Every Little Dream(5)

“No. I don’t know.”

Jimmy grunts from the couch and then calls. “Hey, asshole. She’s trying to say the nice way that it’s time you find your own place.”

I salute Andrea. “Let me shower. I’ll be gone in a couple of days.”

That’s why Jimmy and I are best friends. We don’t have to tiptoe around each other. If he wants me gone all he has to do is say so. I don’t know where I’m going. I’ll crash at home if I have to even though the thought of it makes me want to jump off a cliff.

“Thanks, Chad.” Andrea heads back to the couch.

I call in a connection at the local garage and make a deal for a used motorcycle, and then I head to the shower. The hot water pelts my back, washing off the previous night. I have today. That’s it. Somehow, the visit to my dad’s office is going to be more bad news. I can feel it.

My mind wanders back to the night before. The accident. And the girl who barely kissed me. Was she a vision? Or does this angel exist somewhere?

If she does, she’ll stay far away from me.





Chapter 2





Katie



Justine bangs on the door. “Come on. You’re killing me.”

“Wait a few seconds!” I yell then can’t help but giggle. Truth is, I’ve been ready for more than a few seconds, but I keep staring at the girl in the mirror. It didn’t take long to get ready. Throw on clothes I wouldn’t normally wear: a short skirt, a too-tight tank, heels. A heavier touch of eyeliner and lipstick. The pink color wand across the front of my hair is the perfect touch.

No one will confuse me with the good girl. No one will know that the pink dye will wash out the next day.

Justine bangs again. “What’re you planning? You’re making me nervous.”

“Just a little experiment! Be patient.” I stare myself down and whisper, “Just a little experiment.” I can do this. I’m ready to put on some big girl pants…or take them off if that’s what’s needed. For heaven’s sake, I’m twenty-one and never been to second base.

Justine’s talking to me outside the door, rambling on, but I blocked her out a while ago. With my hand on the knob, I hesitate, the uncertainty gripping me, but I take a deep breath and open the door. She must feel the draft because she turns, squealing.

Her squeal dies halfway through. She grabs my wrist and walks me back into the room. She crosses her arms across her chest and gives me a pointed look. For some reason I feel like I’m in the principal’s office.

“What are you thinking?” she asks.

“What?” I say, the image of nonchalance. “Just going out for a night on the town.” I shake my shoulders seductively. “Catch me a good looker.”

“Huh?” She looks dumbfounded. “Since when do you talk like that?” She paces, every couple seconds her eyes looking me up and down. She shakes her head. “You’re working for my uncle. I feel somewhat responsible. You can’t go out like that. What would your dad think?”

I wave my hand. “If I wanted my dad’s permission, I’d snap a picture and send it to him. Or I’d be living at home.” I pat my clothes and then my hair. Maybe I’ve gone too far. “Do I look too slutty?”

“Hell no. You’re completely hot. That’s why I’m worried.”

“Hey.” I soften my voice and lose a little bit of the tough girl act. “It’s still me. I’m just…tired of being scared of life. Of always being the good girl. Of guys looking right past me like I’m not even there.”

Justine sighs, flopping on my bed. “I get it. I do. But are you sure this is the way you want to go about it?” She glances at my feet, more specifically the three-inch heels. “Can you even walk in those things?”

“Um…kinda?”

“I wish I hadn’t promised my uncle to help in the kitchen tonight. Why don’t you wait until tomorrow when I can go with you?”

I almost agree to her idea. Having a partner in crime would be nice. “I can’t. If I don’t do this tonight, I might talk myself out of it.”

She wraps me in her arms for a quick hug, then lets me go. “I want a full report when you get home.”

“If I get home.” I wink.

“Wait a second.” She rushes to her room and returns with a cap and body spray. “Just in case you want to forget the night ever happened.” She adds the trendy cap to my head, which effectively hides most of my blonde hair. She pulls the chunk of pink hair so it falls across my face. She kisses my cheek. “Go get ’em.”





It’s not too long of a walk to The Salty Dog. I need the time to practice my lines and build up something that will look like confidence. I can’t walk in there without knowing my story. I pass the closed-up carts of the street vendors. All the sidewalk shops are closed, their merchandise pulled back into the stores. I can’t stand all the obnoxious T-shirts and perverted jokes on them but obviously they sell. There’s a concert, the catchy tune and beat of the drums hiding the click of my heels. I try not to wobble as one catches in a crack in the pavement. I toss my hair. Confident and bitchy. Well, not really. I’m aiming more for confidence with attitude, not bitchiness.