Page 14 of Cedarwood Cabin

What kind of world have I stumbled into?

I close my eyes, still gripping my phone.

FOUR

FLORA

The week passes by quickly. Nothing ever comes from the bar fight and I am able to put Dax and Lyka out of my mind. I can hear my father and Nancy laughing in the kitchen downstairs. I look in the mirror, trying to figure out what I should wear for tonight’s mini-concert. Two outfits dangle from my door, representing two different aspects of me.

One option is an oversized T-shirt with the logo of an old band, cut-off denim shorts, and my black, worn Doc Martens. It looks effortlessly cool, a little dangerous, and is comfortable—ideal for the night.

The second option is a delicate, floral dress. It will pair nicely with a light blue jean jacket and ankle boots. Am I going grunge or do I prefer a softer look?

I chose to wear the huge T-shirt and shorts. I tie my hair in a disheveled ponytail and pull two long strands out, framing both sides of my face. I look in the mirror one last time, feeling confident.

I go downstairs and step into the kitchen where Nancy and my father continue to talk. She turns in her chair and looks at me.

“Very rock ‘n’ roll. I like it,” she says, smiling.

“You look great, Flora,” my father says, looking up briefly.

“Ready to rock?” Nancy asks, straightening herself. She's dressed in a trendy outfit, ready for the evening.

I feel my nerves kick in as I reply, “Yeah, let's do this.”

As we head out the door, my father winks at me and I feel anticipation building up for tonight. I am ready to let loose and have fun tonight, rock ‘n’ roll style.

We walk up to the bar’s parking lot where it’s already crowded with people chatting away. Through the crowd, I see Marty standing and waiting for us. He is wearing a whisky sign T-shirt and jeans, looking cool and casual.

He greets me tenderly by leaning in and kissing me on the cheek, taking me by surprise. “You’re looking good, Flora, ” he whispers. I blush at him, feeling a flutter of excitement.

Marty turns to my father and pats him on the back. “Good to see you, man,” he says.

Nancy takes my father's hand as he asks, “We all ready to have a good time?” We all nod in agreement. My father leads Nancy inside the bar with Marty and I following closely behind. The atmosphere immediately transforms. The air is thick with mist from the fog machines. The music is loud and energetic, making me feel the beat thumping in my chest. Bright lights flash with the beat of the music, casting patterns across the crowd. I follow my father as he heads towards the bar, pushing through the crowds of people. He orders four beers, the bartender moving quickly to fill the order.

“If anyone asks, you’re twenty-one,” he says, winking at me with a wicked grin.

Nancy shakes her head with easy resignation. “You’re such a bad influence!” Nancy shouts in his ear as she nudges him jokingly.

We make our way through the busy crowd, holding our drinks, getting closer to the stage where everyone moves to the music.

The stage looms above us as we find a spot at the front. I take a sip of my beer while Marty stands beside me. A few feet away, my father and Nancy begin dancing. Watching them enjoy themselves is a nice sight to see.

The singer announces his next song, All These Lies. The crowd goes wild and starts jumping up and down.

I realize people are quickly coming between me and my father. I scan the area to spot him amidst the crowd. Marty can see I am worrying and places his hands on my waist. “We’ve lost my father and Nancy,” I shout over the music into his ear.

Marty looks over the crowd. “They’ll reappear,” he reassures me. I nod, trying to relax.

He starts dancing and I feel his body move closer to mine. We dance up against each other, lost in the moment. The lights flash in time to the music, lighting up our faces.

My bottle feels light as I take the last sip from it. Marty’s hand remains on my waist and I lean into him, letting myself be carried away by the moment.

Marty leans down, his lips close to my ear. “Having fun?”

“Yeah! I’ve nearly finished my beer, though.”

Marty grabs my hand as we make our way through the crowd, heading back towards the bar. Seeing the long line, I let out a sigh. “Do you mind if I go to the bathroom while you grab more beers?” I ask.

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