Free Leaving Serenity by Alle Wells Page B

cigarette. “To be honest, I’m not surprised. That was a pretty dumb stunt you pulled yesterday.”
                  I stared at him, not believing that my best friend wa s weaseling out on me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
                  Andy concentrated on his smoke instead of me. His words came out staggered and uncertain. “I mean, you just kinda flipped out. Jack was stoned out of his mind, and then you just kinda flipped out. I mean, that ain’t kosher for the business. I mean, even Rosie said something to me about it.”
                  Andy’s words sank into the pit of my stomach. “Oh. So I guess it’s okay that I’m leaving, huh?”
                  “Yeah, well, we had a blast this summer, right?”
                  “You pushing me out, Andy?”
                  “I’m just sayin’. You gotta go back to school anyway.”
                  I jumped when the bell on the door tinkled.  A wave of relief washed over my face when Jack walked in.
    “Hello, my lady, my man. What’s shakin’?”
    Andy and I sat still and avoided each other’s eyes. Jack threw one leg over the stool next to me.
    “Hey, this place is getting to be a real drag, Man. Why so bummed out, Dudes?”
    I sucked in a breath of air. The smoke from Andy’s cigarette lodged in my throat and I coughed.
    Andy said, “Summer’s over, Man. Annette’s got to go back to school.”
    Catching my breath, I said, “Not to mention that Andy’s practically firing me!”
    Jack wrapped a comforting arm around me. I just wanted to sink into his arms and hide. Andy’s stare ruined the mom ent, and I felt self-conscious.
    “No way, Jose! This here’s my main squeeze. She ain’t going anywhere. Ain’t that right, Baby?”
    Andy straightened up and crossed his arms. The words that flew from his mouth sounded stern, not like my friend.
    “Sorry, Rosie’s orders.”
    I stared at him wide-eyed. “You’re firing me, for real?”
    Andy’s face turned beet red. “Sorry, Annette. You know I like you, but Rosie’s real tight with the Sneeds. See, she don’t want no trouble. You know how it is around here. Everybody’s tight.”
    My eyes sent daggers through my friend. “Yeah, I see. Now, you’re on their side. You’ve moved right up there with all the other rapists and hillbillies in this sorry town.”
    Jack pulled me closer. “Whoa, don’t sweat it, Babe. Who needs the hassle? Whatta ya say we split this joint? We’ll go somewhere and hash it out. Whatta ya say?”
    I looked at Jack, the man I loved, the only friend I had left, and said, “Sure.”
    Andy threw my handbag and a fifty dollar bill on the counter. I snatched the money and my bag and followed Jack to the door.
    Jack waved on his way out. “Take it easy, Andy, my man!”
    “See ya, Jack. Sorry, Annette. See ya around?”
    My fiery eyes pierced him. “Not if I see you first!”
    I bolted out the door, repeating what I’d heard Jack say the first day I met him.
    “I’m so mad I could spit nails!”
    Jack pulled me into a warm embrace with one hand and revealed a joint in the other.
    “No sweat, Baby. I’ve got just the thing to fix that.”
    “Oh, Jack, I don’t need that. All I need is you.”
    Jack shrugged. “You snooze you lose, more for me. Hey, let’s take your ride. The van’s on the fritz.”
    “Sure. But call her Goldie; that way she’ll like you.”
    Jack jumped in the passenger seat. “Far out, Baby. Goldie’s a mean machine!”
    I felt better already as Jack and I spun out of the gravel parking lot. Later, sitting in a clover patch on the hillside, the weight of the clear blue sky fell on my shoulders. Smoking a joint in broad daylight made me feel paranoid. I was still fired up about getting fired and Andy’s attitude toward me. I hated Serenity where everybody’s tight . My parents’ meddling and the thought of starting school dragged me down. Most of