I spent the morning fixing the fireplace's stone in the community center with Robin. Sam heard I was doing this and joined me, that also brought Sebastian here.
They got lucky as Robin needed a wall between the main area and the small office to be mostly gone and replaced due to plumbing, mold and water damage. I looked back as Sam made a noise slamming a large hammer into the wall and destroying it some more. Sab placed down his hammer already doing much and lit a smoke.
"Honey smoke outside." She said sweetly with a motherly tone, he just slid out without a word.
"So you know how to do plumbing and electrical?" I asked Robin.
"Ya she is a jack of all trades." Sam spoke like he was flirting with her before bringing the hammer back into the wall. "The whole family is wildly impressive."
"Thanks Sam." She kindly spoke.
Sam looked at me with this look and mouthed "Milf." I held back a laugh and looked her over. Okay ya she is really good looking.
"Can you check my water heater, I can only take about five minute showers and it get's cold." I kindly asked.
"That sucks I need my long showers." He mumbled. He looked at me and held out the Hammer for me to grab. I jumped up excited toking it from his hand a little roughly.
"Ya I can." She smiled at me. "Working for me for free I might as well look."
I grabbed it and Sam fixed the way I held it before I smashed it into the wall. I giggled in excitement and hit it again. "Feels like cutting down a tree." I slammed it and dragged it.
"Makes me feel manly." He puffed out his chest. "Man destroy." He pulled it from my hand, frowned and he bashed it into wall. "Makes me feel like I could hunt."
"No way you would catch a thing." Sabastian spoke walking back in.
"Hey." He whined sadly as the mallet hung at his side.
"Please, she would do a better job." He nodded at me making me smile with interest at him.
Abigail came barging in looking like something was wrong and her eye's scanned all of us as we stared back confused.
"Troll, in the dungeon." And she fell face first onto the floor. We just stared at her bewildered.
"Hey." Robin spoke. "If this is one more hand I am lucky today." She looked at me and at the fireplace and I shuffled back over, I was almost done fixing it.
"What is going on?" Abigail spoke getting up.
"Men are working." Sam spoke deeply. "Women clean." Sabastian slapped him in the back of the head at that last line. "Ya, ya, okay." I just laughed hard.
"Oh." She spoke.
"What is wrong?" I asked her between giggles.
"Nothing." She looked me over. She then joined Sam and finished the wall as she laughed loudly and chatted. The dynamic between them is nice, kind of like a young girl having brothers and I always wanted a bromance.
Bromances are beautiful, I can't even be close friends with a guy. It makes me sad and crave a friendship like a brother. I was kind of sad as I finished my job. I once almost had one online, he never knew I was female as I don't tell people anymore. Did not go far.
I tend to have female friends but I feel a wall between Abigail and I, I looked at her laughing and smiling and being oddly dark with her tone of voice. She was so cute in her slightly punk outfit and her amazing hair. The loud girl. She is pretty cool.
I laid on my couch and stared at the ceiling sad and bored. Did not feel like reading or work. I started to clean up my scattered clothes when I looked at my suitcase pulling out a pretty basic black dress I had yet to wear.
I did my makeup for once and slid on my pretty shoes, curled my hair for no reason and headed to the bar. It is Thursday, it should be packed and I am getting so wasted I wont remember.
The night was warm and so dark without a moon, peaceful and alone my shoes clicking on the cobblestone. I heard a loud noise as I opened the heavy door only to stand there sadly. Just Pam and Shane.
Pam was dancing and singing to the juke box.
I peeked over to the pool table sad no one was there.
"Stood up?" Shane spoke looking me over blankly to me but he did talk to me.
"Stood up!" Pam yelled. She pointed at me and sung and danced and wiggled her finger to join her. I smiled and walked to the bar. Guess it is just the alcoholics tonight.
"Gus, double shot of crown." I took to my seat and he nodded. "Today I am with you." I pointed at her and smiled and she pointed back trying to twerk like a white old lady.
"What did you do?" Shane mumbled not looking away from her ass and failure of a dance.
I chugged my drink making Shane look at me with big eye's before he looked down sadly at his beer and took a large drink. "Another." I said slamming my cup down.
"Damn." He sipped but he looked at me worried like something was wrong with me. Honestly I don't know why I felt the need to drown myself, I just do.
It was not long and I was just dancing with Pam, an old and famous song came on and then the world got odd. She crawled into the bar singing it and shaking her ass as Gus tried to get her down. After failing I crawled on it to get her down but she smacked me away and danced like she was a coyote before pouring some of her drink all over the bar and asking him to light it on fire.
She almost fell and I grabbed her arm as Gus tried to catch her, we got her down and she did not care as she stumbled to the bathroom and Gus yelled if she does that again he is kicking her out for the night. I walked over feeling a little sober again and got chips from the vending machine and took my seat asking for another drink.
I felt lonely as I sat there alone sipping my drink playing with a coin as I moved it around the bar.
"You wilded her up." He said after a long pause and a looked up at him sadly before giving a fake smile.
"Ya?" He looked so sleepy. "Wilded, is that a word?" I mumbled snacking away.
"I, don't know." He downed the drink and slammed it, Gus got him a new one before he spoke. We sat quietly and I was just staring at him and he looked back a little worried. "You are always the same, sitting like that." I frowned as I meant to think that not say it.
He looked away. "Shut up."
But it just made me smile for some reason. "That beard actually looks good on you." I leaned on my hand. "You got this dirty boy look that is actually kind of attractive." I just watched him, unsure how he took that he just stared back at his beer making me sigh as I looked at the back door towards the kitchen and bathroom.
The bathrooms were pretty nice and I stared in the mirror for a while, fixing myself up and a little flushed. Stop hitting on Shane, you don't mean it, you wont do anything, don't make him think you do. Get a hold of yourself.
Why is that all I seem to do with him, I can't seem to stop.
I stumbled out to a new drink and a pizza, Pam was asleep but I passed her not wanting to deal again. I sat down quietly looking at him. "I can be a little to forward and a little to open when drinking. Sorry."
The pizza sucks but it was so good tonight as I ate it fast.
"You eat like a cow." He spoke as Gus was trying to wake Pam. I was a little dizzy but I laughed and nodded.
"It is so good tonight, small but I can share." I slid the plate towards him. "Here eat some, soak up that alcohol."
"I need all my alcohol." It made me laugh.
I pushed it a little more but he did not go for it so I pulled it back. "Alright." It was not long until it was gone I heard Gus call Penny as I laid on the bar sleepy and drunk making me think about my mom and then the fact that the friends I have at home suck.
I miss my old high school friends and then I missed my video games.
I am so alone.
I don't know how long I laid there but I heard Gus say something about who to call if I am blacked out.
"I want to be someone else." I mumbled some words that even I could not understand about how much I suck.
"Girl to my heart." I heard and flipped my head around staring at him as I stayed laying on my arms.
"Sorry." I sat up and leaned back on the stool not to burden him. "I should go home." I smiled happily at him and he just stared at me.
"You are drunk." He mumbled.
"Alright." I stood up and I stumbled to the door using a chair to hold me for a second "I want to do something new." I looked back as I got my balance. "What can I do that is new?" I paused and started to move. "Oh my feet." I stumbled into the chair I forgot about and made my way to the door. I apologized the chair before thanking it. I grabbed the handle to the door and almost fell backwards opening the heavy thing.
He was next to me making me fall into the wall one arm next to my head to stop me from falling. I looked into his deep eye's. His hand slid into my front pocket a feeling of lust moved through me but he smelled like beer and sweat. His bad smell did not smell that bad to me for some reason and it all kind of sobered me a slight bit.
Do I stink?
He pulled out my key's and walked back to the bar confusing me, I watched him grab his beer and down it.
"Well I kind of need those or else I will be sleeping on the deep dark forest road my friend."
Slamming the cup down. "I can drive drunk, I doubt you can." He stumbled slightly before he passed me out the door.
"Are you sure about that, you almost hit me?"
"Maybe I meant to."
"Aw words to a girls heart."
"I don't care about your heart."
"Man you are so mean." I paused. "I kind of dig it." I chuckled, I saw his head shake as we made it to his truck. "What am I going to do if you drop me off, Maybe I should just sleep in my truck."
He paused and looked at me, he looked almost ready to drop. "If you want to."
We stood in silence.
"Nevermind let's go." I said hopping in he turned it on and sped away.
This was a newish truck. "This is better then mine." I slurred as I poked a seat warmer on then off.
"Yours is a classic." He said I just watched the world move making me feel sick so I closed my eye's and leaned on the window.
"Ya, it can be cool but this is nice." I mumbled. I noticed we parked into his place not mine. "Are you picking me up?" I asked curious.
"No." He turned off the truck. "You can sleep on the couch again and when I go to work I will drop you off." I just stared at him shocked as he got out and walked away not waiting for me. I jumped out and almost fell but then jogged catching up.
We tried to be quiet as we walked inside and I headed straight for the couch but I feel I was way to loud.
I sat up as the roosters and cows were so loud and I rubbed my head before looking around with a little headache. I shoved my hands into my head remembering last night with a moan and a need to use a bathroom.
I remembered some embarrassing moments as I danced with Pam, I am glad he never tried something as most men try, I had not met a man that did not try something while I was wasted. He is probably not into me but the fact of what he did for me last night made me trust him as a person and that felt oddly nice.
I was pitiful.
I heard a noise so I slid on my boots. Peeking out there was no one in the kitchen but I heard a flush as I stepped back into the room, I wonder if Marnie minds if I am here?
Out walked Shane making me smile and I moved towards him.
"Morning." I spoke quietly. "Can't sleep in at this house huh?" He just nodded rubbing his hair with a sleepy look on his face, kind of warmed me. I watched him put bread in the toaster and slid on his work hat. "Your a creature of habit huh?" I asked but again he did not speak. "Got a bathroom?" He pointed down the way he came from so I moved quietly.
I passed his room and could not help but peek in.
He had the basics, a bed, a t.v, and other's but nothing personal. Why does it look like he does not even live here? Why is that so sad and where is he from?
We sat in silence as he drove, I did not want to bother him and I was slightly embarrassed at myself but at the same time it could have been worse.
He dropped me off near town. "Thanks." I spoke as he drove off and made my way to my truck.
I drank a whole pot of a coffee and made a second as I waited for Robin.
Two weeks is up and I don't want to leave yet but I also can't just yet. I looked around and wanted to style this place more. Friday might be fun in town but I wont drink like last night again.
I pulled out my hose and started to water the plants Lewis gave me when I squatted and looked at the growth. What is it? I sat down and googled the leaves that I was looking at. What is that leaks?
I found it, it was garlic, he gave me garlic.
Huh.
It felt nice to have something grow I kind of took care of and happy they are alive still.
Are they done?
They were pretty big when I planted them.
I pulled one out and noticed it was a decent sized Garlic, they must have been pretty done when I planted them. I cracked it open and looked at all the slices of garlic and they looked pretty decent.
Grabbing a box I pulled them all to take to town later, her truck was loud as it pulled up but I was excited to have this place looked at by a real person. So I left the box on the coffee table and walked out to great her.
First was the steps, real bad she had to step over them. She checked out my water heater after that and I just leaned on my front door in wait. She gave my porch a real look by jumping around and poking at it with a weird metal stick.
"So where is your friend?" She looked around.
"What friend?" I asked so confused.
"Fred."
"Who?" I paused and remembered. "Right ya he is gone." How does she know?
"Never seen him in town."
"It was just a one night thing, nothing interesting." I spoke truth. "He was passing by, needed a place to stay." I lied.
She gave a me a look and I wondered what was going on in her head when I noticed Shane was right that night. How on earth does she know about Fred.
Don't trust Leah with secrets.
"Okay, so I need to order online a part for your water heater but my guy will only be a few day's. Most of your porch is okay but the stairs are deadly sadly I forgot I needed to do something for Maru so it wont be today." I nodded a few more day's here is not the end of the world.
"When the part comes I will come here, we can figure out a time but being the only handyman in town I am busy with these old homes."
"Honestly, just come in." She nodded at me and walked inside to grab something and found my Garlic.
"You farmed?"
I smiled excited. "Ya, first thing." She picked one up with a smile. "Take it." I smiled at her knowing she was not charging me for this. She almost did not but took one anyway and left.
Pierre took them with joy, it was not much but it was something as I watched him place it where it used to say Max but my name was under it startling me. I stared at it for a good minute kind of happy.
He dragged me to a seed section and as much I loved this I know plants, I don't know seeds let alone being here long enough here to grow them from the start might not be long. I just went shopping for a few things.
"Are you sticking around?" He smiled kindly ringing me up and looked at the area of plants, he looked at me like he was so happy to talk to me. "Oh I could use the food, I miss Max so much."
"Ah no." I looked away feeling shy. "Sorry."
He was staring at me in a way I did not like as it was so weird to me when he got stiff and looked down nodding. "Thanks' for shopping here."
"Ya." I spoke with a fake smile, turning around Caroline was peering at me from behind an isle, her tiny little eye's on me like I can not see her. I looked away and shuffled out fast being so creeped out and confused.
What is the issue?
I leaned on the wall outside breathing.
They must know my mom or something, I have not done anything so it must be my mom. Maybe they are a reason she wont come back here. I felt like I walked into a time machine and became friends with my mom who did not know it was me.
I wanted to call her but I know she wont tell me, she is a private person. With the gossip here I can almost see why.
I looked at the warm sky when I heard the wheels of a skateboard and my smile got larger seeing it was Sam. Back in high school my friends were skaters, I was not one but I knew a few things and for some reason it made me feel at home.
I got so excited as he rolled up popping it up with his foot and giving me that amazing smile. "Hey Mushroom. We are practicing again want to join us?" He nodded away towards the south where I hear he lives.
"I guess that is better." I mumbled. Better then what ever is going on right now. I paused and looked pulling of those pointy fluffy things I don't know the name of stuck to the hood of his sweater, burs?. I pulled it off with a smile and threw it away.
"Oh." He mumbled but the way he turned made me spot another one so I pulled it off. He noticed another near the zipper and opened his sweater. Inside there was hundreds and I looked at him shocked.
We started to pick them off around the zipper, took a minute before he took off his sweater and even on his back but only inside was covered in them.
We both started to pick them off startled and giggling.
"Did you turn your sweater inside out and roll down a hill?" I laughed out
"No." He shifted it and we just went back to giggling silently and pulled them all off overly confused.
Sabastian appeared out of no where and looked between us then at the sweater. He shook his head started picking with us throwing them into the wind. Once we got them all he put his sweater back on and we headed to Sam's place without a word.
His home was sweet old but taken care of, I had to slid off my shoes but I felt weird because my socks are not the cleanest and we walked into his bedroom. It was great and large with a queen sized bed and a desk with an older computer. There was a shelf with like ten clean and pretty shoes that I was in love with. I love his style.
There was a small wooden stage with everything on it. Guitars, keyboard and drums.
"What you guy's want?" Sam yelled leaving the room.
"Cola." Sab yelled as I stood there awkward not speaking as I watched Sabastian walk to the keyboard and pressed some buttons. Sam was back fast and tossed one to both of us as I caught it with a smile and he nodded at me that I could sit on his bed.
His bed was made shocking me as I figured he was like me and leaves the mess. I mindlessly peeked into the completely clean garbage can next to his bed admiring the color and shape.
"Don't look in there!" He yelled and I froze looking at him, Sab looked straight at Sam's growing red face as his word slipped shocked them both.
"Dude." Sab started to laugh and Sam looked away picking up his guitar still red in the face like nothing happened. I never heard Sab laugh and it was so nice as we both cackled at Sam's expense.
The door slammed open Abigail came in. "Let's do this." She looked shocked to see me and I suddenly felt like a weird groopie watching some heartthrob I wanted to date, I looked away and sipped my drink awkwardly never doing something like this before but it never interested me.
She looked at me with emotion and it threw me, it was like she had a fire in her as she stared at me. "You and me need to do something soon." She smiled at me and I was shocked but excited to do anything with her as she walked to the drums.
I was expecting some crappy garage band, some kind of annoying noise but they were great. Sam started to sing and I understood the groopie thing, he has this husky voice that was actually pretty hot even if the lyrics could use work.
They basically asked and got compliments after. She asked me if I played anything or could sing and I told them I sucked in both and my voice could break glass so I wont be a part of it. We all hung around as Sam just strummed and Sab leaned on the wall and smoked. It was getting smoky in here.
"Ya, we are new as of a few months, never knew we all had a skill." She told me that Sam moved to town a few years ago and the three of them only recently become such a group that was never without each other as of maybe six months. She looked at Sebastian with a longing look only I seemed to notice.
Now is not the time to ask her about that.
"Ya I did not live in your city but I lived in a city." Sam spoke still tuning his guitar. "I like it better here." He looked up at me with that smile. "I think you would as well." I just nodded it is not bad. "I just miss skateparks."
"Really?" She spoke. "That is what you miss, you can not even do a." She was cut off when a small boy ran in the room. His brother.
"Sammy." He yelled. "Mom made Shepperd's pie." He looked around. 'Your all invited." And he ran out.
"Let's eat." I was startled, me too? Abigail looked at me like she could read my face she stuck her hand out and I grabbed it as she dragged me away.
We sat at a large table as people around me took different foods and filled plates, I sat there so new to this. It was so homey and sweet and it smelled so good I felt to nervous to grab food but was happy to sit here. Jodi is sweet. Sam slid one with a little food on it to me with a smile and waved at all the extra's.
I took some salad and put it on my plate and grabbed a garlic roll excited for a real meal. They talked about everything, Sam filling his mom on everything in a way I never talked to mine. Jodi was an amazing cook.
We all headed to the bar after, they all walked in I front of me but I saw a man in a letterman jacket walking the large dog.
"A dog." I spoke under my breath and ran to it.
I was still petting the dog a little waiting to run away from Alex who was talking my ear off.
"And then I got a touchdown." Alex tossed the ball in the air as it spun. "I won that game." I just met this man. I now know he is 22 knowing he will be a professional gridball player. He was biult and was naturally hot. I could see him becoming famous as I patted the friendly dog.
"I do twenty sets a day." He rolled up his jacket and showed me his very impressive arms. "I bet you get a work out on that farm." He has not asked me a single thing but my name.
He looked and saw that blonde down the road. "Oh you know Haley." He nodded at me to follow him as we passed the bar I was going to run in but instead I ran into Shane coming around the corner and we almost walked into him. "She agrees, a professional grideball player is life. Haley!" He yelled her name .
Shane made a noise but Alex just ignored Shane the way Shane ignored me. Kind of a 'ya sure." Noise. I paused and looked at him as he walked into the bar.
I just slid away as she talked about places he was going to take her shopping tomorrow out of town. I was happy to walk inside and I went straight to the bathroom badly needing it. My hair was a mess and I fixed it.
I ordered a drink and walked back to pool table looking at the sad looking Shane.
I almost paused looking at him like he needed a friend, he glared at me as I stared at him and looked away. I walked back to the bar. "Gus." I called in the loud place and he walked over with a nod leaning in to hear me.
"Can I buy Shane every drink tonight, Write it down and I will pay you later." I yelled into his ear.
"Oh, he would love that birthday gift." I stood shocked and looked over at him. It is his birthday? "I got you." He smiled at me and walked off down the bar. I passed by Shane and came to the three of them, I doubt he wants a hug or letting him know he is one year older.
"Let me win." Sam yelled.
"Play me you will win." I laughed out.
"You were in the bathroom for so long." Abigail yelled. "What happened?"
I guess they did not notice that Alex kid.
I sucked at pool and I could not stop looking at Shane wondering if I could do something. I watched Gus slide a new beer to him and push back Shane's money. He then looked at me shocked and I gave a small smile and wave.
When he looked away I did not care, so happy to do something.
"He is weird." Abigail was next to me looking at where I was. "Came here about a year ago, does not talk to people, just drinks. Sam works with him. I think he is like 25."
"How old are you?" I looked down on her and asked. She is so short.
"20." She spoke looking Shane over in thought.
"Ya, he is not bad, the only person that actually works in that place." Sam spoke waving at me that it was my turn.
I aimed my stick and missed and Sam cheered.
I found out Sam and Sab met last year of high school here and became good friends, Abigail is new to their little group.
"Abi." I looked at her.
"Ya?"
"How boring was it here before Sam." I smiled at her, I also wanted to add Shane and that book guy but that just made Sam so happy he was exploding.
"The worst." She looked at Sam with love. "Without him I would not have been friends with Sebastian." She smiled kindly at the floor , I watched her eye's land on the dark boy that was getting a cola from the vending machine.
We watched them play a serious game. "You want to do something tomorrow night?" She asked me. "Just us girls?" I smiled and nodded excited.
I needed a sleep, long day so I left early.
I bought beer from Gus and some, according to Abi 'girly' drinks for the next night when she comes to my place, some I was glad to know he had. On the way out I looked over at Shane who was looking at me. He gave me this nod making me smile at him. I bet it going to be a high tab come tomorrow.
