Ten
While the damage from the storm wasn’t anywhere near as bad as it could have been, it still devastated the town.
Windows were smashed, trees had blown over, roofs had caved in. The whole place was a mess. People were out the very next day, clearing the roads and picking up trash and bits of debris. But, the bulk of the damage would take a lot more time and work. And money.
There are a select few members of our community that are richer than rich - Asher’s father included - and could easily afford to pay for the repairs all on their own, but the majority of Leighton Bay’s citizens are just normal people, who live from paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet. Forking out thousands to fix damaged properties just isn’t possible for some, especially when insurance doesn’t even cover a quarter of the cost.
So, the town had an idea. A good old-fashioned carnival in the town square, to raise money for the clean-up effort.
I’m one of the first to put my name down on the volunteer list, ready and willing to pitch in where I can. Hal’s was hit pretty hard by the storm, and I’ll do any job - no matter how grueling - to make sure we can get the diner back to its former glory.
April and I arrive at the square before the sun comes up, bleary-eyed and yawning. We spend hours helping set up all the stalls and banners. By mid-morning, the crowds start pouring in, and so does the money. In just three hours, we’re almost halfway to our goal.
I’m manning Hal’s stall along with Sienna and Sammy, while April’s perched on a stool behind us, her nose stuck in another book. We’re selling the usual favorites - burgers, fries, shakes and pie - and people can’t get enough.
“We’re gonna run out of food at this rate,” Sammy says, grinning from ear to ear.
It’s true. We’ve been working non-stop all morning and our line only seems to be getting longer instead of shorter.
Sienna sighs, rubbing her hands together to keep warm. “I think we’re all about ready for a break. Oakley, you can go first if you want.”
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m good. Let Sammy go first.”
She frowns. “Are you sure? You’ve been here way longer than either of us have.”
“I’m sure. I like keeping busy.”
She eyes me for another minute, no doubt contemplating whether or not to either call me on my shit or force me to take fifteen. In the end, she looks away and waves her hand at Sammy. He whoops and rips off his apron, promising to be back soon before he disappears into the rapidly-growing crowd.
The truth is, being busy is the only thing that’s keeping me sane right now. The only thing that quiets my overthinking brain. It’s been three days since the night in the locker room, and two since the blowup in the bathroom. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get either incident out of my head. I’ve filled another four pages in my journal just from the memories alone, sketching every detail until my wrist aches.
Asher’s absence isn’t helping matters. Two whole days, and not a single glimpse of him. I haven’t heard his voice, haven’t seen his face, haven’t even heard his name around school. There’s no sign of him. Part of me is pissed that he’s just disappeared off the face of the earth after everything that happened between us, but another part of me is - God, I can’t believe I’m saying this - worried. He seemed genuinely… cut-up after the things I said to him, and now he’s just gone? Did something happen to him? Whatever it is, it’s left a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.
And the worst part? I’m even more confused than ever.
I still despise him, hate his guts for treating me like trash and fucking with my head. But, at the same time…
I don’t.
As much as it kills me to admit it, that kiss the other night has only made me want more. More of him, more of… everything. Even though I shouldn’t, even though I should be running as far away from him as possible. And after the way things went down in the bathroom, I’m beginning to suspect that there’s a whole other side to Asher that nobody knows about. A side that I’ve only seen glimpses of. Once, when I verbally attacked him the other day, causing that raw, wounded look on his face. And the other, in the locker room, when the lightning cut through the darkness and he looked at me. Really looked at me, every emotion he was feeling laid bare, naked for me to see.
But now, he’s disappeared and I can’t help feeling that it’s all my fault.
If only I could just see him, hear from him. Maybe then I could—
As if summoned out of thin air, a group of kids from school round the corner, and right at the center of them is none other than the person who’s been plaguing my mind for the last few days. And he’s… fine. Not hurt, not depressed. He’s smiling and laughing. Completely carefree, like he usually is.
I hate how many details I notice about him now, like how his bottom lip is slightly plumper than the top one, and that they are, in fact, as soft as they look. Even just looking at them has my mouth watering, like I’m a dog that’s been conditioned to expect a treat every time they’re near. He’s done something to me, infected me somehow. I swear I wasn’t this pathetic before.
I’m so fixated on Asher that it takes almost a solid minute to realist who’s standing right next to him. Well, pressed up against him, more like. Blonde hair, plastic smile and boobs spilling over the front of her top. Peyton Harris. Her words from that day in the diner come rushing back, about how Asher wants her and it’s only a matter of time.
That can’t be true. Right? Not after the way he— not after we—
Somehow, Peyton manages to squeeze in even closer and, not even hesitating, Asher lifts his arm and wraps it around her, tucking her into his side.
My gut sinks and I have to look away.
“We need more burger buns,” Sienna says. “I’ll just run back to the diner and—”
“I’ll go,” I blurt, surprising her.
“Oakley, is everything okay? You seem a little… flustered today.”
I wave her off. “Everything’s fine. It’ll just be nice to get away from the stall for a few minutes.”
Honestly, I’d go scrub the porta-potties if it meant getting away from here. From them.
I untie my apron and round the front of the stall, stopping opposite Sienna. “Watch April for me?”
She smiles, eyes narrowed like she’s searching my face for… something. “Of course.”
I haul ass toward the diner, physically restraining myself from looking back over my shoulder and searching for another glimpse of Asher.
There’s a whole host of emotions coursing through me right now, but the biggest one is that I feel so damn stupid. Fuck, I actually felt sorry for him. I spent the last two days thinking of nothing but him, worrying about him, trying to think of ways to prove how sorry I was about what I said. And the whole time, it was just another one of his games. I’m a goddamn idiot.
Too wrapped up in my thoughts, I don’t notice the police cruiser parked outside the diner until the last second. I skid to halt, kicking up gravel beneath my feet. Unease crawls down my spine. Realistically, I know it could be any one of the many police officers in our town, stopping off for a cup of coffee or to speak with Hal. It doesn’t have to mean my uncle’s in there, causing trouble. But, I’m just not lucky enough for that to be the case. If anything can go wrong in my life, it will.
Sure enough, the door to the diner flies open less than a minute later and my uncle steps out. I duck around the side of the building, out of sight but still able to keep an eye on him. He’s drenched with sweat, despite the cold spell we’re in. He stops in the middle of the parking lot, looking left and right before pulling a water bottle out of his jacket pocket and gulping down half of the contents. I’d wager every single cent I’ve got stashed under my bed that what he’s drinking isn’t actually water. Then, he climbs inside the car, slams the door shut behind him and drives away.
I try to stay positive, to rationalize that it might not be what I thought it was, but as soon as I enter the diner and see the look on Hal’s face, it’s all the confirmation I needed.
“What happened?” I ask, getting right to it.
“Oakley. Come and have a seat.”
“I don’t wanna sit down, Hal. Just tell me what’s going on. Why was my uncle here?”
He sighs and scrubs a hand down his face. His guilt is so obvious, it’s practically radiating off of him. I know what’s coming before he even says it. “I’m so sorry, son. Your uncle, he— I wish there was something I could do. But, he’s left me with no choice.”
“I’m fired, aren’t I?” My voice is dull, emotionless. Defeated, that’s what I am. I’m a hundred percent defeated.
“No.” He shakes his head adamantly. “Not fired. I just… I have to let you go.”
I don’t know how he found out or what he has on Hal to force his hand like this, but I can’t even bring myself to ask. It doesn’t really matter, does it? Either way, I’m out of a job. A job that I love, no less. I stare down at the cracked tile floor, the feeling of loss seeping into my bones. I’ll miss this place, with its mismatched furniture and temperamental jukebox and the constant smell of grease in the air. This is the first place in a long time that I really felt like I fit in, that I belonged, and now… I don’t have it anymore.
Hal moves closer to me, rests a gentle hand on my arm. “I really am sorry, kid.”
He’s a big, burly guy. Kind of intimidating to those who don’t know him. But to those who do, he’s a teddy bear with a heart of gold. I can see how much it’s gutting him to do this, hear it in the tremble of his deep-baritone voice.
“You don’t have to be sorry for anything, Hal. It’s not your fault.”
“I’ll write you the best recommendation, even phone around a couple of places in town to see if they can get you something as soon as possible. There’s a few people who owe me a favor. And—” He stops and shuffles toward the register, coming back with a wad of cash that he slaps into my hand. “Here. Take this, too. It’s this week’s pay, plus a little extra for helping out today.”
I stare down at the money, my eyes going comically wide. “Hal, this is— I can’t take this. This must be half the register.”
“Take it,” he demands. “It’s yours. Something to keep you going until you find somewhere else.”
“I don’t even know what to say.”
“‘Thank you’ might be a start.”
I roll my eyes, grinning despite the tears threatening to spill over. This town, it’s got some of the best people I’ve ever met in it. Granted, some of the worst too, but… people like Hal and Mrs Sanderson and Sienna, they’re so kind, so generous. Always wanting to help. It’s just people like my uncle that forces them not to.
“Thank you, Hal.”
“You’re welcome, son.”
With a nod and another smile, I pocket the bills and turn to leave. I’ve got one foot out the door when he calls my name, stopping me.
“One more thing,” he says. “If you ever get the stomach flu again, you come and see me. Understand?”
Well, shit. I guess I wasn’t as discreet about my injuries as I thought I was.
I head back across to the square on autopilot, lost in my head and barely looking where I’m going. When I finally resurface from my thoughts, I’m standing in the middle of the carnival, the world moving on at full-speed around me. And right there in front of me… is Asher. He’s waiting in line for the fun house, his arm still taking up position around Peyton’s waist, his buddies and her cheerleading friends behind them.
Bitterness rises up within me and I almost storm away in the other direction when I notice Peyton leaning in for a kiss. For some reason, I stay right where I am. It’s like a car crash, I can’t look away. Asher’s too busy staring into space to realize her intentions, but when he does, he can’t get away fast enough.
Holy shit. Did he just— he just rejected her. In front of everybody.
Maybe there’s trouble in paradise already.
Or maybe, an annoying little voice in the back of my mind adds, he wants somebody else instead.
It’s a knee-jerk reaction to ignore that voice, to tell it to go to hell and finish going about my day. But, I can’t. The look on Asher’s face when he saw Peyton’s puckered lips coming toward him, it was like he was… disgusted. Like he’d rather be literally anywhere else. Not once during that entire night at the school did he ever look at me like that. The memory of his dazed, blissed-out expression flashes through my mind, the fire burning in his eyes as he gazed down at my mouth.
He wanted me.
The realization stuns me. He wanted me.
And if that part was true, what else was?
Asher disappears inside the fun house and before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m following along behind him.