Leaves, twigs, branches, and other things that had fallen off the surrounding trees were making a crunching noise underneath my feet. The late September breeze sent a slight chill across my body, but it wasn’t anything that I couldn’t ignore. When we arrived at Central Park, I looked at the boys like they were mad men.

“This?” I questioned, “This is the spot?”

“No, this,” Jimmy replied fanning out his arms, “is not the spot.”

“Then why are we here?” I asked, honestly confused.

Jimmy, as I learned he liked to be called, flipped around in front of me and stopped. He placed a finger on my mouth silently telling me to quit asking so many questions.

“We will get there when we get there young one, now shh,” He said cheerfully before turning back around and skipping away.

I shook my head slowly as I followed him, and all of the guys but Matt, who had went to his house to pick up some forties first. We walked along the path, and soon turned into a hole in the bushes, one that you wouldn’t know was there unless you actually were searching for it. I pursed my lips together, finally questioning how much I should actually trust these boys who have seemingly have taken me into their hands, and weren’t planning on letting me escape too easily.

There were thick trees to sit on along with a few cut down stumps from before this place was actually turned into a park. I took a seat on one of the few stumps and reached into my pocket, pulling out a lighter and pack of Marlboro reds. The absolute best cigarette in the world.

“You smoke?” The guy with spiky hair, who’s name I learned to be Brian asked in awe.

“Yeah, have since I was twelve,” I replied, before wishing I could take it back. Smoking at that young of age was never a thing to brag about.

“Really? I’m pretty sure most of us started at fourteen,” Zack chirped in.

“Well, that’s nice,” I chuckled, taking a deep breath of the cancerous fumes.

“Mind if I bum on off of you?” ‘Short Shit’ who’s real name turned out to be Johnny asked.

“No problem,” I answered, handing him one, along with the rest of the boys.
“So, what do you do for fun little missy?” Jimmy questioned, taking a drag of his cigarette.

“Read, and write lyrics and stuff.” I knew I sounded lame, and I also knew that both Jimmy and Matt knew that I always had my nose in a book, which is why I wondered why they had taken such an interest in me. Maybe they thought I was more exciting outside of school, or they could possibly feel bad for what happened, and them hanging out with me was out of pity. Either way, this was probably going to be a one time thing, since most of the people who tried to be friends with me didn’t stick around to often.

“You write music?” Zack asked, and I could tell from his tone of voice that one of my few pastimes had impressed him.

“Yes, and I also play guitar,” I concluded.

All of the guys’ eyes widened when I mentioned that one talent that only Katie ever knew. Not that it matters what she knows now, I fucked up with her, and I doubted that she ever wanted to see my face again.

“Oh really now?” Brian probed, as if he didn’t believe that tid-bit.

“Yes, really.” I huffed my bags out of my face, which didn’t help at all due to the breeze putting them right back where they were.

“You’re going to have to show us sometime.” He smiled a cocky grin, like he had some ulterior motive behind this.

“Maybe,” I smirked, “if you’re lucky.”

There was a small silence as we heard the sound of glass bottles clanking together softly. I heard a branch snap off of a tree a few feet from us, and Matt cursing under his breath.

“Took a little bit of begging to my wonderful mother, but she got ’em,” he grinned, the dimples in his cheeks made me want to melt. They were just so cute.

He passed the forties around and I looked at the bottle nervously. Not because I haven’t drank before, because I have, it was because the bottle reminded me of the numerous amount that were always next to the couch that my mother was famous for being passed out on when anyone came over, and for one other reason.

It was a cold winter night, and the rain was pouring down. It was only a few months after my dad had left, only a few months after my mom had taken the bottles to replace him. I was twelve at the time. It was back before the social groups really started defining people. Back when me and Katie could hangout in public without anyone saying something about me to her afterwards.

I had planned on staying at Katie’s that night, but I had forgotten my bag at home, and since we only lived a block and a half away from each other I left, telling her I would be back soon.

I took the key out from underneath the potted plant on the entry way and unlocked the door quietly. I took of my soaked shoes, planning on grabbing a different pair before I left back to Katie’s. I set the key down on the small end table next to the front door before walking through the short hall and into the open living room.

She came out of no where, a talent I was sure she kept back from the good old days of hide and seek. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face was a light red. Her unnatural blonde hair was falling in her face, and she kept her hand on the wall for balance.

Her gaze was hard, and she didn’t break her alarming stare even while taking a swing from her forty. I took a deep breath, watching her carefully.

“Where the fuck have you been?” She asked slyly, venom masking her sweet and timid voice.

“I told you I was going to stay out at Katie’s tonight ma, I just forgot my bag when I left,” I mumbled.

She chuckled evilly, before replying.

“Bullshit, you were at a boy’s house weren’t you. Fucking whore.”

I began to back up slowly, hoping she would be too scared of falling over to follow me. I was wrong about that of course, though she did almost tip over a couple times.

“You aren’t leaving this fucking house, I don’t even want you here, but I’m not taking the chance of you getting fucking pregnant ‘cause you’re to fucking stupid to use a condom,” she snarled.

“I swear I was at Katie’s mom,” I whispered, scared that being loud would anger her more.

She brought up the hand that hand the bottle firmly in it’s grasp and the next moment went in slow motion to my young eyes. She smashed it over my head, and I dropped to the floor instantly, not able to tell the difference between the drops of her alcohol and my own blood and tears.

“Now get your ass to bed you fucking slut,” she commanded before stumbling back to her place on the sofa, and acting like it never happened.

I shook my head at the thought of that night, only to realize that all of the boys were looking at me as if I had done something wrong.

I half smiled at them, before opening the bottle, and taking a long swig.

“What was all that about?” Johnny asked, looking at me strangely.

“Nothing,” I smiled timidly, “this beer just brings back memories is all.”