Summer Skies and Ocean Eyes

Due to the distance with Dad, he always thought that my half-sister Brie and I should spend some quality phone-time together once a week. It didn’t work out so well when she was younger, especially around half a year when I felt ridiculous talking to something that could only gurgle back.

Now that she was three, we could almost have conversations. Usually she talked my ear off about playing with Play-Doh or whatever show she was obsessed with, and I tried my best to sound completely interested. She was adorable, and even though Dad insisted she was my mini-me, I could always tell she was Alice’s daughter.

“And Calko!” Brie was still struggling with saying my name. “We saw all the monkeys! They smelled bad...and we had pizza for lunch!”

I smiled into the phone, taking one of the Billiard balls off the table and rolling it in my fingers. I wasn’t a professional at talking to little kids, but I understood the basics of asking them a lot of questions. “Really? What sound did the monkeys make?”

There was a pause, I could hear the little girl breathing heavily from excitement. “I don’t want to make that noise. It’s too silly.”

And there was the Alice in her. On the other end, I could hear my dad’s exaggerated voice muffled, saying “Okay Brie-Ann, time to give Daddy the phone. Say goodbye to Calico.”

“It’s time to give Daddy the phone,” Brie announced, sounding important. “Bye Calko!”

“Alright, talk to you later, Brie.” Rolling the ball toward one of the holes on the Billiard table, it ka-chunked down after hitting its mark. I hadn’t spent much time in Jon’s game room, it had a bar--under lock and key--a Billiard table, darts, and a foosball table. A wide-screen TV a little smaller than the one in the living room was one one of the walls, accompanied by an extremely worn leather couch.

Beer posters decorated the walls, it was the one place where Jon’s bachelorhood was still alive and well. Kendall had said it used to be her Mom’s office before they divorced five years ago when she was ten, and her dad wasted no time in converting it once everything was final.

“I always appreciate you listening to her, Cal.” Dad’s voice came back on the phone. “She looks forward to when you call.”

“I like talking to her. It sounds like she had a really fun time at the zoo yesterday.”

“She did. You know, you used to love going to the zoo, too. Except you never had problems making all the animal noises, I can give your mother’s genes all the credit for that,” Dad mused. I couldn’t remember going to the zoo with my father when I was that young, it was during the time when my parents were on the verge of separation at all times.

I could tell my father was trying his hardest to be that figure for Brie he never got to be for me. There was no way I could imagine the guilt he must have felt after moving away when I was young, but that’s why he’s putting in the extra effort the second time around.

“How’s she doing, by the way?” he asked in a nonchalant way, referring to Mom. I brushed my fingers over the expensive wood of the Billiard table, walking past it as I looked out the windows at the bright morning.

“Good. Well, I mean, great. Probably more than great, I guess,” I fumbled. The thing about Dad is that he’s always been a great listener, when I can get a hold of him, at least. So he definitely caught the struggle of my tone.

“Is something going on?”

I sighed, unsure if I really wanted to get into this with him right now. I had soccer conditioning in thirty minutes, and I hadn’t changed into my grubbiest of grubby work-out clothes yet.

“She’s just- she’s acting all different, Dad. I feel like I almost can’t recognize her anymore. Mom’s suddenly being...like a Mom.” Through my scramble to find the right words, I knew Dad was able to sort through it.

“And you feel bitter because of it,” he said it as a statement, not a question. I squirmed, gently biting my own tongue as I tried to think of the right way to word it.

“I don’t think- well, kind of, maybe. But I’m just not...” I trailed, unable to properly sort through what was going on in my mind. Dad was quiet, taking his time with gathering his own words before speaking. It used to make me crazy, how he sometimes would take forever to talk, but at times like this I appreciated the amount of thought.

“I think your mother always felt trapped. Trapped by her family, by her jobs, her marriage-” Trapped by me, I sullenly realized, knowing I hadn’t been part of her plan. “-and I think she especially felt suffocated by her town. It was just too small a place for someone with a big personality like hers.”

“Right.”

“And now that she’s in this place where she feels free for the first time in her life, I think it only makes sense that she would change a little, branch out and what-have-you. I know she may seem too different to you, but I think this is your real mother: just being able to breathe.”

His words echoed through me. I’m sure he thought he was helping by explaining what I already knew, for the most part. It only solidified in me that without me, Mom had been able to be who she’s always wanted to be. And now I was here, one of the old things that used to trap her.

“I have to get going, Dad. My carpool meets in like, five minutes.” I didn’t acknowledge what he said, choosing instead to say a quick goodbye. He didn’t appear surprised by my hasty change in subject, and said bye and “have fun” before hanging up.

Turning around and gripping my hands on the sides of the Billiard table, I squished my eyes shut. At least I had soccer to take my mind off things.

☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼

Florida weather had this weird quality of making me feel as if I was drinking it in. You know, instead of the more comfortable sensation of plain breathing. It was probably the worst characteristic of being so far south, and made working out a living hell--especially on days were there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the breeze was virtually nonexistent.

Needless to say, soccer conditioning had been rough today.

I didn’t hesitate to agree with Emily when she suggested we hit Jon’s pool instead of go to the warm ocean. It was in sweaty, over-heated moments like this when I was thankful for Jon’s over-pretentious wealth.

The two of us speedily hopped out after being dropped off at my house, dropping our things on Jon’s front lawn. The workout today had been grueling, but we found it within ourselves to jog around the back to the pool.

“Sweet Jesus,” Emily grumbled as we struggled to take off our sticky, sweaty clothes. I didn’t care that it wasn’t normal for people to swim in their underwear, because my eyes were glued to the chilled water in a hypnotized kind of craze.

I was the first one in, pushing off the gritty concrete that surrounded the pool and becoming airborne for the smallest of moments. The dive into the water felt like a spurt of fresh, minty air all over my body. Beneath the surface, I let out a soft, content sigh, closing my eyes as the bubbles gurgled upward.

I could hear a muffled underwater explosion as Emily joined me, then kicked my legs to resurface.

“Ahmygod.” I dipped my head back so the cool water pressed around the back of my head and neck.

“I wish my house had a pool,” Emily grumped, swimming to a floatie and grabbing it. I frowned and lifted my head up, the water trailed back to the pool off my hot skin.

“Your house has the ocean in its backyard.” My observation was met with the rolling of her eyes. Drops dripped off her petite, straight nose as we treaded water.

“Still, this is nice. Sometimes I think-”

“Are you guys in your underwear?”

Kendall and her little friend Sara walked to the edge of the pool. Both were wearing designer bathing suits, and had on those humongous sunglasses that give people the look of some kind of misshapen bug. Of course, they had their cell phones gripped naturally in their hands: as much a part of them as their legs and arms.

“Yeah,” I shamelessly remarked. Sara let out a small snort, but I couldn’t see the expression on her itty bitty face because the sunglasses covered most of it.

“That’s gross, Calico. You guys were all sweaty from soccer.” Kendall was disgusted with us, distastefully turning her head to look at where our cluster of stinky clothes were. I shrugged, wiping my hands from my forehead to the back of my neck.

“There’s chlorine,” I reminded her, picking up a tone I imagined would normally be used with younger siblings. Kendall’s nose scrunched as she started walking toward the poolside recliner chairs.

Oh great, so they were staying.

I looked at Emily, who remained indifferent to Kendall. Kendall, on the other hand, seemed to love my new friend. It was like she followed me around whenever Emily was at Jon’s house. I knew it wasn’t for me, but because Emily appeared to be the kind of upperclassman Kendall idolized.

“It’s a good thing you got home, because Dad should be getting here with your present pretty soon,” Kendall said in that I-Really-Don’t-Care way of hers, sitting down and leaning against the back of the chair. Sara wordlessly followed suit, texting rapidly on her cell. I wondered what they talked about: things other than boys or phones or clothes. Did Sara know how much of a marine biology nerd Kendall was?

“What?” I asked, swimming to her side of the pool. I pulled my arms out of the water, putting my forearms on the concrete to hold myself there.

Kendall adjusted her bathing suit. “He like, just bought you something. I’m jealous.”

I could feel the unavoidable line form between my eyebrows as a slow concoction of dread filled my stomach. Jon really had to stop giving me all this stuff. It was like being given Guilt in solid form.

“What is it?” I uneasily asked, picturing the lavish necklace that still sat on my dresser. Kendall coyly smiled, putting her head against the chair.

“You’ll see.”

Emily and I swam for a while longer, I was trying to forget whatever it was Kendall was so excited about. But Emily, of course, had her usual attitude of presents equals big excitement, so she couldn’t pick up the hint that I didn’t want to try and guess what the gift could possibly be.

It wasn’t until Jon came around the house--a big smile on his face as he told me to come to the front yard--when I had to face the music. Emily and I hopped out of the pool, grabbed our sweaty clothes, then snuck through the house to my room. After I changed and supplied her with dry shorts and a tank top, the two of us went to the front yard: Emily’s steps bouncy and excited.

As I opened the front door, I was hoping the gift was something small, possibly with a more sentimental value. Like a tiny-

It was a car. A brand new red Ford Lincoln MKZ, topped off with an equally red bow.

“Ta-da!” Jon happily exclaimed, putting a hand on my back and gently pushing me toward the car. “Do you like it?”

Emily squealed beside me, breaking into a chain of endless “ohmigod’s.” Kendall and Sara had also made their way to the front to witness my surprise, watching with huge grins on their faces as they removed their huge sunglasses. Walking up to the car, they preciously brushed their fingers against it.

Luckily, my expression of horror must have passed for surprise and bewilderment. While I was still choking for words as Jon watched me like it was Christmas, Mom airily walked out the front door.

“Oh, it’s here!” She clapped her hands together, practically skipping down the front walk. “Jon’s been trying to get the dealership to have it ready ever since you got here.”

I gulped, breaking out of my stupor at a slow pace. Was it my pride that was making me so uncomfortable? Even though junky and--admittedly--ridiculously ugly, my old car Doctor Wanda had been mine. From her ruddy tires to the drooping fabric of the ceiling, I had worked and paid for every inch.

I didn’t need something as big and fancy as this, it wasn’t me. And now, more than ever, I was incredibly aware that if Jon and my mom didn’t work out, this was one more thing he could take back.

“This is awesome!” Emily cheered for me, diverting the attention for a moment. But soon, all eyes were on me again, waiting and expectant. Stretching my lips into the most believable grin I could, I took in a deep breath while buying time to think of something to say.

“I uh, wow.” It was an Academy Award-Winning speech, to be sure. Jon was looking at me in such a bright, hopeful way, I felt inclined to continue with as much excitement I could trip my way through. “This is, this-wow. I mean, I love it. I love it a lot. So much.”

Jon beamed, satisfied with my lackluster reaction. He wrapped an arm around my mom and pulled her close. “I’ve been doing research on good starter cars since you finalized your plans to move to Florida. I thought this one would be perfect: nice and safe, but it’s got all those bells and whistles you kids like.”

This was a starter car for Jon? I was about to point that out, but the way he seemed so proud and happy to give made me feel like I should be reacting better. With a new pep for show, I skipped to the car like Mom had come down the sidewalk earlier, pretending to be transfixed with its candy apple body.

“This is awesome.” I was glad that Jon couldn’t spot the fidgety-ness in me, but I could feel Mom’s eyes glued to my back. Kendall and Sara were already poking around the interior as Emily patiently waited by my side, letting me explore it first.

“WHOA! Is this Calico’s new car?” Griffin made a hyper entrance, wearing his baseball hat sideways on his head like all the other cool middle-schoolers. Sprinting from the front door, he rushed up to the car and put his hands all over it.

Happy for the blonde whirlwind of a distraction, he asked for a quick ride, so I was able to take the keys from Jon after a Thank You Hug and disappear from my mom’s knowing expression for a while.

I took Griffin and Emily around the neighborhood a couple times, and when I got back, everyone was gone from the front yard. A small sigh of relief escaped through my lips as I parked.

“I think I’m just going to move all my stuff and live in here,” Griffin decided, before catching my dry look in the rear-view mirror. “Uh, thanks for the ride, Cal. See you later, Emily.”

He gracelessly clunked out of my car, tripping over his own elephant feet as he started walking back toward the house. Emily and I chuckled as she fondly stroked her hands against the dashboard.

“You are so driving us to Lindsay’s tonight,” she smiled, then leaned into her chair with a squeal only leather seating could give. I squished my nose, somehow, the small party had escaped my memory. Poot already said he couldn’t go, I was guessing it was because Tommy’s brother’s memorial service was tomorrow. Maybe he needed some time to group together before the big gathering.

I had heard it was going to be a big deal. Lots of people had known, and apparently loved Drew. That, and the Roses were a pretty prestigious family in Naples. Mr. Rose owned an industrial exports company, and Mrs. Rose was on one of the board-chairs at the most influential country club in the town: Port Royal.

They were holding the memorial service at that very country club, opening it for one night to everyone who by normal standards, didn’t have a chance in getting a membership.

Of course, I hadn’t seen Tommy the past couple days, and every time I absentmindedly brought it up with Poot, he always managed to side-step the references. My nighttime trips to the beach went back to how they had been before Tommy “saved” me from drowning.

And I slept, though restlessly.

“Yeah, that would go great with Jon. The first time I take the car out, I sneak it to a party.”

Emily didn’t hear any of what I said, I could see her fantasizing about it already. She was happily pressing buttons and playing around with toggles I didn’t recognize. I leaned back into the car seat, feeling defeated.

I didn’t even know who I was going up against.

☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼

Tommy was making out with a girl.

The instant I walked into the basement of Lindsay’s house, my eyes were drawn to the corner like some sort of magnet. There, lo and behold, was Tommy, pressed so tightly against a chick that I couldn’t tell whose limbs belonged to who.

I hadn’t seen him in a couple days, then presto! He flashed into my life again, and so thoroughly enjoying himself.

I didn’t notice I had stopped in my tracks at the bottom of the stairs until Emily placed her hands on my shoulders, stepping around me into the chic basement. The spacious room was moderately filled, I recognized most of the relaxed group from playing soccer on the beach. A small cluster of them were playing pool, while another clump watched a movie. There were some couples dotting here and there, oblivious to the rest of the world while they did their thing.

“Hey Cal! Get over here!”

I snapped out of it, forcing myself to look away from Tommy and his little friend. Adjusting my halter top, I walked to where Emily had squished herself between two guys that frequently hung out with Poot. They both had half-finished beers in their hands, sipping them slowly like old men do when they watch a football game.

“What’s up Calico?” one of them asked. I couldn’t remember his name at first, many of the guys I had met here all looked the same, coming equipped with annoyingly similar personalities. He had a Florida Marlins baseball hat tilted on his head of short black hair, going perfectly with the colors on his shirt and shoes. Rich kids always had a way of matching.

“Not too much,” I shrugged, sitting on the plush carpet at their feet. Lindsay, a girl who Emily and I conditioned with, came and sat beside me, sipping on some sort of concoction that was a light pink color. She was included in about half of the people in the room who were drinking, it was one of those nights where no one was in a rush to get really sloppy really fast.

“Uh, except her mom’s boyfriend just got her a brand new Ford Lincoln MKZ,” Emily reminded me, happy to share my news with everyone. They all knew exactly what it was, because it started a chatter I couldn’t follow. Too many brands and features were thrown out: Doctor Wanda was the only car knowledge I had.

I blamed the car talk as the reason I tuned them out, eyes going to the corner where Tommy was: a weird feeling starting to brew in my stomach. The girl’s hands were tangled in his hair, torso pressed against his as she straddled his hips. I gulped, watching the tight way he held her.

“Calico? You okay?” Lindsay asked, putting her hand on my shoulder. I shook my head to try and get rid of the nasty, almost jealous feeling that was building through my veins. But it couldn’t be jealousy, because I had no reason whatsoever to feel that way.

“Yeah. I’m fine, just been a little out of it today.” Luckily, they didn’t know me well enough to be able to tell that lightness in my voice was less-than-tactfully injected.

“Oh hey,” Emily said, catching sight of what had been holding my gaze. “How long has Tommy been over there?”

Lindsay sighed and rolled her eyes while the guys chuckled to themselves. They were all part of an inside joke that I didn’t know.

“He got here about half an hour ago,” Lindsay gossiped. “I think he came already tipped out, but was actually talking to some of the other guys for a bit until he found Tessa. And...” She motioned to the two of them sucking face like that was the only way to finish her sentence.

“I’m surprised he came here without his boyfriend,” the other guy--Charlie, Chris, Chaz, whatever--said, referencing Poot. Emily shook her head, grabbing his beer before taking a long sip.

“That was great, Chase,” she sarcastically mumbled before handing the bottle back. “How long do you think it’ll be until those two take it upstairs?”

The group laughed, like this was a common game they played with Tommy.

“I’ll give it half an hour.” Jeremy leaned forward with a mischievous smile.

“Are you kidding me? Ten. Minutes,” Chase challenged, adjusting his Florida Marlins hat. Lindsay gasped, putting her hand over her heart.

“Okay, guys. Tessa may be a bit loose, but she’s not some mega slut,” she said, pretty eyes opening wide as her glamorous dirty blonde ponytail swung side to side.

The guys scoffed as Emily nodded her head in Tommy’s direction. “That may be true, Linds, but you know more than anyone else that Tommy is a pro at this.” She clapped her hands once, making her slick bob bounce. “I give it fifteen minutes.”

Then it was my turn, everyone’s eyes expectantly turned my way to hear my own bet. I would have liked to say they weren’t going escape upstairs, then go over to the disgusting couple and wrench the girl off of him: but I imagined that wouldn’t play so well into the little game they had created.

“I’ll go for five. They look like they’re about to go at it right now.” The words didn’t sound right coming from my mouth, but that satisfied my audience. They laughed as Jeremy took off his hat and placed it crookedly on my head.

“How long does it usually take for you?” he greasily implored. I gave him a dry look as Emily jabbed him with her sharp little elbow.

“There aren’t enough minutes in your lifetime,” I serenely replied, the first witty comeback I had succeeded in giving the whole year. No one else knew that, though, so I thoroughly enjoyed their laughter as Jeremy shrugged.

That’s when Tommy and Tessa got up. He walked in front, holding on to her hand as he led her around the room.

The whole room noticed at the exact moment I did, like everyone had been watching while pretending to go about their business. Whispers followed at the couple’s back as they left. The four people I was sitting with exchanged knowing expressions, hanging on the latest scandal that was happening right before their eyes.

Lindsay exasperatedly dropped her shoulders, taking an elongated sip from her glass. “Tessa’s an idiot. Not a slut, but an idiot.”

“Are you serious? If that had been you with Tommy, you would have been up there ten minutes ago,” Emily chirped, batting her long black eyelashes innocently as Lindsay struggled to deny it.

I tuned them out again, fighting against that stupid feeling of disappointment that was creeping up on me. The moment I had started to think the kid was actually okay, he did something like that. It really was none of my business anyway, but no matter how hard I tried to remind myself, I couldn’t help but stare at the now-empty staircase.

The rest of the party went fine enough. No one got too crazy or made a mess that would make Lindsay regret ever having her large group of friends over. I learned how to play pool from Jeremy, cut Emily off from the wine coolers when she started getting a little too lovey-dovey with everyone, and managed to shove the thought of Tommy and the girl to the back of my mind.

Tessa had reemerged from upstairs about an hour after they slunk off, ignoring Lindsay as she tried to get the details out of her. I had been happy when Tessa took off early after that, hopping to a different party.

By the time it was three in the morning, everyone who was too drunk to do much of anything were crashed out in a mess of mattresses and blankets I had helped Lindsay set out. Others had already left with their designated drivers, going home or bouncing to the next party like Tessa.

I was beyond exhausted when Lindsay and I were the only people awake. She had stopped after her first drink, too worried about people breaking things and having to explain it to her parents when they got back from their trip in two days.

“You sure you don’t want to stay?” Lindsay asked, coming down the last steps after making sure everyone had been cleared out or was in the basement. I nodded, stifling a yawn. The last thing I needed was for Jon to wake up early tomorrow morning--I mean, this morning--and find that the brand new car he got me wasn’t in its parking spot. And his brand new tenant wasn’t in her bed.

“I have to get going, but thanks for inviting me, I had a really good time.”

Lindsay warily smiled, giving me a tight hug. All of the girls and guys, in the new group I had been hanging out with were pretty touchy-feely. There was always a lot of hugs, hand holding, and personal bubble-breaking going on.

“No problem, you’re invited any time. I’ll see you later,” her eyes were dark and heavy as I grabbed my purse and started making my way up the stairs. Before I reached the top, I heard the thud of her plopping to the couch where Emily had made her nest for the night.

I had made it to the front door when I heard the thudding of feet clumsily plodding down the set of stairs that led to the second floor. In the dim lighting of the foyer, Tommy stumbled toward me, gripping his t-shirt and shorts in the crook of his arm, his keys in the other.

His hair was a complete mess, and only one flip-flop could be seen on his feet. It would have been comical had it not been so intense the last time I saw him with Poot.

Catching sight of me, he stopped, body waving back and forth as he tried to keep his balance. With a drunken scowl he opened his mouth, raising a hand to point a finger at me. He had completely forgotten he was holding his keys with that hand, and jumped as they clanked against the tiled floor.

“Shit.”

I was completely forgotten as his face relaxed. Tommy stared at the ground, contemplating how much effort and balance it would take to reach down and pick them up. He didn’t look up to the task as he continued to stare.

It was in that moment that I realized I had one of two options. I could either make a quiet exit and leave Tommy to do whatever--making it home in about five minutes before passing out in my warm, comfortable bed. Or, I could assume that the reason he had his keys was because he intended on driving home, completely wasted. So I could take them away from him and prepare myself for what could be a very uncomfortable fight--lasting until God Knows When and leaving my very warm bed unoccupied during that time.

Or, I guessed I could just snatch the keys and make a break for it. I’d still get home in five minutes, and wouldn’t have the guilt of leaving Tommy to drunkenly drive as I went to sleep.

I was heavily considering the new, third option when Tommy fell to the ground like his keys had moments before.

My eyes shot wide open, it had sounded like an elephant, not Tommy, belly-flopped to the floor. I kneeled beside him on the ground, but before I could ask if he was okay, he started laughing. It was a full sound: happy and playful in a way I had never imagined could come from Tommy.

“The damn keys kept moving on me,” he chuckled with a slight slur, left cheek completely squished against the floor. As soon as his eyes connected with mine, he lifted his head up, all laughter gone from his voice as his scowl freshened. “Did you push me?”

I heavily sighed, placing my face into my palm for a second. “Yes, Tommy. Because I have nothing better to do at three in the morning than push wasted people to the ground.”

Inebriated or not, he was still able to catch on to the sarcastic way I said it. Contemplating that, his frown started to fade as he placed his cheek back on the ground. “Where’re my keys?”

They were half-sticking out beneath his bare waist, drawing my eyes to a dark shadow that wrapped around his side. As he mumbled to himself I squinted in the dim lighting, leaning forward. With my face less than a foot away from his back, I realized it wasn’t a trick of the overhead lamp, but a bruise laid deep in his skin.

My lungs pulled in a shot of breath, it looked fresh and tender to the touch. Had his dad really done this to him?

“I need my keys.” Tommy’s voice snapped me back to the situation. Despondently gulping, I grabbed them and hid them within my palm. As much as I didn’t want Tommy to dislike me more, there was no way I was going to let him have them back tonight. “You aren’t going to drive home. You should sleep downstairs with the others.”

He closed his eyes, shaking his head as much as he could against the cold tile. “No. I’m not staying. I’m not staying here. I won’t stay with them.”

“You won’t even sleep upstairs?” I asked, biting my tongue when I wanted to mention how there must have been at least one bed for what he and Tessa had done. Again, he shook his head no in that fidgeted way.

“I’m leaving,” he announced, attempting to get up so suddenly that I almost fell to the ground trying to rise just as fast. I was lucky I stood when I did, because it put me in just the right position to catch him as he wobbled my way.

The sheer force of his body sent the two of us careening toward the wall. I stutter stepped to the best of my ability while gripping on to Tommy’s torso until my back blasted against the door. His chest pushed against mine in a way that shot half of the air out of my lungs.

When we were finally still, both breathing heavily, I realized just how much like beer and sweat Tommy smelled. Squishing my nose in distaste, I tried create some room between him and I so I could catch a breath of fresh air.

To anyone else who would have passed in that moment, it might have looked like we were embracing--Tommy pressing my body against the door.

But he was draped on me, letting his weight go limp in my arms as he started chuckling again. “Calico, you’re trying to make a move on me, aren’t you?” His forehead was pushed against the door, the side of his face resting against the beginning slope of the back of my head.

“You smell horrendous,” I choked, “and you’re squishing me.”

The skin of his back was hot and smooth beneath my arms, the contact between the exposed parts of my shoulders and chest felt oddly electric against his. It would have almost been an okay moment if he didn’t smell so horrible and wasn’t putting all of his weight on mine. And if I wasn’t trying to hold him up while avoiding that painful-looking bruise on his back.

“She saw me in my boxers, and so Ca-li-co Mc-Can-less-de-candle is making a move on me.” Tommy was still chortling to himself.

I had the impulse to laugh at his struggling with McCandless. If he wasn’t so promiscuous, I’d like for Tommy to be drunk all the time. He was almost easier to get along with.

“Tommy. Come on. Where are you going to go if you aren’t going to stay here?”

He was quiet, chest rising and falling against mine as the chuckles stopped. “Don’t know.”

My heart was tugged by the way he said it, sympathy surged through me as we stood there. Giving him a small squeeze that could have possibly been considered a hug, I squished my eyes shut as the thought of his bruise rippled through my mind. I really couldn’t believe I was about to do this. “Fine. I’ll give you a ride.”

It took an incredible amount of effort to get Tommy to my car. He had no problem leaning on me as we walked, adding to the additional problem that there was no pattern to his strides as we zig-zagged to the Ford. All the had work I had been putting into soccer conditioning was kind of paying off.

After I had tucked and buckled him into my car like a child, I went back inside and grabbed his clothes. He didn’t thank me as I handed them to him, starting up the car and rolling down the windows.

“Puke in my car, kid, and you’ll regret it.”

Tommy was humming to himself off-tune as I pulled out, tilting his face to the window as the cool night air brushed against him. It was colder than usual outside, dark clouds had been rolling in most of the evening--word of a big storm coming had flitted through the party.

“So where am I going to take you? Poot’s house?” I asked looking over at Tommy. He let out a loud sound that might have been a laugh as he shook his head no.

“Hell no. That would be mistake number one.” He resumed happily humming to himself, pushing his hand out the window to feel the wind cut through his fingers.

“Okay...what if I just take you home?”

It was the wrong thing to say. Tommy completely sobered up, sloppily coming to a normal sitting position as his eyes darkly bored against the side of my face.

“No.”

His stare was uncomfortable as I drove, throat too tight to swallow as I thought about the fight he and Poot had. Tapping my fingers against the wheel as I slowly tried to loosen myself up again, I bit my lip.

“Where am I supposed to take you, then?”

Tommy settled back into the seat, moving his hand out the window as he blankly looked at the passing scenery. “You took my keys and put me in your car. You choose.”

Feeling one-hundred times more tired, wondering why I ever bothered at all with things like this, I turned on to the road that would lead us to Jon’s house.

The rest of the drive, Tommy gained his cheerfulness back. Without asking, he turned on the radio, blasting it to his favorite station and singing off-tune and a second too late to the song that was on. I let him do as he pleased, but the ride that was only five minutes felt like it took ten years.

“Now Tommy,” I whispered, pausing at the front door. His arm was slung around my shoulders, the side of his body pressed into mine. “As soon as we enter the house, I need you to be dead quiet.”

Tommy frowned, tilting his head up to get a better view of the suburban castle. “But what if I want to say hi to Jon?” He whispered it in the way only drunk people do, where it would have been quieter for him to say it in a normal speaking voice.

“No. You are not saying hi to Jon. You are shutting your mouth, and you are walking as quiet as possible,” I grumbled as I dug through my pocket for the house key. His face was so close to mine, my nose accidentally brushed his when I looked up.

Something passed between us in that small moment, and before I knew what was happening, Tommy drunkenly pressed his face forward and connected his lips with mine. I squirmed at the mis-aim of it: his lips had almost missed my top lip, pressing against the bottom of my nose. Carefully pulling away from the kiss, I tried not to think about who else his lips had been planted against tonight.

Tommy let out a laugh, grinning in an unmistakably gorgeous way. “That was for you, McCalicocandle. Less.”

I let out a long, deflated sigh as I unlocked the door. It figured the one time Tommy kissed me, he would be drunk and taste bad.

“Right,” I half-heartedly replied, then motioned for him to be quiet before opening the front door.

He was sleeping on the floor tonight.

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