obsession

one

OBSESSION

JUNE OF 1996

"Does your dad have any more cigarettes?" Margot asks, taking one last drag of what's left between her fingers.

"Ugh. You're gross. I don't know how you stand to smoke those. And anyway, he probably does, but I'm definitely not giving you anymore. When I get married someday you're not gonna show up to the church with lung cancer- got it?"

She rolls her eyes playfully. "Of course, mommy. No more smokies for me."

I throw a magazine at her and it lands in the pool. We both groan.

"Good god, tell me that is not one of Jane's magazines."

She fishes a Vogue out of the pool and cringes. "Whoops. That's what you get for messing with me, I guess."

I giggle. "If she yells at me for it, I'm telling her it's your fault."

She holds her hands up in surrender. "Sir, yes, sir."

We both go back to reading. I lay on my stomach, feeling sweat beading on the back of my neck. My back is burning and it feels delicious. Summer is finally among us. The only time of year that I finally feel like things are getting better. I inhale, taking in the chlorine and Jane's chicken baking in the oven.

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you," she slams her magazine shut. "Conner from Spanish class asked me to go to this party tomorrow night. And there's no way I'm going alone, not with that dog. Now I know that you're going to protest, but for the love of God, will you please please please come with me?"

I sigh. "Margot. You know how I feel about parties..."

"I know, and I get that. I really do. But we're going to be seniors next year. Imagine how cool it would be if we got to tell people we went to a Cherry Bomb party!"

I look up at the sky. Whenever I think of parties, I think of my mom, and everything in my chest starts to feel like it's sinking. My dad forbids me going to any parties, especially after what happened to her. Parties are a huge no-no in the Green house.

That being said, there's something that's drawing me to Margot's idea. Finally going to a party, just to see what the fuss is about. To see what dragged my mother deep inside a pit.

Her mother's navy minivan pulls into our driveway, and Margot gives me an impatient look.

"Okay, I'll think about it," I groan.

"Wait, really? Oh, this is going to be amazing!"

"Margot, I said I'll think about it. That's not a yes," I remind her, grinning.

She gets up and begins to pack her magazines away. "When Tatum Green says she'll think about it, that's always going to be a yes to me. Bye, love!"

She gives me a kiss on the cheek and skips off, her bag slamming into her hip.

I sigh for the second time, flipping onto my back. The sun instantly burns into my stomach and my thighs, and I look over. A single cigarette slipped from Margot's bag. I pick it up, and put it between my lips, pretending to smoke it.

I laugh a little, and flick it off into the bushes.

"Hey, dear," I hear Jane's gentle voice from the top of the balcony. "I made some fresh lemonade and a sandwich. Come inside!"

I jump up and run up the stairs leading to our deck. I flop down on the living room couch next to my half-brother, Ezra, and I ruffle his hair a little.

"Heya, little brother. Margot said you were spying on her earlier."

He looks at me with big eyes. "No I wasn't. No way! I don't even like her, idiot."

I giggle. "Aw. When you're all flustered, you're not annoying at all!"

"Okay, see, that's enough," Jane comes over and hands me a cup full of lemonade and ice. "Now come to the table and eat your sandwiches."

As Ezra gobbles down his tomato sandwich, I hear the beeping of the padlock at the front door. My dad jogs inside, all sweating and out of breath.

"Ew, dad," I say. "You smell."

He laughs, holding onto his knees, trying to breathe in slowly. "Quiet, Tate. I ran all the way home to tell everyone that there's a moving truck in the driveway of the blue house."

"What? No way," I say, taken aback. "Nobody's lived there in... what? Fourteen years?"

"Well, there was a man outside, and he told me his name was Charlie. He's the moving man, and said he's a friend of the nice young man who's moving in. I think it'd be nice if we all went over and introduced ourselves. Jane, love, do you think you could make a batch of cookies, or something along the line?"

"I'm on it!" She chirps, disappearing into the kitchen. I hear her exclaim, "I finally get to bake for someone!"

"As for you two," my dad grins. "I want you to get clean and dressed. This is a big moment! Fourteen years of having no neighbors!"

"What's wrong with that?" Ezra says. "I think it's a good thing! We get to be as loud as we want!"

My dad kisses the top of his head. "Maybe having a neighbor will teach you not to be so loud. Now go. Get dressed."