Strong Spirits

Chapter Three

I sat in the crisp grass, a breeze blowing the leaves around. Leon handed me a pipe, and we started to smoke. Madi sat a ways away with Gabriel, laughing. Traitor. Wasn't supposed to flirt. I laughed, then turned to Leon.

All I could think about was that dream. It had been so strange, but I felt as though I had seen it before. I turned up the music, until I could hardly hear myself think. I relaxed, staring up at the sky, watching the fluffy, mountainous clouds blow across the sky. It was strange, but little details like this are what I always remember. The little details.

My head spun, as I sat facedown on my cold desk the next day. Thoughts fluttered around, distracting me as I tried to jot down notes. ADHD man, it sucks. With a small sigh, I sat back and ran a hand through my hair. Leon turned around from the front and winked at me with a grin. I blushed, unsure what to do.

He didn't wait for me to respond, only turned forward again. I sat there, confused. He was so strange. As the class ended, I put in my headphones and walked out, taking big steps. As I neared the lunch table, Dixy and Madi started laughing and looked at me like they new something. "The hell is your problem?" I asked, feeling self conscious. "Nothing, who is Leon?" Dixy grinned evily. James looked up from his phone in surprise. "Ricky likes a guy?" He chuckled. "I thought she was asexual." Everyone laughed.

I blushed, my heart thuddig heavily. I shoved Dixy, before sitting down. "He's nobody...we just smoked is all." I muttered, as I pulled out a bag of chips. "Nobody sure likes you then," the girls giggled and pointed behind me. I turned to see him walking over. He sat down next to me, really close. "Wassup, you guys mind if I sit here?" He laughed.

My friends didn't tell him to leave, so he stayed. "Why are you following me?" I asked him, slightly annoyed.
"I thought you liked me?" He laughed, then turned to talk to Micky, our black friend. I shook my head and began to doodle on a notebook. I drew a bear, with stars in it's fur. I noticed him watching over my shoulder, and turned to glare at him. He smiled. "You don't look over people's shoulders when they are drawing. It's RUDE." I snapped.
"Well, you're stuck with me." He grinned. "Why the fuck am I stuck with you?" My temper flared.

He shrugged. "Because I wanna be you're friend." I shook my head angrily. He was not planning on leaving. I sighed and scooted away from him. This guy was gonna get on my nerves.

Sleep and frustration chewed on my bones, and clawed at my mind as I sat in my garage and worked on my bike. I turned up the stereo to full blast and put in some Machine Head. I screamed along to the music, headbanging at the intense parts. After the 6th song got over, I sat back and closed my eyes.

I was the weird kid in class. The stoner that listened to metal. Nobody else liked metal, except Mad I and Dixy. How come I can't find a guy with a decent taste in music? I snorted in amusement before returning to my work.

The wrench I was using slipped, and I felt the sickening crunch of bone as I crushed my fingers. "FUUUCCCKKK!!" I yelled, clutching my hand. I turned off the stereo and walked inside to clean it up. I ran my fingers under cold water, pain shooting up my arm like fire. Now I was frustrated. I wrapped my hand, then made my way upstairs.

I took off my shirt and jeans and laid down on my comfy bed, relaxing my spine. I picked up my phone to check and see if I had any texts. Sure enough, there were two. Madi said, "Hey Ricky, you wanna hang later tonight? Message me." The other was from Mom. She said, "Ricky, remind Tommy to take a shower. And make dinner. And take out the trash. Love you."

I shut my eyes tight, and put my hands on my face. I groaned loudly, then sat up. I had stuff to do. I can't sit around all day. I stood and stretched my arms up over my head before putting on some pajamas.

On my way downstairs I poked my head in Tommy's room. He was sitting at his desk doing his homework happily. I walked in, careful not to make a sound. He continued writing as I snuck up behind him. I grabbed his shoulders and shook him, making him squeal.

"Ricky! Why did you do that! You scared me!!!!" He yelled, surprised. I burst out laughing, falling into the floor. He laughed as well, realising I did it out of fun. "You, sir, have a shower to take." I tossled his hair.

He grumbled, but didn't argue. My phone vibrated in my back pocket as I made my way down the stairs. I pulled it out, turning on the screen with a frown.

Leon had texted me twice, both were asking if I wanted to go to the movies. With a sigh, I shook my head and put my phone away. I don't know why he kept texting me, but it was getting annoying. At least I didn't have to see him.

*Rinnnggg Rinnngggg* My phone started ringing as I opened the fridge. With a frustrated snort I hit the answer button. "What is it?" I grumbled. "Ricky? It's Dixy, you're coming to school tomorrow, right?" She asked, worry giving an edge to her voice. "Of course, why?" Concern pricked at my mind, Dixy was never worried.

"Ricky, take your truck, not your bike. The storm that's going on? It's going to get worse by tomorrow, it's a typhoon." Shit. Looking around the kitchen, I realised how open the house was. We had a lot of windows.

"I have to call you back Dixy, I have to get ready for this." We said our goodbyes and hung up the phone before I raced upstairs. Tommy had just gotten out of the shower and was brushing his teeth as I walked in. "Hi Ricky!" He smiled up at me happily. "Hey buddy. Listen, when you are all done, I want you to go and put two pairs of clothes in a backpack, ok?"

"Why? Are we going camping?" He asked, still smiling. I shook my head softly and explained to him that there was going to be a really bad storm, and we might have to leave. He nodded, before running to his room with a determined look in his eyes. I laughed, hoping in my heart the storm wouldn't be too bad.

As I walked into my room, I grabbed a bag and began stuffing supplies into it. Two shirts, two pants, two everything. I grabbed my buck knife, and strapped it onto the bag. "I should grab my bow too..." I muttered to myself. Opening my closet, I unhooked it from the wall and strapped my quiver to my backpack. Setting it by the door, I scanned the room for anything I might need.

Not seeing anything important, I grabbed the bag and walked to Tommy's room. He was busily packing a bag with clothes and personal items like the bedtime story book Jace used to read to him and his stuffed alligator. "Hey bud." I said softly from the door. "Ricky, should I bring my bow too?"He asked with excitement in his voice now.

"If you want I suppose." I smiled. My phone vibrated like crazy in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a text from Mom. It said, "Ricky, by now you've probably heard about the storm. I want you and your brother to get your things in your truck and be on alert in case something happens. You are still going to school tomorrow,  but I want him to go with you."

"I've spoken to the school and it's alright with them. Take care of your brother, I have to stay here at the hospital due to the emergency. Take care honey, I love you." With a deep sigh I tucked my phone away into my pocket and looked around the hall.

Pictures hung there. Simple pictures of Mom and us kids. All three of us kids. A small smile flashed across my face as I saw Jace and Tommy. All of a sudden the wind blew a strong gust, rattling the windows to remind me of what I was supposed to be doing.

I picked through my things, checking for anything I could need. Picking up a small black box, I opened it to find a large blue pocket knife, a small sewing kit, some matches, and a few bandaids. Thinking quickly, I closed the box and walked back to Tommy's room.

He stood up and grabbed his bag and his bow as I walked up. "Here, for your backpack." I said, handing him the box. "Emergencies ONLY. Understand?" I said as he opened it. Picking through the box, his eyes shone with excitement. "Thanks Ricky!" He grinned. "I'll be careful I swear." He stuffed it into his bag then ran down the stairs.