Adapt (I)

TJR Garcia © 2020

SCARLET

I swish the scotch, allowing the liquid to graze every taste bud. It is only crude, three-year Johnnie Walker, but it is what is available at this party. I swallow it with a wince.

I sit around the struggling campfire in the back yard, under the blanket of dark clouds, with a few people that I know from school. The coals pulse as the air shifts slightly around us. There is almost no wind tonight.

None of the people sitting around me talk to me, but at least I don’t look alone. I blend in here, hoping that is enough to fool Boe. I have been feeling his presence floating around the party, but he has yet to come directly to me. Caron had abandoned me not twenty minutes after arriving, which suited me just fine. I just sit and watch the fire as it takes breath after starving breath, sipping at my scotch.

Matt Schneider, the boy in the group, climbs to his feet to go and get another drink. He asks all of us if anyone wants anything. When we all shake our heads he walks away, leaving Cass, Anita and me.

Cass and Anita instantly begin whispering in hushed tones, clearly for my benefit.

“Have you seen Boe?” Anita asks as soon as Matt was out of hearing distance.

My attention spikes.

Cass leans in. “Is that the new guy?”

Anita grins. “Yes.”

Cass’s eyes light up. “Do you think he has a girlfriend?” She looks around for him.

Anita playfully pushes Cass’s shoulder.

I throw back some more scotch, hoping that it will burn this conversation out of my mind.

Caron comes out of nowhere and plunks in my lap. “What’cha doing, looser?”

I put my arm around her. “Waiting to hold your hair out of the toilet as you retaste vodka and pineapple juice.”

She leans her forehead against mine. “I’m escaping from Mr. Rats-tail.” Her gaze floats to a guy that is probably old enough to be her father, who is watching us with his jaw dropped. “Let’s give him the wrong idea for a second?”

“No worries,” I wink.

She kisses me on the cheek and pretends to whisper in my ear.

I laugh at the looks Cass and Anita give me and Caron.

The party thrums on behind us, Caron swaying to the low beat seeping through the walls of the house. The fire crackles in front of us, like small cries for help. I swallow as I remember the way the blood had choked Mia as she bled out. I throw back the rest of my drink.

I look over to edge of the party and see Mr. Rats-tail still hovering. I’m sure he was trying to figure out if he did or didn’t like the new development in his pursuit of Caron.

I look up at Caron and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I need another drink.” I lift my cup to show Caron. “Would you like one too?”

Caron gave me one of her dazzling smiles. It was in moments like this that I really understood why almost every man on this planet couldn’t help but fall under her spell. She is everything that a woman should be. She is smart, cunning, witty, but at a first glance all you see is a face that would break angels’ hearts.

“A drink would be nice. But only a half strength. Just enough to maintain the buzz.” She got up so that I could. When I get to my feet she sits back down, as if to keep my spot warm. “Hurry back.”

I wink at her again and turn to go inside.

As I walk inside, I let my smiling façade fall, focusing on scanning everyone and everything for signs of Boe.

I make it to the edge of the make-shift dance floor. I scan the group of people, their bodies moving to the beat of the too-loud music. The light of a colourful at-home laser throws beams through the space, lending the perfect ambiance for bad decisions. Satisfied that I wouldn’t see Boe in here, I wind my way to the darkest corner of the room and find the drinks table, stocked with whatever alcohol that people found to supply the party. It is not pretty. It reeks of spilled alcohol, and empty bottles are strewn everywhere around it. I find the scotch, which had been barely touched, and pour some into my cup. Then I work on Caron’s, only putting about a quarter of a nip in it, then filling it with pineapple juice.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on end about point zero two of a second before I hear him.

“You’re getting better at this,” he says, his lips pressed to my ear.

I spin quickly and face him, scared to have my back to him. “Getting better at what?”

The low light coming from the makeshift dance floor pans across his face, highlighting his grin. “Hiding from me.”

“I’m not hiding.”

“Let’s not call it hiding. Let’s call it avoiding.”

“Whatever.” I turn slightly to pick up Caron and my drinks, then I push around him and begin to walk away. Boe may have caused a lapse in concentration yesterday, but the last thing I am going to do is stop and listen to another HQ sales pitch.

Boe falls into stride beside me. “I’m going to be honest with you, I’m one of those annoying children that nags until I get the toy that I want.”

I push through people, trying to engineer my escape with hands full of drinks. “Annoying? Yes. Child? Yes. But I’m not giving in. And I am not a toy.”

“That’s what they all say.”

“Do they all want to rip your spine from your back?”

He shrugs. “Most of them, I’m guessing.”

I roll my eyes. “Boe, I’m going to be honest with you. There is no way in hell that I am going to HQ. I would murder the entire building.”

I keep winding my way through people, hoping that Boe would fall behind. The crowd fills every inch of the house, with people drinking, dancing, and talking, among other things. I find some people I don’t recognize and hand them the drinks, hoping to free my hands so that I can defend myself if needed. They take them without question, their inebriated state aiding the pass off. I turn again and keep weaving through the crowd, changing my direction. Boe stays on my heels easily. My clench my jaw and continue, negotiating my way through the couples pressed against the hallway walls and spot the bathroom door.

I duck in and begin to shut the door behind me. Boe’s shoe catches between it and the jam.

“I have to use the bathroom.”

He flattens his hand against the door, pushes it open and steps in. Then he shuts the door behind him, spinning slowly to face me. His expression is determined. Every time he steps towards me, I step back, until I am pressed against the cold tiled wall.

“I don’t think you understand. If I don’t get what I want, I take it.”

I set my jaw. It is difficult not to be overcome by him. I have never been looked at by a guy in this way, and somethinag about the way he looks at me through his brows makes my stomach flip-flop.

It is also difficult not to kill him in this moment, as he backs me into a corner and my instincts to run or fight shudder to life.

Then I have an idea.

I place my hands on his chest. “You need to get one thing straight...”

His eyes light up with victory, so I shove him. The push sends him across the bathroom. He lands awkwardly in the bathtub. I walk to the tub and stand over him. “I’m not the prize at the end of your little game. I’m not going to HQ, so you can just forget about it. If I hear another word about HQ, I will knee you in the jewels so hard you will taste them.”

He glares at me, and I smirk.

I turn and walk to the door.

“I know.” Boe calls.

I look back and give him a condescending smile. “Know what?”

“About your parents.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?!” I scream, a concoction of anger, hurt and confusion bubbling in my voice.

Boe climbs out of the tub, his limbs struggling for traction. “Scarlet-”

Someone turns off the music that has been vibrating the house.

“No, get away from me.” I reach for the doorknob, but Boe pulls me back.

“Scarlet, I didn’t-”

“I hate you.” I throw off his grip and fling the door open. Everyone has stopped what he or she are doing and has turned to stare at me.

“Scar, just listen.” Boe pleads behind me.

“Don’t call me that!” I push my way out through the crowd that is looking at me with wide eyes. My fingers tremble and my vision is blurring.

Caron meets me at the front door. “What the hell is happening in here?”

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean, ‘nothing’? What happened to the music?”

“Caron, drop it, alright?” I push past her.

“Where are you going?”

“Home. Get someone to give you a ride.”

I set off down the street. When I am out of sight, I begin to run. I run to the other side of town, to my little house. By the time I burst through the front door, my tears have dried into salty streaks on my cheeks.