Ronnie

11

July 4, 1986. El Cerrito, California.

Days before, Cliff left Cassie's house with his worries slightly subsided. He wanted to be with Cassie badly, and it was obvious she wanted the same.
Whenever he saw his bandmates his worries would flood his mind again. Could they see through his act? Did they know his feelings for Cassie?
Especially Kirk, Cliff knew that Kirk had suspicions. The only thing Cliff was capable of doing was ignoring the obvious confusion of his friend.
He pulled his car into his lovers driveway. Cassie noticed this and quickly grabbed her bag and exited her home.
“Thanks for picking me up,” she said with a quiet huff as she plopped down into his car.
“No problem,” he replied with a smile. He looked the girl up and down for a moment. Not in a sexual way, he just loved looking at her. She was extremely beautiful, he never wanted to look away.
Her cheeks turned a soft pink color once she realized Cliff was looking at her. “What?”
He smirked at the girl, “Nothin.”
“There's something, or you wouldn't be staring at me.”
“You look good Cas, that's all.”
“Oh.
Thanks.”
She was wearing a white cropped tank top, acid washed jeans, and black high top Converse. Her slim, tanned stomach was showing, her hair was curled. Everything about her was perfect. The tiniest things she did made Cliff the happiest.
They pulled up to the Metal Mansion. Tons of cars were already parked on the curb.
“Isn't it a little early? I didn't think this many people would already be here.”
“You know this, we like to get things started early,” Cliff responded.
“You're right. I bet James is already drunk.”
Cliff chuckled, “Yeah.”
The pair was greeted by Lars immediately after entering the Mansion.
“Hey fuckers!” Lars draped an arm over Cassie's shoulder and shoved a beer at Cliff. “I saw ya pull up and grabbed you one.”
He looked at Cassie, “I didn't know what to get you, but there's a bunch of shit in the kitchen. Help yourself.”
He gave her a pat on the back and started to walk away. “Oh, and Kirk is out back if you need him.” He stared at her for a moment before the thought clicked in his head. “Fuck, I forgot. Sorry.”
“It's cool.”
She looked to Cliff; he rolled his eyes.
“I don't know how all of these people fit in this tiny house.”
“Me either, it's fucking stuffy in here. I feel like I'm in a sardine can.”
“Wanna go outside?” He nodded and followed Cassie out of the backdoor.
Kirk was in the middle of a conversation when he noticed Cassie walking with Cliff out of the house. He was jealous of their friendship. He couldn't understand why he couldn't get along with Cassie as well as Cliff did. A part of him wanted to go say hello to his ex, he knew that wasn't a good idea. It would hurt him to have to pretend everything was fine.
He turned his attention back to his conversation and attempted to forget Cassie was there.
Cliff drank a beer while Cassie sat next to him, both soaking up the hot July sun as it started to set.
Cliff began to attract a crowd after an hour sitting with Cassie. He didn't particularly want to talk to any of the people that were interested in having a conversation with him, but he wasn't going to turn anyone away. Eventually, he patted Cassie on the shoulder and walked off. She shook her head in approval and understood why he decided to take his conversations else where.
Cassie made her way to the front of the mansion, so she could have a minute of alone time. The California moon was already out and shining in the sky.
She took a pack of cigarettes out of her pocket, lit one up, and stared at the moon as she took a drag of the stick.
A few feet away from her was the front door, which slowly opened and out stepped a stranger.
Or what she assumed to be a stranger. The person began to come closer which startled her a bit.
“Hey Cas.”
Automatically, she recognized this person to be Kirk.
“Hey, what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be in their partying, Rock star?”
“I needed a break, too many people in one place.”
Cassie didn't respond, but Kirk knew she heard him. Words weren't always needed between the two of them.
He turned to look at the beautiful girl.
Her hazel eyes were stuck on the moon with a cigarette stuck between her lips. He watched patiently as her chest rose when she inhaled the smoke, and waited for her lips to open and slowly let the smog flow out.
She turned to him and pointed the cig out towards him.
“No.”
She waited for a moment, “Okay.”
The cigarette fell to the ground and was crushed by the bottom of her Chuck Taylor's.
She went back to her original spot in the backyard. Cliff found her soon after, and they sat together while a couple of their friends played guitar.
A drunken James and a buzzed Lars came out of the house with an arm load of goodies.
“What the fuck?” Cliff mumbled.
“We got fireworks for you Fuckers!” James exclaimed.
Cliff and Cassie looked at each other instantly, “Better go help them with that.”
“No, this should be good.”
Cliff took a glance around before taking Cassie's hand and leading her to a dark part of the small yard.
Kirk ended up helping the intoxicated men with the fireworks.
Right before the first explosion happened, everyone began to count down.
“5,
4,
3,
2.” Cliff placed a hand on Cassie's face and rubbed a circle on her cheek with his thumb.
“1.”
The two shared a nice kiss under a shitty firework.
“Happy 4th of July!” James yelled and stumbled away.