Page 20 of Forgotten Pieces

“I know for a fact you’ve been to a party before Donnie. Parking over there.” I point to the bonfire in the center of the field. “Means you don’t leave till everyone else does ‘cause you’re blocked in.” I look over at Donnie and in the faint bit of sunlight still peeking up from the horizon I see him roll his eyes. “Or is that why Aunt Marilyn let me chaperone you to this party? She wants you to experience high school for the first time?”

I chuckle as Donnie tells me to fuck off as we walk toward the party. Then he pulls a flask out of his pocket and takes a swig before handing it over to me. “I have a couple of rules for you.”

I lift an eyebrow at him as I take the flask. “First, don’t call me Donnie. Everyone calls me Mac.”

I burst out laughing. “And why is that?”

He grabs the flask back from me and takes another swig. “Brooks, my best friend. He started callin’ me Mac. It kinda stuck.”

“Okay,” I say as I avoid a sunken hole in the ground. “What are the other rules?”

“Second, don’t hit on any of my friends or any of the high school girls.”

“Noted,” I answer because I don’t have any intention of hitting on a girl seven years younger than me.

“Third, you get to hang out with the old guys. This is my friend Brooks’ property. His brother is your age. Hang with them.”

“Is that all your rules?” I laugh as I listen to my teenage cousin tell me what to do.

“That’s it.” He hands me the flask one more time as we approach the party. I hand it back to him and he flees off to his friends, not even telling me his friend’s brother’s name or indicating who it is.

I scope the place out. It’s not bad for a field party. Wicker furniture is set up so people can sit, beer pong tables are to the left of the couches, and a firepit is built with a solid amount of stone around it to protect the hayfield we are in. There is a great open view of the field, the sun setting over the tree line to the west.

I notice a couple guys who look my age and make my way over. As I approach the tall guy with short cropped brown hair waves me over.

“You Mac’s cousin?” he asks.

I nod. “Yeah, somehow I got suckered into chaperoning him.”

The three guys laugh. “I’m Brett, by the way. This is Easton and Trace. You don’t gotta worry about chaperoning anyone, we all tend to survive these bonfire nights.”

“What brings you to White Creek?” Easton asks.

“Just some family stuff. Won’t be here long,” I say. I’m not one to talk freely about my personal life so I leave it as short as I can.

“That’s what they all say.” I turn to see where the voice comes from and see a tiny, blonde woman approach.

Trace wraps an arm around her. “This one didn’t think she would stay long either, but now she’s stuck with me.”

I have a few beers with the guys and Trace’s wife, Ivy, before I settle into one of the couches near the bonfire to warm up. It’s a crisp February night, but the fire keeps me warm. I get lost in my thoughts as I watch the flames dance with the night sky when I see the girl from the ice cream shop about ten feet away talking amongst friends.

I thought she was beautiful when I first saw her, but she had a sadness on her face that reminded me too much of my own sadness. But now she reminds me of the fire dancing with the sky. Her head is thrown back in a laugh, her blonde hair billowing in the wind, a smile splitting across her face that makes her look even more beautiful. Her eyes are closed but I know if they were to open a bright emerald would pierce the night, reflecting off the stars in the sky. My eyes roam down her body. Her jeans are so tight they could be painted on, doing an incredible job of showing off the curves of her hips and ass. She has on a tight top that accentuates her large breasts and tiny waist. She must be the dream of every boy here. And I do see a few looking her way as she cackles at the stars.

Before I know it, I find myself walking toward her. I’m drawn to her like a river to the sea. I have no idea what I’m going to say to her or why I am even thinking of talking to her. I know she is young, too young for me. But there is something about her that won’t let me stay away.

Her friend from the ice cream shop nudges her as I approach.

“Hey stranger,” she says with a laugh. It’s then I notice her smoking a joint. No wonder she looks so carefree.

“Hi.”

She squints at me and then a huge smile hits her face. “I remember you now. You were the hot, sexy stranger that came into the ice cream shop the other day.”

Her friend nudges her and whispers, “You can’t say that shit out loud.”

“Well, it’s not like he doesn’t know,” she says as she gives me a once over.

I’m glad it’s dark because I would be embarrassed as hell if she saw the slight flush to my cheeks. “Yeah, I thought I recognized you,” I say, ignoring her comment.

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