No Turning Back (Full Circle) (26 page)

Just as in my individual event, I explode off the wall and kick with all my might.  Then it’s gravy. I’m at the flags before I know it, count, flip, and turn, and make my way back for Georgia. I’m pushing myself to the limits.  I see the flags and push harder.  I count my strokes and after number five, I kick with all my might.  I touch the wall, and Georgia jumps over me into the water.  I pull myself out and cheer her on.  As she makes her way back to us, Tori steps on the block to prepare for her butterfly leg. I pull Georgia out of the water, and Sarah gets on the block.  She’s the final leg of the relay, and I know she will continue to increase the distance between us and every other lane.  I am right.  Brittany touches the wall, glances over her shoulder, and realizes we are half a lap ahead of the competition.  She pulls herself up without help, and we cheer “Southern” then we take our index fingers, make a sizzle sound, and put it right on our butt cheek before making our way to our teammates.  Again, the lacrosse guys go bananas.  The stands are going nuts, and there is no doubt in my mind that Livestone doesn’t stand a chance against us!

After the meet, I eat with Mom, Dad, Tessa, Piper, and Cash before my parents head back to Grassy Pond and Cash and Piper stay for the night.  We go to eat at a little burger joint named Sally’s.  It looks like it was built to resemble a red barn.  It is old and worn out, but we have come to realize this is the best food around.  I eat a bacon cheeseburger that is close to the Burger Shack at home, but nothing will beat that place.  We laugh. My parents ask how things are going.  Piper is same ‘ol Piper. Cash is the perfect gentleman, and Tessa can’t wait to get back home to go out with Dustin.  We finish eating and say our goodbyes, and Piper and I ride with Cash back to campus.

“Y’all, I can’t wait for Hank’s tonight.  Y’all are going to love it!”  I squeal.

Cash laughs as Piper starts to get as excited as me.  What am I going to wear tonight?  Hummm, it’s getting cold, so definitely pants of some kind, but I gotta have a cute top.  Cash stops at the gas station to get a can of dip and some snacks before heading the two- minute drive to campus.

“Hey, Char, while Cash ain’t in here.  Where the hell am I staying tonight?  I mean, I don’t want to intrude on y’all.”

“Piper, you can stay in there because you know as well as I do nothing is going to happen.”  She looks at me like whatever. 

About that time Cash opens the truck door and climbs in.  We make our way to campus, up the stoop, and into Kluft.  I am exhausted and need a shower to recoup before Hank’s tonight.  As we reach the top step, I can hear Caroline, Tori, Georgia, Jenny, Anna, and Cassie in hall.  They are singing to “Thrift Shop” blaring over the radio and dancing like fools in the hallway.

Cash glances at me, “Oh lawd, what have I got myself into?”  I just shrug my shoulders and pull him down the hall.  All the girls take their turn putting moves on him, and of course, Anna has something to say.  “Hey, Cowboy, I ain’t ever rode a cowboy before.”  With a wink Cash answers back, “Sorry, Sweetheart, but I ain’t a cowboy.  I’m a homegrown country boy that only has eyes for one little lady,” as he stares into my blue eyes.

I make it to my room and open the door. Piper throws her bag on the futon, and Cash puts his in the corner.  

“Y’all, I gotta get a shower, but if y’all wanna drink tonight make sure you place your order with Caroline.  She’s got the hook up.”  Piper jumps up and hollers at Caroline down the hall. Cash just stares at me.

“What?”  I say with my hands on my hips.

“You really think I’m drinking tonight when someone is out there watchin?  I’m gonna be ready, and I will beat the shit outta him.  I promise ya that!”

“Calm down, Cash Money.  He’s not gonna show tonight; he’s too chicken to show his face.  Let’s just have fun.”

“Speakin’ of fun.  Um, how much fun is it going to be if I have to share you with Joe?”  Cash pouts.  I walk over to him and give him a soft, quick peck on the lips before walking out of the room, shower caddy in hand. I giggle as I leave.

I finish my shower and make my way back to my room only to find it empty. 
Wonder where they went?
  Then I hear Piper’s voice in Georgia’s room.  I make my way over in my robe and my hair still in a towel.

“I almost thought y’all left! But then I thought better!”  Cash isn’t there which stumps me.  As if Piper and Georgia can read my mind, they answer in unison.  “He went over to Joe’s.”  I smile.  I’m glad they met before today even if it wasn’t under good circumstances.  I send Cash a quick text and tell him to be back at Kluft no later than an hour from now.  There is some major pre-gaming going on tonight.

Piper and I make our way to my room, and we begin to get ready.  I pull out my jeans and hot pink top that crisscrosses and ties in the back. I add my boots, and I’m set.  Piper looks at my outfit, and I know I’ve made the right choice.  She has hoochie written all over hers and I laugh. 

“Piper, this is Hank’s, not a fancy club.  You might want to take it down a notch.” 

“Well, what do you suggest?”  She says with her hand on her hips.  I know this look, and I might as well have let her go with the outfit she brought. 

“Nevermind, Pipe.  It’s fine. I’m just saying this place is Hank’s.  It smells of must, mold, old men, and stale beer.  It’s not like a club in Charlotte or something.” 

“Alright, but I’m still wearing this top.”  She point to a one-shouldered glittery top.  I smile and grab a pair of jeans from the closet.  She pairs it with wedge heels.  We look at each other and smile.  We turn on the iPad and place it on the speaker.  We turn up a little Florida Georgia Line and break out in song.  We go ahead and slide on our clothes then do our hair.  We start our makeup, taking a little musical break to sing “Party People” with our hairbrush microphones.  On the last verse, the door bursts open and Cash starts to sing.  We jump out of our skin, turn around and see Cash and Joe.  Joe is at a loss for words.  I don’t know if it’s Piper, me, our beautiful rendition, or what, but that poor boy can’t say a damn word. 

We turn down the music down and finish getting ready. I grab my pre-game shirt and toss an old t-shirt to Piper before we make our way to Caroline’s room.  As we enter, Tori, Anna, Jenny, Cassie, Georgia, Caroline, and a few lacrosse guys are there with beers and cups in hand.  Piper takes a twenty dollar bill from her purse before handing it to Caroline and taking Blue Tarantula Tequila and Margarita mix off her hands.  I look at her like what the hell?  She turns and mixes two cups then hands one to me.  I look at Cash, and he smiles. “Tonight’s your night, Char-coal.  I’m here; have fun.”  I can’t quit grinning.  I have Cash and Joe to protect me.  I’m definitely going to enjoy my night.  I take the cup from Piper, and we cheers to
our
night.

Things get a little rowdy in Caroline’s room. The lights are down, music is up, there’s a little bumping and grinding, and I have to say I’m starting to get past tipsy.  Cash has kinda hung back and just watched.  I can’t help but walk over to his fine ass and sit myself right on his lap and run my fingers through his hair.  He looks up at me as if he is searching for words.

“Char-coal… you might wanna slow down, if you want to make it to Hank’s tonight.”  I look into those eyes as I take a long sip of my margarita.  Cash just shakes his head before saying, “I think somebody’s gonna be sick tonight.”  I shake my head no.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when Hayden arrives in the room.  “Hot damn!  Who’s this  hot looking country boy?” No filter at all.  “Charley, if it’s who I think it is, I’m moving to Grassy Pond ‘cause they don’t grow them like this in New York!”  She walks across the room and makes sure to shake what her mama gave her when she walks by Cash to get a glass of Caroline’s PJ. 

We finish our drinks and make our way to Hank’s Tavern.  The Love Machine is waiting out front.  I start to walk towards the Astrovan when Cash grabs my hand and starts to pull me toward his truck.  I shake my head no.  He is going to have to experience Hank’s like the girls of Southern. 

“Get your ass in the Love Machine, Cash Money.  This is how we roll, and if you’re going to Hank’s, this is how it happens.”  I wink.

He whispers in my ear, “What if you get sick?”

“I’ll be alright.  I’m not going to puke.”  Even though everything inside my body says that I will have a date with the porcelain throne later tonight.

Cash gives in and we make our way to Hank’s.  The Love Machine makes three turns before we see Hank’s in the distance.  I’m so excited.  I glance at Piper, and I can see that she is, too.  She’s only heard me talk about it, but I know it’s a place that anyone from Grassy Pond would appreciate. 

Sarah pulls the Love Machine into the gravel parking lot, puts it in park, and we pile out.  Cash takes my hand and helps me out along with the other girls that remain in the van.  He’s such a gentleman. 

“Damn, I gotta piss!”  Hayden exclaims. 

“Well, hold it ‘cause it’s like a minute walk to the facilities,” Tori says.

“Tori, I’d almost rather piss out here. Regardless,
there’s no door
!”  We all laugh at Hayden, but Piper looks at me like we can’t be serious.  I smile and shrug my shoulders.  We walk across the parking lot and enter the glass doors.  The smell of must, stale beer, and sweat penetrate my nostril.  Yup, we’re at Hank’s.  We make our way to the cashier, turn over our IDs and five dollars, and enter the last glass door. 
Wait, they didn’t mark us with an ‘X’? 
You would think the glass door would help keep the smell out of the foyer, but it doesn’t. 

Hayden leads the way trying to make the mad dash to the restroom.  The rest of us follow behind her.  We enter into the large dark room and make our way to the restroom.  I look at Cash, and he totally understands that this is complete routine.

“Ohmygosh, Char!  You weren’t freakin’ kiddin’!  There is no damn door on the last stall.  What do you do? Have someone stand in front of it?”  Piper says in disbelief.

“Yeah, but the best part about using it is you can walk in, pee, and be back on the dance floor without the wait.”  She laughs because she knows I have a point there.

“Anyone got a black marker?” Tori asks, and I look at her like it’s not a meet.  She points to the top of her hands.

“Awwww, I get it! Over twenty-one have an ‘X’ tonight!  Sweet!”  Piper says as she pulls one from her purse.  I told her to leave that thing in the van, but now we are all glad.  We mark an ‘X’ on each hand and make sure it’s dry before leaving.

We trickle a few at a time out of the restroom and make our way to the dance floor.  As I walk out of the restroom, I see Cash propped against a stool near the bar and Joe is nearby.  Piper and I make our way over.

“Hey Joe, you remember Piper, don’t ya?”

“You bet I do, Squirrel.  Good to see you again, Piper.”  Joe smiles at her as he looks her from head to toe.  I glance at Cash who knows exactly what I’m thinking.  Maybe just maybe, Piper and Joe will hit it off tonight.

“What’s that on y’all’s hands?”  Cash asks.

“The idiots around here thought it would be a good idea to make an ‘X’ on your hand if you’re twenty-one.  Well, they didn’t think about a black Sharpie, did they?”  I say.

“Y’all are too smart for your own good,” Cash says as he pulls me close to him.

Hank’s is starting to get crowded.  The baseball team is in their normal sweats as usual, trying to keep it casual or heck it could be ‘cause it’s easier to get a feel that way. Who knows?  I can see that Piper is starting to get antsy.  I grab her by the hand and lead her to the dance floor while I motion for Cash to talk to Joe about Piper.

We saunter across the room until we hit the laminate wood-looking floor.  Hayden, Sarah, Georgia, Tori, Caroline, Jenny, Cassie, and Anna are already shaking their groove things to “Blurred Lines” when we walk up. We don’t miss a beat and join them.  Piper is surveying the scene as I start to laugh at her.

“What?”  She asks as she tries to keep in rhythm with the song while talking.

“You know what!  Don’t play stupid…. You totally like Joe, don’t ya?”

“He’s totally hot and got that hot surfer thing going on.  I mean.  You have home field advantage on that, but I know Cash Money isn’t going to let him near ya tonight.”