Effortless

Three

I was at Bella's house with Ricky and Kailey. I was stressing over the election, trying to think of any possible way to come out on top. This was my last try, after all.

I was also studying. I had my school computer on the desk in front of me, a notebook on my right and my binder on my left.

Bella put on one of her favorite songs. She was bored of sitting around and decided that music would lift our spirits.

The song played and both Bella and Kailey sang. As Bella sang, she started walking over to me, holding her hands out. The song continued to play as she made it to where I was sitting. She grabbed both of my hands, forcing me to stand up. She sang as she watched me, waiting for me to join.

I sang as I started to dance with my friend.

Kailey went over to Ricky and started getting him to sing and dance as well. Ricky didn't know most of the lyrics, but he still sang along as best he could. I knew all of the lyrics because I hung out around Bella and Kailey way too often. Eventually, we were all singing our hearts out.

I loved times like that. The times where you get caught up in the moment and all you can think about is how much fun you're having. You forget every bad thing that has happened in your life for a brief moment. The only thing on your mind is the lyrics and the sound, and the happy feeling that comes along with that.

After the song ended, Bella's phone went to the next song on her playlist. I was done with the little bit of dancing we had done and decided to get back to the work that I was doing before. Bella plopped down on the couch right along with Kailey.

"I want to go to a party." Bella said with a sigh as she did her makeup.

The mention of a party grabbed my attention. Any excuse to drink was enough to convince me. "Same, let's go."

Bella scoffed. "Well we have to find one to go to, Eli."

"I don't really want to go to a party." Kailey mumbled. "Besides, we can't just show up to one."

"Not to mention the fact that it's the middle of the week." Ricky noted as he rubbed circles on his girlfriend's back. "Who the hell is throwing a party today?"

Everything they were saying was true. Obviously there was no way of getting to a party tonight. I had only ever been to one party in my entire life and it was the day ever. It was an excuse to get shit-faced and no one would bat an eye. I didn't have an annoying bug in my ear telling me to stop. 

"Let's just go to The Hill." Kailey suggested.

The Hill was a specific field with a large hill in our town that people often went to hang out. People would bring food and have picnics, they would have family reunions, and other simple fun things.

I used to go there all of the time with Lily, it was 'our spot'. It was where we shared every good and bad thing about our lives with each other. It was where she comforted me and told me that everything was going to be alright. It was where we hung out to simply stare at the clouds. It was where I came out to her.

After the accident I couldn't bring myself to go back.

Bella and Ricky stayed silent, looking at me wearily. Kailey, realizing what she said, immediately backtracked. "Or...anywhere else."

I knew exactly why they were acting like that. They all looked at me, awaiting my reaction. They were probably thinking I was going to immediately say that I did not want to go, just as I had done for the past year.

When I didn't respond, Ricky said, "Or the park. Let's go to the park."

So we arrived at the park.