Copperhead Road

Chapter:1

Innocence. Not knowing. I didn't know what my family really did for a living until my brother disappeared. My dad and brother both run whiskey and moonshine for this guy somewhere. I still got texts and calls from him from time to time. A big black dodge drives down the road every now and then. Whiskey floats on the wind every other day. I live in Johnson County in Tennessee. I go to Johnson County high school with my best friend and risk taker.

In our county there is only one feared family. The Pettimores. They make moonshine, whiskey, and grow one of the most easily gotten and planted thing; marijuana. Rich family. Rich enough to change their vehicles and license plates every month to keep it under wraps. The youngest of them is in my grade. There's three in my grade to be exact.

No one messes with them. I've got the youngest in several of my classes. He's quiet and never wants to talk. The teachers don't ask him to solve anything except his work. He's over six foot with stubble around his jawline. He's broad at the shoulders and keeps the broadness down to his hips. His cousins are built similarly, but they have growing beards on their faces.

No one has really heard the youngest talk to anyone except at a low whisper among his cousins. I know he isn't shy. If any guy tries to smart off to him, that guy might as well be dead if he's left unrecognizable.

I went over everything on the piece of paper in my journal in front of me. Glancing over at the guy in the far back corner of the room. There were three empty desks around him. If your brave enough to sit back there you better be one not to talk. I closed my journal and stuck it in my bag. It's untold around here about how families make money. Especially if it's illegal.

The bell rang as the teacher yelled for us to set our journals on her desk for over the weekend grading. I wasn't the only one who denied turning my journal in. I walked out of the class and the building going to my best friend's vehicle. After school is one of the best or worst times to hookup especially on a Friday night.

Me, myself and I don't like to even think about hooking up. I sat on the tailgate of her jeep taking my cover shirt off revealing the tank top on underneath. Catcalls echoed across the parking lot. I paid no mind as I watched the cousins walk to a beat up truck. No doubt they'll be helping their family this weekend with anything they can get their hands on.

"Hey beautiful wanna go get dinner and have a little fun?" Jackson asked. Let me get this straight. The school douche bag. Wants to get in every girl's pants. The player wanna be. Also the dumbest one here when it comes to spots to take girls. "Get lost." I told him. "Come on. One night. I promise we won't go farther than our underwear."

"No. You don't deserve even that." I said. "Ok. Then how about we just make out in the bed of my truck and have a nice meal?" He asked. "How about only the meal?" I asked. "Deal." He said. My friend came up. "Hey I'll see ya Monday." I told her. "You got a ride?" She asked. "Yeah." I said. "Ok then." She said before getting in her jeep.

Jackson wrapped an arm around my waist before dragging me along. It's kind of an on and off thing between us. As much as I want to be with my bestie, when Jackson beats her to her vehicle on Friday I have to go with him. It's unspoken, unofficial, and stupid. As soon as we were in his truck he locked me in before starting it up and pulling out. I knew his intentions and that going with him wasn't very smart.

After dinner we rode around until dark. He pulled off onto a road called Big Dry Run. I knew where he was going. "We're not going to Copperhead Road." I told him. "Relax. We're not. Just cruising Big Dry." He chuckled. He turned the headlights off and parked on the side of the road. "You still want that make out?" He asked. I moved closer to my door. If I was to jump and run I might end up in a spot I don't wanna be.

"Come on Blaze. I promise I won't do anything. You and I on this quiet road without anyone." He said. I finally gave in. As soon as my boots touched the ground I knew we weren't supposed to be here. It was a wild feeling that started pumping in my veins that was making my flight response high, but my fight response higher. I didn't jump at anything except for the slamming of a truck door.

Jackson met me by the tailgate dropping it and lifting me easily onto it. He started by kissing me standing between my legs. This was dangerous. He then got me laying down in the bed easily. He then grazed his teeth along my neck peppering kisses along it. I could hear the rumble of an engine. "Jack." I said. "Say my name again." He said roughly. "Someone's coming." I rasped.

He looked up. I could see headlights flash across his face. "Stay here. Until I have to move. Then run for the cab." He said. I had no choice but to listen. Two men got out of the dark vehicle. One I saw had a gun. A shotgun. "Step away from the truck." One said. I quietly moved from the bed to the side of the truck. "Do you know where you are boy?" The other asked.

I heard the cock of the hammer. "I didn't mean any harm. Just came out here to drink some beer and get on my way." Jackson said. I moved away from the truck and into the woods. Not smart. I know I just wanna get away from Jackson. I know where we are. It's not smart to be here. The Pettimores are out here. I got away unheard and ran. I jumped over fallen branches and trees before being tackled.

I fought whatever it was until a hand was pressed to my mouth. "Shh. You shouldn't be out here. You better get back to the main road before someone catches you for attempted stealing." A male voice said. I was frozen in fear. "Your lucky it was me who caught you instead of someone else." He said. I had no clue who he was. Probably best I didn't anyway. He loosened his grip before standing pulling me up to my feet.

I could barely see the outline of his figure and a little of his face. I was still frozen in place. He leaned down. "I'd run." He whispered. "Now." He said louder before knocking me out of my trance. I ran with him on my heels. As soon as I found the pond near Roan Road I started home. A truck pulled up alongside me. "Blaze. Where were you?" It was Jackson. "Running from your dumb a**." I told him.

He stopped the truck. Then got out. "I told ya to get in the cab didn't I?" "And when do I listen to you?" I asked turning around and continuing to walk. "You better stop now or else." He almost yelled. "Or else what? You don't know what could happen." I told him. The sound of the hammer told me he had a gun. Who doesn't when heading near Copperhead Road? I had my own between my breasts and in the waist band of my jeans. I pulled both out.

"Out numbered you better get lost before I make sure your never found." I told him. The gun went off. Mine did too. He fell. I jumped in the driver seat driving away from him after taking the gun. No one messes with Christina Blaze Aarons. I got to my road and ditched the truck. I spotted a dark colored vehicle coming this way.

I ran down the road and to my house. As soon as I was safe inside I locked the door and went for a shower. Then crawled into bed and replayed the events from tonight.