"What? What's wrong?" Jackie asked.
"Yeah, what's up, Mae?" Trent asked, seeing the look of horror on her face.
"That's where I went to college," Mae whispered.
"Oh...shit."
"Is that...bad?" Jackie asked.
Mae hugged herself suddenly. "I had a really, really bad time at college. I came back because I just...I couldn't take it. I was going insane. Literally. It still fucks with me sometimes." She sighed heavily. "But I knew, in my heart, that someday I'd need to go back and face it someday."
"We don't have to go, Mae," Trent said.
"Yeah, now that I know her, I'm sure I can put together a party in another city…" Jackie replied.
"No, no. I need to do this. It's felt unfinished for awhile now. And I'm a lot more stable now. And, part of me wants to do this. Like, yeah, it fucked me up, but...it's like Bea and the Pickaxe. It fucked her up, but she likes going back there, knowing how kickass her life is now. I want to do the same thing," Mae replied.
"That makes sense," Jackie said.
Trent nodded. "Yeah. All right. And we'll be there for you."
"That's true."
A moment of silence passed.
"Um...can I hang out here?" Jackie asked, shifting uncomfortably in the chair. "I'm kinda lonely and I miss people and I actually like hanging around you guys."
"Yeah, sure," Mae replied. "Although...I got a totally awkward question to ask."
"Well, we've shared enough awkwardness that I guess I'm used to it by now, I'm sure the two of you have, so fire away," Jackie said with a shrug.
"Are you guys gonna hook up?" Mae asked.
Jackie's eyes nearly bugged out and she sat upright in the chair. "What?!" She looked at Trent. "Did you tell her about-"
"No! I told you I'd keep that between us," Trent replied.
"Wait! Did you two hook up or...fool around or something?" Mae asked.
"No!" Jackie cried. "God, we didn't-wait, why do you sound excited about that? No, don't answer that. I don't want to know. No, Mae, we had a conversation about it at Melody's place, and the timing just seemed weird. Trent and I both agreed that we aren't attracted to each other, and that isn't going to change, and we're both cool with being friends, and I never want to talk about this again!" she groaned.
"Sex really weirds you out, doesn't it?" Mae murmured.
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"I don't know! It just does!" Jackie groaned.
"Okay, that's fair. Sorry, I didn't mean to weird you out so much. It's just...it occurred to me that, like, every woman around our age that hangs out with us inevitably seems to have sex with my boyfriend."
"I have noticed that too," Jackie said. "That was why we had the conversation-can we talk about something else? Anything else?"
"Yes," Mae said, giggling. "Trent's embarrassed."
"I am embarrassed," Jackie muttered.
"Right, um, okay...let's just do something chill then. Do you smoke?"
"I don't smoke."
"Oh, okay. Will it bug you if we do?"
Jackie considered it. "No, it's your house."
"Yeah, but you're our guest, and I think it's pretty reasonable to ask someone not to smoke weed. We won't if it bugs you."
"I really don't care," Jackie replied.
"Cool! Let's get high and watch...uh...Phantoms! I just remembered that movie a few days ago and I've been thinking about it so much," Mae said, getting up. "Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms, yo!"
"Oh yeah...shit, I forgot about that movie," Trent said, getting his laptop.
"What kind of movie is it?" Jackie asked.
"Horror. My mom and I watched it when I was pretty young. I had nightmares for years!" Mae replied happily.
"You are so weird, but yes, I'm down to watch a horror movie," Jackie said.
"Okay, I'll rent it and get it set up," Trent replied.
"Well...that wasn't as good as I remember," Mae muttered as Trent turned off the laptop.
"Yeah, it felt kind of...made-for-TV," Jackie replied. "But, I've gotta admit, that was a really cool concept, and there was some seriously creepy shit in there. That whole fucking 'I fall to pieces' shit, like...man. I'd really like to read the book it's based off of."
"It's a good book," Trent said.
They fell silent as the front door opened up and they heard conversation. A moment later, Bea and Ann walked into the living room.
"Oh, hey, Jackie," Bea said.
"Hi. I came over to hang out, and give Mae the good news," Jackie replied.
"What good news?" Ann asked.
"She found Bombshell! She'll be at a party this weekend! Her name is Molly!" Mae replied, practically bouncing up and down on the couch.
"Oh, damn. Sweet," Bea said.
"Yeah, though...is now the best time for a party?" Ann asked reluctantly.
"That's a conversation we all need to have," Trent replied.
"And on that note, I will take my leave. It's been fun. Nice to see you Bea, Ann. Sorry to run out, like, right when you get home, but I do have stuff I gotta do," Jackie said.
"It's cool," Ann said, and Bea nodded.
"Yeah, we can chat over chattrbox later tonight if you want," she said.
"Okay, sweet. Bye everyone," Jackie said, and then she was gone.
"She's a little like Lori in that regard," Bea murmured. "Scurrying off when she gets awkward...anyway, so, party. You think you're up for it?"
"I do," Trent replied as Bea and Ann took a seat. "Do you all think I am?"
"I think so," Bea answered after a moment's consideration.
"It's...hard to tell," Ann said, looking reluctant. "Sorry."
"Don't be, I want the truth, your honest opinion," he replied. "You don't have to apologize for that."
"Force of habit," she said. "But yeah, I think that how we react to things, even familiar situations, becomes much harder to predict after having an anxiety attack for the first time."
"That's a fair assessment," Trent replied. "I want to go, but if you all truly feel like it would not be a good idea, I'm okay with staying behind...though I'd really rather go."
"There's another hitch," Mae said. "It's a three hour drive, and it's in the town I went to college in. And I have...feelings, about that. But I want to do this. I really do. So I'm asking, because obviously I need someone to drive me."
"I'm down if we're all in agreement. When is it?"
"Saturday," Mae said.
"Well...yeah, okay. I'd like to ask Claire and Gregg and Angus to go, for backup, in case anything goes wrong," Ann said.
"Awesome! Yes! I'll start putting it together, it'll be a sick ass party!" Mae cried, jumping up. "And I finally get to meet Bombshell."
"Hopefully it will be worth the wait," Bea murmured.
"Hmm." Mae fell silent, losing her smile. "Yeah, I hope so. I guess it's like totally possible that she'll have forgotten me, or think I'm some weirdo psycho stalker."
"That is possible," Ann murmured.
"Just make sure you are cool with it and accept it if she tells you to fuck off," Bea said.
"I can do that. I've got a kickass boyfriend and a kickass girlfriend. Also, guys! Trent made me feel good! Like so hard!"
Ann laughed. "Uh, are you trying to say he fucked you good? I mean that's cool…"
"No, well, yeah, okay, he dicked me hard and it was fucking bomb! But I was feeling totally insecure because I'm immature but Trent told me I'm not really immature and I've made, like, mad progress on getting my shit together."
"Oh. Well, good. He's right. You have made progress," Ann said.
"Yeah, like...a lot," Bea agreed. "Like, jeez, you've become so much more mature since you came back home. Like...huge improvement-shit, I'm a bitch, aren't I?"
"A little," Trent said.
Bea sighed heavily and crossed her arms. "Sorry," she muttered.
"I will never, in my life, as in I will go to my grave not knowing this, how you can say this shit to Bea's face and survive!"
"Because I love him and he's a lucky prick for that," Bea growled.
"Whale biologist," Trent replied.
"What the fuck?" Ann asked. "Did you just say 'whale biologist'? Why the fuck-"
"I actually get that one," Bea said. "It's a Futurama reference. He's being a jackass like some jackass who kept being a jackass, but claimed it was okay because he was a whale biologist. That's what he said anytime he got any pushback…" She sighed, then laughed. "Goddamnit, it is actually funny. Fucker."
"I never thought I'd see this side of you," Mae said, giggling. "He's totally got you wrapped around his finger, Bea."
"Okay, you don't get a pass, Margaret Borowski!"
"I'm you're best friend!" Mae cried.
Bea sighed explosively. "And I love you, Mae, but listen, I only have so much...give, on stuff like this. And honestly, it largely works with Trent because it creates sexual tension and we do not have that dynamic, Mae. So don't push my buttons more than normal."
Mae laughed. "Okay, fine...so are we cool on this? Going to, ugh, Durkillesburg?"
"Can we rent a hotel room? Six hours on the road is kind of long, and I think it'd be nice to have a place to retreat quickly if we need to," Ann asked.
"I'm down for that," Bea said. "But, Trent, Mae, both of you, if you feel like you're starting to lose it, or you're having trouble with anything, seriously fucking let me or Ann know. Okay?"
"Okay, I will, I promise," Mae said, rolling her eyes.
"Same," Trent replied.
"Yeah, I'm such a bitch for looking out for your mental health and safety," Bea muttered.
"You're right, sorry," Mae said. Then she pulled out her phone. "Let's call Gregg and Angus and see if they want to go, and Claire! We can make a little vacation out of it...wait, we've got money for this, right?"
"I'd be willing to kick in some of the cash I got stored away for this, given the hotel rooms and gas are gonna be kinda expensive," Bea said.
"I can throw in," Ann said. "I actually just got paid like five hundred bucks to edit a novel, finished it this morning. I'd be happy to help."
"That's fucking awesome," Trent said. "And yeah, I'll cover the rest. I've still got, like...nine thousand dollars in my bank account."
"Jeez, it feels so weird to have actual money," Mae said. "Not that it's really my money, but you guys all buy things for me."
"It is a nice change of pace," Ann agreed.
"Yeah, we just gotta make sure we stay in the black and don't go into the red," Bea murmured.
"We'll make it work," Trent said.
"Yes, we will. And now I will get to work on making this trip work," Mae replied as she began texting.
"How you doing, Mae?" Trent asked. "You feeling good?"
"Honestly…? Yeah. Yeah, I am. I'm kinda nervous though. But not, like, nervous about what's coming, more nervous that I'm not more nervous, if that makes sense?" she replied.
"It makes sense, like waiting for the other shoe to drop. It seems to good to be true," Bea muttered.
"Yes! That!" Her phone buzzed and she checked it, then giggled and began texting.
"Are you still texting with Gregg? Christ, he's, like, right behind us," Bea said.
"Yeah, in a whole other car!" Mae replied. She giggled again. "What a dumbass," she muttered, typing and laughing. "Ugh, jerk!"
"Is Gregg giving you the business?" Ann asked.
"He thinks he could beat me at wrestling now, the loser!" Mae declared.
"Sucks to be him," Trent said.
"Where actually is this party happening?" Ann asked. "I didn't catch that."
"The woods," Bea replied.
"Ooh! Another night in the woods!" Mae said.
"Wait, you'd forgotten where it is?" Bea asked.
"Yes! I can't be expected to remember all the things all the time!" Her phone buzzed and she read it and laughed again.
"How about you, how are you doing, Trent?" Bea asked.
He and her were up front of his jeep, with Ann and Mae in the back. Behind them, Gregg and Claire were being driven by Angus in Bea's car.
"I'm feeling good," he replied. After some consideration, he'd opted to drive. Bea had seemed somewhat reluctant, and ultimately settled for being in the passenger's seat beside him. "Very chill. For the most part."
"You anxious?" Bea asked.
"Yeah, but I also feel like it's a normal amount. Parties make me anxious regardless of how I'm feeling. Lots of leftover loser vibes, feeling like I'm going somewhere I don't belong."
"Know how you feel," Ann said.
"Yep," Mae muttered. "I can't believe I'm not a loser."
"We're all awesome, keep it straight," Bea said.
"Yeah...oh, uh, gee. I never actually discussed this but, like, if things actually go well with Bombshell...with Molly, uh, can I hook up with her?" Mae asked.
"I'd like to talk with her first, but yeah," Bea replied.
"Same answer," Trent said.
"Also same answer," Ann said. "Just wanna make sure you're safe. I don't wanna be a downer but I want to make sure you aren't getting taken advantage of or in danger or anything. I know you think she's fucking bomb but…"
"No, I get it, and I appreciate it. Although I do got more of an edge now," Mae said.
"Edge?" Bea asked.
Mae tapped the side of her skull. "Leftover telekinesis."
"Telepathy," Trent corrected offhandedly.
"Right."
"Wait, so...what does that actually mean?" Ann asked. "I feel like we were never really clear on that. We proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that you could, full stop, read minds back during the...all the bad shit. But then you said it went away. Only not all the way away?"
"More or less," Mae said. "I definitely can't read minds anymore, not like what I was doing. But I get...flashes." She looked uncomfortable. "It's more like I can read...emotions? Especially if someone's trying to hide their emotions."
Bea sighed. "So that's how you can always tell when we're upset?"
"Yes, is that so bad!?" Mae shot back.
"No, I suppose not," she admittedly begrudgingly. "It's just irritating sometimes."
"So if this Molly is harboring dark intentions, you could tell," Ann said.
"Yeah, I'm pretty confident I could. I know you all think I'm a little obsessed with her, and I guess I kinda am, but I'm not being stupid about this."
"As far as you can tell," Trent said.
"Why are you obsessed with her?" Bea asked. "Don't get me wrong, even I can tell she is a fucking bombshell, especially now having seen actual pictures of her from her Facebook. Like, goddamn, she could be a fuckin' model."
"They don't let thick girls be models," Ann murmured.
"They're better about that nowadays, but...yeah, they really don't know what they're missing out on," Trent replied.
"I guess...I'm sort of obsessed with her because, like, she's one of the only people in my entire life who, I dunno...I connected with in a flirty, sexual sort of way organically? There was just...chemistry between us. It was like magic. Honestly...the only other person in my entire life who I can think of who fits that bill is Trent. Which isn't to say you and I don't connect organically or sexually, Ann," Mae said, looking at her.
Ann laughed. "Don't worry, I know. We were neighbors, then friends, and then we decided to try for friends with benefits, and that became lovers. It was organic, but not quick. I know what you mean. It's not always a good thing, though. That's how it was with me and Dennis. But it does feel so fucking good."
"Ugh," Bea groaned. "It does. I kinda-sorta had that happen once or twice before, but it for sure happened with Trent."
"Yep," Trent replied, unable to keep from grinning. "You were tripping over your own two feet trying to hop on this dick."
"You are insufferable sometimes, you know that, future husband!?" Bea demeaned.
"Holy shit, I don't think I've ever heard you call him that," Mae said.
"Oh...uh, sorry if that's weird," Bea murmured. "It just...last night...slipped out…"
"I was fucking her deep and hard and that came right out of her mouth," he said.
She heaved another weary sigh. "God, I gave you the gift and the curse of confidence. Fucking lord in Heaven."
"You all did that...and Claire...and Jen...and Melody…"
"You fucking fuckboy," Bea muttered. He snapped his gaze over to her. "Eyes on the road!" she demanded.
He growled and gripped the steering wheel more tightly. "Watch your mouth," he said finally. "Or I'll put it to work."
"Tempting," Bea murmured.
"I hate to break this up but I have another question," Mae said.
"Yes, love?" Trent asked.
"If things work out, can I invite her to come visit? I know we've got your, like, big book party planned for next week...what day is it again?"
"Wednesday," Trent said. "Still think we shoulda waited for the weekend…"
"No!" Bea said. "It's your fucking book launch party, like your first really big book, going live at midnight on Wednesday night and we're gonna party! This is like a big deal!"
"All right, I get it," Trent said.
"Sorry," Bea murmured, "you're just so...humble about everything. And I know what a contradiction that is based on all the fucking overconfidence you just spewed about your dick and how I feel about it, but I mean for, like, not-sex stuff."
"I mean I'm pretty much kidding about the sex stuff, that's the joke," Trent said.
"Oh what the fuck ever, you know damn well I did fall down trying to hop on your cock and you delivered some fantastic sex."
"And fantastic oral," Ann murmured from behind him.
"Yep," Mae said.
"And I know three other really pretty girls who would agree if they were in this car," Bea said. "So shut the fuck up with your humbleness. But anyway, answer Mae's question."
"Oh, right. Yeah, that's cool. More the merrier."
"Really? It wouldn't bother you if I was hooking up with some super hot girl while you were celebrating, like, launching your first book?" Mae asked.
"Not really, no," he replied.
"Okay, cool."
"If that's settled, I'd like to throw on some music," Trent said, reaching up and turning on his stereo.
"Is it...properly curated?" Bea asked.
"Yes, don't worry, I know every song on this playlist and I'm cool with them all," he replied. "Ah, this is perfect."
He started playing the first track. Some high pitched notes began coming out of the speakers.
"Whoa...what the fuck is this?" Mae muttered. "This sounds fucking cool!"
"Yeah, it does actually," Bea murmured.
"It's called My Heartstrings Come Undone," Trent replied, "by a group called Demon Hunter."
"That's so cool!" Mae cried.
"I want to fucking cover this song," Bea said after a hearing the lyrics for a bit. "I have to. I don't know why, I just have to."
"Do it!" Mae cried, bouncing in her seat. "Fucking do it!"
"Yeah, I think I'd lose my fucking mind if you did that," Trent said.
"Mae, you can do the bass!"
"Seriously!? You wanna play with me?" Mae replied.
"Yes! It would be really awesome!"
"We will definitely make this happen."
When the song came to an end, Mae cried, "Play it again!"
Trent played it again, and kept on driving.