Pretty Little Things

“Stop calling me that. If I bug you so much, why did you call me over?” She tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder as she glared up at me from the steps below.

I took a deep drag as I stuck the lighter back in my pocket, slowly breathing out a cloud of smoke toward her. She waved it away dramatically as she coughed. While she was distracted, I took the time to look over her long tan legs.

“I didn’t, sweetheart.” I flicked my ashes and adjusted my hat.

“Whatever. You’re dumb.” She rolled her eyes and shifted her weight from foot to foot like she was going to walk away. I knew she was waiting for me to stop her or apologize, but I loved frustrating her. She looked so damn cute with her cheeks flushed pink and her nose wrinkled up in disgust.

My stomach rumbled, and I ran my hand over it, wondering what Dad had inside to eat. I watched Nat’s eyes follow my fingers as I moved lower, stopping at the waistband of my boxers. I paused my hand, watching her. After a moment she realized she was staring, and her eyes snapped up to mine, wide with embarrassment. I couldn’t help but laugh at the look on her face when she realized she had been caught.

“Why don’t you put some clothes on?” Her head tilted to the side as she pushed her hip out. I loved how thick her country accent grew the madder she became. Nat had only lived next door for a few weeks. After her dad was laid off from some factory back in Arkansas, her whole family had moved in with her aunt, making my less-than-legal habits harder to conceal.

“Who would you drool over if I did that?” I winked at her as I pulled another drag from my smoke.

“You going to the Blakely party on Wednesday?”

“What party?”

She shrugged. “A

“You want to hang out with those pretentious assholes?”

“Her brother is hot,” she said with a smirk, and I rolled my eyes. Nat thought everyone was fucking hot. “You shouldn’t smoke.”

“Why is that?” I cleared my throat as I gazed over her head to the wheat field, trying to imagine what A

“It will kill you.” Her voice cut off my thoughts, and I clenched my jaw to fight off an ignorant retort. Nat’s grandpa had died from lung cancer a few months back. Not even I was cruel enough to open that old wound. I flicked the cigarette by her onto the old dirt road that was now covered with fresh gravel.

“Well this has been fun…and slightly depressing. I gotta run.” I walked down the steps, intentionally bumping my shoulder against hers as I passed.

“Where are you going?” she called after me as I stepped into the field. I didn’t bother turning around as I put a hand in the air to wave.

“Hunting a bear.” I smiled to myself as I pictured her rolling her eyes and shaking her head in frustration.

I could have invited her along. It would have been nice to have some company, but it felt wrong to bring strangers there. This place was a secret, a promise I was going to keep for A

Sweat covered my body instantly under the overbearing summer sun. My heart began to race the closer I got to the tree line. I needed to see her today.

I walked the worn path to our tree; with a missing branch and bulbous trunk, it resembled a bear sitting up. I sat down in the grass, leaning against the trunk and letting the bark dig into my back. I pulled my bowl from my pocket and took a hit. The smoke filled my lungs, and I let my eyes close as I held it in until my chest burned from the lack of oxygen. I coughed, forcing myself to pant for air, escalating my high. I dumped the ashes into the grass as my eyes went unfocused, and I pictured A

I drummed my fingers on my leg as a song I couldn’t name played in my head, and I waited. I fought the urge to smoke a cigarette, knowing A

I lit the cigarette and was only able to take a single drag before the fence board ahead moved. I pushed to my feet, stumbling slightly, and held the cigarette with my lips. I grabbed the board and set it to the side. A

“I was worried.” I squeezed her tightly, and her arms wrapped around my neck.

“I told you I wouldn’t be able to see you for a few days, and you know I had church this morning.” She pulled back to look me over, and her eyes narrowed as they landed on mine, which were no doubt bloodshot.

“I forgot.” I laughed as I picked up her braid and tugged on it. She took a step back and folded her arms over her chest as her eyebrow rose.

“You forgot about me?”

“Not you. Never you.” I smiled crookedly, and she struggled not to smile back. “You know you’re my favorite person.”

“Well, maybe if you put God first you wouldn’t be such a heathen,” she teased.

“One imaginary friend at a time. I’m still not entirely sure you’re real.” I winked, and her cheeks tinged pink with embarrassment.

“I don’t understand you sometimes.” She shook her head, causing some hair to fall loose from her braid, framing her face.

I tried not to frown at her statement. “You’re the only person who understands me, A

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Now I’m dramatic?” I put my hand over my heart, stumbling to the side. “I’ve waited days to see you. Right here.” I pointed to the tree that looked like an old grizzly. “I’ve sat in the lap of a bear.”

She giggled as she cocked her head to the side. “Liar.”

“OK. I waited for you here.” I patted my chest over my heart. “Forever.”

Her blush deepened as she tucked the loose hair behind her ear, her gaze dropping to the ground between us.

“But I’m always going to have to wait, aren’t I?” I took step closer to her, closing the gap between us. She sucked in a quick breath as her eyes met mine.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Her eyes narrowed.

I stepped forward as she shook her head. “Why didn’t you tell me about your party?”

“I didn’t know about it.”

“You sure you just didn’t want me there to embarrass you?”

“Where is this coming from? I’m not like you. I don’t know how this is supposed to work.”

Her words cut through me, and if it were possible, my heart would have crumbled inside my chest, reducing me to nothing. That would have been more kind than having to look her in the eye and try to mask the pain she had just inflicted.

“You’re right.” I laughed sardonically and took a step back. “You’re absolutely right.”

“Jacob, please don’t be upset with me. That’s not what I meant.”

“Explain it to me, A

“My life is very different from yours.” Her voice was so quiet I barely heard her words.