GOODBYE BLUE SKY

Rancid.

      My mouth tasted rancid.

      Waking up Saturday morning, I felt slightly hungover and in dire need of a shower.

      When I opened my heavy eyes, I took in the foreign place I was in, and then I remembered my night out with Bonham. Bonham, who wasn't beside me as I rolled over.

      The twin bed was cold on my left side, letting me know he'd been gone for a while, or had never shared the bed with me.

      As I sat up, one thing was clear: my head was fucking killing me.

      Pressing the palm of my hand to my forehead, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, prepared to get up and get out of dodge.

      Ugh, it felt like my brain was floating in the pool of my head.

      I was only in my underwear, but I was certain we hadn't had sex. A quick run through my memory left me coming up empty on the act. Bonham had kissed me, drank with me, and smoked a little as well, but when it was all going black, he was nowhere to be found.

      I stood to my feet, unsure how I felt on the failed mission of bedding Bonham Church.

      Regardless of the fact that I hadn't gotten laid, the night had still been fun, letting me know that life in Meadow Grove could be tolerable.

      Once I was on my feet I found where Bonham had slept. Out on the balcony, he was asleep on a hammock, having only just a blanket to keep him warm.

      For a moment, I stood where I was, watching him sleep. On his left shoulder blade was a sparrow tattoo. The wind blew, causing his messy hair to sway.

      I was caught up between going over and climbing under his blanket with him, or simply waking him up to say goodbye and thank him for the night out.

      In the end, I decided against both as I knew getting home was more important.

      Scott had to be pissed.

      Hopefully enough to send me back to my real home.

      When I didn't spot my cut-offs or shirt from the previous evening, I grabbed a pair of sweats and a Grateful Dead shirt from the laundry basket nearest the bed.

      It was nice to know Bonham's mother still did her boys' laundry and folded it too.

      I wasn't sure if my own mother had ever folded my laundry. She'd done it for a while until I got to an age where I hated her touching my things.

      I didn't want to think of my mom when I had a bigger issue in front of me.

      My cell phone lay on the bed and upon pressing the power button, I found a series of missed texts, calls, and voicemails from Scott, and a single call from Cameron.

      Shit.

      Something told me Scott wasn't about to let me come in and crash for a few hours, he'd more than likely make a big deal of my night out.

      Ah well, it was time to face the music.

      On a table near the door I spotted a flyer advertising an upcoming carnival at the school. Great. Beside it, I noticed a photo of Aidan and Cameron. She was wearing a sundress, a light seeming to be shining down on her, and Aidan was just grinning away as if he were holding the best girl in the world on his arm.

      People throughout town probably spoke highly of them both.

      Kids like Bonham and me, we'd never bask in sunlight, which was probably why we craved the open arms of the darkness that was nightfall.

      Once outside, I stared ahead of me at the sky, scowling at the sunny day above me.

      I was just about to make my move when it hit me.

      How the hell was I going to get home?

      Bonham was sleep, and I wanted my exit to be just that.

      My options were slim, but I had to get home.

      My phone was near dead, but I knew just the right person to save the day.

Cameron came and picked me up in her father's Sorento. It was just past eleven in the morning, but by her perky persona I could tell she'd been up for hours.

      "Coffee?" She handed me a tumbler as soon as I climbed into the passenger seat and buckled in.

      I accepted the caffeine because God knows I would need it to face Scott. "What's in it?"

      "Straight black," Cameron replied as she pulled off.

      Black coffee, to match my soul, I could dig it. "Thanks, by the way."

      Cameron offered a tight smile. "No problem." She glimpsed at me briefly before focusing back on the road. "Are you okay?"

      "My head is killing me," I groaned.

      "There should be aspirin or something in the glove compartment."

      I found the aspirin and took three before chasing them with my coffee.

      Cameron was silent the rest of the drive and I noted she was a fan of country music. Not my vibe, but I could hang.

      When we pulled in front of my house, Cameron faced me, appearing grave. "Uncle Scott was really worried about you. I wanted to cover for you, I did, but he sounded scared, Saylor."

      I would've felt bad, but fuck Scott. "Well, that's too bad."

      "Saylor—"

      "He abandoned me before I was born, and now he wants to be Mr. Responsible and in my life? No thanks." I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. "Thanks for the ride, Cameron."

      Cameron's pretty features were painted in sympathy. "For what it's worth, everyone deserves a second chance, sometimes even thirds. Be safe."

      She drove off and I turned, ready to go inside and go straight to bed.

      If only that were capable.

      The front door flew open before I could even step foot on our front walk.

      Scott stepped outside, at first relieved, and then suddenly angry.

      "Where the hell have you been?" he snapped at me.

      Here we go. "How about we postpone this whole thing until later, when I'm able to give a shit and respond."

      My words enraged Scott even more, but he waited until we were both in the house before letting loose.

      He slammed the door shut behind us both, an action that almost made me jump, as the picture on the wall near the door rattled in place. "You will not speak to me like that, young lady. I am your father."

      I snorted. "No, you're not."

      Scott's brows tipped down in confusion. "Excuse me? Yes, I am."

      I folded my arms, staring him down. "How do you even know if it's true or not? I look nothing like you."

      His face burst into a bright red. "Do not talk about your mother that way."

      "I can talk about her however I goddamn well please! Don't forget you abandoned her with a baby, so your character's shit as far as I'm concerned."

      If Scott had any patience, it was gone with those words.

      "You are grounded! Do you hear me?" he yelled.

      "Fuck you!" I shouted back. "I don't even want to be here in this shitty house, in this shitty town, with you lame people! And I don't want to be with you!"

      Scott seethed in front of me, his shoulders rising and falling. "Well too damn bad, because you're here for good."

      We were being so loud I was sure the neighbors could hear us.

      In that moment, I didn't care.

      I hated Scott.

      I hated my mother.

      I hated Meadow Grove.

      And I hated how I had no control on getting out.

      So I did the only thing I could do.

      "Argh!" I screamed as loud as I could.

      Scott watched me scream, his anger lessening, but his stance even more firm. "This will not happen again. There are going to be some changes around here, any shot at freedom you had, you just blew it and I mean it."

      "Fuck. You." I waved my middle finger in his face before I took off towards the steps. I was done with him and everything else in this pitiful town.

      I couldn't wait until I was eighteen. I was leaving everything behind. Scott. My mother. Every damn thing that was a letdown in my life.

      Fuck 'em all.

      Scott was right behind me. "I mean it, Saylor. I'm so through with your attitude and your shit."

      "Then fuck off, Scott!" I stormed into my room, the only place I had to my name.

      "Ugh, I'm not putting up with this attitude!" Scott groaned before taking off towards his own bedroom.

      Simultaneously, or perhaps ironically, we slammed our doors at the same time as hard as we could.

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