Page 1 of Lights Out

Indiana

May 2006

Standing in front of Jimmy’s Bar and Grill waiting for my friends kind of sucks. The lights behind the beat up old sign perched precariously above the door flicker with a warning. Lights out. We all know this is the last night we’ll be here and together in our favorite hang out. It all ends just a few hours from now. Sure, we’ll have fun throwing back shots and reliving the last four years of university. We’ll promise each other to stay in touch even as we scatter across for new jobs, new lives, and inevitably new friends.

I exhale a deep breath.

The end of an era for sure.

“Why the face, Indy?”

I turn toward Kit, smiling as he practically launches himself into me, all two hundred plus pounds of muscle and sunshine wrapping his arms around me.

“I’m good.” I muss his hair and he snarls at me even though he wears it wild and curly anyway. “All wrapped up on campus?”

He nods, kicking a pebble with his sneaker. “Yeah. Loaded up the beater ready to head west in the morning.”

“All the way to Cali, huh?”

His smile slips as he nods. “Yeah. Crazy, right? An east coast guy trading oceans. It’s my best shot though. I can apprentice with my uncle.”

“I know. I’m excited for you.”

“Don’t give me that puppy dog look of yours, man. We can’t get all mushy and shit until we’re wasted several hours from now.”

I chuckle. “You’re right. I’ll keep it together a little longer.”

“Good man.” He nudges my arm with his. “Lowen’s coming.”

We both wave at our friend as he jogs across the street, dodging two cars to get to us. As usual, he’s dressed way too nice for a grimy dive bar like Jimmy’s but that’s Lowen. He’s always red carpet ready.

“God, could this humidity be any worse,” he complains once he reaches the sidewalk. “My eyeliner’s gonna run.”

“Oh no,” Kit mocks. “Not the eyeliner.”

“Shut it, Adler. Just because you’re not as pretty as I am doesn’t mean you need to hate.”

“No one is as pretty as you are, Low,” Kit says, with a too sweet smile.

“Ugh. Why do I even like you?” Lowen flips non-existent hair off his shoulder. He cut it a few months ago when he started interviewing and he wears his stylish good looks like a model.

“Maybe because I’m the reason you passed Civics?”

Lowen rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, so you’ve got a brain behind all that brawn.”

Kit grins, wrapping his thick arms around our petite friend. Lowen laughs, kissing Kit’s cheek.

“I’m going to miss your hugs.”

“Don’t you start too,” Kit warns. “No mush until midnight. At least.”

Lowen waves his hands in front of his long lashes. “You’re right. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry tonight.”

I scoff. “Automatic fail, gorgeous.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I’m a heart on my sleeve kind of guy. What can I say?”

“Don’t ever change, huh?”

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