The Bucket List

Chapter Seven

SCARLET'S POV

THREE YEARS EARLIER

I smoothed down my sundress and tried my best to keep my eyes open during the sermon, feeling mothers piercing eyes follow my every move. The preacher is saying something about 'family values' and I couldn't help but assume my mother wasn't listening any more than I was. Her eyes were starting to blue underneath from lack of sleep I think, and her hair was tightly pulled back into a neat bun. Her clothes were modest, and if I didn't know better I'd think her life was pretty uneventful. Although we both know that isn't true.

After church I shook the preachers hand and my mother kept up her reputation in town by explaining that the needs of her clients we're keeping her up at night to the regular townies she felt opinions we're important. Listening to her never failed to be entertaining, shoving the lack of sleep I was enduring every night listening to her fight with my father.

I walked toward my circle of friends outside the church, every one of them hung over from the dock party the night before.

"SCAR! How do you look that good after last night? I was up all night puking." Mel still managed to look perfect, her shiny blonde hair looking much cleaner than I had seen it last night. I never had to wonder how the upperclassman guys wanted her.

"Believe me I know, it was my hair tie that suffered the consequences." I laughed.

"Oh, God bless you Scarlet."

There really wasn't anything more to do in this tiny town than sneak beer from our parents and head to the dock in your cutest swimsuit hoping maybe some upperclassman boys would show up.

"Well you know what they say, fire with fire works when it comes to hangovers. You guys up for round two tonight? Cam said the guys might be up for some skinny dipping, and we all know who'd be there Scarlet." She winked at me and I blushed. I've been crushing on Scott Hansen since the 6th grade and he told me he loved my red swimsuit last weekend and I haven't seen him since. I was dying to wear my new black one.

"Too bad I have a doctor's appointment at 8am tomorrow, my mom would never let me."

"Oh that's right, well Scott will have to wait. Have you figured out any more about the migraines?"

"No, not yet. They've taken some tests, this one's an important one I guess because my mom cancelled a meeting with a client."

"I still think it's an eternal hangover." Kat laughed and shrugged.

"I'm sure my mom would love that." I joked.

PRESENT DAY

"I told you, you can't know what goes into the envelope! It ruins the entire point of the game Will!"

I enjoyed watching him attempt to play my favorite board game sprawled out on my hospital bed. He had brought Orville's Popcorn and said Jane let him off early. I was just grateful to not have been told light's out. I haven't been sleeping much, tonight being no exception, it must be 1 am.

"Okay it's safe to say I'm better off a doctor because we both know where my skills in Law Enforcement are." He let out a laugh.

"Dr. Monroe" I said with conviction. "I like it, it's nice."

"Ah thank you, although there already is one of those and he's hard to be fond of."

"Your father?" I asked while rolling the dice and moving Colonel Mustard into the dining room on the board.

"Yeah, Jay Monroe. Award winning and most trusted in the States." He crosses his legs and I can't help but glance at his flexed calf muscles.

"Monroe and Associates! I can't believe I didn't put two and two together! My prescriptions have been sent from over there since I was sixteen. New York City, right?"