Part 12 (1/2)

I glanced out the window and watched the clouds gather as we flew through a thick group, the window becoming white, and nearly opaque. With a sigh I closed my eyes again, too.

”No way! That one does not look like a clown.” Beth exclaimed, squinting her eyes.

”Yes it does. Look,” I raised my arm up toward the sky, and pointed with my finger. ”See, there's his nose, that great big round cloud, then see how it kind of goes up into a point? That's his hat.”

”It does not go up into a point.” She insisted.

”Well, it did before the clouds started to move.” She looked over at me, one brow raised, looking at me like I was nuts. I grinned. ”Well, it did.” She shook her head, and turned it to look back up at the sky.

”You know, you really suck at this game, Em. You try and make too elaborate of shapes. Whatever happened to just plain old fas.h.i.+oned bunny rabbits and bananas?” I shrugged.

”I don't know. I guess I just see what I see.”

I raised my arms over my head, feeling the cool, thick gra.s.s under my hands as I stretched my body, closing my eyes in pleasure with a groan.

”It is so nice out here.” I breathed as I relaxed again, my hands laying on my stomach.

”Un huh.” Beth agreed, placing her hands behind her head, then reaching down to scratch her leg where a blade of gra.s.s was making her itch. ”Your birthday ended up being a pretty nice day. Not too hot, like it usually is.” She turned on her side, her head resting on her hand, and looked down at me. ”Tonight we're all going down to the lake on the east side. Wanna come?” I looked up at her and wrinkled my nose.

”No way. You remember what happened last time I went to one of your friend's parties.”

”Different people. It'll just be me, Collin, Mary and Sheila.”

”Nah.” I looked back up into the sky. ”Why tonight, though, Em? Aren't you going to stay for our party here? Aunt Kitty and Ron are coming, and maybe one or two of my friends from Honor Society.” I glanced over at her again. She shook her head and looked over toward the house.

”Nah. We've had this planned for awhile, and that's all your family. Besides, ” she rolled over and sat up, wrapping long arms around her bent knees. ”Your friends from Honor Society look at me like I'm a leper.”

”Okay.” I was hurt, but I knew she was right. None of my friends understood why Beth and I were best friends, and I suspected that her friends wondered the same thing. That was just the way things were now. ”You guys going to drink, again?” I asked, sitting up next to her. She glanced over at me and nodded.

”Probably some, yeah.” She said. Beth had started to do that a lot. It worried me for her. Her mother had made such a mess out of her own life, and in some ways, that of Beth, and I did not want to see Beth make the same mistake. I had heard that alcoholism ran in families. ”Well, ” she said, standing, and reaching down to help me up. ”You said I could have the first ride in your Jeep.”

We walked around the back gate to the front yard. I could not help but smile as I spotted my birthday present. Never in a million years did I think I'd get a car for my sixteenth birthday. I guess it was good having a father who managed a car dealers.h.i.+p.

The Jeep was a 1979 model, and was painted bright yellow with a black, rubber roll bar. The color was not one that I would have chosen, but I had to admit that it had character to it. I sure would be able to spot it easily in a parking lot.

Beth jumped into the pa.s.senger side, and I climbed behind the wheel, bringing it rumbling to life. I grinned over at my best friend, and backed out of the drive. We drove around town in companionable silence, neither feeling the need to talk. I had left the hard top at home, so the warm, summer air ran through our hair, and our lungs, beating out the cold, stale air of the winter finally gone by. It felt so good just to be with Beth, no pressure from any of our friends, or our new lives. Just us. Like it used to be. We rarely saw each other at school, and I was rarely home before nightfall with all of the after school activities I had, and with Beth's Drama practice. It was times like these that I grew to look forward to, and treasure.

Whatever happened, wherever we ended up, Beth would always be my best friend.

”We are approaching Denver International Airport. Please make sure your chairs and trays are securely locked into their upright position, and that your seatbelts are securely in place, snug around you. We are preparing for landing.”

I held on to the arms of my chair as I felt the plane lose alt.i.tude, glancing outside at the lowered wing as we banked around for a solid landing on the runway. I saw the town of Denver spread out before us as we got closer, and I could not help but smile. It had been far too long since I'd been home. I knew Rebecca and I still had a three hour drive ahead of us, but nonetheless, I was glad to be home.

We rented a silver Toyota Camry, and made our way out to I-25, and headed south.

I was tired as I pulled into the driveway of my house, a long day behind me. It was dark, well after eight on a warm, late September night. I grabbed my backpack from the back of my Jeep, and slung it over my shoulder as I headed toward the house, only to be met by my mother who ran out onto the front porch.

”Hey.” I said, my brows drawn.

”Honey, have you seen Beth?” she asked.

”What?” I was confused.

”Did you see Beth today at school?”

”No, I-” come to think of it, I hadn't seen Beth for a couple of days.

”Nora has been calling all day. Beth hasn't been home since Monday.”

”It's Thursday.” I said, my voice incredulous. My mother shrugged.

”Honey, you've got to go look for her.” Before the words were out of my mother's mouth, I had hopped back into the Jeep, tossing my bag in back, and she roared to life. The tires squealed in protest as I pealed out of the drive.

I started at all the places and parts of town that I knew Beth hung out at, to no avail. Starting at the lake, and heading down Northern, checking out all the bars. Beth was underage, but most never carded her as she looked to be no less than in her mid-twenties. Nothing. I drove by the school, and stopped by the park. I had to think. Where else does she go? I rally didn't know any of her friends.

”d.a.m.n.” I breathed, slamming my hand into the wheel. Where could she be? I knew that lately she was getting with a crowd that was notorious for partying, no matter what time of day, or if it was a school night. It didn't matter. What was that girl's name that I saw her with all the time? Carry? Corey? Cora. I could still see her with her short, dyed black hair, pale skin, and dark make-up. She always wore black, usually leather. I had seen her and Beth together more than once. Where did her group usually hang out? I remembered overhearing some kids talking about them one day, and they said they all hung out at some old run-down warehouse. Where was it? I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel as I thought, and then like the proverbial light bulb, it clicked, and I put the Jeep in gear, and made a U-turn in the middle of the street, headed off toward the Looms. That's what they called it.

It was nearly eleven when I finally found the place. The neighborhood was industry, and did not look exactly safe. I was extremely nervous as I slowed the Jeep, looking around to find the exact building. I heard deep, pounding music, and turned toward it, finding a ma.s.sive, old gray cinderblock building with large windows, most painted over black. The only light the place spewed was from the door on the side. Deciding that was probably the place to go, I pulled up to it, and killed the ignition. With a deep breath, and a small prayer to whoever, I headed inside.

The place was too big to be lit very well by the scattering of naked bulbs hanging, so the light was dim, the air heavy and acrid, smelling of old cigarettes, and the sweet smell of pot. I looked around to find various groups of people huddled in corners, talking, some making out. My eyes bulged as I saw a couple actually having s.e.x under a far table. I scanned the room some more, seeing some dancing to the bone-shattering music. Two women were grinding together, and then I saw a figure slumped against an old loading dock door. The figure was completely in black, as were most of the people, her upper shoulders were against the metal door, her legs straight out in front of her, her arms laying limply at her side. My eyes began to move on when I froze.

”Beth.” I whispered, my gaze zooming back in on the unmoving woman. ”My G.o.d.” I ran over to her, not caring about the strange looks I got as I pa.s.sed different people and groups. Just as I was about to reach her, Cora stepped into view. She walked over to Beth, but then her head swung around when she caught me coming out of the corner of heavily blacked eyes with eyeliner. ”Get away from her!” I yelled, as I reached my friend, throwing myself to my knees next to her. Beth's eyes were open, but extremely glazed and unfocused. Cora said nothing as she stood over us, looking down at me. ”What is wrong with her?” I asked, my hand reaching out and righting Beth's lulled head. Eyes that were so dilated the blue irises barely showed.

”I don't know. I think she had some bad s.h.i.+t.” Cora said, her voice casual. I looked up at her, incredulous.

”Some bad s.h.i.+t?” I repeated. ”Does she need a doctor?” I asked, near hysterical.

”Nah. Just get 'er home, and let her sleep. Give her a bunch to drink. Water's usually good.”

”Come on, Beth honey. I'm getting you out of here.” I said. I could feel my throat tightening, and wanted to get the h.e.l.l out of there before I out and out bawled. ”Help me!” I yelled up at the girl as I tried to lift Beth's dead body weight. With Cora's help, I managed to get Beth buckled into the pa.s.senger side of the Jeep. ”You stay away from her.” I growled at the girl from behind the wheel. She shrugged as she took a step back toward the door.

”She needs to learn to hold her s.h.i.+t better. She's a good lay, though.” And disappeared into the warehouse. I stared after her, my mouth hanging open, then turned back to Beth. She lay with her arms hanging over the sides of the seat, her head back against the head rest, mouth open, eyes closed.

”Beth? Beth!” I shook her when she didn't answer. Her head lulled again, but then she righted herself, and glanced over at me.

”Huh?” she slurred, followed by a grin.

”I'm getting you the h.e.l.l out of here.” I muttered, nearly killing the Jeep as I ground the gears in my haste.

The neighborhood was quiet as I pulled into our drive. I sat in the Jeep for a minute trying to decide what to do. I looked over at the Sayers' house, no lights were on at all. Gee. Nora must have been really worried about her daughter who'd been gone for three days.

”b.i.t.c.h.” I muttered as I climbed out of the car, and went around to Beth's side. ”You've got to help me, Beth.” I said as I unbuckled her. She nearly fell out, taking me with her. She got to her feet, and I had to push her up against the side of the car to hold her up so I could get my balance. ”Okay. We can do this.” I moved to the side of her, and slung her arm around my shoulder. ”Ready?”

”Huh?” I wrapped my other arm around her waist as we started very slowly toward the porch, the light on to guide us.

”One step at a time, honey. That's it. Good girl.” Finally making it to the door, the screen door flew open, scaring the c.r.a.p out of me, and nearly making Beth fall to the gra.s.s.

”Thank G.o.d you found her.” My mother said, her eyes narrowing in worry at Beth's condition. She wrinkled her nose. ”My G.o.d. Where has she been? A land fill?”

”Long story, mom. Just help me get her to my room.” I muttered.