Chapter 9
___________
Lyra
10 years earlier
As soon as I saw myself wearing my favorite pleated blue skirt and yellow T-shirt, memories of that day powered into my mind. I”d been transported back to memory lane, and it felt real, as if I were a teenage girl again.
Instantly, I knew why Zalantha had taken me to that point. It was pivotal in my drinking career, my first experience sampling the potent delights of Nectar from the Gods.
I was standing in the corridor, adjusting my fringe in the mirror, when Mom caught me off guard.
”Where are you off to?” she asked, making me jump.
She glanced at the length of my skirt suspiciously. I”d never noticed her look at me like that back then, but I guess I was still innocent.
”Oh, just out with Janey.”
It was a lie. I wasn”t going out with Janey. I was meeting Al, the neighbor I had a crush on. He was older than me by two years. Recently, we”d been hanging out in secret.
”And where are you going with Janey?” slurred Dad, stepping from the kitchen, beer can in his hand.
”Just for a walk,” I said, putting on my best smile. ”It”s a lovely day. We may head down to the river.”
”In that case, no skinny dipping,” he said, taking a swig.
”George,” said Mom, waving her hand at him as if he were a misbehaved toddler. ”Don”t put ideas in her head.”
”Well, she”s growing older; that”s what we did.”
”She doesn”t need to know that,” said Mom, tutting. ”Besides, we were in our twenties when we did that.”
”Are you sure?” asked Dad, smirking mischievously.
”It”s fine,” I said, trying to control my blushing cheeks. ”The river”s too shallow for skinny dipping, anyway.”
”That”s the problem,” said Dad, nodding as he shook his beer can. He frowned, surprised it was empty, and turned to go back into the kitchen. ”Behave yourself, now Lyra; there are a lot of bad boys out there.”
”Sure, Dad.”
He looked me up and down, sighed, and disappeared into the kitchen to get a refill. I remember wondering why he felt such a need to drink so early in the day and worried about him. He never used to get in such a state, or I didn”t think he did, but maybe I was unaware of it until then.
Mom walked up to me and put her hands on my shoulders.
”Don”t listen to him,” she said, rolling her eyes. ”Have fun with Janey. Don”t be back too late; you have to study tomorrow.”
”Sure thing, Mom.”
She kissed me on the cheek, and we hugged. That”s when I smelt the alcohol on her breath. She”d been on the gin and tonic, and it wasn”t even lunchtime. I supposed it was a Saturday, but that wasn”t an excuse for hitting the hard stuff so early.
Little did I know that soon I would join their club.
Little did I know that my first drink was heading my way.
Excitement pulsed through me as I made my way down the street. I got to the end, went past Janey”s house, and there, at the end, was Al smiling brightly.
”Heya,” he said, throwing me a wink. He was wearing a tightly fitted white T-shirt and denim shorts.
”Hiya,” I said, nodding as I approached.
”You look swell.”
”Thanks.”
He looked me up and down, his eyes lingering on my legs. It was the first time Al had seen me in a skirt, and I guessed he liked what he saw. Apprehension pulsed through me. The fact that we were meeting secretly and he was older filled my heart with thrills.
”So, where are we going?” I asked as I got up close to him. He gazed at me intensely, and I felt safe with him.
”Down by the river, of course.”
”Sounds like fun.”
As he turned and we walked to the river, I noticed he had a small navy rucksack.
”What”s in the bag?”
”Just a few snacks.”
”Snacks? Why? Are we having a picnic?”
”Something like that.”
We strolled on, chatting about school and the homework we had to do that weekend. The sun began to beat down, and soon it was scorching. I was relieved when we reached the sheltered woods.
”That”s better,” I said once we”d entered the shade.
”Much better,” said Al. ”Let”s go down to the river and paddle.”
”Paddle?”
”Sure, it will cool us down. Besides, I know the perfect shallow spot.”
We walked on, excitement building with each step. I kept glancing at Al. I loved how he held himself with such confidence. He”d told me he”d been working out in his father”s homemade gym, and I was eager to see his upper body in the flesh.
We strolled down a path and reached the riverbank.
”Coming in?” said Al, kicking off his sneakers.
”What, here?”
”Why not? There”s no one around. Anyway, like I said, it”s just to paddle.” He pulled off his socks, tucked them in his sneakers, and paced down the bank until his feet disappeared into the river. ”Oh, wow. The water is perfect. Come in.” He bent over, grabbed a handful of water, and splashed his head. When he turned to face me, the water dripped onto his white T-shirt, revealing his muscular chest. ”What are you waiting for?”
”I”m not sure I should. Dad told me not to go skinny dipping.”
”We”re not skinny dipping,” he said, chuckling. ”Besides, do you do everything your daddy says?”
”No.”
”Then come in.”
I slipped off my shoes and walked down the dry bank. Al stared at me and grinned, suggesting he was planning something naughty.
”No splashing,” I said, wagging my finger as I entered the river, the cool water biting my ankles.
”I wouldn”t dream of it.”
As I got closer, I wondered what it would be like to kiss Al. He looked so hot and attractive in his wet T-shirt, but I didn”t want to make the move and spoil our friendship.
”This is lovely,” I said, splashing my feet slowly as I looked at the overhanging trees.
”You”re lovely.”
His sweet words lifted my heart, but I chose not to respond.
”How did you find this place?”
”I came here once with my sister, but we ended up having a water fight and getting annoyed at each other.”
”Oh, that”s a shame. I always wanted a sister. You”re lucky you have one.”
”Had one,” he said, looking away.
A pit of despair formed in my stomach, and I felt guilty for not knowing about something so important.
”What do you mean, had?” I asked.
”Lucy”s been missing for over two years now. The police have given up looking for her.”
”Oh, God, you never told me that.”
”No, I didn”t. Sorry, it”s a sensitive subject.”
”I can imagine.”
Silence loomed. I wanted to pry and ask for more information about how she went missing, but I could tell Al wasn”t ready to open up.
”So, what now?” I asked.
”How about a drink?”
”Sure, I could do with a coke or something.”
”That wasn”t what I had in mind.”
He nodded for me to follow, and we left the river and sat on the bank. Al opened his rucksack and pulled out a silver flask.
”What”s that?” I asked, frowning, even though I knew it had to contain alcohol.
”Just a little tipple for a cool summer”s day.”
”But what is it?”
He took a swig, winked, and handed me the bottle.
”Malibu,” he said, his voice hoarse. ”It”s got a kick to it.”
”A kick to it?”
”Sure, give it a try.”
He handed me the bottle. I took a sniff and coughed from the potency.
”Wow, that smells stronger than the stuff my parents drink.”
”What do they drink?”
”Dad drinks beer and whiskey. Mum loves gin. They were drinking before I left, actually.”
”Seriously?” he asked, frowning. ”Before lunch?”
”Yeah, they normally do at the weekend,” I said, suddenly feeling foolish for opening up.
”That”s a bit early. My Dad doesn”t start until at least six.”
”Right.” I looked at the flask and then at my watch. ”Well, it”s probably about lunchtime now.”
”Then go for it. What have you got to lose?”
I wished I could reach out, take the flask and throw it in the river, but that wasn”t possible. I couldn”t change the past, only the future.
”Nothing, I guess. If my folks can drink, then I suppose I can too.”
”That”s the spirit.”
I placed the bottle to my lips and tilted it until the warm liquid poured into my mouth. I remember the feeling like it was yesterday. The way the coconut liquid burnt the back of my throat, the warmth, the dizzy buzz in my brain, and the pumping of my heart.
”Not bad,” I said, coughing slightly.
”Good, huh?” asked Al, grinning with pride.
”Yeah, real good.”
I took another sip, longer this time, and savored the flavor. It was potent, all right, but the coconut taste was exotic and doing this forbidden act with Al made me feel braver, older, and more mature.
”Hey, go easy, Lyra,” he said, patting me on the shoulder. ”We have to make that last all afternoon.”
”Sure we do,” I said, handing it back.
I looked across the river and thought everything seemed hazy, but I felt relaxed and more confident. I turned to Al, licked my lips, and stared into his eyes.
”You”re brave for taking that,” I said.
”Not really. My parents will never notice; they”re always boozed up. They drink most days.”
”So do mine.”
”Do you notice the mood swings?”
”Not really.”
”You will; it gets to everyone in the end.”
”Even us?” I asked, shrugging.
”I guess so, in the end.”
”Not me,” I said, standing up quickly. ”I”m invincible. Let”s go back in the water.”
I ran down the bank, almost tripping into the river. The Malibu had taken effect, and I was behaving differently. I bent over, ran my hands through the cool water, and then splashed some on my head.
I turned to face Al. He was grinning and smiling.
”You coming in or what?” I shouted.
”Shh,” he said. ”Okay, okay.”
He stood up and strolled towards me. Once he”d got back in the river, the alcohol had taken effect. I reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him closer.
”Do you like me?” I asked, gazing into his eyes.
”Like you?” he asked, smiling.
”Yeah, you know, like me in a way so that I could be your girlfriend.”
”Are you asking me out, Lyra?”
”Perhaps,” I said, hiccuping. I giggled, and then a wave of sickness rolled across my shoulders, and my head felt dizzy.
”Lyra, you okay?” asked Al, squeezing my hand as I stumbled back.
”Yeah, I”m fine.” I pointed at him, my finger accidentally stabbing his chest. ”Oh, you”re strong,” I added, feeling his firm muscles.
”I told you, I”ve been working out.”
”That”s good to know. Can I work out with you?”
I gazed into his eyes and leaned forward. All I remember is that I wanted to kiss him and show him how grateful I was for opening my eyes to the entertaining world of Malibu.
But the Malibu had other ideas.
”I feel sick,” I said as giddiness rolled over my shoulders and neck.
”Oh shit,” he said, sliding his arm around my back. ”Careful.”
He led me to the bank and helped me lay down.
”I”ll just have a nap,” I said, rolling onto my back as I closed my eyes.
”No, don”t do that.”
”Why?” I said as the dizziness increased. And then I felt the world spinning and spinning, and all I could do was lay there and let this new sensation take control.
”Lyra, sit up, trust me.”
”Sit up?” I said, opening one eye.
”Yeah, come on.”
He placed his hand on my shoulder, helping me up. But that didn”t help at all. I felt even more sick.
”Oh shit,” I said as my throat tightened.
”What?”
”Feel. Sick.”
Without going into the details, I”m sure you can imagine what happened. Luckily, Al moved out of the way before my projectile vomit hit his feet. I churned and churned until nothing was left.
”We need to get you some water,” said Al.
”Good idea,” I said, wiping my mouth. ”Why did that happen?”
”Just one of the effects, Lyra. Maybe you need to start on the weaker stuff, like cider.”
”I”ll stick to the coke for a while, I think,” I said, wincing from the horrid taste in my mouth.
Al chuckled and helped me up. I wanted to kiss him, but not with puke breath.
”Let”s get some coke and sober you up,” he said as we made our way back up the path.
As we strolled together, I felt weird, out of control, and sad. I thought of my parents and wondered why they drank every day and why they hadn”t been sick like that. Little did I know, they had already done the tricky part, forced themselves to get used to the drink and alcohol. I was just starting my journey.
Al treated me to a coke and a burger to sober up, then walked me to the end of my street.
”Thanks, that was fun,” I said, staring into his eyes.
”Sure was. Maybe we can do it again next week.”
”Sure, maybe.”
By the time I got home, I was sober, and my puke breath had disappeared. All I had was a headache and a guilty feeling that I”d behaved badly.
”Hey,” I said, closing the door behind me.
I walked down the corridor and into the lounge. Dad was passed out on the sofa, empty beer cans scattered everywhere.
”Hey, Lyra,” said Mom. I turned to face her. Her cheeks were red, and she seemed out of sorts, slurry and drunk. Now I knew how she felt, though. ”How was Janey?”
”Fine, just fine.”
”Good, what did you do?”
Flashes of drinking with Al popped into my head, of how he helped me, of how I almost chucked up all over him, and I smiled.
”Just chilled out, you know, teen stuff.”
”I remember being a teen. Those were the days, carefree and no troubles. You make the most of it, you hear me,” she said, placing her hand on my shoulder.
”I”ll try, Mom. I”ll try.”