Into My Own

One

"Charlie, I don't really feel like going out tonight..." I sighed from my spot on my porch swing.

"Coda, it's the last day of school, the first party of the summer, and a perfect day. Would you seriously rather sit at home?"

I chewed on my lip. My plan for the night had been to stay in my room and be miserable because my favorite brother and most of his friends had graduated last week. It wasn't like I would never see them again, but it certainly felt like it. I felt left behind.

"We're trying to include you," he prodded, as if able to read my thoughts.

I'd never been good at masking my emotions.

Throwing my head back, I released a groan. "Fine. But I won't enjoy it."

My brother simply smirked at me and walked away.

I guess I'll have to save my moping for another time.

"Oh yeah, we're leaving at five thirty!" He called over his shoulder.

***

"Charlie! Hurry up! We don't have all day!" I shouted up the stairs.

"Hold your horses, I'm coming!" He thundered past me, looking absolutely ridiculous in a pair of wranglers, cowboy boots, an orange cut off shirt and hot pink aviator sunglasses.

"Where's my hat?!" His voice was distant coming from the living room.

"How should I know? C'mon, we gotta go!" I'd been ready for ten minutes now, which was extremely ironic considering I'm his sister.

"Found it!" He exultantly waved the customary Case IH ball cap around like a captured enemy flag.

Within twenty minutes we were parked along the edge of Tommy Dalton's lane. It was about six o'clock and the sun was still shining beautifully through the trees.

Tommy was one of Charlie's best friends and happened to be in his graduating class. Not to play favorites, but he was probably the coolest buddy my brother had.

I plopped down on one of the multiple tailgates, prepared to stay there the entire night, but my moping was interrupted by Tommy himself.

"Coda!" He slapped an ice cold beer in my hand to match his own.

"Thanks." I popped the top and took a sip.

"Why the long face?"

"You know why," I pouted, taking another long drink.

"You'll feel better after you shotgun a few of these," he winked, motioning to my beverage.

Tommy Dalton was the kind of person that thought a few drinks could cure any ailment. This happy-go-lucky attitude, accompanied by his unfailing sense of wit, made him a perfect candidate to cheer me up.

He wasn't ugly either, sporting wavy blonde hair and brown eyes. That being said, Tommy was a hard one to dislike.

"Is anybody else coming, or is it just us tonight?" I quickly changed the subject.

"Um, I'm not sure. Hopefully a few but I'd rather not see a rig get blown up by drunk morons like at Chase's last party."

I rolled my eyes and thanked my lucky stars for the early curfew Charlie and I'd been given that night. That was the kind of situation you'd rather hear about later than experience firsthand.

Though Tommy had become known well known for epic parties at his trailer house in the middle of nowhere during the last six months of high school, they never seemed to get as out of hand as Chase's did.