From the Ashes

[18] The War

"All filled?"

"Check."

"Ice in the cooler?"

"Check, check."       

"We're good to go, soldier." She gives me a lazy salute under her grin before she closes the trunk to hide our ammo for the water balloon fight that happens every day on the last day of school here in the student parking lot. I'm just turning the battery off on Kaitlin's car, A Day to Remember shutting off abruptly, as loud screamo music comes flying across the parking lot in the form of a white truck. Kaitlin leans casually against her car, biting the end of a pair of sunglasses as the truck screeches to a stop in the spot beside us. Sage and Roman are in the front of it, showing off for us as they growl along with the fast-paced music, Sage head banging wildly as he plays air drums, and Roman making a "hard core" face as he shakes his hair about and plays the air guitar. Kaitlin and I bust up laughing, the sound of our mirth covered by what I think is Bring Me the Horizon. As the key modulates and the refrain of the song comes on, both boys lean out the window toward us, Sage sprawled across Roman's lap to do so, and start mouthing the words to us out the open window.

"We will never sleep! Cause sleep is for the weak! And we will never rest! Till WE'RE ALL FUCKING DEAD!"

Kaitlin and I both screech at their rendition, the boys accentuating the pauses in the beat to stare wildly still at us both before continuing their intense lip-syncing with the music. The song ends with more furious head-banging, and both boys suddenly halting in ridiculous poses when the music cuts out.

"You guys are RIDICULOUS," Kait manages to squeak between fits of laughter, using the car for support. I wipe imaginary tears of laughter from my eyes with big sweeps of my hand as I giggle uncontrollably. By the time we settle down from the amusement of their little show, both boys have hopped down from the truck.

"You guys ready to get your asses beat?" Roman grins from underneath his dark head of shaggy hair, giving the bed of his truck a loving pat. Three big coolers are nestled innocently in the pickup. I give a shrug after I hit the lock button for the trunk, and toss the keys to Kaitlin from the other side of the car.

"Bring your fury, for I'll not hold back mine," I purr with an evil smirk, standing my ground with a leisurely stance as Roman turns to stand directly in front of me. We're almost pinned between the tiny space left by the two vehicles. His chest bumps against mine slightly as he leans his head down close to mine to return my look.

"Better watch your back then, darlin'," he growls playfully, leaning even closer to me to rest his hand against Kaitlin's car.

"Better watch your pride then, sweet thang." I give him a flirtatiously diabolic wink before ducking out from under his arm to grab Kaitlin and start off towards the school with long, swinging steps.

"Damn!" Roman's incredulous voice floats behind us.

I power my way through the second half of two finals in the morning, and between classes I notice the school itself is practically alight with excitement. The chattering buzz that fills the crowded halls isn't dull or sluggish like normal, but quite the opposite. The seniors seem especially pumped for their last day of high school ever. I stop a few times in the hall throughout the day to be attacked by, or do the attacking, of a senior I'm particularly fond of. It's hard to think that this will be me next year.

During study hall, the teacher is talked into playing music from their computer while a few students play games of hangman on the front board, and I chat with Sage about the upcoming vacation we'll be spending together. He always kept to himself in school, I've noticed, but I'm pleased when he warms up to me a little. He compliments me on my summer dress, and I on his The Devil Wears Prada shirt, and he then tries to persuade me to join up with him and Roman to take out the rest of the school at the water balloon fight in a few hours. I graciously decline on the account of a rivalry between myself and Sir Spade, enjoying Sage's pleasant nature as opposed to Roman's flirtatiously aggressive one. I feel almost relieved when I talk to him, and I notice it's because I'm not in a constant state of emotional "flush-tration" around him, I think to myself with a hidden chuckle.