The Nights Were Young Read online

  She got to her car and took one last look at the trailer. The sun was all but completely gone now behind the dying trees in the distance. There was more yelling in the trailer; this time Travis’s voice was a part of it.

  Save him! Go back and save him!

  But she was terrified and trembling. She breathed fast, and her head was rushing. Fire – everything felt on fire, burning too fast for her to make sense of. She wasn’t ready for this; not for this, not for everything that loving Travis came with.

  Crying, she got in her car and left him.

  XIX

  James was talking with his “boys” from the office. Marie’s mother was standing by Marie’s father. They were quiet in the corner, watching others that moved around the room in some slow, half-asleep manner. The night was late, and within the next hour guests would be leaving.

  The bedroom door at the corner of the living room flung open wide so fast that it crashed against the wall and brought a jarring silence over the crowd. People turned. They stared. They stood horrified. Out of the bedroom came a wasted Marie, swaying left and right, her eyes half open, her posture making her body look ready to fall in on itself.

  “Hello everyone!” she screamed. Her dress was ruffled, her blonde curls were tangled, and her make-up was smeared. In her hand she held the guitar brought from her closet.

  She walked forward, and as she passed the coffee table the guitar knocked against the corner and the clang rang out with an ugly boom and echo.

  “Oh shit,” Marie said, looking down at the guitar.

  People gasped. They whispered. They moved out of her slow and unsteady way.

  “Jesus,” James said under his breath.

  Her father’s mouth was open in the shock. Her mother was gripping her wine glass so hard it was close to shattering in her palm.

  “I’m uh…” Marie said, “I wanna shming you a song. Sing – I wanna sing for all you people… that I don’t even know.”

  She sat down on the first thing she felt, the small corner table beside the couch.

  There was a lamp there that her back shoved off. One of the guests lunged forward and caught it before it smashed on the floor.

  “Oh, sorry…” she said. “I shouldn’t sit here.”

  She jumped to her feet.

  “Here,” she said loudly, and she nearly sat in the lap of one of James’s friends on the couch, but he quickly darted to the side and she fell down on the cushion.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she giggled.

  James reached forward and grabbed her arm. “Honey, I think you’re done for the night.”

  “Let me go,” she said.

  He pulled harder on her arm.

  “I said let me go!” she screamed.

  He backed away; he didn’t know her. The girl was gone, far too gone to control now.

  Marie looked into his eyes and whispered, “I’m not perfect, honey.” She looked down. “I’m not perfect.”

  Then she shook her head and said loudly, “I’m gonna sing everyone here a song… James.” Then to everyone else she exclaimed, “He told me earlier I wasn’t good at music. Well I’ll show him.”

  She swung the guitar around into her lap and strummed a chord.

  She laughed. “Hey it’s actually in tune! That’s not right, though.” She moved her fingers and strummed again until she found the right notes. “There we go.”

  There were two women whispering to each other in the corner near the door to the porch. Marie noticed them.

  “Hey!” Marie yelled at them.

  They stopped and stood petrified.

  “Shut up,” Marie ordered.

  They straightened up and waited. Marie was terrifying as she glared at others through smeared make up and tears. Everyone was waiting, still and silent.

  Marie strummed another chord. She hummed. She paused and turned to look towards the window in the corner of the room. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  She played the chord again, and began…

  If I could be…

  With you…

  Baby I would be…

  You could be my anything

  And I – I would be…be your everything

  She struggled to push the words out, and when she did they were soft and shaky.

  Some guests covered their mouths, and a few others were tearing up and shaking their heads.

  “What happened to her?” someone whispered.

  She kept playing.

  Just come…come back around…

  She played the strings with barely enough energy for them to resonate into the house, the walls of which could be heard creaking lowly over the music as if its own heart was breaking for her.

  She sang more.

  I still see your face.

  She looked at James. He was dumbfounded, eyes wide and mouth ajar. With watery, blue eyes she stared at him.

  I still your face.

  On his and his.

  We had a chance…

  Her eyes closed and her head dropped.

  Just come back around…

  She played a few more chords, but her hands stopped and fell limp. She still sang.

  Please say you’re not…

  With her eyes closed, she could see him, Travis. He was standing in front of her. He was standing at the cliffs, how he had stood seven years ago. His hair moved in the breeze, and it was daylight, and he was alive and beautiful. He was smiling at her - the smile she had been in love with, that she was still in love with.

  Not too far gone…

  Please say it’s not too late…

  Marie opened her eyes and looked up. She was back in James’s party.

  Marie was crying.

  The guitar fell from her lap and crashed on the floor. Some people jumped at the violent sound, but Marie barely moved.

  “Just come back around,” she whispered, so softly no one heard it.

  She fell over on the couch and began crying louder and louder until she bawled uncontrollably.

  James came back to his senses and announced, “Alright, I think that about does it for tonight everyone.”

  People began talking again. No one was brave enough to approach Marie. James began herding them towards the door, thanking them all and promising them that everything would be fine.

  Marie’s father remained where he was. His eyebrows were low in confusion. “What happened?”

  Marie’s mother answered. “She’s making a fool of herself.” She walked forward and sat Marie up straight. “I told you to stay in bed and sleep,” she said sternly.

  “I loved him!” Marie shouted.

  Her mother covered her mouth. “Stop it, Marie.”

  James had heard her scream. He pursed his lips and shook his head, and he continued ushering everyone out.

  Marie cried through her mother’s hand. She grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away. Her mother fought to keep her on the couch, but Marie got up and raced passed her and to the door to the back porch. She swung it open and barreled outside.

  “Marie!” her mother screamed after her.

  Marie’s father finally moved. He and her mother were outside in seconds to chase after their runaway daughter.

  Marie raced off the property and sprinted towards the hill behind the house. Beyond it was the clear, starry sky. The air was cold, and the moonlight was pale. Marie reached the start of the hill and tripped. She could not bring herself back to her feet; she lay there on the ground and sobbed, her shallow breaths showing in the chilled night.

  Her parents reached her and grabbed her; her father picked her up. Guests who could see the scene from around the corner of the house stopped and stared. Marie saw James under the outside lights in front of the house; he was pushing them further to leave.

  They brought Marie back into the house and lay her on the couch. Her father brought a blanket to cover her while her mother stood still with her arms folded. It was only the three of them in the room now. The party had crashed and everyone ha
d vanished. Marie still cried.

  “I don’t get it,” her father said. “What’s wrong? She seemed happy an hour ago.”

  James entered and poured himself another drink. “What the hell is going on, Marie?”

  “I loved him,” Marie groaned.

  “Loved who? Who the hell is she talking about?” James gulped down the whiskey and slammed the glass on the coffee table. “I want to know who the hell she’s talking about.”

  “It’s no one,” her mother said. “She’s delirious. I think she’s sick.”

  “He’s gone,” Marie said softly.

  “She’s talking about someone,” James said. “Who is he?”

  “Someone she should have forgotten a long time ago,” her mother said at Marie.

  “He’s dead, Mother,” Marie cried. “He’s dead.”

  James looked down and rubbed his forehead. “I can’t do this.” He left towards the back door. “Look after her, because I’m sure as hell not going to.”

  “Where are you going?” Marie’s mother asked.

  “I don’t know and I don’t give a damn, as long as it’s not around your daughter.” He slammed the door on his exit.

  “Jesus,” her mother whispered, and then she left as well.

  “Shh…shh…” her father said. He stroked her hair. “It’ll be all right.”

  Marie shook her head and whispered, “No, Dad. It won’t be.”

  “You need to go to sleep,” he said. “You need to just sleep this off.”

  “I… I can’t,” she said.

  Her eyes had fallen closed, though, and she was quickly drifting unconscious. She tried to picture Travis like she had when she sang, but there was only black, so she started singing again.

  “If I could be…” she said softly. “With you…I would be…”

  She could see him again. She was in his truck. It was at night and they were by the lake. He was smiling and holding her, saying something that made her laugh.

  “You were my everything…”

  She could see him kiss her, and even then she had known there would be no other night like those nights.

  “Just come back… around…”

  Marie’s head tilted to the side. She was fast asleep on the couch, and the evening was finally over.

  XX

  “Marie? Marie?”

  Eighteen year old Marie woke up with a jarring shake from her classmate. She looked around. Some students were staring while others hardly paid attention. She was in Ms. Halliway’s English class. The woman looked sternly upon her and frowned.

  “Marie?” Ms. Halliway asked.

  “Yes, hello,” Marie said.

  The teacher rolled her eyes. “Would you care to try and answer the question?”

  Marie looked around as if someone might tell her what to say. No one cared, and Marie realized that she did not either. “I don’t know the question.”

  “Well maybe if you’d stay conscious you would know it,” Ms. Halliway responded. She waited for Marie’s answer.

  “Alright,” Marie muttered. “I’ll remember that.” She folded her arms and looked away.

  Ms. Halliway sighed and resumed the class. Marie zoned out immediately into her own thoughts. The day before replayed in her mind. She could see Travis, crying on his couch, and she could see his mother hit him. She wanted everything to be like it had been before winter, when they were at the lake watching the waves roll easily in. She wasn’t prepared for where all of it had led her to now. It scared her. It felt too much, too intense.

  The bell rang and woke her from daydreaming.

  She moved fast to Travis’s locker at the end of the hall where the light above it was broken and flickering. Travis was leaning against his open locker, texting on his phone.

  “Hey,” Marie said, smiling. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Yeah, well… new leaf right?” He grinned.

  “What happened last night?” she asked.

  “You mean with my mom?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Nothing unusual. Same old bullshit.”

  While he spoke Marie peaked into his locker. There were a few books and pieces of trash; there was no water bottle.

  “What are you looking for?” he asked.

  She startled and quickly responded, “Oh, nothing. I’ve just never seen your locker before.”

  He laughed. “Well it’s pretty awesome and all.” He moved closer and put his hands on her hips. He spoke quietly. “But I’ve got something special for you.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Really? What?” she asked eagerly.

  “You’ll see later. I don’t have it yet.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her. It shocked her, being right there in front of others; her eyes remained open to look out for Ms. Halliway or anyone else that would tell her mother. He stood up straight and adjusted his jacket.

  “Sorry about that,” he said. “Just habit I guess.”

  She smiled. “It’s okay.”

  “You haven’t seen Brandon have you?”

  “No, why?”

  “No reason,” he said.

  He put everything in his locker and shut it. He smiled as he walked away. “I’ll see you later with your surprise.”

  “What was that?” she whispered when he was gone.

  He just left her. She waited to see if he would turn around and check if she was following. There was not so much as a slight glance back at her. He kept straight down the hall until he was out of sight.

  **********

  The cafeteria was quieter than usual. Maybe it was the cold creeping in through the glass windows, through which Marie saw rain pouring down.

  “This has been the worst day ever,” Kate said, sitting down with her food and with Joey. Marie had a binder open in front of her, but she wasn’t the least bit motivated to do the homework that was already late.

  “I feel like shit,” Kate said. “I have a cold. I know it.”

  Marie noticed Brandon glancing at her from his table. When he caught Marie’s eye his glance darted away.

  “You want to go to the Crossfalls Winter Festival with me?” Kate asked. “I usually don’t go, but I was thinking you and Travis could come with me and Joey. It’d be like a double date. Or like that party, which wasn’t really a party ‘cause only four people were there.”

  “Have you seen Travis at all?” Marie asked.

  “No. Maybe he’s in detention again.”

  “No, he hasn’t done anything today,” Marie said.

  But Marie had spoken too soon.

  Travis walked into the lunchroom. He was stepping fast, flying forward with purpose, his fists clenching, his eyes narrowed, and his brows low.

  “Travis?” Marie stood from her seat.

  He charged to Brandon. He was suddenly yelling something loud, something Marie could not make clear. Brandon yelled back and stood up, and soon their voices roared at each other.

  Travis threw the first punch. He struck Brandon across the jaw. Brandon recovered and body slammed Travis backwards into the air. They landed on the tile.

  The lunch room lit up in a frenzied blaze. People crowded faster than Marie could run to Travis.

  “What the hell is happening?” Kate screamed.

  “I don’t know.” Marie shoved and pushed her away past the bystanders. She could hear grunts and hits and screams and curses. Finally at the front, she saw the fight. Travis was on top of Brandon, pinning him to the tile and raising his fist.

  “Travis!” Marie screamed.

  He threw his fist down, but before it reached Brandon’s face, Brandon grabbed his arm and threw him off. Travis scurried to his feet and charged forward. He collided into Brandon and they flew across the floor into the crowd of people that backed away quick.

  Marie was close enough to reach Travis. She grabbed the hood of his jacket. Though she tried her hardest to pull him off, he tore off the jacket and returned to beating the hell out of Brandon.

  Brand
on grabbed Travis by the neck and rammed him backward into the table where he had sat. They hit it so hard that it broke in half and crashed to the floor with them.

  The security guard had finally fought off the students in the way and got to the two. He grabbed the bloodied Travis and put him in a head lock.

  “Son of a bitch!” Travis screamed.

  The football coach grabbed Brandon and forced his arms behind his back.

  “What the hell is going on?” the coach bellowed.

  “He’s crazy!” Brandon yelled.

  “Screw you, you piece o’ shit!” Travis roared.

  The security guard forced Travis’s arms around his back and put handcuffs on him. “You’re dead to me!” Travis yelled.

  Brandon spit Travis’s way. “Why don’t you just go overdose?”

  Marie’s hands clapped over her mouth.

  “Jesus,” Kate cried. “What happened?”

  Travis looked at Marie. His left eye was bleeding too badly to open. His nose and his lips were bleeding onto his shirt. He was sweating and panting, and when his one opened eye met her the animal aggression disappeared from it. The way he looked at her – he already regretted what he had done.

  Brandon was still yelling, but the anger in Travis was gone when they were led out of the lunch room.

  Travis looked back at Marie. His mouth opened like he wanted to say something, but the guard whipped him back around too soon. His head turned around and looked at her one last time before he was taken out of sight.

  Words and rumors spread for the rest of the school day. Texts bounced fast and the story changed countless times. A flood of questions crashed over Marie from everyone who saw her.

  Marie texted Travis as soon as she could. There was no response.

  **********

  Marie did not expect to hear from Travis for days as she drove home that afternoon. After the fight that day between Travis and Brandon, she feared the worst. Travis might have been back at home breaking into whatever his mom had lying around. She didn’t believe he would stay sober after what had happened.