Dodge Mason // Mystery Boy

2

*clink*

—

I sat around the fire with Heather as we drank. I looked around the party and all I could think about was this small town. All I saw were the same people I had known my whole life. Carp, Texas was small but the thought of never leaving only made it smaller. I watched as Bishop made his way over to us sitting next to Heather.

"So, what are we toasting to?" Heather asked.

"No more gym," I replied.

"No more gym shorts." Bishop raised his cup.

We shared a laugh and I watched as Ray Hall neared us collecting money in a bucket. In my eyes, Ray Hall was just another idiot jock. "Final collection. Give me your moneyyy," he says while shaking the tin. God what a dweeb.

"Here it comes," Bishop whispers. He finally makes his way to Bishop and shoves it into his shoulder.

"Final collection. Rules are rules," he says pushing some more making Bishop spill some of his drink.

"Schools out. I-I'm not even playing," Bishop stammered.

"Think of it as insurance," Ray says while squatting to meet Bishop's level. "Its gon be one hell of a summer," he says while lifting his sunglasses that he was wearing at night. Internal eye roll.

"I-I mean, c'mon man, I- I'm not gonna play," Bishop tries to reinforce before Ray grabs his shirt to bring him closer.

"We're all playing fucker."

"Ray." Heather tries to intervene.

"One way or another. A dollar buys you a prayer," he says with a hold on Bishop's arm.

"Ray stop." Heather stares concerned. Ray looks back, but only for a second.

"Ah I'm just fucking with you," Ray says while getting up and ruffling Bishops hair before leaving. We all watch a bit taken aback.

"Hey, a new toast," I propose. "To global amnesia." I raise my cup.

"Nah, selective. There's a few things I wanna remember," he says looking at Heather and  bringing his cup closer. *Clank* We take a drink as Natalie finds her way to the seat next to me.

"Ouuu what'd I miss?" She asks taking a sip.

"Oh we're toasting to a future free of Ray Hall" I say.

"Ah that guy sucks," She replies. "Oh!" Natalie exclaims as she pulls a paper out of her bag.

"You brought your diploma?" I say confused.

"Weird move,," Heather says.

"Ta-da!" Nat says right before throwing it into the fire in front of us. We all groan as she talks about winning Panic. "Ugh whatever come on!" She says grabbing my hand and pulling me to dance causing me to grab Heather, and Heather to pull Bishop. We suddenly hear a pop. We look over to see Tyler setting off some sort of firecrackers and Diggins yelling at them. Ray takes Diggins by surprise and grabs him.

"Diggins hey, everyone gets a little jumpy before judgement. Any word from the judges?" He asks putting his arm around him.

"No I'm just the emcee. I'm waiting for the signal like everybody else," he answers Ray. Ray and Tyler mess with him some more and Heather and I look at each other. We don't have to say anything to know we're worried about Panic this year. It was almost unsettling.