My bed called my name as I walked into the house, I applied for every hiring job in this town, learned how to drive a standard, and now I had to get ready for a party on top of it all. I don't even know what to wear something like this. Digging through my closet I decided on jean shorts, a baggy black off the shoulder top, and my trusty docs as always. I let my shoulder-length curls hang natural and went with some minimal makeup just because I didn't know what we were really getting into tonight. Blue is picking me up in 30 minutes and here I am looking halfway homeless. Another wave of pure exhaustion ran over me. What the hell? A little nap never hurt anyone. I laid down on my living room couch and let sleepover overtake me.
{Two years prior}
"Mylana, come here a minute." Tammy's shrill voice called from the kitchen.
"Coming." I hollered walking her way.
I could already feel her deadly glare before I rounded the corner, what could I possibly have done this time?
"Clean the damn dishes, why do I even have to ask anymore?" She demanded in her always icy tone.
"It's not my night." I replied in a nonchalant manner.
"Not your night huh? When did you become the boss? " She snapped stepping closer to me. "Get your stupid ass to the sink before I make you."
I wasn't gonna put up With this for the rest of my life. Tammy might have been a terrible person, but she wouldn't do more than yell, if she did I would snap her skinny ass in half.
"And what the fuck are you gonna do about it? I'm tired of the shit. I'm not your live-in slave." I replied in firm voice, hoping and praying I made my point.
It wasn't about the dishes, or the laundry, or any other random chore she could pull out of her ass. It was about respect. She couldn't even muster up a simple please or thank you when she asked. Tammy alway went straight to berating and belittling and when a wicked smile settled on her lips I had a dreadful realization, she wasn't focused on me, but James who had just listened to me disobey and disrespect his precious wife. He closes the distance between us in a single step, wrapped as long fingers around my throat, and began to squeeze.
"What the fuck makes you think you can talk to her that way." He bellowed tightening his grip.
My lungs begged for air and my vision blurred.
"Answer me!" He screamed.
"Please stop." I wheezed clutching his wrists.
"That doesn't answer my question."
"Stop" I choked
"Mylana wake up."
I shot awake and slammed my head into a solid object which turned out to be Blue's head.
"Fuck! Are you okay?" I asked clutching my forehead.
"I'll survive. Are you OK? Sounded like an intense dream." He asked with eyes full of concerned and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on.
"I'm fine, just a nightmare." I said with a shiver.
"What about?" He asked as he flopped down on my couch.
"I can't remember." I lied remembering James' hands wrapped around my throat.
I could tell that he didn't believe me, but he didn't force it out of me.
"You ready then?" He asked standing to his feet and walking towards the door.
"Yeah," I responded following him out to his truck thankful he had changed the subject. It wasn't long before we were pulling up to a lively spot on a sandy beach.
"So, this is the infamous spot you talked my ear off about this morning?" I ask with a nervous laugh.
There were so many people here, must've been at least half the population of Camden.
"It is, don't be nervous. They're gonna love you." He said holding my gaze. "Plus, they are probably toasted by now anyway."
"That's promising."
"You ready?" He asked glancing towards his friends.
"Does it matter?" I asked looking at all the people hanging out around the fire.
"It'll be fun Lana, come on." He said hopping out of the truck.
"OK," I mumbled following his lead.
He intertwined our fingers and gave my hand a light squeeze which eased my nerves slightly at least I'd have him to talk to. When we got closer he gave me one last squeeze and dropped my hand making me feel cold. Was he embarrassed to hold my hand?
"Blue, what's up dude?" A silver-haired boy hollered from the crowd.
"Nothing much Jake, how are you guys?" He asked as we joined them around the fire.
We chatted a bit before Blue introduced me, I gave Jake a small smile and shook his outstretched hand.
"Y'all wanna beer?" He asked as we walked away from us.
"Yeah, grab one for both of us." Blue replied.
"I'm good."
"I was kidding about the DD thing, it's OK to enjoy yourself." He explained giving me a grin.
"I've never drank before," I admitted feeling slightly embarrassed and inexperienced.
The thought of drinking scared me a bit, I don't wanna end up like my foster parents or worse. I don't want to do anything I'd regret.
"You're full of surprises Miss Evans. If you hate it you'll never have to try it again, but I want you to have your first beer with me." He said with a sly grin.
I rolled my eyes, one couldn't hurt. Soon, Jake was back holding two blue labeled glass bottles.
"A Bud Light for you and the lady." Jake laughs handing the bottles to Blue.
He twisted the top off and handed one over to me. He then held his bottle out and clinked it against mine.
"Cheers," he said before taking a long drink.
I press the bottle to my lips and took a small sip shivering as a crisp, smooth flavor met my taste buds.
"What do you think?" Blue asked taking another long pull nearly finishing the bottle.
"It's pretty good actually." I answered taking a larger drink this time.
"Just be careful, I don't wanna have to carry you home."
The night was calm. We chatted with quite a few different people and Blue drank quite a few more beers.
"Fuck, Lana do me a huge favor and act like we are together really quick." He whispered before snaking his arm around my waist.
Panic started building in my stomach, he was touching me, but why?
"Blue, How are you?" A tall thin modelesque woman asked giving him a small smile before her eyes fell on me. "I see you downgraded."
"Downgrade? That's funny I didn't think you could get any uglier than fucking someone's best friend." He responded in a harsh tone.
"You're still on that? It was weeks ago. Plus it seems like you have already moved on." She said throwing me a nasty glare.
"I-"
"Listen, honey, I understand you came over here to mark your territory, and you're way more gorgeous than I ever thought about being, but a pretty heart beats a pretty face in everyone's book. So walk away before your feelings get hurt." I said giving her a small tight smile.
She stood there with her mouth open as if she had never been put in her place before. Her stunned face was enough to fuel the fire that I already had burning in the pit of my stomach and I proceeded to do the most impulsive thing I could ever do. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him. His body went rigid for a second, but then he relaxed and returned the kiss. This didn't feel like we were acting, fireworks exploded in my head and my face was on fire as his hand met my cheek and he pulled me closer. Before things could go any further I broke the kiss and tossed a careless glance back towards her.
"Oh, you're still here?" I said with a sickening sweetness in my voice.
She rolled her eyes and marched away mumbling. I heard Blue let out a long sigh of relief as she disappeared into the crowd.
"Thank you." He said wrapping his arms around me.
"No problem Blue, she kinda sucks," I replied with a light uneasy laugh.
"Yeah, try dating her for 6 years. She has always been like that."
The night went on rather uneventful, Blue hit the bottle even harder, I stopped drinking so I could drive, and shortly after Blue and I's escapades everyone started saying their goodbyes.
"Are you drunk?" I asked opening the passenger door for him.
"Pfft no." He replied as he hopped into the truck in a super uncoordinated way.
"Sure." I laughed.
I close the door with a stupid smile on my face he looked so peaceful. His cheeks were flushed a light pink, his already dark green eyes were somehow darker and glassy, and he had a lazy smile plastered across his face showing off a deep dimple I've never noticed before.
"OK, I admit it. I'm a little drunk." He said with a deep chuckle.
"What? Really? I had no idea!" I teased joining in with his laughter. "Alright, where am I going Blue?"
"Your house obviously."
"Really? Where do you suppose you will sleep?"
"I guess the recliner or the couch or your bed..." He said in a cheeky tone.
"You can sleep on the couch." I replied feeling my ears go hot.
We pulled into my drive and I helped him out of the truck, as he stumbled out he held my shoulder to steady himself.
"You're so pretty Lana."
"And you're so drunk."
"But. It's true. So much prettier than Grace and every other woman in this town" he whined.
His compliment, drunk or not made my cheeks heat up and sent butterflies dancing in my stomach. What is it with this guy making me blush like a 12 year old school girl.
"We will see if you feel the same way in the morning." I said with a laugh.
"I guess we will." He said in a matter-of-fact tone.
I helped him in the door and he immediately fell into the leather loveseat.
"Tell me a story Lana?" He asked, kicking off his worn white vans.
"What kind of story?"
"What about one about you, I feel like I know nothing about you." He replied with a deep yawn.
"There's not a single good one, I promise." I said feeling sick to my stomach.
"Now, I know that's not true, tell me about your hometown, your parents, something." He exclaimed in a childlike manner.
My breath got caught in my throat, my parents I hadn't actually talked about them since their funeral if you could even call it that.
"Well, I'm originally from Port Aransas Texas, I moved to Oklahoma when I was 13. I've missed Port Aransas ever since I left. It's one of the most beautiful towns full of the best memories, Camden is actually very similar." I said, recalling the blue-green ocean.
Blue's light snoring cut me off.
"So, much for a story," I said pulling a throw blanket over him. "Night."
Relief washed over me as I changed into my pajamas thank god he fell asleep. I'm not quite ready to spill my life story just yet.