Page 12 of Left In The Dark

Lydia honks her horn, rolling down the window and calling over to me. “You aren’t reading in the barn before a night out, are you?”

“No,” I shout back, setting the cup I used to scoop the food back in the barrel. “I don’t do that anymore.” Or haven’t had a chance to revisit the idea. My dad always hated when I fell asleep out here, and how he had to come out and drag me back inside, eyes half shut.

“Too bad. I always dug the hay in the hair look.”

Looping around the car, I laugh and climb into the passenger seat. “I really doubt anyone misses that look.”

“Why? It was you. Always needing to be outside and around nature.”

“Nature’s much kinder than people.” I strap myself in and hang an arm out the window.

“You clearly need to watch more Animal Planet,” she teases.

I snort, leaning back in my seat as she pulls onto the road. The drive is shorter than I remember, and Reese is already at the club on his second beer by the time we join him. I order two drinks for me and Lydia, looking for a place to sit as we wait for the bartender.

Everything’s going great. We laugh and chat with the people around us, some I know from school who I’d never talked to much before today, and others who’d moved here after I left. Music plays and Lydia talks me into dancing with her when no one else volunteers. We all grow quiet when a man steps on stage to introduce the line up tonight.

The back of my shoe is stepped on as we all squeeze together to get a better view of the stage, and Reese shouts with the rest of the crowd as the announcer says the name of the band I’m assuming we’re here to see. I didn’t think anything could mess tonight up until a beer can is tossed at the back of my head. I ignore it, keeping my eyes forward as Lydia whispers something I can’t fully make out.

Another can hits my back, followed by a bottle breaking at my feet. “What the hell?” I step around it, lifting my shoe.

Reese glances behind us, wearing a scowl. “What’s your problem?”

“Your friend is,” the man shouts, and as the club’s lights make the area around us brighter, Hayden’s face comes more into focus. “He’s blocking our view.”

“Then move somewhere else,” Lydia bites out.

“We don’t want to,” Hayden snaps. “We like it here.”

“Just ignore him,” I say. “We can go stand near the exit. It’s closer to the stage anyway.”

“This is bullshit,” Reese mutters under his breath as I steer him through the crowd, not wanting to let this asshole ruin the show for us. Didn’t he get it all out of his system last night?

“I can’t believe this shit,” Lydia gripes. “We can always go somewhere else. I’m sure these guys will be playing somewhere close by again soon.”

“Yeah.” Reese, steps between us. “Maybe it’ll be hours away from here and we can roadtrip.”

“As fun as that sounds, guys, we’re already here, and leaving will only give Hayden what he wants.”

Lydia blows out a breath. “You’re right. Fuck that asshole.”

Reese and I grab more drinks before the first band steps on stage. Holding our spot, Lydia reaches out for her beer and starts shaking a fist in the air when the man at the microphone starts singing. Two songs later, Hayden is standing behind us again, merely inches away. He steps on my shoes, and when I move forward, so does he.

I grind my teeth as he chews his tobacco in my ear. There’s nowhere else for me to move so I stay where I am, my friends too into the show to notice what’s happening behind me. The moment he spits in my hood, I turn around and my fist connects with his face. Eyes bulging, he lifts his hand, and I hit him again, my next jab sending him sprawling to the ground. People move back, staring down at a bleeding Hayden on the floor.

Another man helps him to his feet and he rushes toward me, being yanked back before he can get too close. “Don’t,” Blake says, pulling at Hayden’s arm and fliting his gaze at him. “Just let it go, Hade. You’re the one who started it, after all,” he shouts over the music, close enough for the both of us to hear.

Is he coming to my defense? Was I also hit and now am hearing shit that isn’t real. Blinking my eyes, I glance between them, and it’s like I’m all Hayden can see with the way he’s narrowing in on me.

Wiping his face with the back of his hand, he spits between us and stands taller. “I think the fucker broke my nose. I should at least return the favor first.”

A man in a black staff shirt starts our way and Blake whispers in Hayden’s ear. His attention finally moves from me to all the worried expressions, his shoulders dropping. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Everything okay over here?” The security guard finally reaches us and we both nod.

“Yeah.” Hayden’s jaw twitches. “It was just an accident. This one’s a terrible dancer and didn’t see me behind him.”

“Yeah. I don’t get out much and it shows,” I say, shifting my feet.