Chapter 1 - Something About A Truck

“You know, it never gets old being in here with you Ms. Klem. The quiet, the bullshit fact that I’m in here, and the sun that never seems to stop shining through your window..”

“This is detention, Hayz. We’re not here to chat, you’re here to do work. So do it.” I sighed and rolled my eyes. I was already done with the work but I the after school bus isn’t here yet. Plus, I don’t want to tell her I’m done, she’ll just give me more work to do. I just stared out the window and kept writing in my book.

I looked back at the door as it opened to see Lizzabeth walking in. She always stops by at this time to hand Ms. Klem one of the teacher’s work folders. She isn’t even a part of the student gov but they look at her as such. “Again with the detention, Hayz? That’s the third time this week.” Lizzabeth giggled, handing Ms. Klem the folder.

“Please, she’s supposed to be working. You can talk to her once you two leave the.” Ms. Klem’s voice sounded tiring as she spoke. I don’t blame her, having to watch over-grown children only to have a folder of work to do. Yeah, I’d be done too. Lizzabeth apologized and headed out the room, waving back at me as she left.

She can be really annoying most of the time. Lizzabeth is that kind of person that everyone likes because she’s just so cute and girly. Me though? I don’t hate her I just strongly dislike her. I sighed to myself and watched the clock’s hands slowly moved by. Without noise or my music it just seemed dead and alone in here.

I laid my head down on the desk and watched the people from track run around. The first hour of after school isn’t even close to being done and I feel like sleeping the whole day.

“Hmmm... Hayz, I’ll be right back I have to go pick up something from the office. Do not leave the room.”

“I’m not a freakin’ fourth grader, you know.”

“You sure do act like one.” She said as he left the room. I rolled my eyes kept looking out the window. The sun hide behind the clouds, “It looked as if it was going to rain. I hope it does. I love the rain.” I mumbled silently with a smile as I kept looking out the window.

“Hey Hayz. Wake up...”

I opened my eyes. The kids from track were now gone. Sitting up, I looked at Lizzabeth who smiled back at me. “What do you want?” I asked sighing as I tried to focus on staying awake.

“I walked past and saw you still sitting here. You just missed your bus, you know?” My eyes widen and I let out a huge disappointment sigh. I got up and put my notebook in my bag before walking to the door. “Where you going?” Lizzabeth asked. As if she had to asked.

“What do you think? I missed my bus so I’m walking home.”

“You live in the same neighborhood as I do. It’s too far to walk home. Why don’t I drive you?” I looked back at her. She stood there still sporting her bright a*s smile.

I turned my head and mumbled, “Please don’t remind me.” I looked back at her and sighed. “I don’t need you to drive me, hon. I’m good.”

“Oh, stop being so stubborn all the time! I’m leaving anyways and it might rain soon so let me take you home.” She took my hand and literally pulled me down the hallway to the front of the school. Most of the people who were here had left so it was even quieter than before.

I pulled my hand away and folded my arms. “Really, if I get caught in the rain that’ll be fine with me. It happened before. The rain never bothered me.” Lizzabeth giggled and shook her head. She said something about how my hair would get messed up but I wasn’t listening. I was kind of distracted...

Lizzabeth had stopped and turned to me. “Hayz? Are you listening?” I popped my head up and gave her my attention. “I said if it’s cool, I don’t have to drive you home right away, right? I kind of want to go see this little gathering and I think you would love it too.” She smiled.

“I, wait, I don’t really know Lizzabeth. I don’t have to be home right away but I don’t know if I want to go to a gathering. Where is it?”

“Not that far. It’s in the county but it’s close.” Lizzabeth unlocked the car and got in, starting up. Her car king of threw me off. It didn’t really match the cute and high-end girl that is Lizzabeth. It seemed very standard but looked really cool. It was an older dark blue Chevrolet with the custom black and neon blue flames at the bottom. It looked really new by the way they took care of it. The bumper stickers read ‘420 Ju Bl’, ‘Can You Not’, ‘How do you even’, and ‘Let’s Play’ I want these stickers.

I got in the passenger seat and shut the door. “So, is this your brother’s car or what?”

“What? No, it’s mine.” She laughed and began driving out the parking lot. “I get that a lot, not even my own friends believe it’s my car.” Lizzabeth smiled and turned on her radio, putting the volume just a little bit low.

“I see. It’s kinda cool. I wouldn’t believe it’s your car either.” I chuckled and turned my head out the window. “So what’s this gathering about?”

She leaned back and waited at the stop light. “Well, it’s more of a mini concert. They call it a gathering. This awesome band I’ve been listening to is having a meet up at an open field. None of my friend are going because they don’t know about my internet things.”

“Just because I’m an Internet person doesn’t mean I’ll know the group.”

“That’s not what I was saying, love. I was saying you might like them.”

“Well, who are they?”

“A ground named Forgive Thy Sins.”

I smiled, “I didn’t know liked that kind of music.”

“They’re an indie band, Hayz. I knew what you were thinking. I like almost all kinds of music... All but rap.”

“Same here.” She took a turn down a dirt road and let down the windows. The smile on her face brighten as she drive off the road and onto an empty field. She pressed her foot on the gas pedal before zooming through the open grass. I can hear her yelling, laughing, she sounded like she felt completely alive. I couldn’t help but laugh with her while enjoying the ride for the time being.

We finally made it to the gathering as the sun started to fall. There were a lot of people which made me a little uncomfortable but I wouldn’t be completely alone. It looked like a local family picnic to say the least. Lizzabeth parked her truck with the other cars around the field and got out. Like a kid in a candy story, she took my hand and ran to two other people.

“Hey guys! This is my friend Hayz. You know, the girl from my school?”

“You talked about me?” I asked her, looking pretty confused that she would be bringing me up in conversations. Let alone call me her friend.

They both stood and smiled at me, “I’m Sam and this my by step-brother Jordan. Lizz told us a lot about you! You sound pretty cool.” She smiled and tilted her head, her expression changing. “Are you okay?” Sam asked.

I snapped back and blinked, “I-I’m sorry... Yeah, I’m fine. Just got a little distracted is all.” I pasted back the smile but the thoughts of what the f**k did Lizzabeth say kept running through my mind. She doesn’t even know me like that, what should he be talking about me fore?

Jordan looked to the stage they finished setting up. “I think they’re about to start, you guys. We should try to get to the front.” He mumbled. His voice was soft for the guy, he looked like he could be seventeen but maybe I’m wrong about that one. Sam and nodded and motioned up to follow through the already forming crowed. Lizzabeth grabbed my hand and ran through the group of people to meet with her friends. I kind of just followed along with her. She was pulling, by the way. The number of people in one place had my heart racing, I don’t do well in huge crowds like this. But I wasn’t alone. Lizzabeth was here with me and, for some reason, she never let go of my hand.

Though, I didn’t pay attention after looking up and seeing the stage lights and hearing the band play. I took a glance at Lizzabeth and she looked just as excited as when she rocketed through the open field. A small smile came to my face as I looked back at the band. They were amazing and it made me forget that I was even in a crowd. Closing my eyes, I let myself get sucked into the music and the cheering of the people us.

After the, well... Concert, really. After the concert we got to talk and take pictures with the group. It turns out they’re related to Sam so we were able to meet with them first. Later, we walked to Lizzabeth’s truck and just hung out. We talked about s**t and I got to know them a bit better. They’re some cool people, I guess if we hung out a little more they could become my friends. I don’t know. I was never easy with making friends.

“Hey guys,” Lizzabeth mumbles as she pulls out her phone. “I have to get home, my dad’s gonna kill me if I’m not home before in a few. I didn’t even tell me I was going here” She giggled unlocked her car.

“Cool, I remember last time we found out you came out here. God, he was pissed! I tried to hold back from laughing.” Jordan and I watched as the other two laughed with one another. It was a bit awkward, he didn’t really talked that much. Maybe he just had the same awkward feelings as I do? Sam came back went to unlock her car. “We’re heading out Jordan. It was cool meeting you, Hayz. I can see why Liz talks about you. You’re a pretty cool chick.” After Jordan waved at me she drove off, leaving me just a little bit puzzled again.

I still want to know why Lizzabeth even brought me up in conversation. “Hayz? What are you standing out there for?” She asked, giggling at me. I turned to her after putting on a small smile.

“Sorry, just thinking about this perfect open space.” I replied as I hopped in the passenger seat. She started up the truck and pulled on out, heading down the dirt road that led back to the the city. The windows and sunroof where down like before. I laid back, letting the wind breeze through wand watching the bright night sky as she drove. It wasn’t long until Lizzabeth turned on the radio to a country station.

Not really something I listen to but I never had a problem with it. The music and mood fit. But the question was in there. I want to ask her but what if it’s a weird question? Wait, it’s a weird thought know she was talking about me. I sat up but I couldn’t look at her, I just kept my eyes on start out the window.

“Lizzabeth. Can I ask you something?” I mumbled, just loud enough for her to hear me.

“Shoot.”

“Sam kept saying that you had talked about me at times. What for?”

Her face didn’t change. It was blank but more focus on driving. “Just stuff. I’ve said how I’ve been wanting to bring you to one of these meetups and to also meet Sam and Jordan. I’ve always seen you as a friend and I wanted you to meet my best friends. Not really the jerks at school.” She smiled.

She always saw me as a friend? But, I’ve made it clear I don’t want to be around her. Is that why she can’t get it through her head that I don’t want to be around her? She thinks I’m just playing around? I don’t want to be a dick but... I don’t know anymore.

“A friend... I see. Thanks for introducing me to them, by the way. They are cooler than those asses you around with at school.”

“Yeah, my dad hates it because he wants me to be the All-American Girl. Piss off, though! I hate that he think I have to be a total girl. It’s weird.” She starts ranting off but all I could do was smile and laugh. The words she used caught me off guard as I would never thought a pretty girl like her would cus. It was... Interesting watching her go off like that and finish it off with a smile.

Lizzabeth finally calmed down and turned the radio up a little. We didn’t talk to each other until we got back into the city. We just enjoy the ride.

When we pulled up a little bit away from her house she stopped the car, singing to herself. “So... I just thought about it... I’m kind of later than I thought.” She laughed. “I can park the truck slowly and walked with you back to your please.”

“You don’t need to walk with me, it’s right there.”

“I know... But I want to.” She crept her truck on her lot and got out. I did the same and stayed close to her. If there’s anyone I didn’t want to talk to, it’s her dad. He didn’t scare me, he just yells a lot. More than once, when he would come to school events and Lizzabeth was anywhere near my friends and I, he would pull her back and tell her to not talk to us. Like really, though? I might not like her daughter but that was some rude she and I told him that to his face. I’m more than sure he don’t like me.

We almost made it to the other side of the street until the f****r looked out the window, checking to see if Lizzabeth was home. He saw us too and quickly ran out the door. “What did I tell you about hanging around with her and where have you been?!” He yelled.

Lizzabeth stepped in front of me, knowing I was going to tell him off. “I had stayed after... Cheerleading was a little longer than I thought. I also drove Hayz home since she lives a couple of houses down.” She said, looking calm and collected. Completely different from me, I would have woke up some people and yelled at him to go back inside.

“Don’t lie to me, Liz. Your mother and I were worried and it’s almost two in the morning! Leave that ruff-rat in the street and get inside.”

“... The f**k did you just call me?” I asked, looking shocked and confused because who the hell says ‘ruff-rat’ anymore? Lizzabeth turned to me with a worried face but I didn’t pay it any mind.

“Hayz please. It’s late, we don’t need this.”

“No. Hell no, I’m not going to let some a*****e of the preacher call me s**t and thinking he don’t get smacked for. I’m don’t hurt the elderly, but he’s asking for it.”

“DON’T FIGHT my father...”

“Liz!”

“DON’T FIGHT my friend...” We were both quiet, staring back at Lizzabeth. She did sighed and turned to me. Holding both of my hands. “Hayz, I’m sorry about this but you should probably walk the rest of the way back.” The same smile back to her face but the worried look never really went away. I nod and looked back at her father, giving him a look before turning to go home. As I walked away I can hear them talk to each other but I couldn’t make out any words. He clearly knows how much he pisses me off.

I got to my house and opened the door. My mom was still up cleaning. She greeted me and I waved at her as I ran up to my room, locking the door. My room was in the front of the house so I can see Lizzabeth’s room from some houses down. Her room was dark for a while as I stared until the lights flickered on and I quickly laid down on my bed while closing the curtains.

“That a*****e. Yelled at her for s**t...” I mumbled, looking at the ceiling. It’s been an hour or so since I got to my room but I couldn’t stop thinking about the concert, her mentioning me to her friends, holding my hand every time... And the ride back home. It was nice. It made me wish my car wasn’t in the shop.

I held my hand with the other and sided. “She kept holding my hand... There really no reason for that... But there kind of was. For her, I guess...” I thought to myself as I closed my eyes, drifting off into sleep.

Author's Note

Listen to Kip Moore's Somethin' 'Bout A Truck while reading this.