Home Base

Coca Cola

An uneasy feeling began in my hand. I sat up in confusion and tiredness and glanced down. My index and middle fingers were pink with three stitches total. A groan slipped from my lips as I dragged myself out of bed and threw my hair up in a lazy ponytail. I called out for any human life in the house, but it remained silent. Sneaking into the kitchen, I snatched a Minute Maid Lemonade from the refrigerator. 

My body felt exhausted as I slowly treaded back to the stairs. Just as my foot stepped on the bottom step, the doorbell rang. I seized all movement, in fear of who was at the door. I didn't know anyone in this town, and the county crazy could be at the door for all I knew. My breathing became heavy as I carefully peered out the window next to the door, setting my can in the sill. A fidgeting Kasey stood biting his lip at the ground with several things in his hands.

"Hey?" I swung the door open and placed my hand on my hip.

"I really am sorry, Nicola." He said with sadness, bringing out his country accent to a strong peak. His green eyes poured apologies into my blue ones. The quick movement of his chest caught my eye. His breathing seemed to have given away his nervousness or that he just ran to my front door. My vision came back up to his face as it was looking down at the items in his hands. "I brought you a get well soon card, some bandaids with funny injury reasons on them, and some chocolate ice cream. I figured all girls like chocolate, right?" He smiled at me as I gestured for him to come inside. "Thanks," I deadpanned and led him into the living room, "You didn't have get me anything. It wasn't your fault." 

"I know, but I wanted to. I know how it feels to move to a completely different town and not know anyone. I'm just trying to be a friend." He spoke softly, never breaking eye contact with me. 

"Thank you, but I don't need friends. I should be leaving soon anyways." I said and instantly looked away from him. "For the time being, I'll be a friend." He responded so quietly I could barely hear him. I didn't say anything and refused to look at him. Sighing, he sat the gifts on the coffee table and headed for the door. "Bye, Nicola." Until the door shut, I slouched down in the couch with arms crossed. The fear of getting attached burned in the back of my mind. I didn't need anyone.

~~~

The feeling of being watched forced me to open my eyes. Ashton sat on the other end of the couch staring at me. "What?" I snapped, sitting up from my curled up position. "Nothin'." He shrugged, hopping off the couch, "You probably want to go get dressed though." "Why?" I asked as I watched him walk behind me. "We're fixin' to go out for a family night." He gave me a sly grin. "Family night?" I said in disbelief to myself.

~~~

Neon lights lined the ceiling of the bowling alley with country music pounding through the building. Raymond and Aubrey went to pay for two lanes while Ashton, Forrest, and I went to get our shoes. I hadn't been bowling in years and knew I'd ended up making a fool out of myself before the night ended. I took the size six shoes and kid shoes from the counter and guided Forrest to a table.

He propped himself up in a chair for me to swap his shoes. His little giggle slipped out a few times. "What's so funny?" I smiled at him. He shook his head, looking right past me. My expression falling, a pair of hands clutched my sides causing me to jump with a squeal. "Ashton!" I whipped around before realizing it wasn't Ashton. "That's not my name, but it's pretty close." Kasey winked at me. "Why are you here?" I groaned. "I work here." He shrugged. "Why?" I bluntly asked. As his mouth opened to answer, Raymond smacked a large hand on his back with a firm "hello." "Hey, Kase. Why don't you take a break and bowl with us?" Aubrey offered with a sweet smile. "I can't. I really need to work tonight." He said, looking down at the ground, "But holler at me if you need anything."

Once he shuffled off fidgeting with a cleaning rag, our games began. It wasn't too long before I had just given up all together. With all the embarrassment, I excused myself to the restroom next to the bar and games. After locking myself in a stall, I realized how thin the walls were.

"Kasey, come fix the karaoke machine." 

There was a shuffle of cords against the wall and a slight bang. Static sounds filled the speakers. "Testing. Testing." Kasey cleared his throat in the microphone and began to sing words of an unfamiliar song, "Girl, I know I don't know you, but your pretty little eyes so blue are pulling me in like the moon on your skin." 

I quietly slipped out of the stall, in hopes to hear better, but he apparently stopped and put the machine back against the wall. Still in awe and confusion, I tip toed out of the bathroom looking around the corner into the bar area. Kasey stood in front of the karaoke machine putting the mic back in the stand. His gaze flickered on to me. Instantly, I pretended I hadn't been looking and continued on over to my family. 

"It's your turn." Forrest sighed with dramatic annoyance, earning a chuckle from his parents. Holding my hands up in surrender, I took my turn. The ball slowly made its way down; then stopping just a foot from the pins. "You broke it!" Forrest shouted behind me. "Kasey!" Raymond called for assistance. "I got it." I glanced back before walking down the side of the lane. 

"What are you doing?" An amused voice asked through a smirk behind me. "Getting the ball." I turned around to give Kasey a look. His grin slipped past me, his hand catching my hip to balance his body around mine. Rolling my eyes, I headed back to where I came from.

"Getting a little handsy, now are we?" Raymond chortled. "Please." I denied quickly, sitting down in a chair. Kasey steadied himself down the side and high fived Forrest. "You're welcome." He spoke quietly into the back of my head. I whipped around to smack his arm. Laughing, he jogged away from my flinging arms.

Giving my next turn up the next time around, I offered to get drinks. The register was vacant of employees as I stood with elbows propped up on the counter. I watched a couple playfully fight each other over a ball for the girl to bowl. A part of me inside wished I could find something like that… or just find love. "Hey, Cola." Kasey's face was right next to mine. He had leaned over the counter on his forearms. 

"It's Nicola." I corrected, "I just wanted to order drinks." 

"Let me guess. You look like a Sprite kind of girl."

"No, Dr. Pepper, but I give you points for trying."

"Thanks… How many did you want?"

"Two Dr. Peppers and a root beer."

Kasey pulled out three cups and held them one by one under the soda fountain. "You know my favorite drink is Coca Cola." He winked with a sly grin as he sat the three cups on the counter. My face flushed; hand barely shaking with the owed money. "It's on the house." He tapped the counter with his hands before heading off to help someone else with their lane.