School's Out- A Randall Pink Floyd Story

Lake Day

I spent most of the next two weeks at Shavonne's or Darla's and would sleep over multiple days at a time. If the girls went on dates or needed to run errands, I'd nap in their beds. 

Ok, I'm pretty sure what I was going through reassembled a depressive episode. If I wasn't sleeping, I was eating or smoking. If I showered every two days, that would be a miraculous event. I felt bad for Shavonne and Darla because I'd moved in basically, but I didn't know what else to do. It was either that or staying home and listening to my mom fight with Michelle or seeing a half-naked Coach Conrad in my mom's robe. 

It wasn't like I could snap out of it. All I wanted to was sleep, eat, and not leave the house. I had no motivation to do anything else. After the first week, against my will, Shavonne and Darla confiscated my cigs and all the liquor from me. If Darla confiscates alcohol from you, you know it's bad.

"Cammy! Cammy, wake up."

I groaned and rubbed my eyes to find the three girls looking down at me.

Shavonne dangled a bikini in my face and put it on my lap, "Come on. We're having a lake day."

"What?" I said, "What time is it?"

"Eleven," Kaye said, "We made a picnic while you were sleeping, and we want to leave before  eleven thirty."

"No," I groaned, "I just want to sleep."

"Cammy, come on," Darla said, "You've been sitting on your ass for two weeks just sleeping. We made tuna fish sandwiches, your favorite."

"And we packed some other good stuff."

"You can't bribe me with food," I said.

"Maybe not, but I can bribe you by convincing my mom to let you stay here," Shavonne said, "She expects you to start paying rent, you know?"

Shavonne's parents weren't poor, but they couldn't just spend their money on whatever they wanted, and saving money for Shavonne to go to college was hard enough. 

I rolled my eyes, "Fine. Let me use the bathroom."

"And put on deodorant because you stink!" Kaye said.

I closed the door, removed my clothes, and put on the bikini. I reached for a clean shirt Shavonne gave me when I stared at myself in the mirror. All I could think was: Why didn't he want me? I had a great body and a good personality. What is wrong with me? 

I wiped a tear away before going downstairs. 

"Cammy, can you grab my bag, please?" Darla said, and I did as she asked. We loaded everything in the car and drove off. The girls sang as Stevie Nick's voice played on the radio. I tried to pretend like I was in a better mood, but I just wanted to be back in bed and forget the world existed. 

The world worked in funny ways. I was more depressed about a two-week fling with my best friend ending than I was about an almost year-long relationship. 

We got out of the car and took the blanket, towels, baskets, and backpacks out. It was a beautiful day, not excessively humidly like normal summer Texas weather. I hadn't been outside in a while either, another sign that I was depressed because I'm an active person who loves going on walks and runs. 

After applying sunscreen, the girls jumped into the lake, and while I hesitated, I ultimately jumped in with them. Being with my friends and swimming and laughing together made me enjoy life again. Even if it was only slightly. I might've had no one on my side in my family, but I always had my girls.  And for the first time in weeks, I smiled naturally. No artificial forced smile without a meaning behind it.

After an hour of splashing around and swimming, we dried off and had lunch. 

"You know, Melvin asked me to go to the movies with him tonight?" Darla said.

"No way," we all said.

"What movie?"

"Some movie about a boxer. I think it's called Rocky or something."

"I thought you didn't like Melvin?"

She shrugged, "He's paying for my coke and popcorn, and he knows I'm not going to fuck him, so, why not?"

I chuckled. Darla was weird about boys. She'd say she wasn't interested in them, and then they pay attention to her, and boom. Obsessed. Her parents were also racist so that wouldn't go well. 

"I also ran into Simone yesterday at the grocery store," she said, "And she apologized to me."

The three of us nearly spit out our drinks, "What?!"

"Yea," she said, "She's been hooking up with that Adam dude again and is over everything that happened. She also said she wants to reconnect with you guys."

I laughed, "Yea, I'm not talking to her."

Shavonne and Kaye laughed and shook their heads too. 

"I kinda feel bad for them," Kaye said, "Simone and Jodi."

All of us turned our heads in confusion. I couldn't see anyone who would feel bad for those two.

"Think about it!" she said, "They started the summer with a great group of friends, but then they fucked it all up. I just pity them if that's how they want to live their lives."

My glance softened. It did make sense. 

"No, I agree with you," I said, "It's their loss."

"Totally," Shavonne said, her smile fading quickly, "Shit. What are they doing here?"

I turned around, and there was Don, Melvin, O'Bannion, and Pink. 

"Oh, hey ladies," O'Bannion said, "Didn't expect to see you here."

I looked at Pink, but he refused to look back at me. Fucking coward.

Now what?