Blood in the Water

Happy Fourth Bitches

       I woke up to the sound of birds chirping. No alarm, that's right. It's summer.

"Happy Fourth of July bitches!" I said in the group chat.

     Connor arrived back from his run and kissed me on the forehead. I made us breakfast while he showered, per usual.

"You ready for tonight babe?" I asked him as he sat down.
"Yes. I want to see you happy," he smiled.

    We were going to a party in a field so we could shoot off fireworks. It was Hannah's land somewhere near here. I was ready to put on my little Coors light top and some tiny ass shorts.

     I passed the day by cleaning the house because I knew I'd be hungover tomorrow, maybe even the rest of the week. I always need to have everything equipped for the week before I feel accomplished. I FaceTimed Lydia as we got ready. Connor wasn't going to drink tonight because of football. He can't risk anything with college around right around the corner. That meant a full night of embarrassing myself in front of him. I feel guilty when I drink and he's sober sometimes. Eventually, 7:30 rolled around and we headed out to pick up Drew and Vera.

"Are y'all hyped?!" I yelled as they got in the car. "Hell yes," Vera replied.
"Now that's the attitude I want boys."

     I snuck some red white and berry Smirnoff shooters into the center console. I knew I was about to get flamed for pulling them out but I did anyway.

"Dammit Lyssa," Connor said.
"Oh hush, we'll bend down and take them fast. Chill bro," I silenced him.

     Vera and I leaned down and threw two back. I gagged but I knew it would be worth it. I hid them back in the center console. No cops would go snooping through there. I leaned back and looked out the window, waiting for it to kick in. I have a problem with not being able to casually drink. It's always a blackout or nothing. Sometimes I wonder if I have a problem but then it's like whatever, yolo. We were almost there so I adjusted my leg, so it would be easy to walk.

"We are here!" I yelled as we approached the field full of people.

    We hopped out and opened the trunk. There was a case of twisted teas and a bottle of pink lemonade Smirnoff. Lydia came over and we both grabbed a twisted tea. Mine was rocket pop flavored of course, since it was the Fourth of July. I walked around talking to people off and on. With that said, I did drink a whole lot more. Good thing I'm fantastic at multitasking. People were lighting off fireworks everywhere. Connor pulled me aside.

"Let's go sneak off and light some shit up," he said.
"Bet," I replied.

We went back to the trunk, I downed another shot and grabbed a fresh drink. He grabbed a fountain and some small explosives. We snuck off into a nook where no one was. I sat down against the tree while he lit one. It was so pretty but he was even prettier. I wanted to grow up and have kids with that man. Eventually, he came over after he lit the last firework. He put his arm around me and I sunk into him.

"I can't wait to have your kids," I randomly blurted out.
"Me too," he laughed.
"I want a boy so that he can follow in your sporty footsteps and a girl to follow in my academics," I told him.

     That was the dream, two kids. A little Connor running around our big house, with Jada and another dog, in front of a gorgeous mountain view. I wanted to be a mom so bad, but only if my children had Connor's genes.

"Let's go back to the party," he said.
"Okay," I said as he pulled me up.

     We arrived back to the enormous crowd of people. I spotted Jackson out of the corner of my eye. He was arguing with a large man. Once I got closer I saw that it was Parker. He was on the football team with them. I started hearing the conversation.

"At least I'm smart enough to get a decent football scholarship," Parker yelled.
"You know what, at least I'm better at it than you'll ever be. No college wants an unathletic mother fucker who gets dumped by an ugly ass girl," Jackson screamed back.

    Connor started beelining that way. I grabbed Lydia by the arm and walked with Connor. The whole party was listening to them screaming at each other. It ended up physical because Jackson threw a punch. Connor sprinted to them.

"Damnit guys break it up," he said separating them.

     Lydia tried helping break it up but Parker's elbow ended up hitting her right in the eye.

"Ow!" She screamed.

       They hindered the fighting, once they realized they were in public. Parker's face dropped once he saw her new black eye.

"Fuck," Jackson screamed while pulling her in close.
"I'm so sorry Lydia," Parker said.

       She was holding back tears. The entire party was staring now.

"Let's get out of here man," said Connor.

      I helped Lydia to the car as Connor calmed Jackson down. We told Vera and Drew to hop in with Lucas on the way home.

Connor and Jackson got into the front with Lydia and me in the back. I grabbed some ice from the cooler and held it in her eye. It was a nasty black eye now.

"Jackson you have to stop fighting," Connor said. "Yeah Jacky, I'm hurt because of you," she whined.

        He reached back and stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry he was making fun of Alyssa," he said. "What?" I asked.
"He was mimicking you hobbling and saying things like what if she faked the whole thing? I just got into it with him and things got fucking personal," he said.
"Faked it? How would that even be possible?" I asked.
"I mean what if you chopped your leg off in a manic episode," Lydia laughed.
"Oh shut your mouth."

He did it for me. I can't tell if it's heartwarming or if I feel guilty. We made it back to Lydia's. I changed into my pj's and head downstairs to the rest of the group. I took off my leg and sat on the couch against Connor.

"Happy motherfucking Fourth of July," I laughed.
"Yeah. Happy Fourth bitches," Lydia added.

        We turned the light off and fell right asleep.