Wilderness

Chapter One

My vans hit the pavement with urgency, it was the first day of summer, well for me at least. Last day of school. My name is Everette Rose Miller, I am going to be a senior in the fall and let me tell you I have never been happier, or more excited. I can't remember the last time I was ever excited for a school year, but this was it. A drop of sweat trickles down my eyebrow, underneath my glasses and into my eye as I rustle around in my bag for the newest bottle in the collection. Oh don't get your panties in a twist its nothing serious, just your average muscle relaxer. What? it's my last day of my junior year, I deserve a little celebration.

I arrive at my destination, just down the street of mine lives my best friend, his name is Dan. I have waited all school year for this, sure I could spend my Saturday nights there if they weren't headed to the bar. Dan makes me lie about my age, say I am 18, I get it though. What would people think of him if they knew he was hanging out with a 17 year old? A select few know, those I have grown close to, in one way or another if you know what I mean.

I walk up the periwinkle blue front porch steps to a color of the same door, I don't even have to knock anymore. I have spent so much time here, his parents almost expect me at this point. I kick off my shoes at the door and head upstairs.

Dan was lanky and tall, with a thick head of black hair. He was going to school for architecture, god knows why, he was miserable at every architectural firm he ever worked at. I swing open his door and find him sitting at his computer, a normal position for him. Whether it was school or work, Dan spent half of his time fucked up or at his computer, a lot of the time both.

He looked up at me from his screen and gave me that half smile that he always gives me, and reached down into the minifridge and got me a beer.

"So? Last day huh? Ready to have the best summer of your life?" I smiled, laughing to myself while I cracked my beer.

After a few hours of drinking and shooting the shit the crowd in Dan's bedroom had gone from two to ten. This was not atypical, this was the go to spot for all the lost, broken and fucked up. Not two people in the room, or at a party here were the same, but we all got a long like a family. A family of fucked up alcoholic druggies, but a family all the same.

The buzz had already began to set in at this point, filling my cheeks with heat. My phone rings and my stomach drops. Mum 3 missed calls, oh so she finally decides to check in does she. I shrug it off and put my phone back in my pocket, the knot in my belly continuing to grow.

I take on last drag of my butt and out it in the ashtray, excusing myself while I head to the bathroom, my stomach still uneasy. I take a deep breath and look in the mirror, my dark purple hair just barely covering my shoulders, my green eyes glowing under my dark lashes. I often wish I felt as beautiful as I feel under the influence, under any influence. Sometimes I feel like my summer tan just radiates heat and I could just dance until I could no longer stand into the summer night.

My mother had no reason to worry, I wasn't doing anything she wasn't doing at my age. And while she didn't turn out to be a great mother, her life turned out fine. I finish doing my business and give the toilet a flush. After washing my hands I give my phone another check. Those 3 missed calls had doubled, my screen filled with texts.

*Where are you*

*Are you coming home?*

*EVERETTE*

God does that woman know how to over react, I put my phone on silent and shove it back into my jean short pocket. As I leave the bathroom the overwhelming smell of tobacco fill my nose, I inhale deep through my nose, that's the stuff. I sneak downstairs to where I left my bag, just another few, I think to myself. The alcohol always just seems to elevate my high, I wouldn't even say I felt high, honestly I just felt normal.

Normally my anxiety is so bad I can barely answer the phone, or go into a room with more than 6 people. Normally my anxiety is so bad that there is a quake in my voice and in my hands anytime I try to speak. But not like this, not here and not now, I could go on like this forever.