Ascension (The Ascension Series)

by A. L. Patterson

  Prying father aside, Clark was crazy about Sarah and wasn’t going to let anyone or anything get between them. The meeting with her parents went well enough; at least Sarah’s mother liked him. With that out of the way, Clark was able to devote the rest of his week to putting together his Saturday night party. It couldn’t come soon enough. And little did he know, it would change their lives forever.

  CHAPTER 3

  John awoke on Thursday morning, got dressed, and said bye to his father─ who was drunk and passed out in his recliner at the time, and got a ride from Charles with the intent of staying over at Charles’s place for the remainder of the week. Staying true to his word on both counts, Charles took John out for burgers and fries after class on Thursday. They went to some expensive downtown restaurant, at Fountain Square, that John had never heard of.

  “You’re the best, man. I really owe you,” John told Charles on more than one occasion before sweeping his long blonde hair out of his face as he did so frequently.

  “Maybe it’s time for a haircut,” Charles said as they both laughed.

  Charles also made John feel right at home when he stayed at the Walsh mansion for the rest of the week. He ate incredible meals, was in a more cheerful spirit, and didn’t have his recliner-ridden father around to annoy, anger, and depreciate him. He consistently took time to thank Charles who told him not to even think about it. On Friday night John even went on a double date with Charles after Charles picked up two girls he had met only hours prior.

  “Dude, I don’t know how you do it,” John whispered to him during the date.

  “It’s easy, my man. A lotta confidence and a lotta money goes a long way.”

  John laughed and returned his attention to his date, a redheaded teenage girl named Olga who paid more attention to Charles than him. But John didn’t mind─ he was having a splendid time far away from where he usually laid his head and that was more than enough for him. Fifteen minutes into the date and Charles was on one side of the table making out with his blonde haired companion while John was dryly telling Olga about his favorite philosophers.

  John wasn’t able to win his date over until he finally turned the conversation to something she was at least faintly knowledgeable of─ they began chatting about music and John finally got her to smile. She was even more fascinated when John told her that he was staying at Charles’s house.

  “You’re staying with Charles?” she questioned him with intrigue.

  “Yeah,” John told her. “He’s got a pretty big place.”

  “You’ve been friends with Charles for a while?” Olga asked.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Well any boy who knows Charles is cool in my book.”

  “Hey,” John finally confronted her, “Are you interested in me or do you just want to know Charles?”

  “I think you’re fine and all,” the redheaded girl said, “But Charles is, well, Charles.”

  “Yeah, I know,” John sighed.

  “Sorry,” Olga told him, “You mind if we end it here?”

  “Sure, why not?” John said as Olga left him to move closer to Charles.

  Before long, John was making out with two girls. Both of them were invited back to his place and John was happy to surrender his date to Charles. John happily went to bed alone that night and noticed the two girls leaving his buddy’s room the next morning. While having breakfast, Charles informed John that a chauffeur had given the girls a lift home. John asked if they were going to return.

  “Olga and Steph?” Charles said, “They’re not coming back. John, my man, look around. A date a day is what I like to say.”

  “So you’re not into keeping any of them around?” John asked him.

  “Nope,” Charles said bluntly.

  “You wouldn’t even think about it?”

  “Well,” Charles said, “I suppose if it was really the right girl. She’d have to not only be drop-dead gorgeous but a really interesting person who could keep my attention.”

  “You’re a real character, Charles. You really are. But there’s gotta be at least one girl…”

  “Now that I think about it,” Charles said, “There is this one girl at school who I think fits the bill. A nice chick named Chloe Li.”

  “Oh yeah,” said John. “I know exactly who she is. Captain of the math team. She’s really smart.”

  “And pretty hot too,” Charles added.

  “Y’know, she’s gonna be at Clark’s party tonight.”

  “Cool,” Charles said, “Think I might ask her out then.”

  John nodded and sipped from his cup of hot coffee when Charles nearly choked on his.

  “Oh shit!” Charles balked.

  “What!?” John asked.

  “I freakin’ forgot,” Charles told him. “I was supposed to be gettin’ the goddamn alcohol for Clark’s party tonight.”

  “Well we got all day,” said John.

  “Yeah, but I need to get on it ASAP. Clark is counting on me. Come on, we gotta get out of our freakin’ pajamas and get going.”

  While John changed into his usual attire, Charles just changed into another set of pajamas; a comfortable red silk pair with his initials “CW” ornately inscribed on the right breast pocket. When John asked Charles why he was still wearing pajamas, Charles told him it’s what his hero, Hugh Hefner, would have done. Upon hearing this, John playfully shoved him as they took the mansion’s elevator to the third floor. When they got off the elevator, Charles took John into a large marble parlor room. In the corner of the parlor, with its crystal vases and gilded furniture, was a home bar stocked with liquor.

  “Wow, you’ve got everything in here,” John said.

  “Not quite,” Charles told him.

  Charles grabbed a crate from behind the bar, handed it to John, and told him to fill it with every drink that looked any good. John filled the plastic crate with cognac, tequila, and rum.

  “I think we got enough,” John said after several crates were filled.

  “No,” Charles said, “We need more. And besides, we’re outta vodka. My parents must’ve drunk it all.” Charles held a large vodka bottle upside down to demonstrate how empty it was.

  “Is that all we need?”

  “Goddamn,” Charles said. “We need beer too. There’s no beer in here. We need, like, kegs of it.”

  “You know how to get it?” John asked him.

  “Yeah,” Charles replied, “I’ll just call Big Dan.”

  “Big Dan… Daniel LaRent?”

  “Yeah,” Charles answered, “He looks like he’s in his twenties and he’s got a fake ID. Problem solved.”

  Charles phoned Big Dan who was happy to oblige in helping out. Big Dan arrived at Charles’s place an hour later in a pickup truck. It wasn’t quite Charles’s style but he hopped in along with John and they headed straight for the liquor store. Big Dan’s fake card was readily accepted when he purchased large quantities of beer and vodka. Charles had given him a roll of hundred dollar bills in order to “pay for the drinks and keep the change.”

  Big Dan rolled a cart full of alcohol out of the shop and stocked it in the back of his pickup truck. Charles was sitting in the truck when his phone rang; it was Clark on the other end of the line.

  “Hey Charles, how’s it going?” Clark asked over the phone.

  “The going’s good, Clark.”

  “Did you get the alcohol?”

  “Yeah, man. I got all the sauce we’ll need. In fact, I’m with Big Dan and John right now. We’re stock piling as we speak.”

  “Awesome, everything’s going really good then,” Clark said. “Can I get a ride around seven?”

  “Sounds like a plan, my man,” Charles said coolly.

  “Great, see you then.”

  ***

  Clark was in the backseat of Charles’s car at seven and they, along with John in the passenger seat, were headed for the other side of the tracks. Charles was driving slower than usual because Big Dan was following behind them in
his pickup truck. When they finally made it to the other side of the tracks, the sun was setting and the road was so bumpy that even Charles’s car was feeling the brunt of it.

  “Wow,” Charles said, “no wonder no one comes out here. It’s bumpy as hell.”

  “I come out here every now and then,” John said. “But not this direction.”

  Finally they reached a smooth grassy area of wide fields that contained only the occasional tree. They got out of the car as the once bright-hued sky turned to night. Clark threw numerous tree branches together in order to start a bonfire. In the distance he could see the rickety old barn and for a moment he thought he could see a faint flicker from within it.

  “Hey Clark, what ya looking at?” John asked.

  “The old barn,” Clark told him. “Wonder what’s inside.”

  “Oh, there’s nothing in there,” John said. “I’ve been in there before. It’s empty. Come on, let’s get ready.”

  Clark turned his attention back to the stack of wood and branches they had set up when several cars pulled up to the grassy area. The cars were jam packed with students from Franklin Pierce High. They were followed by another car carrying Clark’s girlfriend, Sarah, and all of her cheerleader friends. Sarah jumped out of the car and ran towards Clark, greeting him with a hug.

  “I’ve been waiting on you,” Clark told her. Then he opened Charles’s trunk and pulled out the stereo set. He set up the stereos and stacked the four of them on the ground. Suddenly the music was blasting and students were arriving by the dozens. Big Dan was pouring drinks from the back of his truck and kids were scattered about the field. Andrew Lockman, wearing his usual rosary, arrived minutes later along with several other students. They were followed by a car full of nerds that included Donny the Geek.

  “I’m really feeling this,” Charles said as he gulped down a cup of beer. “I think I’m gonna go hit on a few of the cheerleaders.”

  “Good luck!” Sarah yelled to Charles as he ran off.

  Clark had his arm around Sarah’s shoulder, enjoying his handiwork when he remembered the final component. He took a match out of his pocket, struck it against the box, and dropped it into the garble of branches. The fire blared and the music blasted.

  ♪Champagne, real girls, rockin’ on big sails ♪

  Clark and Sarah walked over to Big Dan’s truck and decided on vodka. They were drinking, laughing, and dancing while a couple of other kids were tossing toilet paper over the trees. Other kids were dancing on top of their cars and pulling off their shirts. Eventually, one last car pulled up. Out of the passenger seat walked Chloe Li. She caught the eyes of both Charles and Donny the Geek. Charles, of course, was the first to greet her.

  “Hey Chloe, how you doin’, honey?” Charles asked as he handed her a cup. “The party’s just getting started.”

  Chloe followed Charles over to a group of popular students as a frown crept over Donny’s face. Clark approached him with a cup in each hand.

  “Hey Donny,” Clark said. “Why’re you lookin’ so down?”

  Donny said nothing but Clark saw him looking over to the group that Chloe was chatting with.

  “She’s with Charles,” Donny finally said.

  “Who? Chloe?” Clark asked, “I don’t think she’s really into Charles. Believe me, he’s definitely not her type.”

  “You think so?” Donny asked.

  “Definitely,” Clark said.

  “I’d like to talk to her,” Donny said.

  “Then do it!” Clark said.

  “But I don’t wonna bother while she’s hanging out with someone else.”

  “Dude,” Clark said, “This is a party. That’s the whole point. Now take this.” Clark handed him a drink. Donny hesitated at first but seconds later took the cup and drank its contents.

  “Ugh,” Donny said, gasping for his breath. “What was that?”

  “Liquid courage.”

  “Whoa. I think I feel drunk already,” Donny buzzed.

  “You probably are,” Clark patted him on the back.

  They both looked over to Chloe who had walked away from Charles and the other group of students.

  “Dude, now’s your chance!” Clark said.

  Donny sprinted over to Chloe who, wearing wedge shoes, was slightly taller than him.

  “Hey Chloe,” Donny said.

  “Hey Donny.”

  “Havin’ fun?” he asked her.

  “Yeah, this is cool. A nice change of pace. I’m usually studying in a stuffy room,” she laughed.

  “That’s cool,” Donny said. “I was just wondering…”

  Donny hesitated as Chloe took another sip from the cup that Charles had handed her.

  “Yeah?” Chloe asked as she put the drink down and smiled.

  “Well, Chloe…” Donny said, “I was wondering if you were seeing anyone.”

  Chloe burst into a fit of half drunken giggles. “No, Donny,” she said after laughing, “I’m not seeing anyone. Why do you ask?”

  “Because the truth is that I’m really crazy about you,” Donny cooed under the influence of his first cup of vodka. “I really like you, Chloe. I think you’re beautiful. You’re hot to the point of me being totally unable to control myself when I see you. But you’re so much more than that. I love how smart you are.

  “I’m madly in love with you because you know the entire Dewey Decimal System by heart. I’m crazy about you because you can calculate line graphs faster than me and because I’ve never met anyone that knows trigonometry as well as you do. And that’s the whole truth, Chloe Li.”

  Under the influence of a similar drink, Chloe continued giggling before telling Donny, “I really didn’t know you were that into me.”

  “Well, yeah, I am,” Donny admitted. “And I totally accept if you think I’m a loser for saying all of that.”

  “Actually, Donny Karaway, I think that’s pretty damn cool.”

  Chloe leaned in and the closer she got to Donny, the more he tinged with excitement until she kissed him squarely on the lips. And the moment their lips met, he experienced an intense elation he had never felt before.

  From afar, Clark watched as Donny showed extreme confidence by asking out the girl he had been in love with for years. Clark raised his cup in Donny’s direction and figured his work was done.

  Charles was on another side of the field, sitting on the hood of his car with each of his arms around a different blonde cheerleader. He was piling the flirtatious talk on quite thickly. Drunk from the same drinks, the girls were enjoying his company as much as he was enjoying theirs.

  “And what’s you girls names?” Charles asked them.

  “I’m Jessica,” said the blonde haired girl. “I’m captain of the cheer squad.”

  “Nice, very nice,” Charles smiled.

  “And I’m Samantha,” said the other girl.

  “Well there’s enough Charles to go around for both of you… and any other cheerleaders who may want to join us.”

  “I’ve heard about your mansion,” Samantha said.

  “Yeah, we’d love to visit,” Jessica laughed.

  “Oh yeah,” Charles told them. “You girls are gonna love it. In fact, this may be the party but you two can come back to my place for the after-party. Just remember to thank Clark for putting this little shindig together.”

  “Clark O’Sullivan?” Jessica asked.

  “Yeah, that’s the one,” Charles said.

  “He’s going with Sarah Ryan, she’s a cheerleader too,” Samantha told him.

  “As much fun as a night with all three of you would be, there’s no way I’m going after my best bud’s girl.”

  “Wow,” Jessica said drunkenly, “You’ve got money, style, and class.”

  “Oh yeah,” Charles told them. “An abundance full.”

  “You’ve especially got style,” Samantha said.

  “Baby, I’ve got styles for miles. And partying is my god given right.”

  They each took another swi
g from whatever was in their cups before hopping off the hood of Charles’s car. With their hands raised in the air, they danced along with a group of kids as a new song began blaring from the stereo speakers.

  ♪We rock left, we rock right, we rock till mornin’ light ♪

  On another side of the field, Andrew Lockman removed the hairband that held his ponytail in place. Then he took off his rosary and placed it in his pocket. He patted the pocket as he took a big step over two kids who were lying in the grass and making out. He looked down and noticed the two individuals were Chloe Li and Donny the Geek. Andrew chuckled and walked over to Big Dan.

  “’Nother beer, Big Dan,” Andrew said.

  “Coming right up,” Big Dan nodded as he poured beer into a plastic cup and passed it to Andrew.

  “I just saw Donny Karaway and Chloe Li making out and neither will likely remember it,” Andrew laughed. “What else is gonna happen tonight?”

  “Donny the Geek?” Big Dan asked.

  “Yep, that’s the one,” Andrew answered.

  “Then who knows?” Big Dan laughed. “Maybe the sky is gonna fall.”

  They both chuckled. Then Big Dan looked with a conspicuous eye at Andrew.

  “No rosary?” Big Dan asked.

  “Oh, it’s right here in my pocket,” Andrew said while patting his pants pocket. “The big guy doesn’t need to know about tonight,” he laughed.

  “Ever feel like there’s a higher calling for you out there?” Big Dan asked him.

  “I don’t know,” Andrew said. “I’ve always taken one day at a time. But I don’t know.”

  “I’ve always wondered it,” Big Dan said.

  “If I had to take a guess,” Andrew said, “I’d say that our purpose must be made by our own selves. In other words, if you want a higher calling, you better dial the number yourself.”

  Big Dan laughed, “I like that. You got it from somewhere?”

  “No,” Andrew admitted, “Just made it up right on the spot.”

  “Respect,” Big Dan told him. “Total respect.”

  At another side of the field, John was wearing his black trench coat and sitting in the grass. He was drinking along with a couple of kids he didn’t previously know.