(2) Overnight Sensation: An All Time Low Fanfiction Romance

Chapter 9: Golfing

        "Where are we even going, Kara?" I groaned, hands hitting the steering wheel lightly. I hated surprises, and this was one of those moments. Why couldn't she just tell me? What was the big deal?

        "Just follow my directions. Jesus, even for a girl you whine a lot," she teased lightly while popping a few chips from a Doritos bag into her mouth. My car smelt like fake industrial made cheese. I didn't understand how she enjoyed those things.

        "You'll be walking home soon," I joked with a small giggle. She laughed and continued to chow down on her food, and give me small directions into town. We were only in the car for about ten minutes; the boys called Kara to tell her they were leaving as well.

        "Take a sharp left after the lights, and then pull into the parking lot," she explained with cheesy fingers before diving back into the bag. I nodded and waited at the light. I heard an obnoxious honk from my right, much too loud and unnecessary for eleven thirty at night.

        "Is this idiot honking at you?" Kara asked me incredulously without looking over to the car next to her. I glanced over her shoulder, trying to make out the people behind the tinted windows. I couldn't see anything until the window slowly rolled down, revealing a dirty blonde haired boy. Kara and I groaned loudly. What an ass?

        Kara flipped him off jokingly, only holding it up for a second before putting it back down. Alex returned the favor while the light turned and we both started going. Two lanes led past the intersection to the same parking lot that held a beaten down 7/11 and a laundry matt.

        I followed Alex's Subaru to the back of the building and cut my lights when we parked. I had absolutely no idea what we were doing or what in the world this had to do with golfing.

        I cut my engine and watched Kara get out of the car. I followed her movements and was happy that she informed me enough to dress warmly with a jacket, gloves, a hat and boots. I was freezing at this time of night.

        "Stella, I'm surprised," Alex smirked as he got out of his car, lights turning on to illuminate Rian in the front seat with Jack and Zack in the back seat. They all got out, greeting us. Zack offered Kara and me a high five, while Jack pulled us both in for a hug. Alex and Kara said hello, and Kara kissed Rian. Alex and I stared at one another, that same challenging expression in our eyes.

        "Come on, Stell, time to teach you how to golf," Jack grinned while tugging on my forearm gently. Alex opened the driver's side door to his car and hit a button that popped the trunk. Zack lifted the lid to reveal more golf clubs than necessary and a bucket of dirty, old, faded golf balls. Jack dove in, pulling out a handful of metal sticks.

        He picked one out of the stash, looking at me. "And we present you with your new club," Jack said dramatically while handing over the crappy old club with two hands like he was handing me a sword. I accepted with a laugh and bowed as I took it. The metal was cold, even through my gloves.

        "Rian, you got the balls this time!" Alex laughed while handing out the rest of the clubs from the car. Everyone took one with ease as they started to take practice swings. What the hell were we even doing here?

        "Damn," he sighed while taking the pail and shutting the trunk. I followed behind Kara slowly, wanting to ask more questions. I knew she wasn't going to answer them; none of them would, I already knew them enough to see that.

        We walked up to the backside of the building where one single light shined from above the back door, showing the visibly large garbage dumpster that almost reached the roof. Alex jumped on top of the metal contratption loudly, and threw his club onto the roof.

        He jumped up, hands grasping the edge of the building. Within a short moment, he was up on the roof of the store, standing. I could see his annoying pearly white smile even in the pitch darkness.        

        Next, Zack jumped up, pulling the same moves Alex did, and was soon followed by Jack and Rian. They hoisted themselves up without a word. I was jealous of their upper body strength.

          Kara climbed up the garbage can and grabbed a hold of the building. She took her time, moving carefully. Even with the caution, for a brief moment, she almost slipped. Rian's hands clamped down on top of hers, helping her up slowly. I watched, unable to shake the look on Rian's face at the idea of her falling off.

        Lastly it was my turn, and I did not see a single person near the edge of the building. I sighed while tossing my club up. I was praying I would be able to pull myself up wthout needing help. I hopped on my toes and just barely club to the side of the roof. I struggled to pull myself up, almost giving up completely until a hand wrapped firmly around my forearms, pulling me up with grace and ease. My ears burned, how embarrassing.

        When I sat down on the side of the fifteen foot drop, I shook slightly. I was terrified of heights, you had no idea. I glanced up at Alex, who offered me a hand to get on my feet.

        "Thanks," I mumbled softly, and his response was a small nod and another smirk. I hated that smirk so much sometimes.

        His fingers wrapped around mine tightly as I got steady. I stood, our bodies were much too close. I could feel his warm breath on my forehead. I trembled underneath him, glancing up into his black eyes. His hand was still tangled with mine, and we quickly let ggo and backed away slowly. I picked up my club swiftly, eyes following Alex's. He still hadn't looked away from me and my heart was racing.

        "Stella!" Jack called out; I shook my head and directed my attention at Jack before smiling brightly and carefully walking over to him while he stood on the other end of the building, looking out over the parking lot at the perimeter. He didn't say much as I walked over, only telling me to stand back and watch closely.

        He reached for a ball inside the pail on the ground before placing it on the edge of the roof, winding up and smacking the ball into the parking lot. It bounced off the icy pavement and continued into the bushes. "I hate how my parents are up my ass about school."

        "I hate that my teachers suck at doing their jobs," Zack said, and you heard the wind of the club as he swung hard, watching the ball go into the middle of the main road past the parking lot.

        "My mom bitched at me for now having my college applications done yet," Rian sighed, setting his club against the ball and hitting it swiftly.

        "I didn't get into UPENN," Kara said with a depressed voice, giving a decent swing at the ball, hitting it almost as far as Jack had.

        "I'm so sick of this place. I need to get out of here," Alex grumbled while looking at the ball. He placed his club against the ball and smacked it so hard it almost reached the main road beyond the shrubs. He smiled triumphantly while picking up a ball from the bucket. He reached over toward me and placed it gently in my hand, our fingers briefly touching, "Your turn."

        I raised my eyebrows at him, setting it down on the ground cautiously. He watched me carefully while I was winding up to hit it.

        "I want to find people who make this a place worth staying in," I said in a light whisper, while letting my arms drop, smacking the ball. I felt the vibration of the ball hit the club. It soared high in the air, before crashing down on the pavement and bouncing into the bushes. I let out a breath, looking at Alex, who smiled. I looked past him to Jack, Zack, Kara and Rian as they all set up for another swing and a new complaint.

        This was their way to vent, to let out how they felt. Right then, it dawned on me that these are the people that would make Maryland worth staying in.