Page 51 of Five Summers

“Out of here. I’m not staying here while you get your dick sucked,” I reply, throwing my bag over my shoulder.

“What the fuck is going on with you, Xander,” Ace calls out, quickly pushing Jade aside and getting up to join me. “Come on, man. Just stay and the three of us can have a little bit of fun before we practice.”

No way. The two of us had a wild time with Jade two months ago when we tag-teamed her. But I’m not going down that road again especially when I can’t stand the bitch. I make my way towards the door and push it open.

“Xander,” Ace calls out, following me. “Come on, man.”

“I’ll catch up with you later,” I respond, before leaving the garage.

As I feel my phone vibrating, I quickly remove it from my pocket.

Princess: I’ll be there in five.

While walking down the long driveway, Ace swiftly catches up and grabs my arm, stopping me.

“What the hell is going on, Xander? Did something happen with your dad again?”

“No.” I shake my head and step around him, determined to keep walking. “Practice is a big deal. We need to make sure our sound is flawless before we go. If you’re having second thoughts about leaving. I’ll just go by myself.”

“No way. Why would you even think that? Will you stop walking so we can talk. What makes you think I don’t want to leave?”

I turn to face him. “Because you brought that bitch there. That’s why.”

“What’s gotten into you, man? I thought we could relax before jamming, you know, enjoy ourselves. She’s always up for anything. Don’t forget how amazing it was when we both had her at the same time. I thought we could experience it again.”

“Yeah, it was,” I reply, recalling the time I snapped that photo of her on my phone. Ace used his phone to record the entire thing. But no matter how incredible that experience was, I want to stay clear of Jade. “She just doesn’t do it for me anymore. She’s so fucking annoying.”

Hearing a car pull up to the curb, I instinctively turned my head. It’s Poppy’s green beat-up piece of shit.

“Catch you later, man,” I say, turning away from him.

“What?” Ace says surprised, as if questioning my decision. “After everything I just said, you’re really going to give that up just to hang out with Poppy Reeves?”

I turn, walking backward. “Yep, I guess I am.” Pivoting, I make my way towards Poppy’s car.

“I can’t believe you, man,” Ace calls out as I make my way to Poppy’s car. “The Xander I know would never pass up an opportunity to get his dick wet.”

It’s true, and his comment is really frightening because I don’t know what’s happening to me. But I say nothing to him about that. I just open the door and quickly enter Poppy’s car.

As Poppy presses down on the accelerator, I spot Ace standing in the driveway, watching us move down the street. Guilt fills my stomach as I see him in the side mirror. Turning around, he makes his way back towards the house. Maybe he’ll reconsider bringing girls to practice in the future.

“So, no practice today?” Poppy asks.

“Nah, not today. How far were you from home?” I ask.

“I changed my mind. Instead of going home, I was going somewhere else. I think my mother can wait a little longer before I face her.”

“Where were you going?” I ask.

A radiant, golden hue fills the streets with the afternoon sun.

“To the vacant lot behind Al’s. Have you been there?” Poppy responds.

“No. I didn’t even know there was a vacant lot there. What do you do there?”

“Nothing really,” she replies. “It’s quiet. No one ever goes there. Sometimes I go and watch the sunset. It helps clear my mind when I don’t want to think about things. I just sit on the hood of my car and unwind.”

“Show me,” I say, curious to understand what makes that place so fascinating to her. Is it going to be like the place I took her to the other night? Does she go there to think about her dad not being around and wonder about the same “what ifs” as I do when I go to my usual spot feeling down?

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