Hurts So Good // John Mellencamp

As soon as Alison drives away with her friend, I head out to the back deck and plop onto a lounge chair. One arm behind my head and feet propped up on the railing, I lean my head back and close my eyes. Immediately I picture her, snuggled up to me, sitting close by the fire, kissing her. I know this was a quick meet up, the cliché of love at first sight from across a crowded room hasn't been lost on me. But damn if it doesn't feel deeper than that.

"You are already a goner, man." Micah chuckles as he joins me on the deck. "Less than twenty-four hours and you're a lost cause. I want my wing-man back."

"Wing man? You're practically wifed up with Charlie. Who are you kidding?" I laugh back, even though the dude is right. I'm a goner.

"Shut up." Micah scowls.

"Deny it all you want, but you're into her."

Micah stays silent for a while, rubbing his hands on his thighs. He doesn't look back at me when he finally speaks.

"Doesn't matter. She's a good friend. My best friend. I can't ruin it." His words are quiet, as though he didn't want to admit this raw truth.

"Best friends make the greatest lovers, or at least that's what my dad says."

That catches Micah's attention. "Your parents started as best friends?"

I laugh. "Not exactly. More like mortal enemies. But it evolved into friendship and then they started dating. My dad says he was in love with her from day one, but she had a chip on her shoulder, so it took a while. He played it cool until she was open to dating him."

"Casanova."

"Nah. Rich coffee shop executive. She was a customer, having a bad day, kind of being a Karen, although they didn't call it that back then. My dad stepped in to calm her down or whatever. Didn't exactly work."

"This sounds like a soap opera that my mom watches with my grandma." Micah laughs as he stands up. "I'd love to hear the rest sometime, but I've got to start packing up. We have to be back for practice."

"That's not until tomorrow."

"Yeah but we have to be there early as fuck and I need my beauty sleep after last night."

"You went to bed before I did," I say, doing the math in my head. "You must have had at least eight hours of sleep."

"Okay, we'll go with that." Micah heads back into the cabin and down the hall to his master suite. I'm almost fully packed so I take the opportunity to relax and take in the view. I wish Alison had been able to stay longer and explore with me, but she said she had assignments due before work tomorrow. I don't know how she's dealing with taking a summer course. My brain can't handle more, with all of the new plays to learn and getting to know this coach's style. This team is already a night and day difference from high school ball. I can barely handle football practice at this point.

Although that could have something to do with the fact that Matt has no time for me now that Hannah and he are together. I rooted for them the entire time not realizing how things would play out in reality. And reality sucks. I never see my best friend or my cousin anymore. My sister, who's closer to Hannah than I am, has been giving me the cold shoulder. Ever since we brought everyone up here to Salt Creek for a graduation celebration get away last month, Kyra has kept a low profile around me. It's starting to piss me off. I might have to sit her down and tell her to quit blaming me for Hannah's MIA status. I can't help how she and Matt have taken things to the next level. I had no way of knowing that giving him her number would evolve to this.

Whatever. She'll have to learn to deal and make more friends. It's her senior year. She should be getting into her school spirit and join in the fun.
Not that I did, but I'm not a party kind of guy. Never have been. Every party I threw or showed my up to was out of obligation. I rub my face at the thoughts. I'm not a big people person. I don't like crowds and I hate small talk. It takes all of my energy to interact the little I do. It's why I hang out with my cousin and only have a couple close friends. This music festival, with all of the people and music I can't stand, not to mention hanging with Micah who I am still getting to know, drained me. But meeting Alison was worth it.

At least I hope it will be.

I stand from my spot and stretch. Unlike Micah, I only got a few hours of sleep. Alison and I stayed up talking, then just sitting by the fire, my arms around her. I should be dead on my feet but I'm not. I'm almost energized. Meeting her lit a fire under me. I don't usually feel this good after spending time with people, but she's different.

I head inside and up the stairs to the room I slept in, for the short time it was. I open my bag and start grabbing the clothes strewn around the room, shoving them in. After that task is complete, I gather the few toiletries I brought, deodorant and a toothbrush, and dump them on top. Done. I don't know why Micah needed an hour to do the same thing. But whatever, not my problem.

"You done, man?" I shout down the hall when I make it to the bottom of the stairs.

"Almost."

What the hell is taking him so long? I have no idea what the guy's up to and I don't care to ask. I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and guzzle it. I might be a little dehydrated by now. I usually have several ounces of water every morning and more after practice. Hydration is the key to health, or so I've been told. I don't get sick very often, so I guess it works.

Micah stomps into the kitchen with a couple of bags and a backpack.

"What's all this? I don't remember seeing you bring those in." I ask trying to remember him having this much luggage for one night away.

Micah rolls his neck and looks away from me. "I, uh, brought them in when you were getting ready to go."

"Oh. Okay." I shrug and finish the water and toss the bottle in the recycling. "Ready?"

"Dude, you just downed 16 ounces of liquid. You think you should wait until you pee it out?"

"I'm a camel. I can hold it."

"Famous last words."

"You'll see."

***

"So much for holding it, bro." Micah laughs as I hop out of the car and duck behind a bush. I made him pull over about ten minutes after we left. And then again an hour later.

And now, fifteen minutes from home, I couldn't wait so he stopped just outside of town on a dirt road. I know I'll be hazed about this tomorrow at practice. I wouldn't be surprised if Micah shows up with diapers for me or something. I really hope he's not like that because being a freshman on the team with that kind of material for pranking could be the death of me before the season even starts.

"Think you can make it a few more blocks before you have to tinkle again?" he asks as I slide back into the passenger seat.

"Just fucking drive." I grumble.

He laughs.

Micah drops me off a few minutes later. I do have to pee again, but I say nothing to even give him a hint of my issues. What the hell was in that water? I drink more than that daily and this is never the result.

"Thanks. See you at practice tomorrow."

"You sure are in a hurry. Got an urge?" He laughs.

Fucker.

"Bye." I wave as I rush into the house.

Once I've taken care of business I check to see if anyone's home. On Sundays my family usually gets together for brunch with my aunt, uncle and cousins. I don't find anyone around so they must be at the Long's house. I wonder if Hannah is there with Matt or if they're in a love cocoon.
No matter. I've got the place to myself for a few hours until everyone gets back. I decide to take advantage and watch a movie. No interruptions by my sister making her ridiculous comments to mock the plot or my mom telling me every movie the actors have been in. My dad won't barge in halfway through and ask for a recap of the first hour.

I scroll through a few of our movie apps and find an action film I haven't seen yet. After starting it, I get comfortable on the couch with a blanket. I'm not hungry and I definitely don't need anything else to drink. Reveling in the solitude, I let the scenes roll.

But I can't concentrate. My mind keeps remembering Alison. I pull out my phone, not really intending to do anything other than look at her contact info, when I find myself tapping out a text.

Hope you got home safe.

The only reason I'm doing this is because I'm here alone. If any of the guys, or shit, even my sister, were around, no way I'd already be in her messages. There are rules about this. I'm supposed to wait at least 48 hours before I attempt to make contact. But I can't help myself.

I don't want to wait.

Alison: I did just now.

And it looks like she doesn't want to wait either. I try not to analyze why that makes me so happy. I just let the smile takeover because fuck it, no one can see anyhow.

Me: Good

Me: Can I call you later?

That was a bold move. I could have overshot the target by asking to call. I'm anxious that this will end up working against me. What if Alison backs off? What if she thinks I came on too strong?

Alison: Sounds good. I'm sure I could use a study break

The relief is immediate. She doesn't think I'm a creep or too pushy. Thank God. I type in a winky face emoji and hit send then immediately cringe and throw my phone to the other side of the couch. I should not be allowed to communicate with her this way anymore.

A winky face? Really, Jeff?

Shit. I take a deep breath and try to focus back on the movie but it still won't hold my attention. I end up closing my eyes to try memorizing Alison. The highlights in her hair. The way she tilted her head when she was listening. The smile she gave me after I kissed her. Kissing her.

I don't want to miss a thing.

I must do a decent job of distracting myself from my worries about creeping on Alison because the next thing I know, Kyra is shaking me and telling me to get off the couch.

"Go nap in your room. Some of us want to be conscious out here and need a place to sit."

"When did you get home?" I yawn and push myself up, although I don't know why I obeyed her immediately. She's been ignoring me for weeks. So I lay back down just as Kyra was sitting and we clonk heads.

"Ow!"

"Ouch you doofus."

"Bringing out the kindergarten insults, now? I see how it is." I rub my head and lean against the back cushions. Kyra's doing the same.

"Nap like a kindergartener and that's how I'll treat you."

"Bahaha, you're so funny."

"You're so lame."

I roll my eyes. Before I speak, I glance around the room to make sure our parents are out of earshot. "Am I out of the doghouse for the whole Hannah slash Matt situation now?"

Kyra looks over at me with a wrinkled forehead. "What situation?"

"The one where they're dating and Hannah doesn't have time for you anymore.

"Why would you be in the doghouse for that?"

"Good question. You tell me. Ever since we all went up to Salt Creek and Hannah and Matt's relationship went into overdrive, you've given me the cold shoulder." I look over at Kyra to see the color drain from her face. "What?"

"Oh. Well, I wasn't mad at you." She coughs before taking a big drink of her soda.

Well, fuck. I see it now. She hasn't been hiding from me because she's mad. She's been hiding out of...fear? She's just hiding in general. Where has my big brother radar been? I didn't know.

"What is it?" I lean forward, whispering to let her know she's safe with me.

"Nothing."

"Not nothing. Definitely something."

"Let me rephrase. Nothing I want to talk about. And really not important, either. It's not a big deal, Jeff. Just chalk it up to girl drama and don't worry about it."

The stress is rolling off her. Whatever she's keeping from me is some kind of deal, for sure.
"You don't allow that label; girl drama. But I'll let it go. For now."

How can I push her to talk to me? I can't. And I don't want that kind of relationship with her.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it. Unless you want to. Then mention away. I'm all ears."

Kyra leans over and gives me a hug, something she hasn't done in a long time even before whatever changed up at Salt Creek. Then she gets up and leaves me in my blanket cocoon. I'll call Alison in a little while. Maybe I'll ask her out. Maybe she'll say yes.

Maybe meeting her at that god-awful festival was meant to be.

I actually had so much fun writing this chapter! If you're curious about Micah and Charlie, yes I am setting them up to have their own story. However, it will be a novella set in the Salt Creek, The Four Seasons novellas, Micah's will be the first story, and someone else we know will get the second one. I'm planning to start posting that sometime in the spring...

Secondly, send me good playlist vibes because so far, I kind of hate this one. I'm happy with the songs I've used but the ones lingering are no bueno. I need some inspiration and I'm thinking of switching to soundtracks from 80's teen movies because that's what inspired the series originally: John Hughes films. I'll keep you posted.

Finally, inevitable is about to have its second feature spot of 2021!! One year after it caught fire on Wattpad, hitting number one on several top reading lists, it's also about to hit 1 million reads. I'm hoping it happens before the new year but I'm not holding my breath. Thank you so much for reading my babies.

https://youtu.be/g_9rnnkRX0g

Broken Promises, book 2, is starting to come together. If you haven't read Broken Lullaby, check out Kindle Unlimited!!