Wild For You

Chapter 1

    I collapsed onto the curb. Another party was raging in the townhouse next to mine. Vulgar music still rang in my ears, even as I sat by my mailbox in the dark. A red brick path led back up to the two blue buildings, littered with beer cans and empty weed baggies.

    I tried to think about my times as a teen. I tried to remember how much I hated when parties were ruined by bitchy neighbors so I could forgive the college students next door, but the pounding of my head just wouldn't stop.

    "For the love of Jesus Christ." I mumbled.

    Ah, yes. The ripe old age of twenty-nine. Not old enough to be considered ancient, but old enough to feel ancient. Hell, the vultures practically followed me to work every day, waiting for the moment I drop.

   The sky was dark blue and purple, stretching into the hour or so where the sun says its goodbyes. The twilight brought cold rain; a fresh, clear droplet landing right on the rounded tip of my nose. I wiped it off quickly, only to have more fall in its place.

    A familiar truck pulled up beside me, gray paint chipping and filthy.

    The window rolled down. "Hey, Jonathan."

    I looked up at the driver. A tall, pale man glared back at me. He was round in the face with short, light brown hair that he combed upwards and gelled into place.

    "Hi, Tyler."

    He smirked. "Need a ride? You don't look like you wanna be here."

    "Were y'all waiting for me to come out of my house?" I asked, "Your timing is scary."

    His blue eyes lit up as a salt-and-pepper Border Collie named Archie jumped into the front seat. I swear, the only time he drops his stern look is when a dog is involved.

    "Looks like you're riding in the back, man." He said.

    I opened the door to the second row of seats. David and Lui took up two of the three seats, some weird bags of candy stacked neatly in the third.

    "No," Lui giggled, "The back."

    I grumbled to myself and hopped into the bed of the pickup truck, surrounded by worn metal gear and Tyler's work boots. I could hear David's muffled voice through the glass.

    "Now he's with his own kind. The tools."

    I rolled my eyes, sighing as the heavens opened and soaked me.

----

    Heavy clothes stuck to my body, soggy and unpleasant. Tyler brought me a pair of pajamas that were too small for him, but too loose for me. The pants were blue with symbols for 'The Kentucky Wildcats' covering them. The shirt was plain black, but ripped and tattered along the seams.

    "Tyler, why are you hoarding grown men in your house?" Lui asked, wiping my hair with a towel, "Everyone and their brother is here, goddamn!"

    I snatched the towel from him and continued to dry my head.

    David giggled, holding himself back from spitting pop all over the coffee table.

    Lui was about five foot seven, his jet black hipster haircut adding another two inches when attended to. His eyes were as dark as coal.

    "Maybe I like hoarding grown men in my house. It just so happens to be a hobby of mine, seeing as you guys are all apparently homeless." Tyler gave a sly look my way, "Or you just got crappy neighbors. Besides, a little extra sausage in my life couldn't hurt."

    David laughed. "So ya don't want us t' leave, then?"

    Tyler sighed. "No. You guys may be disgusting assholes, but you're my disgusting assholes."

    I kicked off my boots and put my feet onto the couch, letting them land in David's lap. "Well in that case, I'll be here a while."

    Tyler nodded his head. "If you guys are staying the night, you buy me dinner."

    David pushed my feet away from him, taking a long swig of pop. The downpour outside grew heavier, battering the front of the house like a firing squad.

    I nodded, getting a pop for myself, "Fair deal. You're totally getting McDonald's, though."

    "As long as I eat." Tyler grunted, "Work's been slow, I ain't got no money."

    Lui put a hand on Ty's shoulder sympathetically. "I know; your mom told me when I banged her last night."

    Tyler sighed. "I wonder when she'll tell you how unfunny you are."

    Lui rolled his eyes. David laughed, taking my drink from my hands when I returned from the kitchen.

    "Hey! Who do you think you are?" I yelled.

    David threw his head back and laughed. "Your mam."

    Oh my fucking Christ.

    Lui shook his head, cringing. I was expecting Tyler to say something, but he just stared at David.

    "No?" David asked. "Fock ye guys. I'm hilarious."

----

    I brought back the fast food bag, dropping it in front of Tyler on the coffee table. He grinned and met my gaze. The rain was finally letting up; the smell of wet soil was drifting in lazily from one of the windows.

   I yawned, then shoed everyone out of the living room.

    "I get the couch." I growled.

    Lui walked into Tyler's room, locking the door. David passed out on the floor of the kitchen, not even stirring when Ty began to bang on his door, raging to be let in.

    No luck. Lui had himself fucking barricaded.

    Tyler sighed. "Goddamnit."

    I laughed at them, then patted the seat next to me, in a jokingly seductive way. "I'm willing to share, honey."

    He rolled his eyes. "You're sooooo kind. Thank you, I owe you my life."

    "Finally, some respect." I beamed.

    A neighbor turned on their car, it's headlights illuminating the house. The living room was small, with a medium sized television. The couch was too soft in some places, too hard in others. No matter where you sat, you sank right in. Tyler fell onto the cushion next to me, completely disregarding personal space as he threw his arm over my shoulder.

    "What else do you want to share with me, baby?" He winked.

    I pushed him off. "My fist in your face!"

    He scooted as far away from me as he could. "Fine. Be that way, bitch."

    David yelled in from the kitchen. "Rejected!"