Heather Truett - Kiss and Repeat

It was tradition for a junior to host the end of summer bash, and Ballard was the obvious pick. He had everything a good party host needed: a giant lake house, easy access to alcohol, and parents who worked more than they breathed.

I borrowed Moms car to make the thirty-minute trek to Lake Martin, freshly shaved and worried I went a bit too heavy-handed with the cologne. I kept the windows down to air myself out and tried not to stress about the night ahead.

Beside me on the seat, my phone buzzed, but I ignored it until I parked.

Where are you? It was Ballard.

I rolled up the windows and turned up the air-conditioning while I took three deep breaths. Then I replied, Outside. In the car.

Well get out of the car. You said you wanted to have more fun this year. Its a party. Have fun.

For Ballard, it was that simple. Show up. Have fun.

Im coming in. Probably. Just give me a second.

Ok. Im putting my phone away now. This is your call.

To party or not to party? Should that even be a question? I took one more deep breath, turned off the engine, and got out of the car.

Of course, I ran into Wade Bond not three feet from the front door. His blond hair was spiked in front like some boy band heartthrob, a girl in an American flag T-shirt draped across his arm.

Hey there, Luckie. Wades foot shot in front of me. I wasnt quick enough to dodge it, but I managed a little jump and turn, so I didnt fall flat on my face. Years of practice improved my balance when it came to recovering from bully-foot-in-the-path.

The girl with him laughed, and Wade called after me, Where you off to so fast? You need to see the wizard?

I flipped him the bird, but only because it was dark and he couldnt see me anymore. I would stand up to Wade eventually, but not while he was drunk. That wouldnt be smart.

In the living room, I spotted Erin Mielke and her latest boyfriend. She waved, and I stopped to say hi.

Erin and I met in first grade. I hid under her desk during a meltdown and she screamed and told the teacher I was looking up her dress.

That was in Auburn, where my mom used to be an associate pastor and Erins mom was finishing a masters degree. Erins family went to our church and, when Mom was reappointed to Moorhen to start The Exchange, she hired Brian, Erins dad, as her worship pastor. His wife got a job teaching art, thanks to amazing timingwhat Mom would call Gods timing.

And there we were, Erin and me, growing up in the same churches, playing tag around the same pews, setting up endless games of Monopoly while our parents planned every aspect of The Exchange for years and years.

This is Miles, Erin said, gesturing to the guy beside her.

Miles and I nodded at one another. Wed seen each other around school, but I didnt know much about him.

I joined Miles and some other guys playing Call of Duty on the big screen and zoned out for a bit.

By ten oclock, the music was loud and the people around me were louder. Since I was sober, I remember more of that night than anyone else. Ballards reddish-orange hair flared on the back deck and I followed the signal. Mostly Id stayed with the Call of Duty group, but nervous energy made me restless.

I hadnt run into Wade since I first arrived, but that couldnt last. This was a party, and Wade was one of the gods of the Moorhen High football team. He wouldnt stay on the fringes for long.

Yo, Stephen! Ballard hollered from his Adirondack throne, a Solo cup held out like an offering. Wade may have been a football god, but Ballard was still king of this party.

I stepped into the golden glow of a lantern that hung above our heads, hands in my pockets to keep my newest tic from drawing attention. My fingers flexed involuntarily and I gritted my teeth.

Here. Ballard pushed the cup toward me and I waved it away.

He knew I wouldnt drink it, not while on the kind of meds I take. Still, he pushed it at me again, and I shook my head in refusal. He was like that when people were around, less my friend and more the cool class clown.

He doesnt want it, someone said.

I glanced around the group. It was Joan Pearson. Id looked right past her earlier, not recognizing her with newly dyed black hair. Her hair used to be a soft brown. She had these piercing dark eyes, and she narrowed them in Ballards direction, defending me. She had a bit of a messiah complex going on.

I can speak for myself, I said.

A sudden thump of bass from the speakers drowned me out, NFs quick tongue shooting lyrics like arrows all over the deck. Joan tossed back raven hair and sipped from her own Solo cup. Ballard shrugged and turned his attention back to the others.

Erin and Miles stepped out of the house and made their way to where I was standing. Some friends were there, plus a couple of girls I didnt recognize, and Joans friend Sylvie. Sylvie was showing this guy, Andrew, something on her phone.

Awesome, Andrew said, grinning. Lets play.

Play what? one of the girls asked. Her hair was curly and damp, like shed just been for a swim.

Sylvie found this app like spin the bottle. Andrew waved the phone in our direction, its glittery red case catching the lantern light.

We put everyones name and picture into the app, Sylvie explained. Then we spin the virtual bottle and it tells us who to kiss.

Thats boring, this guy, Case, said. If I wanted to kiss any girl here, Id do it. I dont need an app for that. Case didnt need alcohol to act like an idiot, but hed had some.

I dare you, Ballard said. He motioned with his cup as a group of girls walked up the steps. One of them wore a Tallassee High T-shirt and I figured thats why I didnt recognize half the people there. They were from nearby towns, crashing from some other party at someone elses lake house.

Lake Martin was surrounded by tiny Alabama towns full of tiny Alabama lives. One day, Id get the hell out of this place for sure.

Pick a girl, Case demanded, unable to turn down a dare. Any girl.

Her. Ballard pointed at one of the new arrivals. She wore jean shorts and a yellow bikini top. I stared a little too long. My foot jerked twice, fast, and I fell into the chair next to Ballard. No one noticed, too intent on Case and the girl.

Case tried to march across the deck, but hed had a few too many and swayed as he went. The girl turned when he planted himself beside her. Case leaned forward, but the look on the girls face was enough to make him back down.

We laughed so hard I pulled my hands out of my pockets to hold my sides. Ballard spilled his beer on my shoes, and Joan said something to Sylvie, something that sounded like assholes.