whiskey bent and love bound

Chapter 2

     She woke up to my alarm going off,  "this eight am 1102 class will be the death of me" Georgia thought to herself. Since graduation day, with a few events she didn't feel like thinking about this early in the morning, her life had consisted of the part time waitress at the diner, classes at the community college one town over, and bonfires with her friends on the weekend. It was Friday, which meant just one more class and she was home free for the weekend! The only thought on her mind as she drug her self out of bed to get dressed, head to the college, and suffer through the class that seemed like it would never end was her plans for tonight. She was going to one of Tiffany's friends bonfire, even though she wouldn't know a sing person besides Tiffany, it was going to be a great night.

     After the long 1102 class, and lunch with Alyssa, Georgia headed over to get ready at Tiffany's. when she got there she walked straight in, they were close there was no need for formalities like knocking, and straight to the bathroom to start the process.

"I am so ready! I need tonight, WE need tonight. After the mess you've been through since graduation we need to finally let go and be crazy partiers college kids have the reputation to be!" Tiffany said while chuckling when she saw Georgia walk in. 

"I know, tonight is going to be perfect. Who's bonfire is this anyway?" Georgia said

"Just some kids I met in high school, they went to Malone, so dont worry itll be a good time you know how Malone kids like to party!" TIffany replied as they both finished getting ready.

"Okay, if you say so" she laughed "are you done? we better get a move in if we wanna get all the way to Malone before the sun comes up!" Georgia said

"YES! Lets go." TIffany said, as they walked out the door and headed to Malone for the night!

After driving for what seemed like eternity on the long stretch of highway on state road 77, where the only scenery is pastures and cattle, they finally arrived. When they got there the fire was already lit, and man was it a big one.

"Who do we hang out with?" Georgia asked

"My friend John is over here, we can go sit on his tailgate!" Tiffany answered as she grabbed Georgia by the arm and drug her over to a tall man with a scruffy looking beard in front a blacked lifted dodge. "this must be john" she assumed. She looked him up and down, he was a typical Malone guy from his roper boots to his pearl snapped button up. 

"Hey, im John." the scruffy looking man said "yall can hang out on my truck, id never miss the oppurtunity to have two beautiful ladies in my truck!" John said while smiling, but it was a genuine smile this guy was a true southern gentleman and Georgia could tell they were gunna be good friends.

"Hey John, im Georgia!" Georgia smiled and shook his hand, then jumped up on his tailgate. "Hows the night been so far, I mean before we arrived an brought the party" she winked. Tiffany had wondered off talking to some random guy, so it was just her and John but it was okay.

"Pretty good, none of the boys are drunk enough yet so no punches have been thrown" He says while laughing. he jumps up in the bed and pulls a mason jar out of his cooler. "want a swig, Beau dropped it off this morning, and man do him and Thomas make good shine." John finishes. 

Georgia's eyes got wide, she couldnt believe what she just heard it had to be a coincidence. She convinced herself not to get ahead of herself, gained her composure, and decided to just investigate a little. "Beau and Thomas? Who are they?" she asked a little more eagerly than shed like.

"You dont know em? I guess they're keeping pretty lowkey which is smart, I mean the 5-0s are getting pretty skilled these days." he chuckled, "John and Beau are the guys that have been running shine all over the past few months. Man they must have exciting lives! Theyre always on the move, and they supply for all the towns round here. Malone, Sneads, Kinard, Perry, theyve got pretty much the whole North Florida area covered." John finished. 

All of a sudden she couldn't breath, she thought she might  actually be dying. After what he'd put her through she still loved him and she hated that more than anything. When him and Beau suddenly disappeared after graduation with no warning to anyone she had no idea what had happened. Her and TIffany has searched for any clue of why they had left endlessly with no success. Obviously her distress was very apparent because John was alarmed "what? What is it, whats wrong?" John asked very concerned.

"Thomas was my boyfriend, who disappeared a week after graduation without any warning, Beau is his best friend." She said "I need Tiffany" and before John could respond Georgia was on a B-line to her friend, so he just followed. 

When  Georgia finally found Tiffany in the large crowd of drunk rednecks she grabbed her arm and started pulling her to the truck, John still in tow.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, STOP!" Tiffany screamed angrily, obviously shed already had quite a bit to drink. 

"JOHN KNOWS THOMAS AND BEAU, HE WAS WITH THEM THIS MORNING!" Georgia screams right back.

Tiffany suddenly got stiff, her expression immediately changed, guess shes sober now. 

"Its true, I know them im a pretty regular customer." John said, "but what I wanna know is how you to lovely ladies got to be friends with guys like Beau and Thomas. Them and their crowd, the lifestyle they live. Its not the most conventional. Certainly not something Id guess women like you take part in." 

Tiffany and Georgia looked at each other confused, mostly with the whole situation but also with the way he was describing the guys they'd grown up with. 

"I have his number, let me call him" John offered as he pulled out his phone and dialed the number. The phone rang and rang and finally a deap voice answered one they both knew very well, but it was difficult to hear as someone was screaming explicits in the background. 

"Hey man, already tear threw what we just gave ya?" Thomas, her Thomas asked. 

"Nah man actually I have a pretty lady wanting to talk to you, know a Georgia?" John asked.

After the longest pause, the extensive silence almost made her think he had hung up, he finally answered with a shakey voice. 

"I cant," Thomas started "but tell her I love her" and instantly the link was empty, he hung up.