The Bloom Series Box Set: Bloom & Fade

by A. P. Kensey

8

  “There she is,” said Reece, nodding to the counter.

  Colton saw a petite young woman with short, dark hair and heavy eyeliner. She was reading a magazine that must have been extremely boring because she looked like she was about to fall asleep standing up.

  “Not bad, actually,” said Colton.

  “Not bad?!” said Reece. “What an insult! Like I’d do all this for anything less than ‘amazing’.”

  “Okay, fine, she’s amazing. Now what do we do?”

  Reece stretched his arms. “Follow my lead.”

  He walked over to the counter and waited until the girl looked up from her magazine. “Yeah?” she said.

  “Hey,” said Reece.

  She waited for him to say something else.

  “I just got done working out,” he said. “Now I’m gonna go work out some more.” He turned around and looked at Colton, who was hanging back out of embarrassment. “Right, Colton?”

  “Hm? Oh yeah, he works out all the time.”

  Reece seemed happy with his response and he turned back to the girl. “So, I was wondering if you have any music that’s good for that.”

  “Good for what?” she said.

  Reece scratched his neck nervously.

  “You know, exercising,” he said. “Keeping the old heart rate up. My parents are rich, by the way.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Nothing.” He turned around and whispered to Colton. “Plan A is a dud. Move to Plan B.”

  “Plan B?” whispered Colton.

  “I can still hear you guys,” said the girl.

  “Grab and go!” said Reece. He snatched a handful of CDs from a stack next to the register and ran toward the exit.

  “Hey!” said Colton.

  “Hey!” said the girl.

  “Be my wingmaaaaaan!” shouted Reece as he ran out of the building.

  The girl dropped her magazine and picked up the phone next to the register. “I’m callin’ the cops,” she said, raising her eyebrows at Colton as if she were daring him to try and stop her.

  “Aw, man,” said Colton. He ran out of the store and followed after Reece.

  Riding his bike around the city every day gave Colton the endurance to catch up with him easily. Reece was huffing loudly as he ran down the street, CD cases in hand.

  “What is the matter with you?!” shouted Colton.

  “She likes bad boys, remember?” Reece smiled and held up the CDs. “Look what I got!”

  They split apart to pass a slow-moving elderly man on the sidewalk.

  “Are you insane? You can’t get arrested again!”

  Reece had been arrested twice since turning eighteen; once for being drunk and disorderly underage (he drank half a bottle of whiskey and stumbled out onto the street in the middle of the night to scream the wrong lyrics of his favorite songs to the entire neighborhood) and once for grand theft auto (the Porsche belonged to Reece’s father, who didn’t think it was as funny as Reece assured him it was). The local police knew Reece’s father well, as he represented a lot of the city cops in civil defense cases. The boys in blue could only protect his delinquent son for so long, however, and threatened to let Reece sit it out in jail with a permanent mark on his record if he ever pulled something stupid again.

  Stupid like stealing a bunch of CDs in a moronic attempt to impress a girl.

  They ran past a street that would have taken them directly to their apartment building. Colton slowed down but Reece kept running.

  “Where are you going?!”

  Reece stopped and looked around the street. He was breathing heavily and people were staring at him. His eyes lit up and he smiled when he saw a police car turn a corner two blocks down and drive toward them.

  “There!” he shouted, pointing at the car. He turned around and ran back toward the record store.

  Colton looked down the road which led to their apartment and wished he was asleep in his bed, then watched in disbelief as Reece almost knocked over the old man they had passed earlier on the sidewalk. The police car’s lights flashed and a loud squawk echoed from their loudspeaker.

  Colton sighed and ran after his friend.

  He caught up a couple blocks down.

  “Hey!” he said. He reached out and grabbed Reece’s shirt. “We need to get off the road!”

  Reece shook off his grip and kept running. “We’re almost there!” he said. “She has to see them chasing me or it was all for nothing.”

  “You’re going to end up in jail, Reece!”

  “Not today!” he said.

  He knocked on the big glass window on the front of the record store as he ran past. He waved at the girl inside and pointed to the police car. Colton was surprised and infuriated when she genuinely smiled and tried to hide a giggle.

  “I don’t believe it,” he said.

  “That’s why I always get the girl!” Reece called over his shoulder. “Come on, let’s ditch these creeps!”

  He rounded the next corner and ran down an alley. Colton followed, looking back as the police cruiser screeched to a halt on the sidewalk. Two police officers scrambled out of the car.

  “This way,” said Reece.

  They turned left at the end of the alley and kept running. Colton didn’t recognize the area and had no idea how to get back to their apartment. Reece turned a sharp corner and ran across the next street.

  “Are they gone?” he shouted.

  Colton looked back. “One of them is.”

  They ran into the narrow alley on the other side of the road. At the end, the missing cop reappeared, breathing hard.

  “Uh-oh,” said Reece.

  That’s what I said, thought Colton. He and Reece both stopped in the middle of the alley, fighting to catch their breath. The two cops were running toward them, one from each side.

  “Now what, Einstein?” said Colton. He knew there was no way to get out of the alley. Not both of them, anyway. He thought about Reece’s police record and the time he would spend in jail if he got arrested. He thought about the time in eighth grade when Reece, who had barely known Colton, jumped on the back of a bully to try and stop him from breaking Colton’s ribs.

  “Now…” said Reece, “…I dunno.”

  “I do. Follow me and don’t stop.”

  Colton quickly sized up the running policemen and picked the smaller of the two. He ran down the alley as fast as he could, gaining distance between himself and the police officer behind him. Reece was doing his best to keep up.

  “You’re crazy!” he said with a smile.

  The cop in front of them looked surprised that they weren’t giving up.

  “Don’t move!” he yelled as he reached for the taser holstered to his belt.

  Colton was too fast. He turned around at the last second and fell backwards into the officer. His momentum was strong enough to knock the cop to the ground. Colton fell with him and pushed his elbow into the cop’s stomach as they hit the asphalt.

  “Keep going!” he shouted to Reece.

  Colton tried to scramble away but the police officer wrapped one arm around his neck and kept him pinned down.

  Reece looked down as he ran past, then turned the corner and disappeared. The second cop ran up and side-stepped around his partner, but Colton stuck his leg out and hooked his foot around the man’s ankle. The cop stumbled forward and fell against an aluminum trashcan face-first, crushing in the middle. He rolled away from the can, groaning and holding his head.

  The cop who had the iron grip around Colton’s neck squeezed it even harder.

  “This is gonna be the worst day of your life, pal,” he said.

  Colton didn’t doubt it for a second.

  9

  Haven walked across the lawn, navigating around teenagers she recognized from school. Everyone had a red cup in hand and seemed to be having a great time.

  She caught up with Kayla just inside the door, who had thankfully decided to wait.

  “What are they drinking?”
asked Haven as they walked farther into the house.

  “Shh! Don’t be a dork! Did you think they’d be serving fruit punch?” Kayla looked up and spun around to take in the view. “Wow, this place is great!”

  Haven saw a massive chandelier hanging down from the ceiling thirty feet above. A spiral staircase ascended around it and led to the second floor.

  “That probably cost more than my whole house,” she said.

  The place was packed. Haven saw a few people she knew from her classes, but there were just as many that she had never seen before. Most of them moved to the constant, steady thumping of loud music. Small spotlights swiveled and flashed from their mounts atop bookcases and cabinets to paint the crowd in a rainbow of bright colors.

  “Come on, let’s get a drink.” Kayla grabbed Haven’s hand and pulled her through the mass of people.

  “But we don’t drink!”

  “Keep your voice down! Just soda or something.”

  Kayla waved to friends she knew from school as she moved toward the kitchen. There was an opening at the drink table and Haven waited while Kayla filled two red cups with soda. She turned back and handed one of them over.

  “There!” she said. “No one will know the difference.”

  “I’ll know!” boomed a loud voice behind them.

  Haven turned around. Jason stood on the other side of the table, smiling at her. He had a cup in his hand and his cheeks were flushed red.

  “You made it!” he said. “I thought you were gonna stand me up!”

  Haven leaned closer to shout over the music. “I just had to wait until my parents—”

  Kayla reached out and quickly pulled her back. “We had to ditch another party!” she said loudly, squeezing Haven’s arm.

  “Oh, right,” said Haven, finally getting the hint. “This one is way better!”

  “Yeah it is!” said Jason. He walked around the table and stood between them, turning his back to Haven. The smell of alcohol filled the air around him as he took the cup out of Kayla’s hand and leaned toward her. “Let’s get you something a little more apopriate—perpropriate—a little more tasty!”

  The group of teenagers around the table shouted their approval as Jason tipped a bottle of clear brown liquid over Kayla’s cup and filled it to the brim. He passed it back to her and took a long chug from his own cup. Kayla smelled her drink and wrinkled her nose.

  “Drink it!” he said happily. “Drink it, drink it, drink it!” He started a chant and everyone standing by the table joined in.

  Kayla shrugged and started to lift the cup to her lips.

  “Kayla!” said Haven.

  “Oh, come on,” said Kayla, leaning forward and speaking just loud enough to be heard. “I thought we were going to have fun?”

  Haven crossed her arms. “You remember the car crash two months ago?”

  Kayla sighed and her shoulders drooped. “Yeah,” she said.

  “Haley Jones and the other kids? All five of them died because they were drunk.”

  “Yeah, I know. You’re right.” She sighed again. “Alright, fine.” Kayla put down the cup and looked at Jason. “No thanks,” she said over the music. “We’re good without it.”

  Jason shrugged. “Okay.” He put one arm around her shoulder and steered her away from the table.

  “Hey!” said Haven.

  Jason turned back, looking surprised. “Haven! How rude of me. Please, make a drink and mingle. There’s a ton of guys here, so don’t be shy.” He took a sip from his cup.

  “He’s drunk,” said Kayla. She pushed his arm off her shoulder and stood next to Haven.

  “So what?” said Jason. “It’s my party.”

  The people around them fell silent but music continued to thump loudly from the den. Colored lights swooped over the still crowd.

  “I thought you asked me to come here,” said Haven. “Me.”

  “Psssh, what?” said Jason. “You drew my name on the wall so I knew you and your friend would show up if I asked you.” He burped and pointed at Kayla. “But she’s really hot.”

  Haven opened her mouth to say something but the words caught in her throat. Everyone was staring at her. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she reached out and slapped Jason’s face.

  “Whoa!” he said. He blinked and shook his head, then he laughed. “She’s feisty!”

  Everyone standing near the table laughed and suddenly the party was back on.

  Haven knew she would cry if she stayed in that room a moment longer, but her feet felt like they were frozen to the ground.

  Jason shrugged and finished the rest of his drink while Kayla put her arm around Haven’s shoulders and turned her toward the front door. She looked back and made a face at all the people staring at Haven. “Yeah, real great party!” she shouted sarcastically, giving the crowd a crooked thumbs-up as she and Haven walked out of the house.

  “Thank you,” said Haven softly as Kayla opened the passenger door to the car and guided her into the seat. She sat unmoving, staring straight ahead.

  Kayla walked around the car and got into the driver’s seat. The engine squealed to life and she pulled out onto the street. “Forget him,” she said. “You can do way better.”

  “Yeah, right!” said Haven. She sniffed and looked out the window. “Why did he have to do it like that? He should have just asked you during lunch, and I could have tagged along like the pathetic loser I am.”

  “Don’t say that. He’s the loser, Haven. Not you.”

  “Yeah, but I’m still single.”

  “Not for long,” said Kayla. “Do you know how many sympathy dates you’re gonna get after what happened back there?”

  Haven smiled and punched her in the leg.

  “I’m serious! The boys will be lining up around the block to try and make you feel better. You’re beautiful, even if you don’t think you are. Maybe just put on a little lipstick every once in a while, you know? I’m kidding.”

  Haven sighed. “We’ll see.”

  It was just past ten o’clock and the streets were mostly empty. Kayla turned onto the road which led to Haven’s house and leaned forward over the steering wheel.

  “What’s that?” she said, pointing toward the horizon.

  A red glow lit the night sky a mile away. As they drove closer, the glow intensified and flickered like a giant, red candle.

  “It looks like a fire,” said Kayla.

  “Drive faster,” said Haven.

  Kayla sped up and drove down the middle of the street. A black car with tinted windows and no headlights appeared under a streetlight, moving toward them fast. Kayla screamed and jerked the steering wheel to the side. The black car zoomed past, barely missing them.

  “Did you see that?!” she said, breathing hard. “That guy almost killed us!”

  Haven was barely listening. She stared at the fire ahead and swallowed hard as her throat slowly tightened.

  Through the car’s windshield, Haven watched her house burn.

  Bright red flames licked up the sides of her two-story home and crawled onto the roof. One of the front windows shattered into a thousand shards of glass as fire burst out of the family room. Wood groaned and popped as beams split from the heat. Neighbors walked out of their own houses in pajamas and bathrobes, squinting bleary-eyed at the bright light.

  “No!” screamed Haven. She kicked open the car door and ran into the yard. Tears streamed down her face as she stared up into the dancing flames. Even standing thirty feet away, the heat made her sweat. Her eyes wanted to close against the smoke but Haven forced them to stay open as she watched the raging fire.

  “Haven!” shouted Kayla. She got out of the car and ran over to her. Haven started toward the house but Kayla grabbed her arms and held her back. “You’ll die!”

  A burning support beam snapped on one corner of the house and the roof sagged down with a slow crunch.

  Haven tried to push Kayla away so she could run inside, but she wasn’t strong enough. She pulled as
hard as she could but grew weaker as the flames spread across the entire surface of her home. Kayla guided Haven to the ground so she could sit down.

  The front door to the house fell off its hinges and broke against the porch. Parts of the second story collapsed into the first, crashing down and sending a flurry of burning embers into the air. Haven screamed and sobbed as the roof caved in and half of the house crumbled to the ground.

  “Noooo…” she said softly, her voice tapering to a whimper. She sat with her knees tucked up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs while she rocked back and forth. Her tears glinted with the refection of red flame.

  Kayla sat next to her and placed a hand on her back. In the distance, the piercing wail of police sirens grew louder.

  10

  Colton stood in one corner of the holding cell and crossed his arms. He tried to look tougher than he felt in the company of the other men who had been tossed into jail that night. There was only one long bench lining the wall opposite the cell door, and it was fully occupied by a row of mean-looking, tattooed brutes. Smaller men sat around the edge of the large cell and leaned their heads back against the concrete walls.

  After being pushed into the room a couple of hours earlier, Colton had taken the only open spot on the bench. A little while later, three more criminals arrived, each one bigger than the last. The largest of the three walked over and stood before the bench, looking down over his enormous gut. Colton needed no further motivation; he got up and walked over to the corner, where he could see everything going on in the cell.

  Most of the men kept to themselves, but a couple of them seemed to know each other and talked at length about what was going on in their lives. Colton was surprised that they never mentioned the crimes for which they had just been arrested, and instead spoke of family life and other things he would not usually expect career criminals to discuss.

  Colton had never been in as much trouble as he was at that moment. There was no need to worry about the police calling his father; even if they were lucky enough to catch him awake and not in one of his alcohol-induced stupors, he would probably laugh and say that his son was getting what he deserved.