THE CAMELLIA TAVERN

CHAPTER 17: RED LIPSTICK

Wednesday, June 24

"We're leavin' here in less than twenty minutes," Jacinda calls from her bedroom.

I've packed a red and white sundress to wear to the show tonight and shorts and a t-shirt for the ride back to Sturvis tomorrow. We'll stay at James's house, which isn't too far from the venue where they're playing tonight.

It'll take us several hours to get to Mobile, but luckily, we're taking Jacinda's car instead of mine. Merritt gets into the front seat. I slide into the back and we hit the road.

Jacinda's playlist consists of a lot of Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert. We all sing along. As usual, Merritt sounds way better than Jacinda or I do, but that doesn't stop us from joining in. When we're not singing at the top of our lungs, we trade tales about work, past relationships and our tentative plans for the future. But I know that what Merritt plans to do will be highly dependent on what Jacinda decides to do and vice versa. They're so good together. Everyone should be so lucky.

"So, Mil, what are you gonna do after you graduate?" Merritt decides it's my turn to answer the question but, in reality, I don't have an exciting answer. My plan is to go to graduate school where I am accepted and where I can actually afford the tuition. I'm looking at programs all over Alabama. Truth be told, I'm having a hard time picturing myself living too far from Sturvis because of Gramps. Despite my frequent attempts to get him to toy around with the idea of moving, I know he's never going to leave Sturvis.

"I don't know," I say. "Just go to grad school and, like, get a job."

I realize how lame my answer sounds, especially compared to the answers they both gave, but that's truly the extent of it at this point. Maybe I should have grander plans, but I don't and I'm actually quite content with my plans.

"Well, as long as you end up in the same place with Jacinda and me," Merritt says with one of her cutest smiles. I wish I could find a way to end up in the same place as Jacinda, Merritt and Gramps---very little would make me any happier than that.

A few hours later, we pull up at James's house that he shares with one of his other bandmates whose name I always forget.

Merritt practically jumps out of the car to greet the roommate who is playing acoustic guitar on this front porch.

"What's up, Collin?" I hear her say.

Collin. That's it. I've got to remember that!

"Ladies, welcome!" Collin says standing up with his guitar. "You ready for the show tonight?"

"We will be in about an hour," Merritt says then waltzes right into their house. Jacinda and I follow behind her after saying our "hello's" and "thank you's" to Collin for letting us stay at their place tonight.

There is a drum set in the corner of the living room. I imagine how much that kind of noise must drive their neighbors crazy.

We find James coming out of the kitchen holding a beer. He takes a look at us and turns right back around towards the kitchen.

"James, are you running away from your houseguests?" Merritt asks, looking slightly confused, but before he can answer, James has reappeared with four Red-Bellied Turtle Beers in his hands.

"Nah, just didn't want to greet y'all empty-handed," he says, distributing the other beers to each one of us.

We spend the next forty-five minutes getting dressed to go to the show and drinking a few more beers. The guys head to the bar before us because they have to get their instruments and equipment to the show.