The Boy From Oklahoma

Travis

  Briefly edited. 

   The party is goin' well so far, and it's almost 1:00am. I had left Alana with Kendra about an hour ago to let her get to know some people better. I'm hangin' out with a few of my friends, makin' jokes and checkin' out girls who wiggle by in their short skirts and cut-off shorts. I'm tryin' to keep an eye on Alana, just so I know where she is without bein' right by her side. I'm lookin' her way now when I see once of my friends from school stagger over in her direction. She turns to look at him with a surprised, but amused expression. I smirk, imaginin' how much of a fool he must be makin' of himself. 

   I turn back to the guys and continue chattin' with them. I turn my head and glance to my right to see Bobby-Jo standin' not far from me, and she's lookin' at me. I gaze at her for a moment, then look back to my friends, smilin' and laughin'. I glance back her way to find her givin' me a smile. She then grabs the closest guy near her and starts dancin' with him and grindin' on him. I look away, disgusted with her. 

   I move my eyes over the crowd to find Alana once again, only havin' moved a little ways. The kid from school whose name I think is Kent is still hangin' around her, obviously not gettin' the fact that she's annoyed with him. I watch as she shoots him an annoyed look and turns her back on him, talkin' to Kendra quickly. Kendra looks over Alana's shoulder at the guy and rolls her eyes. 

   Kent grabs Alana's arm and tries to turn her around to face him. She whirls around on him with a mad expression and tries to yank her arm out of his grip, but he won't let go. 

   "I'll be back," I tell the guys, not takin' my eyes off Alana. I push through the crowd, heading toward her. As I get closer, I can hear her talkin' in a low, but powerful voice. 

   "Let go of me," she says as she tries to pull her arm free. I hand my cup to come random person and push my way up to Kent. I clamp my hand down on his shoulder. 

   "You better let her go," I say. This distracts him long enough to let Alana twist her arm free of his grasp. 

   "What'sss the problem?" he slurs, turnin' to look at me. I can tell he's hammered by the way his eyes cross and uncross as he tries to focus on me. 

   "Leave the girl alone, bud," I tell him. 

   "What you gonna do about it?" he asks, shruggin' my arm off his shoulder. He turns all his attention to me, tryin' to push at my shoulder, but misses completely and hits the chair. I laugh and shake my head.

   "You're drunk. Have someone drive you home," I tell him.

   "No! Let'sss fight," he slurs again. I turn around and walk toward Alana. I take her arm gently in my hand and examine her arm where it's slightly red. 

   "Are you okay?" I ask her. 

   "I'm fine. Can we go back now?" she asks softly.