12. Harley
TWELVE
Everyone has the ability to kill someone. It could be as simple as strangulation or as fast as a gunshot to the head. It just all depends if that person is actually capable of following through with it. I’ve never killed anyone, but my boss says differently. That I was the reason she died and that it was my fault. Anytime I look at a mirror all I can see is her dead body, yet she’s alive. She stares at me with sorrowful eyes, hugging herself mouthing ‘I’m sorry’, sometimes to where I can faintly hear it. I can hear the hurt and pain in her voice just like I did that day our lives changed.
“Harley, don’t you dare do anything stupid.” Putting my hand over my heart and raising my other, I puff out my chest.
“I promise to not get caught.” My mother rolls her eyes, waving me off. Going to give her a kiss on the cheek, I grab an orange on the counter along with my keys.
“Uh-huh…”
She should know by now that doing something stupid would mean getting caught, and that’s only happened, like, a handful of times. Tops. Running late to pick up the guys, I quickly get in my car and speed off to Weston’s house. I tap to the beat on my steering wheel as Live Wire by Motley Crue blasts off my speakers, feeling pumped for tonight.
The guys and I fucking love finding abandoned places and bringing them back to life by turning them into the biggest parties for us teens. We’ve made ourselves known around here in San Antonio amongst other high schoolers and of course, the police, so we had to venture out past city limits to find this one.
Stopping at a red light, I look at the car next to me to see a drop dead, stunning girl. She can’t be any younger than me. Honking my horn to get her attention, her auburn hair swings across her face and over her shoulder. Rolling down my window, she does the same, giving me the most gorgeous smile I ever did see.
“What’s up?” I yell over, head nodding.
“Just…driving,” she replies with a laugh.
“Hey look, you should come to my party tonight. It’s going to be huge.” She lets out a sexy little laugh.
“Where and what time?”
“Over in Pondling at the abandoned theater. Nine o’clock and bring your friends.” The light turns green and she rolls her window back up before she gives me a thumbs up, driving off. Fuck, I hope she comes. It’s been a week since I’ve gotten laid by a chick.
Arriving at Weston’s house, I don’t even have to text him when I see him already waiting for me outside. He hurriedly gets in, looking like he just saw somebody get murdered.
“Wes, you okay, man?” I turn down my music a little.
“Just family stuff.”
“Yeah, I was surprised you had me pick you up here and not with Motley? I thought they cut you off–”
“It’s fine, Harley. Let’s just have a good time tonight, yeah?” He turns the music back up and starts bobbing his head to the beat. I leave it be, letting him recoup from whatever it was he just went through as we make the ten-minute drive to Motley’s.
Honking my horn in Motley’s driveway like I always do, his front door opens up to his dad stomping over to my car. Weston and I let out a simultaneous groan before I roll down my window.
“Hello, Mr. Johnson.” I warmly, yet sarcastically greet him.
“Now you boys cut the shit.” His thick, southern Texan accent is loud and clear.
“There are two things we don’t fuck with, young men.” I look over at Weston who also has no idea what he’s talking about.
“Which are?”
“Rattlesnakes or condoms.” He starts wheezily laughing, his smoking lungs making themselves known. We let out a laugh, maintaining being on his good side today.
“Later, Dad,” Motley says from behind him, walking over and getting in the back seat.
“Bye, Mr. Johnson!” I roll up my window as we back out of the driveway, now making the hour drive to Pondling for the real shit to get started.
“Dude, I’m surprised your dad didn’t try to lecture us today,” I say, looking at Motley through the rear-view mirror.
“Pfft. He just found out his father gave him the ranch out in East Texas. He won’t be worried about us anytime soon.”
“To Pondling!” Weston shouts as I speed down the highway blaring Still of the Night by Whitesnake. Tonight is going to be fucking epic!
Walking out on the once-polished stage, the musty smell of aged wood and black mold becomes more apparent. What used to host movies and plays will now host the biggest party we’ve ever thrown. The now gutted rows where velvet seats used to reside will now hold a dance floor for everyone, while the balcony will hold whoever gets lucky enough. If that girl comes, then I for sure will be making an appearance up there.
“The DJ will set up on the stage?” Nodding my head to Weston, I scan over the building once more, trying to think of anything else that needs to be done.
“The bar will be set up in the back. The others should be coming anytime now.”
Although we host, we also need others to bring it all together. A few of our friends we went to high school with who have been long graduated yet, refuse to leave the high school scene, are the ones bringing the booze and the DJ booth. I mean, we graduated last year, but we’re still nineteen which still makes us high schoolers. Right? Yes. With dusk approaching, the already dim lighting through the old roof starts fading slowly.
“Police! Drop your weapons,” Jake calls out, laughing at himself as he walks on the stage carrying his DJ booth with his best friend, Tyler. God, I need a shot and it”s only six o’clock…
I leave the stage, letting Weston and Motley handle them as I peer off into the dressing room to explore. Last time we were here we solely just looked at the auditorium, seeing if it was at least semi-safe to throw this. Turning on my phone flashlight, I find the light switch. Expecting it not to turn on, I flip the switch up and step back in surprise to see the old vanity lights turning on. Thin layers of dust cover the countertops while cobwebs occupy the corners of the walls. Turning off the light, I run to the front of the theater, finding some more light switches, but none of them light up.
“Harley, what are you doing?” Motley calls out from across the room.
“Nothing, I was just seeing if the lights worked.”
“Dumbass,” Motley laughs. “Come on, let’s set up the bar.”
Say less.
The party is in full swing with no red or blue lights in sight. Neon lights illuminate the room from the DJ booth casting all around the dance floor where partygoers fill the room. Some people crowd around the makeshift bar while others can already be seen on the balcony.
Sitting on the edge of the stage with the guys, I scan all around seeing a lot of familiar faces, but don’t see any that look like the girl I saw earlier. A group of girls make their way off the dance floor when I spot her dancing next to who I assume is her friend. Her black, fitted, mini dress rides up with each hip sway she does and her straight, auburn hair swings side to side as she dances to the music without a care in the world.
I push my beer into Weston’s chest, getting up from my seat and making my way towards her by doing a little dance shuffle. The music fades into Feels So Close by Calvin Harris as she turns her whole body towards me, our eyes meeting each other.
“You came!” I shout over the music.
“This is amazing!” she says, throwing her arms up in the air now jumping to the beat.
“You from San An?” She shakes her head, now turning around and pressing up against my chest. She runs her hands up and down my neck and chest, her ass moving side to side against me.
“Then where are you from?” I place my hands on her hips catching her rhythm, when suddenly she turns around again. This time she pulls me down inches from her face.
“Nowhere. I’m from absolutely nowhere,” she says in my ear.
“Want me to take you somewhere?” I answer back in hers, my hands traveling along her waist and hips. She looks into my eyes then at my lips, colliding with mine quickly. Our breaths exchange with one another”s as we continue to share a moment I never want to break away from. Her hands start inching their way down to my belt. She pulls away, looking at me with the most beautiful, hazel doe eyes. The lighting makes them pop even more.
“Well? Aren’t you gonna take me somewhere?” She bites down at her bottom lip, now playing with my jean zipper.
“Come on.” I take her by the hand and lead her off the dance floor. The guys spot me, shaking their heads and chuckling. I throw them a wink back.
Instead of the balcony, I take her to the back where the dressing room is. Flicking on the light, she doesn’t even give me another second before her lips are brushing up against mine again. Picking her up, her legs wrap around my waist as I take her to a vanity counter. I sit her down gently, but never break our kiss.
She starts undoing my jeans as I start to take off my shirt, revealing my sweaty chest and abs. I grab the hem of her dress, pulling it up as she starts to pull down her shoulder straps revealing her gorgeous tits. My lips travel, landing soft kisses on her neck then down to her chest. I flick her nipple with my tongue before wrapping my whole mouth over it. Her sweet little moans and whimpers sound the room with each flick and suck I give.
“Put it in already,” she pants. Don’t have to tell me twice.
I don’t waste a single second. I pull her closer to the edge of the counter, moving her panties to the side where I begin to slowly enter inside her.
“Shit…” I groan, feeling her swallowing me whole. I begin thrusting when all of a sudden a man who looks too old to be here whips around the corner.
“What the fuck is going on here?!” he barks. I quickly pull out and put my jeans back on as she pulls her straps back over her shoulders. Pissed off that he just cock blocked me, I square up to him.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“I’m her fucking boyfriend, who the hell are you?” he seethes.
I turn around looking at her now pale face and worrisome look. Her heart can be seen beating out of her chest from knowing she just got caught cheating. He nudges past me, walking over to her with rage in his eyes.
“Did he make you cum?” he asks her. Who the fuck would ask that?
He pulls out a hunting knife from his back pocket and sets it right next to her. Her eyes widen and fill with tears as she looks down at his knife.
“Hey, what the fuck are yo–” I start.
“Shut the fuck up and stay right there, you son of a bitch!”
Doing what he says, I remain where I’m at, not saying a word. He slowly picks up the knife, angling it on her throat and applies a little pressure, causing her to tremble with fear.
“Answer me. Did he make you cum?” She shakes her head, silently sobbing. He trails the knife all the way down to her entrance and she quickly lets out a gasp of air, trying to calm herself down so she can talk.
“I’m so sorry! I’m so, so sorry.” He clicks his tongue, shaking his head.
“Why’d you do it? Huh?” She tries to control her breathing and when she’s finally able to speak. Her face shifts into a look of anger.
“To escape.”
What the fuck? What is this girl escaping from?
“Oh, do share with the class.” He removes the knife from her entrance and waves it around behind him where I’m standing. Her tears stop and the once doe eyes I saw on the dance floor hood down, turning siren-like as she stares him down.
“I know what you did to me…did you think I didn’t know? The truth will come out. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Yeah? Well I’d love to see you try.” He jams the blade right into her jugular, then quickly takes it out.
“NO!” I yell, running over to her. He swings his arm back, landing me a cut on the side of my neck. I stumble back, holding a hand against the wound and feeling the warm, wet liquid slowly start to spill out.
Just when I thought there was any hope of life left in her, he quickly takes that away, stabbing her heart three times. Each time, more blood spurts out. Her gargles of help die as I watch her hazel eyes become still and her body relaxed.
“Try to get the truth out now, you stupid little bitch,” he says, spitting on her face. I watch in terror as to what the fuck just happened. He turns his blood covered body toward me with hatred in his eyes and for a moment, I think I’m about to die, too.
“You made me kill her.” He inches his way towards me.
“She didn’t deserve that and it’s all because of you.” He points the knife at me. Stepping back with my hands up, I’m now back against the wall.
“I didn’t make you do shit! What the fuck is wrong with you?!” My whole body shakes and the vomit rising up my throat has me quickly swallowing it back down.
“Here’s the deal…” He takes out a small, microfiber cloth, wrapping it around the handle of the knife.
“I’m not going to turn you in.” He swiftly grabs my arm, putting the knife in my palm then forcefully closing my grip around its handle. It all happens so fast before I can even try to fight it.
“I didn’t do shit!” I say, pushing him off of me and dropping the knife in the process.
“Those finger prints on the knife say otherwise and that cut on your neck looks like self-defense on her part because she just wouldn’t say yes… It made you so mad that you were psychotic enough to kill her. I found y’all, but it was too late when I tried coming to save her. They aren’t going to believe a nineteen-year-old over a twenty-two-year-old who has more wealth and success than you ever will.”
“You are fucking sick!” I spit in his face.
“I’ll even take care of all this, saving your ass even more.”
I think about it for a moment. If he isn’t wanting to turn me in and wants to hide the body himself, that could only mean one thing.
“What’s the catch?”
“Let’s just say that when a favor is needed…which a favor will be needed, I’m sure…
You and your boyfriends will answer to me.”