by Krystle Rose
It looked like Nomi would be attending a Halloween party tonight. She supposed she should try to find something to wear, then. There was no way she was going to spend any of her money on a costume she’d put on for one night, so she would have to make do with whatever she had.
Nomi went to her closet and began to dig through her clothes. When she didn’t find anything that would do the trick, she decided to raid her mother’s closet instead. In the back of the large wardrobe was an old sweater with a design of cats stitched into it. That, paired with a pair of her Mom’s old high waist jeans, would be good enough to pull off an authentic 80’s look. Lucky for Nomi, she had some Chucks that would work well enough with the old outfit. With some blue eyeshadow and red lipstick, the whole ensemble would really come together.
The two of them loaded into Canaan’s old Pontiac Sunfire and were on their way, a few hours later. Despite Nomi dreading the whole ordeal, she kept her trap shut on the drive over.
It was a cold October evening and the roads were covered with freshly fallen leaves that crunched under the tires. Later that week it was forecasted to snow, their second blanketing of the season. When she was younger, they would have had at least four storms by now, but with the changing climate, snow was becoming sparse.
Nomi was just glad she’d chosen a warm outfit to wear. Her brother, on the other hand, was hardly dressed at all. He was wearing blue tube socks, black shorts, and a long sleeve red shirt with dish gloves and a sailor’s hat. He didn’t seem to mind the cold and once he got some alcohol in him, Canaan likely wouldn’t notice the chill at all.
“What are you supposed to be, anyway?” she questioned, giving his attire a curious look.
Canaan picked up a thin black mask and held it over his eyes, keeping one hand on the wheel. Nomi still couldn’t make out the character, so she just stared at him blankly until he answered her.
“Barnacle Boy!” he said as if she should know who that is.
Again, Nomi gawked at him wordlessly.
“From Spongebob Squarepants!”
“A kid’s show character? Are you for real?”
“He’s popular! And Funny!”
“Just like you,” she finished for him, irritated by the fact.
“Yup,” Canaan answered, beaming.
Leave it to her sibling to choose the most random, yet appealing cartoon to dress up as for Halloween. The younger girls would be all over him, knowing exactly who he was because they probably grew up on that show. As long as they were of age, Canaan would be thrilled and Nomi could care less.
She planned on snagging a bottle of booze, creeping off to a corner somewhere, and drinking until she couldn’t remember where she was. By then, hopefully, Canaan will have had his fill of women and beer and take her back home.
When they arrived, the house was already packed. Tucked away in the hills, there were a few dozen acres between it and the next property, making it secluded enough to have a rager without keeping up the neighbors or getting into any trouble. So, there were a lot of people in attendance, most of which Nomi recognized from school or otherwise. In a small town like this, it was almost impossible not to know practically everyone.
That was the problem.
Nomi didn’t much care for any of these people. As a child, she’d been shunned because she was overweight. Then, when she became a teen, she shed the extra pounds, but that didn’t stop the teasing. She had been unpopular for so long that it just sort of carried over. Jenna Linwood and Tess Parker were the only friends she’d made during that time and they were the only ones left she still talked to. Luckily for Jenna, she was able to get far away from here for college and Tess moved to Redding after graduation. Nomi was the last one still stuck in this god-forsaken place.
She didn’t want to hang around these drunk assholes all evening, she wanted to be home, looking for ways to make some extra money. After speaking with a lender earlier in the week, Nomi had come to the tough realization that getting a loan for her food truck was going to be much more difficult than she thought -- and she already thought it was going to be hard-- but now it seemed almost impossible.
She needed to come up with new ways to bring in some extra cash and soon. By this time next year, Nomi wanted to be miles away from here, with a business and apartment of her own.
“Alright Yes-You, I’m going to hit up some beer pong. Try to socialize, okay?”
Yes-You was a clever name reversal that Canaan had come up with when he was ten and she was nine. It used to infuriate her when he called her that, but now it was more of an affectionate nickname.
“That wasn’t part of the deal."
“Fine. Seclude yourself, I don't care. Just don’t embarrass me.”
Then he left, shouldering his way through the crowd and leaving Nomi to fend for herself. As she had planned, she grabbed a half-empty bottle of Jager and a can of 7-UP and took both with her onto the balcony of the second-floor living room. It was practically an upstairs porch, spanning the entire width of the second story. A couple was making out on the patio set, but it was otherwise empty. Nomi took her drinks with her to the other end of the balcony and sat down in the corner, on the cold, hardwood.
A brisk breeze tousled her hair and sent a chill down her spine. She should have stayed inside where it was warm, but she loathed the idea of being around any of the party guests. Hoping the spirits would raise her temperature, Nomi cracked open the can of soda and twisted the cap off the green bottle. She took a swig of the licorice-tasting liqueur and chased it with a sip of lemon lime fizz. Wincing at the taste and the sting at the back of her throat, Nomi coughed. Then she took another swallow of each.
Looking out over the railing, she took in the forest beyond the house. It was dark and foreboding, quiet except for the faint rustling of the trees. Nomi wished to be lying beneath their branches, staring up at the stars. From this elevation, there were too many to count, sprinkled across the night sky.
She loved the natural elegance in this part of California, but Nomi still longed for something else, somewhere more. Someplace warmer, with more hustle and bustle than her sleepy little town. With more diversity and things to do than this place offered. One day, she'd have all that and more, she was sure of it.
From a few yards away, the sliding glass door opened and a pretty redhead dressed as Dorothy from Wizard of Oz stumbled out, giggling and falling all over herself. She reached for the railing and held on tight. Nomi watched, amused by the spectacle.
A man costuming as a prison inmate emerged after her and shut the door again.
"Thanks for coming outside with me. I didn't want to get lost or something," the perky woman drawled flirtatiously.
Nomi scoffed at her and downed another gulp of Jagermeister, followed by 7-UP.
"Of course. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. Couldn't have that on my conscience now, could I?"
Oh God, Nomi would recognize that voice anywhere. It was Owen. She covered her mouth to shield her snort and watched the couple more intently.
Owen moved in closer, putting his hands on either side of the woman and essentially trapping her. She giggled with excitement and arched into him. Then she reached in the pocket of her checkered apron and pulled out a skinny joint and pink lighter. Owen took the Bic from her and flicked it to flame, then offered it to the joint now perched between her lips.
"What a gentleman," she purred.
The costumes female inhaled, held it, then released and coughed. Handing it off to Owen, she made sure to brush his chest with her forearm. He accepted the offer and took a hit. The couple on the other end got fed up with the extra company and went back inside. Owen and the mystery woman paid them no mind and continued making googly eyes at each other.
"So, when was the last time you took a trip to Oz?"
"I might go there soon if this weed is strong enough," she jested.
Owen hummed, rubbed his nose on her neck, and informed her, "I could rock you like a tornado tonight,
but it won't be Aunty M you'll be calling out for."
Nomi couldn't help but burst into laughter. That had to be the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. The fact that it had come out of Owen's mouth only made it that much funnier.
They both looked in her direction, scowling. That's when Nomi realized it was Summer Thompson, Melinda's best friend and co-bully. The woman sneered at her and Nomi went tense. Suddenly, all the bad memories that Summer had bestowed upon her as a kid came rushing back to the forefront of Nomi's mind.
"What the hell's so funny, twat?"
Stunned silent, she said nothing and didn't move. Nomi must have looked like a deer in the headlights.
"Hello? I'm talking to you!"
"Ignore her," Owen discouraged, pulling her attention away from Nomi. "Let's just go back inside."
Summer cuddled his front and tickled the neckline of his coveralls.
"I want to take you into Mel's parents’ room. Let you prove your statement to me." Snapping her head back toward Nomi, Summer then explained, "But that's the door she's sitting in front of and I won't have her watching."
"We can go somewhere else, come on."
He took her hand and tried to lead her away, but Summer wasn't having it. She yanked her arm away and started toward Nomi with a heated glare.
"No. I wanna know what this bitch thinks is so funny and I'm gonna make her move."
Though not menacing in stature, Summer was intimidating nonetheless. Nomi wasn't sure why, but she was worried. Maybe It was just residual fear from high school or perhaps it was because families like Summer's were very influential in this town. If she scrapped with the likes of her, Nomi would never hear the end of it. It wouldn't stop with just one fight, either, it'd carry on for years and years because people here never forgot a face or name or incident. That's one of the reasons why she had avoided the conflicts as a teenager. Her reputation was crappy, as it was.
"Jesus, Summer, come on," Owen begged.
She shoved him away and continued in Nomi's direction. She was too inebriated to walk a straight line and the alcohol Nomi had drank was already starting to make her vision a little wonky, so she didn't try to get up and run away. When Summer got close enough, Nomi just shielded herself the best she could and prepared to be attacked. Only, that didn't happen.
The next thing she knew, Summer was squealing. Nomi peeked behind her hands to see that Owen had her thrown over his shoulder and was heading back into the house. Summer was kicking her legs and pummeling his back, but it was no use. He deposited her on the floor inside and stepped back out onto the porch. Closing the door, Owen pointed at her in warning. When he felt that she was no longer a threat, he came back over to Nomi.
"You sure know how to ruin a good time," he growled as he approached her.
"I'm sorry," she squeaked.
"Yeah, well, you should be," Owen told her. "That was practically a done deal."
"It's Summer Thompson," Nomi scathed. "All you had to do was ask her to go to bed with you and she would have. You didn't have to work so hard."
He plopped down beside her. Seeing the bottle between her knees, Owen grabbed it and took a swig.
"You should have told me that an hour ago."
"I only got here an hour ago."
"Then that would have been perfect timing," he argued.
"My apologies," Nomi responded with a bow.
“She’s cross-faded now, anyway. She’ll be puking in no time, I guarantee it.”
Nomi offered her soda to him, but Owen motioned it away. Instead, he took a second sip of the Jager, then gave it back to her. She took it, drank, and set it back between her knees.
“So, why are you drinking alone in the dark like some weirdo?”
“I don’t want to be here. I’m just killing time until Canaan’s ready to leave,” she filled him in.
“Why did you come?”
“He threatened to tell Mom on me.”
“What, are you four? You can’t handle a little razzing from your mother?” Owen replied with an attitude.
“Don’t judge me."
"Too late."
"Rude"
"Well, I can't say I'm glad to see you. If you weren't here, I'd probably be getting laid right now."
"Great. Thanks. Just keep piling it on," she slurred.
“I think that’s enough of this,” he said then, taking the bottle of booze from her and placing it on the other side of him.
Nomi whined and reached for it, but Owen swatted her hand away. She pouted and slumped against the wall behind her.
“Where’s Canaan?”
“Inside, probably doing what you were just doing with someone else.”
“Lucky bastard.”
“Please, feel free to get back to it,” Nomi encouraged him. “Just leave me with my Jager.”
“Nice try,” he grinned.
She sipped her soda instead, wishing it was liquor.
Looking her over, Owen commented, “Cute costume.”
“Thanks. I’d say the same about yours, but bad boys aren’t really my thing,” Nomi teased him.
“It was an easy outfit. Plus, it comes with a great punch line.”
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“‘It turns out it is criminal to look this good!’”
“Oh my God,” she managed over a hearty laugh. “That’s even worse than the tornado joke.”
“It works, I swear,” Owen assured her, chuckling in kind.
"I'm sure," Nomi continued giggling.
After they composed themselves again, he pushed the mostly empty bottle of Jagermeister away and nudged Nomi with his shoulder. She smirked and finished off her can of soda.
“You finally recovered from your break up?”
“Yep. Tomorrow marks the end of month one of my vow.”
“Vow? Wait, you were serious about that?”
“I was,” Nomi answered with a curt nod. Then she thought about it and clarified, “Am.”
“Wow. That’s quite the undertaking.”
Nomi wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to hide from the cold. Rather than look at her companion, she looked out at the scenery again.
“I’ll survive.”
“I wouldn’t,” was Owen’s candid reply.
“Yeah, well, I assume you broke your celibacy streak since we last talked.”
“A handful of times,” he granted.
Nomi feigned gagging and Owen shouldered her again. Using his hands on his knees, he pushed down and straightened out, coming to a stand easily. Reaching out his hand, he signaled for Nomi to join him. She didn’t want to follow him wherever he was going, but apparently, her body didn’t get that message because Nomi obliged by giving him her hand and letting him help her up.
“I can see that drunken stupor setting in,” he relayed to her. “Let’s get you out of here before you get into any more trouble.”
“Canaan won’t want to leave. We haven’t been here long enough.”
“Then he can stay.”
“But he drove.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“You’ve been drinking.”
“Those two sips from your bottle are the first I’ve had all night,” he disputed.
"You smoked, too."
"Hardly."
She felt guilty for ruining his night and forcing him to leave the party early. It was barely after eleven and things would start getting interesting soon. The women would be looser, the guys would be drunker, and the pills would start coming out. By midnight, it’d be a rager with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Owen’s favorite and she was depriving him of that. Still, he didn’t complain once as he escorted her away.
Just as he reached for the handle of the sliding glass door, it flew open and Summer came barrelling out. Both Nomi and Owen were taken aback as she sped past them and leaned over the railing of the balcony. Summer emptied her stomach contents onto the lawn below, causing the others on the lower level to yell compla
ints.
“Told you,” Owen said, close to Nomi’s ear.
Goosebumps spread over her body and the alcohol in her belly churned. For a moment, Nomi thought she might join Summer in spewing. Before she could even digest what was happening to her, Nomi was being led away by Owen and his firm hold on her elbow.
He led her out of the house and to his Subaru parked at the end of the driveway. He must have gotten there early because, by the time Nomi and Canaan got there, there wasn’t parking this close. They’d walked some ways up the hill to get to the festivities, but it appeared Owen hadn’t suffered that same climb.
Opening the passenger door for her, Owen allowed Nomi to climb inside. She dropped down into the bucket seat with a plop and could feel vertigo settling in. Owen was right, she was drunk. The next thing she knew, he was reaching over her as he clipped her seatbelt into place. Then he shut the door and went around to the driver’s side, all while Nomi contemplated the trail of warmth left behind by his arm over her chest.
For now, she’d be like Jaime Fox and just blame it on the alcohol.
Month 2
Nomi wasn’t sure why, all of the sudden, she was having such strange sensations surrounding Owen, but she did know one thing for certain: she needed to stay away from him until she figured it out because the last thing she needed right now was more problems.
The first four weeks of her celibacy had been easy. She’d been so busy with trying to make a plan for the future that she hadn’t even thought about men or sex, save for the short, awkward encounters with Owen, which Nomi was trying like crazy to banish from her mind. At the start of month two, things were equally as busy and distracting, so if she could avoid her brother’s best friend, she was confident she would be alright.
After her unsuccessful meeting with a lender at the bank, Nomi’s confidence faltered. Just as she had suspected, getting a loan would be difficult. Only, it was going to be a lot harder than she had originally thought. Nomi was pretty much screwed unless she could come up with the money herself or find someone else to carry the loan in a higher amount.
She had written a list of everything she would need to start her business and it was two full notebook pages long. After spending a day looking up prices on the internet, Nomi guess-timated that she would need at least forty thousand dollars and that was only if she could find a used truck at a good price, with functioning appliances So that she wouldn't have to spend money buying new ones.
