Art said as he laughed. He is high isn't he. I looked to the side and I saw Debra, with a tray of marinated beef in her arms. She sat it on the table beside Art.
"What did you feed this guy?" She asked me. I gave her the joint. She took a hit. "Fuck? You made a spliff? Psychopath," She laughed. "John, you're so fucking weak when it comes to drugs," She gave me the joint back and she went inside the house.
"How the hell are you two not high after that thing?" Art laughed. He's not high? I don't really know what state he's in. Sure, we're in Oregon, but not that state. Fuck. What am I thinking. I laughed.
"Enjoy cooking now Art, I'm gonna check on Lily." I said. "Find me when the food's done!" I said as I went to the porch. I sat beside Lily.
"You had some good fun with Crown in the car ride?" She winked as she motioned her right index finger into the finger circle on her left hand.
"No, what the fuck Lily?" I laughed. "We're just friends, for now,"
"For now?" She raised her eyebrows playfully.
"Shut it," I replied. I don't want this to end. But I still feel like I shouldn't experience this.
"You made a new life for yourself here," Lily suddenly said as she took a sip from the red cup. "You have a job here, you have friends, and now, family, well, soon-to be at least," She looks at Art and laughs. "You should try enjoying it, I know you're thinking that you don't deserve this and all that dumb shit, but you do." Lily said as she smiled at me. "Forgive yourself."
"I- I'll try, sis. Thank you," I said as I hugged her.
"It's okay Luna," She hugged me back.
"The meats done everyone!" Art shouted. Lily jumped up, and ran to the grill, leaving me there. I laughed. How is that girl nor fat. I followed suit and I grabbed a plate. I sat down on one of the picnic tables and Lily sat beside me. Art came and sat in front of me. "I hope you like the hamburg steak. Cooked with love and a shit ton of sauce.
"Now I'm afraid of the fucking steak," I joked. I started eating. It tasted great. It is great. Fuck, it's good.
"You assholes didn't invite me," Debra suddenly sat down beside Art, her plate was much like Lily's, filled to the brim.
"I bet three bucks you can't eat more than me," Lily suddenly said to Debra.
"20 bucks says I'll beat you,"
"Deal"
"Stop being kids Deb," Janice suddenly smacked the back of her head. She sat down beside Debra. Janice smiled "I bet you two a hundred bucks that I can eat more than you two combined." She laughed. God damn it, gambling addicts.
Lily and Debra lost the bet, but Janice didn't take their cash. Empty beer glass in hand, I looked at Lily and Debra sleeping on the table. Their stomach too full from the amount of protein they devoured. "How are you still alive?" I asked Janice. Art was grabbing some more beer.
"Skill, and sheer spite," She replied. Art came back and sat down. He gave me another bottle. I grabbed it and I took a sip. "Where's mine?" Janice asked him.
"You didn't ask for it," Art said.
"She didn't ask for it too," Janice pouted playfully.
"Fine," He stood up and went to grab another.
Janice looked at me and her tone changed, it turned serious. "I don't know your story, and I don't care enough to know why a fallen from grace celebrity like you is doing in a town like this, but let me tell you this once and once only. If you dare hurt the boy I raised like my own son, you will feel pain beyond your imagination. Do you understand that?"
"Y-yes," I stuttered. That was sudden.
"I don't want to see him the way he was 5 years ago, I don't want to see him in that pain again. I don't want you to ruin my doofus the way his old lover did. So if I ever decided that you're not fit for him, or if I found out that you caused him any harm, I will end you. He is a good boy, a coward maybe, but remember this, I won't give mercy to anyone that hurts him, or my daughter." She said. "Capiche?"
"Capiche," I replied. Just as I said that, Art came back with the beer.
"Here Jan-Jan," he sighed. He looked at me. "What did you guys talked about?" He asked.
"Oh nothing, I was telling her about that one time you ate all the mash potatoes you mom made for dinner and slept on the countertop because you got full," She replied. Her tone is cheerful now. Art's face turned red.
"I was ten." He sat down.
"And fat."
"It was baby fat!"
"Tomato, tomato." Janice replied. I laughed. Janice looked at me.
"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask, what happened to your eye there?" She pointed at my black eye.
"Oh, this?" I touched the bruise. "I fell."
"That's not the whole story Luna, you punched the living sh- crap out of a robber and then you fell and hit your face on the gas station fridge door handle." Art continued. Fuck you.
"You could've made it sounded cooler if you left the fell on the handle part." I laughed. "But yeah, handle to the face."
"Must've hurt." Janice said as she covered her mouth.
3 hours later...
Debra drove us back to the house, Art sat in front, sleeping. He wanted to follow us, but he slept. Guy must be dead drunk. We got out of the car and thanked her. Our stomachs were filled, and they even packed us some bangers for breakfast. We got up the stairs and got inside. I threw my jacket on the floor. I jumped on the couch and laid down. Lily sat down on the floor in front of the couch and she took one of the sausages out.
"Are you not full?" I asked her.
"It's called a midnight snack." Lily replied.
"Midnight snack my ass, it's 2 AM," I laughed as I took one sausage out. "One week with my sister here really changed me huh," I said before taking a bite.
"Imagine a month, you might become Mother Teresa." She laughed.
"Me, a nun? The catholic church would lynch me like the Knights Templar," I replied with my mouth full.
"Looks like Emily's been rubbing off on you, you got history class or something?"
"Nah, just got one nagging stuck in my head," I took my cigarette container out. I opened it. I still have 5 rollies left. "I don't think I need this anymore," I smiled. Is this alright? Is this the right way?
"You sure?"
"Yeah," I said as I closed it and walked to the balcony. Lily followed me. I pulled my arm, and threw the container away. The night ate the metal case. So long, old pal. "You're not gonna regret that?"
"Probably, but it's gone now," I said. It felt weirdly great. I felt liberated. As if a rucksack filled with lead was taken away from my shoulders.
"Too bad. I always wanted to try your shit," Lily replied. The air was cold. The wind is starting to dance. In a distance, I saw a lightning strike the lush forest. It's gonna rain.
"It's about to rain, better catch some Z's," I said as I got in. Just as I was about to lie down on the couch, someone knocked the door.
"Did you order something?" Lily asked.
"I didn't, it can't be the mailman, it's fuckin 2 in the morning." I went to the door, Lily behind me. I don't know what was wrong with me. I didn't even check the peephole. I swung the door open and there stood him. The white haired man I called my brother. "Lincoln?"
"Hey Luna,"