Free 18 Things by Jamie Ayres Page A

the sliding glass door to the backyard, slinging the shirts over his shoulder.
    I followed but took one last look around Conner’s room; the memories of our childhood together made my chest ache.
    Lawn chairs and blankets littered the backyard, adding to the outdoor glider and two sitting hammocks, always a standard around the Anderson’s fire pit, which burned bright. Most people crowded around the fire, telling their favorite stories about Conner. Loria dashed up the stairs of the deck leading to their dining room and kitchen to fetch more food, her dozen beaded necklaces swinging as she went. Mom trailed behind her.
    Nicole sat at our favorite spot on the glider, so I joined her. I eyed a basket, packed with s’mores ingredients, on the grass by my feet and then noticed Tammy and Nate relaxing in the two hammock chairs adjacent to the glider. The guys must’ve invited him to the ‘party.’ I didn’t even know he was here, and the sight of him next to Tammy made me cringe.
    Odd.
    As soon as he saw me, he got up and then squeezed himself into the glider with Nicole and me.
    “Where have you been?” Even in faded jeans and an olive green hoodie, he looked handsome. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
    I swung the glider back and forth and admired the way he swept his hair back from his face. “Stalker.”
    He grinned, the smile quickly becoming my favorite. “Totally.”
    “What are those boxes of sparklers for?” Sean asked, nodding to a stockpile on the ground.
    Nicole handed me and Nate sodas from the cooler next to her. “Loria and Robert already handed them out to everyone. Kinda like party favors, I guess, since Conner liked them so much.”
    Kyle’s lips turned up into a huge smile, and he sat in the hammock next to Tammy. “He really did. This is actually kind of perfect.”
    Nate turned to me and whispered in my ear. “By the way, you look really cute tonight.”
    In Conner’s honor, I’d dressed up a bit. I borrowed Nicole’s brown sequined V-neck tunic, pairing it with my old jeans featuring a few torn holes in them and Tammy’s fur trim boots.
    I couldn’t fathom looking cute to a guy. Taking in Nate’s smile again, I met his eyes for a second, but I was sure I blushed because heat rose in my cheeks, so I looked away.
    “Did you get it?” I asked Tammy, because I let her and Nicole in on my plan earlier today about accomplishing number four on my list. I figured getting the
Cantankerous Monkey Squad
on the radio was a definite step in the right direction for landing a record deal.
    Tammy nodded just as I spotted Loria and Mom coming down the stairs with cheese and veggie trays.
    Perfect timing
. I glanced at my watch. 8:00 p.m. I nodded to Tammy, signaling for her to make the announcement.
    “Holla, holla, holla!” she shouted, holding up the radio. “Shh! Olga has a surprise.”
    A few seconds later, the DJ delivered the introduction. “It’s time! Every Saturday at eight o’clock I play ya something new. So, here’s one from a local teen band called Cantankerous Monkey Squad. Today, I met their biggest fan, Olga Worontzoff, and asked her how the band got their name. She said their lead singer, Conner Anderson, thought of it. Their self-titled debut explains it all. Here’s to you, Conner; may you rest in peace as your music plays on.”
    Everyone listened quietly, seeming to savor the moment just as much as I did. Kyle tapped out the drumbeat over the speakers, Sean strummed his guitar, and Conner belted out the lyrics. “Down on Washington Street/ I saw a deal I couldn’t beat/ Fifteen dollars for a cymbal-banging cantankerous monkey/ I thought to myself, ain’t that funky/ You had a red and white striped shirt and yellow pants/ But there was something disturbing I didn’t see at first glance/ Red rings painted around wide open eyes/ Could take home Most Scary prize/ I reached into my wallet, but it was empty/ But that’s okay, ‘cause Mom and Dad have plenty/ So