Page 30 of Rough Start

“When is this prison sentence going to end?” Grier asked as he, Kye, and three others moseyed into the twenty-four-hour diner on Main street. Their bikes were parked under the overhang outside as the early spring rain poured.

“Hardly a prison sentence,” Kye noted as the five of them slid into a booth near the register. “At least we’re allowed out of the clubhouse.”

“In groups like a fucking field trip,” Grier grumbled, and they ordered a round of milkshakes and burgers from the older woman working the late shift. Even Kye couldn’t deny how restless he was getting. They’d spent the better part of three weeks since the incident with Max working internal investigations. Prospects weren’t allowed out without being in groups of three or more and even the patched members were on restrictions. Feeling like they were under the watchful eye of their babysitter, this evening’s being Wayne, they all felt more than a little on edge.

“Move,” Wayne barked as he shoved Grier out of the booth.

“Where are you going?” Grier asked harshly as he rubbed his shoulder where he’d landed hard on the red and white tile floor.

“To take a piss,” Wayne snapped back, “wanna hold my dick for me?”

“Hell no, I’m not your sister!” Wayne flipped him off as he moved toward the bathroom, and Kye helped Grier to his feet. “That guy is an asshole,” Grier stated as he slid back into the vinyl booth.

“He’s stressed like the rest of us,” Nathan, one of the other prospects said. “Think one of us should go check on him?”

“There are sides of Wayne I don’t want to see. You go check if you’re that worried,” Kye suggested. Nathan and his brother, Zeke, stood and followed after their bald-headed senior.

“Something weird about that,” Kye thought out loud and watched the two boys disappear into the bathroom.

“Think it’s a circle-jerk?” Grier asked as he dove into the fries that had been delivered to the table.

“You’re a dumbass,” Kye stated and leaned a little closer to Grier. “When have you known Wayne to ride out with prospects?”

“Never,” Grier answered with a mouthful.

“So… you don’t think it’s weird he asked us?”

“What are you implying?”

“I don’t know, man,” Kye said, leaning back as he noticed the three guys heading back their way. “Just keep your eyes open. You’re the only one I trust right now.”

“See, that means a lot to me,” Grier chided with a teasing smile. Although he was kidding, Grier admittedly felt the same way toward his friend. The two were more like brothers than friends, especially after all they’d been through the last few months of prospecting. “What’s that all about?” Grier asked in a sudden change of subject. Kye looked over his shoulder where Grier was pointing and saw Wayne, Nathan, and Zeke surrounding someone near the front register. Their hoots and taunts gave the impression they’d found someone to taunt.

“Probably just messing with one of the locals. You know how they get when they’re bored.”

“Yeah, she’s kinda cute, though,” Grier commented. Kye turned completely in his seat to get a better view, and he felt his heart drop when he saw the brunette trying to push her way through them.

“Eli…”

* * *

“I hate you!” Eliana screamed with all the rage that was pent up inside of her. Henry was fumbling about, a pitcher of water in one hand and a roll of paper towels in the other.

“Don’t yell!” Henry complained as his bloodshot eyes twitched frantically. Eliana grabbed the paper towels from him and desperately tried to dry off the ruined books and papers on the counter. The air was still thick with smoke, and overhead the circular smoke detector was blaring.

“Don’t touch anything!” Eliana yelled and used her shoe to smash the smoke detector off the ceiling. It fell to the floor, and she stomped on it several times until it stopped beeping. As silence fell in the room, she turned to survey the damage. The entire kitchen counter was charred, bits of plastic pieces were melted, and the stack of college books along with her carefully mapped out plans for Harvard were singed black.

“It was an accident, Liana,” Henry said, still lamely holding the water pitcher. “I was trying to cook dinner a-an-and…”

“And what?” she snapped before picking up the empty bottle of whiskey from the counter. “Had a little drink? Dad, my books are ruined! Do you know how much those cost?”

“I’ll buy you more…”

“I don’t want any more money from you! In fact, I don’t want anything from you ever again! Don’t talk to me, don’t look at me, and I swear to God if you so much as touch any of my belongings before I move out in two weeks, I will set the rest of the house on fire myself!”

“Don’t say that…”

“I’m done with you!” Eliana hurled the bottle against the wall, the glass shattering and spraying around the room like needles. Grabbing her raincoat, she stormed from the house, slamming the door behind her.