Kels Bar-B-Que 'N Grill
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After we pulled ourselves from the bathroom floor, Justin asked if I would like to hang out with him all day and I more than gladly accepted. I was halfway out the door when he stopped me.
"Um, Geneeva?"
I turned toward him, my hand resting on the doorknob. "Yeah?"
He cocked his head and rubbed his neck as if what he was about to say was uncomfortable. "No offense, but, I'm not taking you out while you look like...that."
I looked at him confused before I rushed to the bathroom. I gasped and nearly screamed when I saw the girl looking back at me in the mirror. Not only did I still have my dress on from last night but my hair and makeup was a mess. My hair sat atop my head in a heap of tangles and curls and some questionable things were tangled in there. My mascara was running down my cheeks and it had mixed with my foundation making it a mix of black and creme. My lipstick was smudged across my left cheek, and my eyeshadow had made its way onto my forehead. And my lashes were drooping or appeared to be because my eyeliner was dripping.
"Remind me never to drink that much again," I said still in awe at how horrible I looked.
Justin came and leaned against the door frame. "So I'm guessing you'll need a minute?"
I turned to look at him in horror. "A minute?!" I looked at myself in the mirror and pouted. "I'll need a good two."
After closing my self in my room for approximately two hours and fifty-two minutes, I was ready to go. I had fixed my makeup, coating it on a lot lighter, and untangled and straightened my hair. I put on faded jeans, a plain white tee, a dark purple hoodie, and black slip-ons.
"Better?" I asked walking into the living room where Justin was comfortably sitting on the couch.
"Better," he said standing and ushering me toward the door.
"So where are we going," I asked as we stepped onto the porch.
"Honestly," a nervous smile spread across his face as he rubbed his neck, "I have no idea." I looked at him my eyes full of amusement, and raised my brows while my lips formed a smirk. "My plan was to get you out of the house, I didn't think too far past that." I burst into laughter with my hand over my mouth as I bent back and my foot raised off of the ground. When I stopped for air his face was completely red making me laugh more.
"Come on," I said after I was finally done laughing, "-It's almost one. I know exactly where we could go."
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"Mhm! This is the best sandwich ever," Justin said stuffing his mouth with his second Triple Decker Heart Attack.
"You like it?" I said sarcastically, "I never would have guessed." He blushed and wiped at his face and I laughed.
We were sitting in my all time favorite restaurant, Kels Bar-B-Que N' Grill. It was a local family owned diner that the current owners grandma had started in 1968. Though the building was old, the family took special pride in the place and kept it up to par, altering the original look of the diner as little as possible. Most everything was the original design. The yellow-checkered wallpaper, matching checkered linoleum flooring, red leather booths and stools around the bar, rounded square walnut wood tables with light galvalum metal surrounding the perimeter. The only new age thing would be the TV. The old one of course couldn't last forever.
"I'm stuffed," Justin said sitting back rubbing his stomach.
"I hope you're not too full." I leaned in across the table, a mischievous grin on my face. "The night is still young." I hopped out of the booth and ran to the door.
"Hey," Justin said leaning out of the booth,"-aren't you forgetting something?"
I paused as if in thought, placing one hand on my hip the other on my chin, then I threw my arms by my side and smiled. "Nope." I ran out the door as his mouth dropped open.
"Where are we going now?" Justin asked as he caught my pace, stuffing his wallet back into his back pocket.
"Tulip Park," I walked one step ahead of him careful not to step on any cracks.
"Is that the big park in the middle of town. In the middle of the lake?" He asked from behind me.
I mumbled a reply and silently cursed as I stepped on another crack. Five cracks, sorry mom.
"What are you doing?" Justin asked running up next to me, a hint of amusement in his voice.
I started, completely forgetting he was there. "Oh just playing a little game."
"What game?"
I stopped and studied him to see if he was serious. He looked genuinely interested. "Uh," I started shocked,"just this little game I made up in like," my face contorted trying to remember,"-kindergarten. Someone told me that if I stepped on a crack I would break my moms back and I got fearfully scared of doing so. So when ever I walked I played this game in my head. Every crack I stepped on represented a crack forming in my mothers spine."
"Sounds fun." Before I could respond, he walked ahead of me playing the game. He stopped, turned around, and said,"Bet I can get there faster without putting my mother in a wheelchair."
My eyes widened in shock before a huge smile spread across my face. "You're on."
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"Oh please your mother is in a wheelchair for the rest of her life now," Justin said laughing as we walked into the park.
"Yours is too," I said. "When you fell you had to have landed on at least five cracks," I said in between breaths.
Neither of us could control our laughter, we were falling all over each other and tripping over our feet, as we stumbled to one of the park benches. I think we looked more drunk than weak from laughter.
We both plopped down next to each other, neither of us caring how close in proximity we were.
"Considering we both have the same mother now we both took part in completely paralyzing her." I giggled a little but stopped when I realized he wasn't laughing anymore.
His eyes had glazed over and I realized he wasn't with me anymore. "Justin?" I asked cautiously, placing a tentative hand on his thigh.
He started, as if suddenly remembering I was there.
"Oh. Sorry. I just zoned out." I must have looked worried because he placed his hand on mine and gave me a reassuring smile. "I'm fine."
I studied him awhile longer before deciding to leave it alone. I sat back and lied my head on his shoulder, my hand still resting on his thigh. He took my hand in his and traced circles on my palm.
We sat and watched the sun set behind the trees. Watched as the sky was engulfed in orange and red, then purple and blue, until the only light left was the moon shining through the thin clouds that were scattered about the sky.
After a beat of silence the lights that had been shining when we arrived cut out.
Justin sat up, suddenly alert, and I felt myself missing the warmth of his hand on mine and his chest hitting against my back as he brought air in and out of his lungs. I cursed myself for having such thoughts and sat up to place a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked at me but before he could say anything lights started to come on behind me. I turned and smiled when I saw the little circle of light in the middle of the park.
I turned back toward a confused Justin. "What's going on?" He asked.
I stood and dust myself off before turning and offering him my hand. "Come on and find out," I said an evil smile on my face. He looked unsure of himself but eventually gave in to the curiosity and took ahold of my hand. My smile grew bigger and I started to drag him to middle of the park, the Center.
I heard Justin take in a breath as we came into the clearing. I let go of his hand and turned to face him.
"This," I said waving my hands around me, "-is the Center."
The Center was were everything happened. It was where the entire town came together to celebrate. Whether it be Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, a birthday, that was where it happened. And the last eight days of September, from Tuesday to Tuesday, was just for the kids. Or more specifically, the Teenagers.
And we took it very seriously.
The tops of the trees around the Center were draped and covered in streamers balloons, sparkles, and confetti. The trees were connected by three ribbons at the trunks. Everything was either white, green or yellow. Or even all three. The colors we decided would represent us as teenagers.
The perimeter of the Center was lined with tall bamboo wood floor torches, all lit. Eight plastic white tables were also lined around the Center. They held various items. Food like pizza and chips, drinks like pop and beer. Gifts all wrapped in bows or some sort of wrapping paper. Sleeping gear, hygiene products and "bored" games and laser tag.
In the middle of the Center sat two large gazebos, one gray topped another blue. The blue one being the larger of the two. Under the gazebos were outdoor chairs and sofas.
The Center was already filled with kids and more where still filing in. All carrying various items for the tables scattered about.
"What is going on here?" Justin asked still in awe.
I clasped my hands in front of my chest and turned to take in the festivities. "We call it Freedom Week." I smiled as I took in the crowd. I swear it got bigger every year.
"Freedom Week?" He now stood beside me.
I started to walk farther into the Center and he followed. "At the end of September, the Center is reserved for the Teens in town for a whole week. We eat, play, and party all night and sleep all day."
"You stay here for a whole week?" He asked baffled.
"Most of us do," I stopped next to one of the refreshment tables and grabbed a slice of pizza and a Coco Cola. "Some people only come for a day or so, for the day, then they head back home. I don't. This makes for a nice getaway," I continue, taking a bite of the plain cheese pizza. We made our way to the gazebos to find a seat.
"What about school?"
"It still goes on." We found a nice spot to sit on one of the creme colored sofas. "If you don't stay here the full week you have to go back to school." I took a sip of my drink and relished the feel of it fizz in my nose.
"But couldn't you just not participate in Freedom Week and stay home from school anyway?" He asked.
"Yeah. If you want a truant officer knocking your door down," I said sarcastically. "If you don't go to school or participate in Freedom Week, someone will find out and you'll find yourself doing thirty days of community service."
He whistled and his shirt rose as he rubbed his hand through his hair. I held my breath as I caught a glimpse of his toned stomach. I looked back up realizing I was staring. He had a smirk on his face and that's when I realized he had been doing it on purpose. I felt my face heat as I downed the rest of my drink.
I held up my empty can for him to see. "I'm gonna go and throw this away," I said avoiding his gaze. I stood and he grabbed my hand.
"There's one right there." I looked in the direction his finger was pointing and sure enough there was one right next to the sofa, on the edge of the gazebo.
"Right," I said my neck getting hot. I threw the can into the bin and sat back down. Just as my butt hit the seat, feedback echoed across the Center causing everyone to wince.
I looked for the source of the noise and saw a boy standing in the middle of the Center on a wooden crate, a megaphone in his hand. He wore a green t-shirt, faded blue jeans, and ratty old sneakers. His honey blonde hair was slicked back atop his head and he wore a huge smile on his face causing his bottle green eyes to sparkle. I immediately recognized him as Walter Younge. He was a year above me but I saw him sometimes in the halls.
"Testing, testing," he said tapping the megaphone. "Can everyone hear?" The crowd gradually went silent, signaling the boy to continue. "Good. First, I'd like to start by saying Welcome, everyone, to Freedom Week." The crowd burst into cheers and applause. Walter waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet. The crowd got quite again and he continued. "Now as most of you know we usually kick this thing off with a good old fashioned game of man hunt." The crowd once again erupted but Walter continued. "This year it's the Bulldogs," the boys howled, "vs. the Lioness'," the girls, including me, growled. Justin looked at me a smile on his face. I punched him in his arm and he mouthed "ow" and rubbed his arm. "In other words, girls vs. boys. This year the boys shall be the hunters and the girls," a mischievous grin came across his face, "-the hunted." The boys started to cheer and holler and the girls roared in protest. "The game shall begin at seven. In about five minutes though the girls can go and hide while the boys gather themselves here. Until then feel free to help yourselves to the various snack items, make yourself comfortable in the resting and entertainment area, and enjoy your Freedom Week!" The crowd cheered once again as Walter stepped down then everyone went back to what they were doing.
"Man hunt?" Justin said from beside me, "Sounds fun."
I looked at him a grin on my face. "It is, and you know what?" I questioned, leaning into him.
He swallowed before stuttering out, "Wh-What?"
I leaned in closer to where our lips were inches apart. He looked at my lips and I couldn't help but smile. "You're going down." He quickly looked at me to make sure he had heard me right.
"Oh really?" He challenged me.
"Yep. And you know why?" I asked, my voice full of confidence.
"Why?" He responded incredulously.
"Because girls are awesome." I smiled and hopped off of the sofa making my way back into the park.
He got up too and came after me. "You aren't going anywhere until we settle this."
"There's nothing to settle." I picked up speed so I would stay ahead of him. But he had long legs and caught me just as I was concealed by the surrounding trees. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into him and my hands flew to his chest. He pulled me against him and rest his hands at the small of my back.
"I think there is." He said seductively.
"Oh yeah?" I said trying to catch my breath, aware of how close we were.
"Yeah," he said leaning down closer to me. I couldn't help but stare at his full pink lips. I grabbed a handful of his chest as he pulled me even closer.
He was centimeters away from my lips, and I found myself in the middle of deciding if I wanted him to kiss me or not. Before I could decide, a loud horn sounded around us. I threw my head to the side and saw all of the girls running from the Center.
"Well looks like you'll have to tell me what we're arguing about once you find me." In his stare of confusion I manged to slip from his grasp and run away from him. He yelled after me and almost came after me before someone stopped him.
A large smile spread across my face as I continued to run. I knew he would be looking for me all night. And that made me smile bigger. I know the feelings I had were probably not the feelings one should have toward her brother, but in that moment, I didn't care. I couldn't wait for him to find me. Hopefully we could finish what we started.