Page 1 of Roses and Skulls

Preface

Billie Rose ~ Seventeen years old

"Thanks for picking us up.” I slide in next to Grandpa Bill in his old Chevy pickup. He’s picking my friend and I up from the homecoming dance. “I thought dad was coming for us?”

He chuckles and shakes his head as Lanie struggles to climb up in her three-inch heels. “He had some last-minute business.”

That means club business, so I’m not even going to ask.

Lanie glances around distractedly, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“How was the dance?” he asks.

“Good,” I tell him, reaching over her to pull the door closed since she hasn’t done it. Not unusual, she’s a bit of a scatter brain.

Grandpa pulls away from the curb and heads to Lanie’s uncle’s house. “How many boys did you dance with?”

“I lost count,” I tease.

Lanie huffs. “Lost count?” She leans forward, scowling at me. She holds up her hand, forming an O with her fingers and thumb. “How can you lose count when the number is zero? A. Big. Fat. Zero.”

My grandpa’s eyes dart from her to the road, then back to me. “Sweetheart, why didn’t you dance with anyone?”

Lanie answers for me. “She never does. The only person she dances with is me. Not that I’m chopped liver or anything but come on, gramps, we’ve got to get this girl some action.”

His eyebrows raise a bit, eyes going wide at the thought of me getting any sort of action.

“Not that kind of action,” I add quickly, bumping my knee into hers, hoping she’ll shut up already.

“Why do you turn the boys down?” he asks.

Sighing loudly, I stare at the road ahead of us. “I don’t turn them down, they don’t even ask, okay? Now can we drop it? It’s fine. I had a fun time and that’s all that matters.”

We pull up outside of Brody’s house. “See you at school Monday,” she says, struggling just as much getting out as she did to get in.

“Tell Brody hi for me,” Grandpa yells to her as she wobbles down the broken sidewalk. She pauses a minute, staring back at us and then her shoulders drop, and she gives us a small wave.

We both chuckle as we watch her trip inside the house.

Lanie is one of the few people willing to be friends with me. Her uncle is a Skull, so she understands the life, more so than any other kid at my school. She stays with him during the week so she can go to school here. Her mom and step-asshole live over in Trap County. I hear it’s not a good place, but I wouldn’t know, my parents have never let me visit her there.

In fact, my parents don’t let me go much of anywhere without a chaperone. They haven’t even taught me how to drive yet. Yeah, pretty lame, huh? But grandpa has secretly been teaching me, so hopefully I’ll have my license soon.

I notice we haven’t moved. Grandpa Bill is looking at me all sad and shit. “What?”

He reaches over and tucks a runway curl behind my ear. “Want to stop by the bar and whip up some root beer floats?”

Giving him my best smile, I nod my head. “Do you even have to ask?” Ice cream is kind of our thing. He laughs, shifting into gear. The drive to the bar is just a couple of blocks away.

“I was just getting ready to head home when Dirk called. Perfect timing because now I get to enjoy some quality time with my favorite granddaughter.” He flips the light on as I make my way to the back to get the ice cream out of the freezer.

“I’m your only granddaughter,” I yell, hearing him chuckle.

When I come around the corner, he points to a stool where two frosty mugs await. I scoop generous amounts of the white creamy stuff into the glasses, then he tops them off with root beer and takes the seat beside me.

“I’ve missed this.” He waves his spoon between the two of us. “You grew up too fast. Just like your mama.”

“Grandpa, I’m always down to have ice cream with you, no matter how old I get.”

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