DROWNING IN YOU // Rafe Cameron

9

The sun leaked through my curtains, warming my face as the sound of chainsaws and people talking disrupted my sleep. I flopped over and covered my head with my pillow, only hoping to sleep a little longer. Much to my dismay, the plush comfort of my sweet pillows could not cancel the sounds emitting from the backyard. My night ended as usual: Sarah and I got tipsy without our parents knowledge while our brother's snuck out through the back to go God knows where, and we watched a movie with Josh and the girls until the rain started to pick up. 

Groaning, I shuffled out of my bed and peeked through my window. Trees uprooted, my mother's once beautiful flower garden torn to shreds, and the cherry on top, no cell service. My father came into view, examining the damage that had been done to our home. He had a few construction workers with him, no doubt being paid for cleanup. I got ready for the day, brushing my teeth and throwing on a bikini, shorts, and old t-shirt before making my way to the kitchen. 

"Yo did you see the tree that fell in the yard?" Carter asked me as he walked through the kitchen. "Mom's gonna be pissed about her flower garden too." I poured myself a bowl of cereal and sat at the counter.

"Where is she?" I asked as I turned to look at him. His old highschool football shirt fitted to his physique as he stood drinking a gatorade. 

"I think she went to meet some people to talk about a beach clean-up." He opened the fridge, rumaging through it like he normally does, only to pull out a pink Go-Gurt. He ripped the top open before forcing it empty in seconds. Finishing my cereal, I loaded the bowl and spoon into the sink and brushing past my much taller brother. 

In my room, I contemplated my options for the day: cleaning my disaster of a room, cleaning my disaster of a yard, or asking my dad for any other tasks. I decided my room was a good start, so I connected my phone to my speaker, blasting Kenny Chesney as I organized my room.

...

Hours later, I had successfully finished my deep clean, spending far too much time on my nap that consumed 3 hours of my day. I felt accomplished as my freshly washed floral sheets contrasted against my white comforter. A photo of Sarah and I holding one fish each stood in a small picture fram on one of my shelves. I yearned for the days when the worst thing that sound happen was our brothers throwing worms used for bait at us. After leaving my phone untouched for hours, the four beautiful bars reappeared on my screen, letting me know the cell towers were now working. At least, for Figure 8. I took a second to text Sarah, asking if she wanted to hangout tonight. A soft knock at my door startled me, but I felt at ease as my father's face appeared.

"Very nice cleaning job missy." His deep voice spoke. I could see the light tan lines from his sunglasses on his face. James Dawson without his sunglasses was a tiger without his stripes. 

"I worked very hard," I said as I dramatically dragged the back of my hand against my forehead. "I'm just absolutely famished!" 

A smile crossed his face, his eyes scrunching with his laugh. "Well dinner is ready downstairs." He responded as he pressed a quick kiss to my forehead and retreated out of my room. I followed, feeling my stomach growling more by the second. 

Carter and I scarffed down our hamburgers and fries before both of our phones let out their slightly annoying pings. Sarah had texted to inform me about a kegger that we were going to, as Carter was notified of the same party via Topper. The boneyard parties were something I heard about through Sarah and I's countless facetimes when she was drunk. We always heard teens discussing the specific area of the beach when we were younger, wishing we were teens attending. I thanked my mother for dinner, quickly telling her I would be out with Sarah tonight. 

I stared into my closet as I do everyday, wondering what people wear to the boneyard. Sarah had let me know she was in a dress, which I simply could not convinve myself to also wear. Jesse's golden fur splayed across my carpet as she slept my the foot of my bed. I resorted to a blue stripped tube top with some Levi shorts, much more comfortable than a dress. Walking down my stairs, I could hear Carter on the phone from downstairs. He sounded slightly agitated, but I didn't waste my time eavesdropping. My phone dinged with a message from Sarah letting me know she was here to get me. I made my way to my front door, quietly opening and closing it so Jesse wouldn't bolt down the stairs in hopes of escape. 

I rolled my eyes at the sight in front of me: Rafe leaning against his large truck, Sarah in the backseat giggling at something Topper said, and no Kelce in sight. 

"Where's your brother?" Rafe questioned in his naturally rude tone, asking as if I was a lost child.

"I don't know, go find him." Was all the information I provided. It wasn't needed, however, the front door slamming as I got into the back seat next to Sarah. I watched Carter and Rafe have a brief yet intense conversation outside the car, both older boy occasionally glancing into the truck. I deemed the interaction semi-suspicious, yet not enough to question them.

"Yo, guys! Let's goooooooo!" Sarah finally yelled out as she stuck her head out the window.