From The Wreckage Read online

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  "Would you look at this place?” Katie buzzes, “Half the teenage population of Tyler is here tonight."

  "Maybe we should start going someplace else?" Jules suggests; tapping out a text to her mom.

  "Girl!" Tanya and Katie snap in sync, and Jules lifts her head.

  "What?" She shrugs her shoulders and catches Tanya's glare in the rearview mirror.

  "After game tradition, remember? Senior year…we can't quit now."

  Jules’ only reply is an over-exaggerated eye roll. Evidently Stuart’s attitude was catching. Didn’t I just fuss at him thirty minutes ago for making the same statement? The annoying realization hits her. Katie leans out of her window and waves at people like the Homecoming Queen she hopes to be crowned; her blonde bob blowing in the breeze and the over-sized cheer team bow sitting on top comparable to a crown. The girls survey the parking lot, taking in the many students from Hillsdale, all of whom are still dressed in their school colors from the game.

  "Crap…the Shack is hoppin’."

  Tanya taps her horn as three guys walk in front of her car's path, causing her to hit the brakes and all three girls to curse as they jerk to a sudden stop.

  "Move, Tommy!" she shouts out the window; flashing her lights at them.

  Jules mutters under her breath and reaches down to recover her cell from where it shot across the floorboard.

  "You've got to be kidding me," Tanya hisses angrily; her fiery Latin heritage starting to show itself.

  Curious, Jules peeks between the seats and is greeted with a most comical sight. Standing there in the beam of Tanya’s headlights is Tommy Wilson, ever the showboat, dirty dancing. Tragically, his moves don’t time well with the techno-pop dance song currently blaring through Tanya's car speakers. He pulls his shirt up slowly, revealing some relatively nice abs, and waggles his brows as he calls out, "Hey baby!"

  A quick check of Tanya reveals a volcano full of anger about to explode. Jules sinks down into her seat and tries to cover her laughter with a fist. Tommy certainly knows how to push Tanya's buttons, and right now he’s pushing away, perhaps against his own safety as she revs her engine. He flicks his tongue out, licking over his lips, and Katie joins Jules in her suppressed giggles. Tommy hams it up as appreciative whistles and comments are thrown at him from some of the guys watching the show.

  When Ruben spreads his arms and joins Tommy's spotlight dance, Katie laughs harder. "They're such idiots," she gasps; watching the boys’ antics.

  "You're not talking about me, I hope." A blond head pops into Katie's window and she jumps as Tanya lays on her horn.

  All around the vehicle, shouts of laughter at Tommy and Ruben’s dance moves ring out, followed closely by curses for them to move streaming from Tanya's mouth.

  The blond whose head has now popped through the window is Jeff, a.k.a. 'the DB', and Katie's on-and-off-again boyfriend. His dimples sink into his cheeks as he peers around Katie, saying hi to Jules with a manly head nod.

  "’Sup, Jules. Where's Stu?" Before she can reply, he shouts at Tanya, "Knock off the horn, Ya-ya!"

  Tanya earned the nickname ‘Ya-ya’ back in middle school when she accidentally flashed half the football team at a pool party. She dived into the pool and came up with her top around her middle. The boys, mostly immature seventh graders, came up with Ya-ya because they didn't want to get in trouble by calling her ‘Ta-ta’. It took the girls a month to figure out what Ya-ya stood for, and by then the name stuck. Tanya never minded much. She was proud of her 'Ta-ta's’; both back then and more so now. She likes knowing the guys remember them.

  With a disgusted groan, Jeff pops his head out of the window and shouts at the guys. "Dude! Move out of the way, T! Ruben!" Once he finishes, he ducks his head back in and fixes his gaze on Jules. "So, where's Stu?"

  "Coach held him back for a meeting. He should be here soon."

  Tommy and Ruben finally saunter out of the middle of the parking lot, accompanied by applause and cheering, and Tanya turns her ire on the boy hanging in the window. "Hey Jeff, you wanna get out of my car so I can park now?"

  "Nope!" He leans in further and Jules moves to the right; looking out of her window to see his feet come off the ground.

  "Hold me tight, baby," he orders Katie as Tanya rolls forward.

  "Geez, Jeffrey!" Katie gasps; wrapping her arms around his shoulders as he teeters on the door half-in and half-out of the car.

  Luckily for him, Tanya pulls into a parking spot straight ahead with nothing on the passenger side; otherwise he might have lost a leg.

  "You're an idiot," Katie mumbles loudly enough for Jules to hear before her mouth becomes occupied with his.

  With a groan, Tanya pulls her keys from the car, hops out and walks towards Tommy with purpose. Jules' eyes follow her as she walks up to Tommy and punches him in the arm. A scowl crosses Tanya's face as she exchanges heated banter with Tommy. His face, however is the complete opposite of hers, and he keeps trying to grab Tanya's hand. Jules laughs when her best friend hits him again.

  The very unpleasant suck and smack from the front seat reminds her of the extracurricular activities going on, and she hurries to exit the vehicle. As she closes the door, her phone vibrates to indicate a text. She swipes the screen, expecting to see a message from Stuart.

  Mom: Be careful and see you in the morning. What's your curfew?

  Jules: Midnight, geez mom, i'm never late u know that