Lazy afternoons and evenings with Liam and Lanston make life feel cozy.
I wonder what will happen once we leave this place. Will we fall out of touch and go about our lives until we inevitably get sick again? Or will we remain intertwined and stay sane?
I wonder.
Jericho looks particularly relaxed today. He’s been grumpy and stressed out all week leading up to the Fall Festival.
“Is everyone ready? Get with your partners and meet in the south parking lot. I need a full head count by six p.m., so don’t be fucking late,” the counselor snipes, but he looks really excited.
“Damn, Jericho, got a date meeting you tonight or something?” Liam jests, raising a brow like he’s genuinely interested in knowing our counselor’s business.
“It’s no concern of yours,” Jericho responds without looking up from his clipboard, but I don’t miss the red blooming across his cheeks.
Lanston throws his arm over my shoulder and pulls me in close. He has a big smile and a glimmer in his eyes. “Are we going to race to town again?”
Liam shoots him a dirty look as he grumbles, “Wynn’s my partner. Aren’t you going with Yelina?”
Lanston fidgets with his baseball hat before groaning and sliding his hands down his neck. “Yeah, I was hoping I could get out of it though.”
I shove his shoulder. “That’s terrible.”
“She’s such a bitch sometimes.” He avoids my eyes.
Liam shoves him playfully too. “You’re an asshole. Go meet her before she goes on a manhunt.”
Lanston lowers his shoulders, defeat and dread visibly pulling his spirit down.
“Liam and I will be there too. We’re all going to hang out anyway,” I tell him.
His hazel eyes rise to mine. “Promise me a dance?”
I smile and hold out my pinky. “Promise.”
Liam glowers and grumbles, “One dance. The rest are mine.”
It’s enough to lighten Lanston’s mood. That handsome smile returns to his lips and he heads back to the mansion to meet with Yelina.
Liam takes my hand and pulls me toward the garage. He punches in the code for the door and my heart leaps when he looks back at me. His blue eyes are bright and weightless today. “You like going fast in cars too, or just motorcycles?” He swings his car keys around his forefinger and raises a curious brow. He’s teasing me.
I shrug. “Let me drive and you’ll find out.”
“Yeah, right.”
The Camaro’s lights flash as he unlocks it and opens the passenger door for me.
“You scared, Waters?” I brush his cheek with my hand as I pass him and take my seat.
He chuckles and lowers his head. “No. But you will be, sunshine.”
Jesus fucking Christ.
I am scared.
Liam floors it with a maniacal grin on his face that I’ve yet to see. He cranks the music up and blares “Thunderclouds” by LSD. He glances at me, that adrenaline-pumping energy filling his eyes, and I squeal when he takes the turn onto the highway like a speed racer. The engine roars and the wheels scream against the asphalt.
“Liam!”
He laugh-shouts above the music, “I thought you liked going fast?”
“Not when you’re driving like a complete psychopath!” I cling desperately to the handle above the door. Liam’s grin only grows and he finally slows down to an appropriate speed. I take a deep breath but my heart still races inside my chest.
The euphoria of fear still pulses through my veins. It’s a good feeling to get high on.
“All right, sorry for freaking you out.” He spreads his hand over my thigh and keeps the other relaxed on the steering wheel. “It was pretty fun though, right?” His blue eyes are steady on the road ahead and I can’t help but study him in this moment. He’s perfect, heart-stopping. The setting sun outlines his sharp features and the tattoos on his neck and wrists stand out in contrast to the heather-gray sweater he’s wearing tonight. His black rings glisten, reminding me of my own. My thumb smooths over the matte ring around my index finger. Besides Lanston, Liam is the only person that makes me feel alive.
“Yes, it was.” I lean over and kiss his cheek.
Bakersville is so busy we have to park a few blocks away from the meeting spot where Jericho and the others are. The scents of pumpkin spice, cinnamon, freshly fallen leaves, and coffee fill the air. All my favorite things are in one place and the crisp chill in the air makes it all the more cozy.
Liam notices my giddiness and grins. “That much of an autumn girl, huh?”
“Don’t you love it too?”
“Yeah, I do. But I enjoy seeing how much you like it better.”
My cheeks warm and I stuff my hands into the pockets of my black sweater as we walk down the street to the gathering site. Liam’s arm is wrapped around me and for a delusional moment, this feels like a date. Happy, full of smiles and love.
“There you two are.” Jericho marks something off on his clipboard. The lampposts and the hanging lights that connect the buildings on the main street light up.
I’m so eager for the night of activities. Getting out last weekend for tattoos was fun. We could use this reprieve from the sessions, away from the rumors and secrets left hidden away at Harlow. I’ve long-since stopped pestering Liam about the missing people. After discovering that Crosby is somehow linked to them, I thought it best to leave it in the basement, though I still often think of them.
Lanston and Yelina spot us from across the road. We meet them in the center of the blocked-off street. Lanston wears his baseball hat and black leather coat as usual. Yelina frowns at us as we walk up and crosses her arms. Her slouchy burgundy sweater looks really good paired with her black skinny jeans.
“Hey, how was the ride over?” Liam pats Lanston on the back.
“Horrible.” Yelina scowls as she brings out some lip gloss from her purse and coats her lips with a fresh layer of red.
Lanston’s face is hysterical. His brows are pulled so close together it looks like he has a unibrow and his frown is that of a man who’s had his dick punched.
I can’t keep the laugh from my voice when I ask, “What the fuck happened?”
“Yelina swerved off the road to avoid a bird and went straight into the cornfield. There are corn husks in my soul now and the whole ordeal took at least ten years off my life.” Lanston dramatically slumps his shoulders and moves to stand behind me as if I’ll protect him from her.
“The maze cornfield? Oh my God, you’re lucky you didn’t hit anyone!” I try to turn and grab Lanston but he keeps circling behind me.
Men.
Yelina scoffs at us. “If your friend drove a car instead of a fucking motorcycle, then we could’ve avoided all this.”
“I would’ve lent you my helmet,” I murmur and she narrows her eyes at me.
“Come on, guys, let’s regroup and just have fun tonight.” Liam throws his arms over me and Lanston, guiding us back toward Jericho. Yelina stomps ahead of us and I don’t miss her cold glance back at me.
“Can I just stick with you two tonight? She suuuucks.” Lanston pouts but Liam ignores him.
The night air has a way of calming me. Jericho orders everyone around with ease; he was born to be bossy, and he thrives with the results. We help set up free-standing bar tables with black tablecloths and candles. More people start to show up, which didn’t seem possible, but I think this festival is sort of popular for this remote place. Apparently, people from all over come just to experience it.
I pass out brochures with the night’s agenda and Liam hands out alcohol wristbands to adults.
It’s hard not to stare at him. His heather-gray sweater hides most of his tattoos but I can still see some reaching past his wrists. The onyx rings he wears on his thumb and middle finger are lovely in the amber glow. His eyes lift to mine and instead of looking away like I usually do, I hold his gaze.
He mouths, “Having fun?”
I shrug and mouth back, “I guess so.”
Life here isn’t so bad. It’s a place far from the city and bustle. I think if I lived somewhere like this, I could be happy. Find myself with nature and step away from the unrealistic standards of the buzzing world.
This is the sort of life I was meant for.
And that’s okay. It’s okay to be small and hidden away. Most gems are.
Self-affirmations.
Jericho claps his hands and our group assembles around him. He raises a fresh beer over his head. “Great job tonight, everyone. Now go enjoy the festival and stick with your partners. I’ll be doing a head count before we head back at midnight. If you want to leave before then, you need to come find me and I’ll mark you off.”
Lanston and Yelina saunter over to us. At least they look like they’ve cheered up a little. I’m not sure why Yelina isn’t interested in Lanston. He’s handsome, funny, and charming. Maybe she’s just into broody, dark-haired guys.
Aren’t we all?
“Well, the autumn dance starts in twenty—you guys want to check out the night market first and see what they have?” Liam asks. Yelina and I light up instantly.
She’s not so bad; I think she just feels outcast because the three of us are so close. I link arms with her, an act of good will, and her eyes widen with surprise. She doesn’t say anything, but a relieved and thankful smile crosses her lips.
“Come on, boys!” She flips her blonde hair and pulls me close like we’re sisters. “Wynn and I will need someone to hold our bags.”
Liam and Lanston both look perplexed by my sudden warmth toward Yelina. But they shake it fast and chase behind us with glimmers of excitement in their eyes.
The night market is wondrous.
Little booths line the street. Orange, yellow, and brown banners hang above wooden stands and fairy lights overhead cast enough light to redden the bricks of the buildings. Musicians play their ambient, heartfelt songs and the warmth of people’s laughter melts my cold heart.
My chest curls with nostalgic emotions as I look at the handmade jewelry and paintings, sweaters and blankets knitted by the sweetest elderly women in town. But my favorite stand is the one selling bundles of dried flowers. Yelina quickly loses interest and drags Lanston with her to look at some purses.
Liam lingers around the dried baby’s-breath bundles. By the awed look on his face, I don’t think he’s seen dried bouquets before. The peonies have always been my favorite. They hold their faded colors so preciously.
“Why do you like these so much?” Liam asks, his chest pressed against my back, sending heat through my spine.
“It is a bit morbid, isn’t it?” I say as I caress one of the dry petals. “I think it’s because it makes me happy to see something that was once so beautiful in life be just as pretty, if not more so, in death. Forever beautiful.”
“You’re right. That is fucking morbid.” I turn to look at him and he catches my chin gently between his cold fingers. “But you wouldn’t be Wynn Coldfox if your mind wasn’t such a dark, lovely, wicked thing.”
