Abigails Sin

Testy Festy

The Spread Eagle was mostly empty now. Most of the bar goers had taken their coolers and trucks to the site of the festival. All day they would sit in that field with barbecues and alcohol as if nothing had changed. I wanted to go, to see what all the hype was for the festival but I was unsure I felt safe out in the open like that, especially in the middle of the day. I had my gun on my hip and a lot of other men and women would be doing the same, but would it really help? I sipped at my water wearily, my entire body was tired in a way that was so normal to me now. My bones ached and I had to rotate my shoulder to make sure that I still could.

"You plan on staying here all day?" her voice slid into my right ear just as she took a seat beside be. 

"Might be better if I do"I sighed

"for who? you or everyone else?" she asked before adding "sorry about my bluntness but coddling people has never been my strong suit" she leaned on her elbows. Fatigue ran through her as well, I could see it in the way Grace sagged her shoulders and kept her eyes half closed.

"Both" I answered.

"You can't let them win, isolating you is exactly what they want to do. If they show up we'll gun them down" she pulled my shoulder back so I was facing her "sooner or later you'll have to face it again just don't do it alone this time" she looked me over. Acknowledging all of my physical and mental scars. Grace was smart but she didn't understand what it felt like. To have him rummage around in your head without you even knowing. To know that John never cared but I still did. I couldn't admit that to her, not to anyone but I couldn't stop feeling something simply because it didn't suit anyone. I wished every night that when I woke I would hate him, want to hurt him but every morning I woke up and it was the same. It would take time but that was the one thing I didn't have.

"You're not going to leave unless I leave with you, aren't you?" I looked up to her big brown eyes. She gave me a sideways smirk and a nod

"we're not going to leave without you" Nick corrected coming up beside her. Wearing his usual red plaid flannel and tore jeans. He took off his sunglasses give me a mocking look. 

"Fine" I let out an exasperated sigh mockingly. Nick's laughter floated after us as Grace and I took the lead. Walking out of the dim lit bar. The sun beat down on us, the heat already scorching my exposed skin in this tank top. His truck sat on the curb next to us, beat up and grey. It reminded me of my truck heartwarmingly. Grace's thick boots beat against the bed of the truck, throwing her graceful form over the side and into the bed of the truck. I followed suit, not nearly as smoothly as her, and sat down beside her just as the trucks engine roared to life. 

The festival wasn't that far from Fall's End, only a ten minute or so drive. As soon as it came into view I was shocked at the amount of people that had showed up for this. Trucks and cars parked all over the road and the side fields. The balloons swaying in the slight breeze around all the white tents that had been set up to provide shade. A couple people were sitting under one tent handling all of the food preparation, I could only assume Mary and her chefs. Nick parked the truck half hazardly onto the field closest to that tent. The sounds of gun shots ran out. My hands instinctually flew to my pistol. My heart racing

"calm down it's just the shooting gallery" Grace's nimble finger lifted to point out over the field where five people were shooting dummy targets made from hay and sticks, scarecrows. The air in my lungs came out in one long breath. Letting go of my gun and getting myself down from the truck. The three of us walked towards the tent with Mary, hoping that Matthew would be there as well. As we got closer I could see Mary handing people drinks and small white paper containers of food, grease leaking out onto their hands. She was smiling, looking happier than ever. I caught glimpse of a bright blue shirt behind her, passing things over to her.