Page 7 of Break

“Later,” I say and then make my way back home, feeling a lot lighter than I did an hour ago.

Chapter 4

11 years ago

Ethan

“I don’t understand why you want to leave here and join the fucking army, man. You’re a smart dude and you’re better than that. Besides, didn’t we have a plan?” Rolling my eyes, I let Danny just continue with his anti-military, anti-war rhetoric. I’ve heard it so many times I could recite it word for word at this point.

Vincent has never been one to avoid an argument and willingly jumps in to my defense. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Ethan wanting to serve his country. His dad did it and his grandfather before him. It’s pretty badass that he’s going to continue the family tradition. Besides, if anyone is going to join up, itshouldbe Ethan. He’s built like a bear.” He stresses his point by smacking me on the shoulder, instantly making me regret sitting next to him in the front.

Vincent was the first of us to get his license and a car. His parents got him an older SUV, which, luckily for us, leaves plenty of legroom in the back for four guys to ride comfortably. He’s a decent driver too, especially right now since it’s pouring rain out. The windshield wipers are on high, and are barely keeping up with the sheet of water across the glass.

“I wouldn’t mind joining up and shooting some bad guys,” Max mumbles while staring out the window from the back seat. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. The plan for all of us to leave this shithole together and go to college is crap. We talked about that when we were like, what, twelve years old?”

Danny scowls at him, but Max doesn’t notice. He has seemed pretty negative about most things lately, like he’s just not happy in life overall. He won’t talk about the shit that’s bothering him, but I wish he would.

“The troops are used and abused to only further the objectives of political assholes that are looking to make more money.” Danny snaps at him before shoving his finger in the back of my shoulder. “YOUknow that’s what it’s for and it’s bullshit because it’s been proven over and over that war doesn’t ever get them what they want. They just end up spending taxpayers’ money and wasting our troops’ time sitting in the desert, eating overpriced shit food, and wearing uniforms that are made of shit material and cost $200 a pop. You all go out there and sweat your asses off to fight a war we shouldn’t even be in while these politicians and lobbyists sit on their fat asses and get richer. You really want to be a part of that shit?”

My friends are silent while waiting for me to reply. It’s pointless to argue with Danny. He’s so close-minded and opinionated that there’s no way I’ll ever change his mind. So, I choose to just give him the answer that I know will piss him off, but hopefully end the lecture. “Yup,” I say, popping my ‘p’ and chuckling when Vincent bites back a smile.

“You’re such a dick sometimes, you know that? You’re not even listening to what I’m trying to say,” Danny argues back.

Before I can respond, Max cuts in. “Is that Mina?”

Danny leans over him to look out the window. “Sure is. She stays after school for some club and has been walking home from school when they have meetings.” Then he laughs. “Look at her. She looks like a drowned rat in her church clothes.”

Max huffs out a breath that sounded a bit like laughter, but he doesn’t comment further. Vincent side-eyes me quickly before watching the road. “Do you think we should pick her up? I mean, we’re going to be right in front of her house,” he throws out to everyone.

“We have room,” I offer. It was the wrong thing to say. Danny is still pissy with me about the fact that I have plans to join the military after high school.

“Fuck her. I’m sure she has some rule about not getting in the car with boys. Did I tell you that my parents actually bitched at me when I dated Sophia and told me I should find a nice girl like her? FuckingWilhelmina Bardot.” I look up at the roof of the car, just about done with his incessant bitching and mouth.

“Probably the best you’ll ever get since you’re such an ugly fucker,” Max quips, and Vincent reaches his hand back to bump fists with him.

“Fucker,” Danny mutters before leaning forward between the front seats to watch her as we approach where she’s walking.

She’s on my side of the car. Her skirt is wadded up in her fist and she’s holding it above her knees to avoid the rivers of water pouring from the gutters, draining the buildings on the strip.

“Speed up, man,” Danny encourages Vincent, a flash a malevolence lighting up his eyes.

I look back at him, but he doesn’t notice. He’s focused on her willowy frame as she picks her way through the sodden walkway.

“What? Why?” Vincent asks.

Danny starts slapping his shoulder to get him to listen to him. “Just fucking do it! Speed up right now and get closer to the side of the road.”

“Come on, Danny.” I want to argue more, but I know when he gets like this, there’s no stopping him. Vincent’s foot presses on the gas and he picks up speed until we’re right behind her. There’s a massive puddle in the road right in front of us, probably from a clogged drain or something, and we plow right through it.

I watch in horror as the wave created by the tires sprays up and completely drenches her as we pass by. She had no idea it was coming, and she stumbles sideways against a building. Her hand that’s still holding her skirt reaches up to help catch her from falling. I get a brief glimpse of a dark smattering of marks along the backside of one of her thighs.

“What the fuck?” Jerking my head around, I stare at Vincent as he tries to maneuver his way back into the center of his lane, looking a little uneasy with the way the water hit her. “Did you fucking see that?” I ask him, then look back at Max, who’s got his head twisted around to watch her battle with her now drenched clothes.

Danny is laughing his ass off. He settles back into his seat as he puts his hands behind his head like he’s relaxing after a long day at work. “Damn, man, I didn’t realize that puddle was so deep! Did you see how much water sprayed over her?”

“Who cares about the water? Did you guys see her leg?” I ask all of them. Vincent only shakes his head in denial, eyes staring straight ahead on the road in front of us. “Max?” I ask him, wanting to know if I’m just seeing things.

He slowly turns back around and faces forward, his face impossible to read, blank of all thoughts and emotions. “Yeah, I saw it.”

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