Shanes P.O.V
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March
Friday before spring break and magic was in the air, nothing could have been more perfect. We all sat at our lunch table as normal, colin on one side of me and Julia on the other side my arm around her, Elli across from us, mer on one side of her and matt next to his sister. Life had been good since Colins birthday party, we all got along perfectly and we had seemed to hit our stride as a friend group.
"Guys were leaving for the lake after school!" Miranda exclamed as she dipped a french fry from her lunch tray in ketchup. "Thank god, i need out of north view." Colin responded. "I wish i didnt have to stay home." Elli pouted. We were all invited to Colins lake house and everyone in the group was going, with the exception of Elli and me. Ellianna had to house sit while her mom was on a retreat with her womens group and I was headed back to Jefferson to visit my family after not having gone home in almost a year. I was happy to go home but trust me i would much rather be at the lake with my girlfriend and friends.
"You and me both Elli," i gave her a smirk, we both had the shitty parents. "Yeah im gonna miss my boyfriend on the lake, who will i sit by on the boat?" Julia whined sweetly, putting her head on my shoulder her long ponytail ticklinv my back. "I guess youll have to sit by me and help watch theese two idiots." Miranda joked sarcastically pointing to Colin and Matt. "Hey my Parents and Oliva are going to be there so I don't know how much drinking will happen." Ellianna shook her head in disbelief. "I cannot believe that your dad invited everyone to the lake, and I can't believe your mom is agreeing to go." she said. "Trust me, me either its either gonna be a shitshow or hilarious or both." we all kind of laughed even though I kind of felt bad for Colin and the fact he would have to deal with his dad this weekend. But hey at least his parents were trying to be civil, I couldn't say the same for my dad.
"Whats your plans when you go to Jefferson?" Matt asked me, I searched my brain. Honestly my plan was gonna be to visit my mom and brother as well as my aunt and cousin I would try to avoid all my old friends and Brianna but probally end up at a party with them and to something stupid. But I wasn't going to tell anyone here that. "Visit family, maybe see my old friends. We'll see." I said shrugging my shoulders. Ellianna gave me a look that told me she didn't believe a thing I was saying, Julia squeezed onto my bicep. "Shane your gonna have the best time you'll forget all about us at the lake." Julias little show of affection made me forget about Elliannas disapproving glare. She saw right through me, she knew I wasn't telling the whole truth. I hated that, even though since I started dating Julia we weren't as close. "we'll see about that." I responded with a sigh and a smirk.I couldn't be mad at Julia for being optimistic, she didn't know a thing about my life in Jefferson and I intended to keep it that way.
soon enough the lunch bell rang and we all went our separate ways to fulfill the rest of our classes for the day and then all of the sudden the final bell rang and it was officially spring break. we had all kind of gathered by Colins truck the only person missing from the group which was Ellianna, she had been more distant ever since what happened at Colins birthday, the part of me that still liked her hated it, the part of me that was Julias boyfriend was grateful, Elli not being around meant no drama and no problems. I wrapped my girlfriend up in my arms, she blushed and giggled. "see you friday. and be careful, especially if Colin is driving the boat." I told her in whisper so quiet I didn't think anyone could hear us. "I heard you, you ass hole." Colin yelled from the front seat of his truck, everyone was ready to go, with the exception of Julia who I wasn't sure I wanted to let go of. "I will, I promise." She stood on her tippy toes and gave me a little kiss on the cheek, Julia looked into my eyes noticing the dis contempt on my face. "Why don't you see if Ellianna wants to hang out tonight?" Julia asked me. I pulled away from her. " why do you say that?" Julia shrugged her petite shoulders. "I don't know you seem kinda sad and maybe a little nervous to go home." My mind flashed to the events that had happened a year ago today, back in Jefferson, back in my hell.
Brianna and I walked up to my yard I saw my dad talking to a police officer his eyes bloodshot.
"Dad whats going on?" I asked him, feeling my heart dropping to my stomach. The officer walked away to give us some space.
"Shane, Brianna needs to go home." He told me his voice tired and scratchy.
"Why whats going on?" I asked again. Looking at Bri her face flodded with concern.
"Brianna can you call someone in your family to pick you up?" My dad asked her directly.
"Sure Mr.Anderson." She replied letting go of my arm and digging her phone out of her backpack, once she found it she walked a bit down the street to make her call. I dropped my back pack to the ground.
"Dad seriously, tell me what happened. Wheres Alex?"
"Cmon lovebirds were missing out on Lake time here." Miranda snapped from the back seat of the truck snapping me out of my trance. I turned my attention back to a concerned Julia. "ill think about it okay?" I told her before leaning in to kiss her. "Okay, if you need me call okay?" I nodded my head as she shut the door to the truck. I stuck up my hand and waved good bye as Colins truck left the school parking lot. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I walked over to where my Mustang was parked. I would not be going to see Ellianna tonight. there was no way. I would sit at home and avoid my probably irritated and drunk father until tomorrow morning when we would make the three hour drive to Jefferson Mississippi. It would suck and I wasn't looking forward to it, but a chance to visit my brother and my mom was something I couldn't pass up, even if it meant dealing with my father even if it meant missing out on the lake.
