Bella and Bones

Life; a simple yet intricate process. Simple if you've found your place, your passion and purpose. Intricate if you have absolutely no idea what you wanted to do with your life. And this was me, the latter I mean.

Growing up in Alaska, a state that was actually purchased, bought like an item by my government in the year 1867 from Russia, you'd think that's quite an unusual fact that might somehow give my life a little nudge on this merry-go-round of excitement. Well It didn't.

You see my Dad isn't my biggest fan, I wouldn't want to say he hates me outrightly but it sure as hell feels like he does sometimes. It was a Friday, after giving me one of his many lectures about what an ungrateful kid I am, and how much I have cost him in all my seventeen years of existence and whatnot. He dragged me to work with him, to learn the value of hard work I presumed. I probably missed the whole point. All I picked up were in these order; chainsaws cutting; trees being wrestled; trees falling; dust raising; me sneezing et cetera. I get it, he is a hard working lumberjack, at least when he's not drinking. I mean he never fails to remind me that he is hard working.

Later that evening, I sat on the couch in the living room. Watching him rock in his chair with a pipe between his teeth. His sleeves rolled up, shirt unbuttoned, taking long drags and puffing out smoke. Which looked like the personification of despair. His face was so thick with beards you could barely see his lips sometimes.

We were seeing the world's lamest football game. More like he was. I had no interest in the game. We both knew the Dire Wolves always lost to the Panthers. It became pointless for me to watch them have their asses handed to them time and again.

The year has been gravely uneventful, not that the previous years had been any better. Erick, who happens to be my best friend, tells me I'm wasting away in my prime; that I would look back when I'm old with eyes filled with regret. He's probably right, but I never really thought of taking active steps in changing my social standing. But all that changed last week at Big Ben's Dinner where I work. When Sabrina the hottest freshmen, slapped me and said she would never think of being friends with a creep like me, or worse go out with me. She even said something along the lines of me being a potential serial killer. She assumed I was hitting on her when in truth I was only being friendly. I felt really bad, it hit me hard and for a brief moment, my entire life played out in my head in an excruciating, slow motion, melancholy manner. It was kinda my fault though, none of that would have happened if I didn't chit chat with the customer, that being Sabrina. It was a good thing Naidine wasn't working that night, she probably would have had Sabrina's head.

The incident amongst an armada of many others may have pushed me to want to do something about the current wreck that was my life. I decided I needed some excitement, something that proves I'm living not just existing, something spontaneous, maybe even rebellious. Being one of Wood Valley's top ranking social outcasts; I needed to dive to the bottom of that list (yes there was a list), and if I'm lucky, maybe even get off the list entirely. I had to make a move, hit it big, before I begin to consider shipping off to the army after my senior year. Dad said college is not happening. So it's either the army or a scholarship. That been said, I'm not a star quarter back like my dad was. I'm not exactly what you'd call a sports person. I avoid anything that leads to my pulse racing. So I doubt any scouts would be gunning for me due to my remarkable abstinence from sports.

I got bored pretending to be invested in the stupid football game eventually, I excused myself, went up to my room. I picked up my phone from the table and texted Erick. Hey man where are you at?

And almost instantly he texted back, We're down by the docks

We? Who's we? I texted.

With Abby, Jackson... N Bella and a bunch of other kids, doing the usual. Blowing off some steam before we're once again prisoners to the four walls of our alma mater. He replied. The session was to commence on Monday; we were going to be juniors and 'doing the usual' implied drinking, smoking and whatever else came with teenage hangouts these days. Wait a minute, Bella!

Wait did you say Bella? I texted

Yes dude Bella, half of the BnB power duo. Heard she broke up with Blake don't know if it's true for sure this time... those two always get back together. He replied.

She's there right now?

She's sitting not too far from me. Now let me concentrate on my drags... weeds burning out. He replied.

If she's single maybe now I'll get a chance

Chance at what exactly? He replied.

Getting to know her?

Don't forget the part where I said she BROKE UP WITH BLAKE. That MEANS A VERY PISSED BLAKE, LOOKING FOR HOW TO VENT, and I'm pretty sure you don't want to be on the receiving end... He replied.

Shit, congrats my wrap's burned out. You owe me a roll. He replied.

I'm not sure I care what Blake is going to do to me anymore. I texted. My reputation you see was pretty much bartered beyond recognition. What does a man have to lose now?

I like the new found courage my friend... but I'm afraid it's not in your favor I don't want to see you stuffed inside a waste bin for the 100th time... or worse. He replied.

How long would you guys be at the docks? I simply ignored his warning. I spent the better part of middle school having my appetite soiled from being stuffed in one waste bin or the other. By the time we were in high school, Blake found more creative and effective ways of ruining my life. So I doubt he would resort to his middle school ways. That was what growth was after all a permanent change in size and complexity.

An hour or two... he replied.

I'm on my way.

Wait you serious? I wasn't joking about Blake. Bones if he finds out you've even conceived making moves on his girl he'd kill you before you actually get to make your move.

She's not his girl anymore is she? And weren't you the one telling me how I needed to have fun, break some rules, talk to girls...

You know this is different

See you soon.

I've warned you it's your funeral. He replied. I threw my phone on the bed and watched it almost bounce off as I stripped down to my boxers. I opened the closet, my eyes scanned through the clothes . Then I saw a black hoodie. I grabbed it and a ripped jean. I laid them on the bed to have a feel of what it would look like on me. Not bad I thought. I slipped them on as fast as I could. Feeling a sense of urgency, a rush of what felt like optimism. The love of my life, (whom I never speak to) has broken up with her boyfriend. This might be my opportunity this might be what I've been waiting for. I wore my all stars and walked over to the mirror. I sprayed perfume after I managed to comb my hair into partial submission. I don't look too bad I thought, and turned away from the mirror. Then I turned around again and looked closely. I appeared meek, too meek too nerdy. You don't want to look like that when you're going to hang out with a bunch of delinquent, drug abusing, impulsive and hormone-driven teenagers. Well I am one myself, the hormone-driven part anyway.

So I roughened my hair a bit. To look less nerdy. As I made my way down stairs it hit me; I was still barred from leaving the house, excluding the days when I worked. Erick persuaded me to stay out past curfew some weeks back in light of having a life that is anything other than boring. It was a fun night, but I am still faced with the consequences. I was just glad my dad didn't take away my phone. When I got to the living room, he still sat in his chair. I hovered around a bit, thinking of a subtle way to tell him I wanted to go out, but there was none. "Dad I'm going to Erick's" I said and of course I lied. If he actually knew where I was headed he'd kill me. He took the pipe out of his mouth and turned in my direction. And in that moment, the room became quite despite the fact that the TV was still on. It was like I was yanked into a mid west standoff of the 17th century, his fierce eyes were fixed on me as his hands hovered over his imaginary pistol. I felt beads of sweat form on my forehead.

"You do know you're grounded don't ya?" he said finally. I wasn't sure whether he expected an answer or if his question was just rhetorical. Either way I decided it was best not to answer. He stared at me for a while. I think he was accessing my usual choice of clothing. "Well, I think it's about time you started going out again" he said and relieve flooded my body. "Now listen carefully, your curfew won't be 10pm no more, it's 8pm prompt. Not a minute later, and you had better be on your best behavior. Do you understand me?" his voice was unusually calm. Now I knew that this question I had to answer.

"Yes sir I do" I said.

"8pm" he repeated as I went out the door. I was now in the front porch, my bicycle was chained up to the left, the street was quite. It was typical, my neighborhood comprised of houses owned mostly by old folks. I started walking, I had only gone a few yards when I turned around. Riding a bicycle to meet up with my peers isn't particularly cool if you put into consideration the fact that most of them owned cars. But screw it I won't walk. I wouldn't call walking all the way to the docks suicide per se. It was more like premeditated self-murder(which in itself is still suicide) if that word ever existed; knowing if you walked there, you'd probably die, but you decide to kill yourself still by walking. I imagined my organs refusing to function, lungs stop expanding and contracting, brain starts starving from low oxygen, and heart stops beating. The parts ultimately kills the whole; as poetic as death gets. I undid the chain around my bicycle from the pole of the front porch and pedaled away. I watched folks outside reading papers and magazines , some holding hands, others knitting, but most of them just sat there chatting. Some houses looked deserted but in a very creepy way, the kind you see in horror movies, and the day was retiring.

The docks were desolate when I arrived. I could see a bunch a fishermen looking miserable as always, they smelled like stale sardines, with their over grown beards and aprons hanging down from their necks. I waved at Bob, he was one of the decent guys among them. I dug into my pocket and collected my phone. It was 6:40 pm, where the hell are you guys? I texted Erick. Drumming impatiently on the back of my phone with my fingers as I waited for Erick's reply.

Where are you? By the docks? He finally replied.

No, on the moon, sipping vodka and ridding unicorns. Yes by the docks where you told me you'd be asshole.

Hahaha, funny, very funny... though I think that's exactly what I'd be doing if I smoke one more time... you really didn't think we would be at the docks precisely did you? he replied.

Just tell me where the fuck you are.

We're after the clearing by the shore... security measures... I've got bad news though. He replied.

What? What is it?

Never mind when you get here.

Erick, tell me what it is pls!

Bye. He texted. Argh! He's such an asshole. I stashed my bike in a safe location. Lucky for me I didn't have to bike to go meet them after all. I started the lonely walk along the shore. Cold winds blew, and it kinda felt good. The birds sang beautiful choruses. I watched glimmers emanate as the setting sun laced the water surface with its rays. It was beautiful.

I was greeted by the stench of cannabis as I approached what looked like a mini burn fire. A spot so well hidden from public eyes, whoever found the place was definitely a genius. Loud music was playing as I strolled past Zack and Mia lying on a mat away from the burn fire. The rumors were true after all. They were dating. I noticed a bunch of other kids in pairs of opposite sexes. This should be good.

"Bones my man" Erick said as he hugged me "glad to see you're not grounded anymore" Abby looked pleased to see me. Her wide smile gave it away.

"Well technically, I still kinda am" I told him. His eyes lit with what looked like surprise.

"Wait you mean to tell me that Ryan Stitcher snuck out of the house?" he asked.

"No of course not"

"Oh here I was thinking you suddenly grew enormous balls over night" he said laughingly.

"I need to reevaluate this friendship, you keep getting me into trouble" I scowled at him.

"Ah what are friends for?" he asked

"The exact opposite" I simply put.

We sat on a log, same one as Jackson and Abby. Erick by my left and Abby to my right. Yes, they had to put me in between them or maybe I just sat too soon. I think the latter was more likely. She bumped me with her shoulder. "Heard you're ready to pounce on Bella hun?" she said with a goofy, almost one sided smile. I just smiled back at her.

Then I whispered to Erick, "why do you have to tell your girlfriend everything?" he pretended not to hear me. Erick tells Abby almost everything about me. There was one time at the end of freshman year. I had this humongous boil on my left scrotum, which of course I regretted mentioning to Erick because, he told Abby. Abby on the other hand, being Abby, casually asked me how my balls were doing during lunch. I looked over at Erick and he had guilt written all over his face. Luckily for me, one of the many good things about Abby is that she was quite keen on the confidentially of our trio. If something like that ever got out in school, it would haunt me till I kill myself.

By the way, I was wrong, Erick didn't pretend not to hear me, he did and said "I'm building a support team for the precarious quest you're about to embark on." Explaining as to why he leaked the little information I shared with him over text to his girlfriend.

All I could mutter was "Jesus".

"Ryan what's up?" Jackson said. I totally forgot that he was sitting beside Abby. I was even more surprised that he knew my real name, I'm not sure he has ever called me anything other than 'Bones.' I leaned forward looking past Abby to see him. A paled skinned Spartan, bulging biceps, blonde hair, blue intense eyes staring at me.

"Uhm, yeah..." I managed to start speaking "I'm good, how are you?"

"I am terrific. I don't usually see the lots of you around these parts." He said, askingly.

Lots of me? Then it clicked "yeah, my movement is... very restricted."

"Oh" he said then took a sip from the red disposable in his hand. Abby got up from beside me and went to sit beside Erick.

"You look different" she said accessing my outfit "you even smell different". Erick just looked at me, flashing me with one of those his mischievous smiles.

"Different how?" I asked "good or bad?"

"Good, I'm actually digging the ripped jeans" she said. I thanked her. She scooted closer to Erick closing whatever gap there was between them. She wrapped her hands around him and rested her head on his shoulder. She kissed his neck. Then he murmured to her words I didn't quite catch and what followed next, were kisses. I turned away when it got too intense. Jackson still sipped from his cup, seemingly unbothered by the events unfolding before him. It felt never ending.

"We need to get you a girlfriend fast, Bones" she said once was done lip locking with Erick. She probably noticed how uncomfortable it made me feel. To her maybe if I had a girlfriend, we'd probably be on a mat here doing the same thing. I won't even have the time to bother about whether or not she was kissing Erick. Having a girlfriend might not totally be a bad idea. For a brief moment, I did imagine what it would look like. Going on dates, hanging out, making out, wearing matching tees. It seemed nice. The thoughts of girlfriends brought Bella to my memory. I realized I had not seen her since I arrived.

"Um, where's Bella?" I asked

"Wooh" Abby teased and I may have smiled a bit.

"Yeah that's the bad news" Erick said answering my question "she was around here somewhere, and the next thing I knew, she vanished"

"You were meant to keep an eye on her" I said. Half shouting and half pissed but fully disappointed.

"I'm not your watchdog" he said rather calmly "and maybe it's a good thing"

"Enlighten me on how it is a good thing that the very reason I may have come here today is gone"

"Well, you can rehearse what you plan to say to her with me" he smiled "just imagine I'm her"

It almost made me laugh, the thought, but I suppressed it. "No," I said "I just came here for nothing" I insisted.

"Um, hold that thought" Abby said "maybe you didn't come here for nothing after all" I looked up at Abby and she gestured towards an approaching figure. It was her, Bella, she was back. The wave of confidence I had been feeling deserted me. I watched her and everything seemed slower. Her glistening brunette hair that curled on the sides of her neck, down her shoulders and back. The grey top she wore revealed her flat belly and the arch of her hips. I just watched in awe. There probably wasn't anything that extraordinary about Bella. I mean she wasn't the most beautiful girl in Wood Valley High. There were a number of girls who are arguably hotter than Isabella Stevens. But it didn't matter, she was extraordinary to me mostly because I was head over heels in love with her.

"My offer still stands" Erick said interrupting my day dream "cause I think you could use a couple of ace up your sleeves, should you black out like in fifth..."

"Fifth grade I know" I cut him off "thanks for the vote of confidence Erick" I said "this walk, I will walk alone." I stood up feeling slightly annoyed and I intended to channel it.

"All the best" Abby said and I watched Jackson raise his cup towards me as if he was making a toast, wishing me luck. Jackson; ever the silent observer.

"I wish you luck" Erick yelled as I started walking towards Bella.

She sat in the sand, her thighs to her breasts, her arms wrapped around her legs and her chin atop her knees. She probably heard my clumsy footsteps because she turned to my direction in one swift neck motion. Her eyes locked with mine, and I felt strength abandon my legs as they began to quiver though thankfully, it wasn't visible. I managed push forward despite the overwhelming pressure stemming from a fear of a 99.5% rejection rate. I wasn't about to abort the mission before its embrayonic stage even begun. Don't mess this up... don't be a creep... don't mess this up... don't be a creep. I recited the words like a mantra in my mind repeatedly as I reached her.

"Hi" I said trying to fashion a relatively expressionless face to mask my fright. But It probably came out I lot worse than I had hoped. She looked at me. And said "Hi" unwrapping her arms from her legs, her face looked like a giant question mark. "Ryan?" she added with a tilt of her head when she got tired of waiting for me to speak.

"Yes," I answered "may I?" I gestured to her side. I was amazed and also impressed by how calm I seemed externally. Because I was panicking on the inside, my heart throbbed like someone who was dropped head first from Mount Everest and then caught midway through the fall abruptly.

She nodded then I sat beside her "I guess you don't remember me, we took algebra together" I told her.

"Actually I do, from fifth grade you gave me flowers. Then If I remember correctly you were struggling for words. Almost similar to what just happened now." She said.

That day in fifth grade, I wrote this little poem for Bella, I planned to tell her how much I liked her. I was so nervous, too busy trying to control my bladder that I misplaced the poem. But on the bright side, I still got to give her the flowers which I stole from my mother's garden. It was almost a mission well accomplished until I had a panic attack right after giving her the flowers. I just stared at her big eye balls and flowing red hair, struggling for words that seemed to have stapled themselves to my throat. I eventually resorted to running away.

"Yeah I did" I said trying my best to mask my embarrassment.

"But now that I think of it" she said "it seemed like you had an asthmatic attack or something then you bolted."

"Yeah I did that too... I was terrible" I said wishing the sand was quick so it could swallow me whole and spare me the mortification.

"Nah, I don't think you were terrible, it was actually cute. I kept the flowers until they wilted then I had to throw them away. I remember feeling a bit sad"

"Thank you" I said as a smile grew on my face. Then there was an awkward silence. I thought of what to say to spark a conversation. The best I came up with; "why are you sitting all by yourself here away from the main attraction?" I asked, gesturing towards the mini burn fire.

She sighed, "I just wanted to be alone, I wanted to think" oh great so now I'm intruding I thought.

"Sorry I think my presence ruined that... I should go" I said, not meaning it.

"No, please stay, I think I could use the company"

"Okay" I said suppressing my smile as I threw internal back flips in jubilation.

"I could use a drag too." She added. She reached into her bag and from it she retrieved a neatly rolled wrap of weed. I watched quietly as she placed it between her pink lips. She lit it with a really fancy lighter and then puffed thick clouds of smoke into the air. She looked up at me, "want one?" she asked.

"No thanks" I declined.

"Okay" she simply said.

"So you come here often?" I asked and she puffed again.

"Not really, I just came out here to let out some negative energy" she held the blunt between her thumb and index. "Being by the water calms me" she tapped it and the ash which took the shape and form of where cannabis once was fell to the sand. I thought of what to say briefly. Then I did this thing I learnt where you essentially just rephrase what the person said to keep the conversation going.

"Yeah the scenery is very calming" I said.

She suddenly started frowning. Maybe it was what I said. I wondered if she somehow figured out what I did there. "That asshole" she muttered and I was relieved. 'That' meaning I was not the asshole. But who's the asshole? "I don't know why I put up with him." She took a long drag. The roll was now half consumed and I knew exactly who the asshole was. I wasn't sure what to say to her though. So I said nothing. She glanced at me, perhaps thinking that I had no idea what she was rambling about. "Blake, my boyfriend, well, now ex... we broke up I believe you know him?"

I knew now it was time to say something. "Yes I know him" I answered.

She smiled, "how could I even ask you that, of course you know him. He hasn't been kind to you." I nodded lightly. "Come with me" she said as she stood, strapped on her backpack and stretched her hands towards me. I took it.

Bella pulled me towards the river bank. We still held hands. When we were about a feet from the water, she let go of my hand. Taking one last drag, she puffed again and threw whatever was left of the blunt. She unzipped her backpack and brought out a chrome flask. She held it up, her grey eyes fixed on it then she smiled.

"What's that?" I asked

"My negatives Urn" she replied. I didn't quite understand what she meant by 'Negatives Urn'. An Urn I knew was a container that stored cremated remains; ashes of dead people.

So I asked, "Urn, like the container for holding cremated remains?"

"Exactly" she said. My eyes went wide, and I was pretty sure my lips parted too. Was she holding a flask that contained some dead person's ashes?

She noticed my shock and then added "I made a few modifications to mine. They contain the remains of my negatives"

I still did not understand whatever she was saying. "You've lost me. What are negatives exactly?" I asked.

She laughed a bit then smiled. "Well," she said "negatives are all the wrong things in my life, the things I hate, things I regret, things I wish would just go away. So I write them down and when I'm done writing, I fold the paper and burn them. I put the ashes in my..." she paused looked at the flask, tilting it back and forth. " Urn-flask" she blurted out, "it's all symbolism."

The way she said Urn-flask made me smile. "So this brings us to why we are at the edge of the river" I said. As I put together the pieces of the puzzle that seemed not to fit earlier on.

"Precisely!" she said excitedly. "I am her e to scatter the ashes and say goodbye to my negatives."

"Hindu style" I said.

"Yeah Hindu style" she affirmed. She took off her shoes and stepped into the river. I watched her quietly as she moved further into it. "You coming or what?" she asked.

"I don't think so, you see" I gestured to my legs "I'm wearing really tight jeans folding it isn't an option."

She laughed, "God you lack a sense of adventure. Come on... can't you take your jeans off?"

"What? No of course not" I said rather abruptly. Then I gazed at the sand "I can't" I told her more calmly.

"Do you know you're killing my vibe?" she said with pouting lips.

I sighed, "Screw it!" I took off my all stars. I watched a smile grow on her face. Of course I wasn't about to take off my jeans, no I would rather enter the river with it on. The river was chilly and somewhat unclear. I wondered what hideous creatures lurked beneath the surface, hoping some carnivorous monstrousity of a fish would not make dinner out of my skinny legs. At least I had a relatively thick layer of denim fabric to protect my legs.

We moved further into the river, we came to a stop when the water level was just below my knees and above hers. Bella held the Urn-flask in one hand and the lid in the other. "Care to participate?" she asked me. Undoubtedly, why else would I have entered this river wearing my favorite ripped jeans?

"Yes, sure" I said.

She slid the lid into her pocket and she emptied all the contents of the flask into her palm. The ash was a lot smaller in quantity than I envisioned. Was it half a sheet of paper she burned I wondered. "Let me have your hand" she said. I gave it to her. She made a fist and opened it gently so she wouldn't pour all of the ash into my hand. She scattered the ashes on the rippling surface. I followed suit. I noticed her meticulously watching me from the corners of her eyes and smile. "You know you're the first person to ever taken part in my little ritual."

I smiled, "I am honored" I told her.

"Yes as you should" she smirked. "I'm quite buzzed, I think I would call it a night" she said. I felt sad and relieved at the same time. Speak of mixed feelings. I was sad mostly because she said she wanted to go when the night started to get really interesting. On the other hand, I felt relieved because so far, I hadn't messed things up by saying something that might have been unknowingly repulsive.

"Um okay" I said. She put on her shoes and strapped on her backpack.

"Bye" she said and I waved gently. I watched the way her waist articulated her swaying hips and perfect bum so beautifully. 'One of the many wonders of nature' Erick would have said.

I walked back to the mini burn fire with my shoes in my hands, jeans soaked. I felt like an idiot for going in the water with my pants on, but I was one very happy idiot. "And there comes the conqueror" Erick praised me as I approached them.

"So how did it go?" Abby asked.

I tried not to sound too excited. "Um, it wasn't terrible I think" I said and sat on the log.

"It was a great start if you ask me. I think you have a fighting chance after all" Erick told me. He wasn't being sarcastic he was serious.

"Thanks" I told him.

"I saw you both enter the water. I thought you guys were going for a dip. What was she holding?" Abby asked.

"A flask" I said.

"A flask?" Erick asked, confused. "what for?"

I wasn't exactly sure whether or not I was supposed to tell them about the whole ritual thingy. It seemed like a pretty personal thing to me. It made me wonder why she even told me in the first place. Anyway, I decided against telling them. "It was nothing" I said to them.

A fast paced pop song came to my rescue when it started playing and Abby's eyes lit up. "I love that song" she said "Jonas turn up the beat!" she yelled. She got up and started dancing, walking towards the middle of the small gathering. Someone shouted "damn girl" remarking to the way Abby moved. She was one hell of a dancer.

"Ryan! I better go dance with my girlfriend before some random ass of a dude beats me to it" he said rather too loudly. I had a suspicion he was well on his way to drunkenness.

"Okay..." I said "I'll just sit here." And like moths to a flame, more and more people join in on the dance. I just sat on the log and watched.

After several minutes of dancing, "Teenagers," Jackson said shaking his head. I totally forgot he was there, he was really creepy sometimes. "Nothing but a bunch of Estrogen and Testosterone driven lots." I looked at him, then I turned to the supposed dance floor comprised of sand. I saw Abby grinding against Erick who into turn held her waist in place. Our eyes met then he winked at me.

I turned to Jackson again, perhaps he felt encouraged. "They are like zombies whose craving for fresh brains have been replaced by an insatiable appetite for sex and booze"

"Zombies really? That's a little extreme don't you think?" I said to him, he just shrugged. I smiled. Brought out my phone, double tapped to check for new messages, there was none. The time was 7:40. I remembered thinking to myself; 15 minutes was more than enough time for me to get home if I took a shortcut.

I was still contemplating which route to follow when Jackson exclaimed. "Shit, shit, shit... my Dad's on his way! I'm sure someone ratted us out." There was nothing spectacular about Jackson's Dad per se asides the fact that he was the town's sheriff. And except you fancied spending the night behind bars, it was time to bolt. I watched in amusement, no category of Homo sapiens disperse with the speed of light like a bunch of delinquent teenagers. Mats were folded, bags were packed, cups were emptied , weed was stashed, and liquor bottles were tossed in the river. They sank ever so sadly. The fire was quelled and then the marathon began.

Luckily for us, no one was spending the night in jail, owing to our record breaking disperse-ment time of 1.2 minutes. I waved Erick goodbye who I hoped for his and Abby's sake was sober enough to drive them home. They climbed into his paint chipped, part rusted, rugged looking Volvo. A birthday present from his parents that he couldn't reject, he swore he wanted to. Enduring the way the Volvo whined, made me thankful for my bicycle; some upgrades aren't worth the hassle.