COUNTING STARS

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Ariel’s P.O.V
I lied up against the hood of the car in-between Jesse’s legs watching everybody dance around in their cowboy boots and shorts; sweat was stained to their skin giving them an oily glow. I hummed the beat of the song through my head, Jesse rubbed my arms up and down “Watch out baby, I’m gonna show them how a real man do it” I moved myself up off the hood letting him climb off. He grabbed Barney my best friend since middle school and took her over to the dance floor. The way his body fit in those jeans made me nip at my bottom lip, his muscles was swole to a limit that exceeded pass the normal mass.

The sun gone down but the air was still warm; everybody’s car’s had on the headlights spotlighting the center where everybody was swaying their hips against one another. “Hey mister…won’t you sell me a fake I.D…” The song vibrated through the speakers. I drunk some of my beer that was filled up in my cup, I could feel the buzz drifting through my blood. My laugh faded to a minimum as my ears alarmed them self’s to the sound of engines revving a short distance away. As I shifted my eyes towards the chaise I couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of Bobby climbing into a car. My body switched into over protective mode I slid the cup onto the hood of the car, and speed walked over to the group of rowdy boys cheering and hollering at the cars.

I scooted myself through the boys; white smoke from the engines clouded up around us. I swiped it out of my face some got caught down my throat causing me to cough; the feel of a burning sensation clung to my lungs. A young girl came to the front of the two cars with a red rag in her hand. My mouth didn’t want to speak what my mind was thinking nor did I want to expect the worst yet I couldn’t help it. I rounded one of the cars that were familiar to me and came upon the window. I tapped my knuckles up against the glass, Bobby rolled down the window. “You’re here to cheer your big brother on?” He laid his arm against the window, I grabbed on to it tightly. “Bobby……” He looked up at me with ambition, I leaned in closer. “Don’t do this….” He shrugged my hand off and reached up into the visor grabbing something down, he leaned it out the window. “Here sis I forgot to give this to ya” I grabbed a photo of us together at Beaumont beach on the massive rock down by the cove.

“Wait Bobby….” I lowered my voice, but it was pretty hard when the engines kept revving. “Are you drunk?” He rolled his eyes. “N-No Ariel….I had a couple of drinks but I’m fine more than fine I’m great” A person came grabbing my arm “Ariel C’mon…this boy’s fine” I tried to cling on to Bobby’s car but the guys hand got tighter and tighter around my arm. “Bobby!” He looked up at me with a devious smile and shortly winked. I know that wink, he gives that wink telling me everything is fine but it’s hard to imagine that from my point of view. I let the guy take me pulling me in sync with the crowd; I stood there with my arms crossed.

I hitched my breathing in full throttle something imminent was bound. The crowd went wild jumping up and down I only had one option and that was to get Jesse. The boys revved their engine one more time before starting down the street; I made my way through the crowd quickly feeling like I was running out of time. “Jesse!” He didn’t hear me yet my voice was just a distant away from the party. “Jesse! Jesse!” I yelled with all the strength I had, he turned around with Barney. It only took him one second to realize something was wrong before he came running towards me; Barney following behind him.

Sreech! Screaming! Clash! Is all it took for me to stop in my footstep. I slowly turned around the tears were developing in my eyes and my body was shaking expecting the worst and obviously it happened. Maybe I was trembling because I knew something would happen, his eyes told it all his voice spoke it all. Everybody came running away from the two collided cars as I began

picking up speed towards the wreck. People smashed into my arm but I didn’t care. I got a better look at the wreck; the other car was smashed into the driver’s side door…..Bobby’s side door. An arm was hanging slightly out with a slither of blood running down the forearm dripping from the fingers. I dropped to the floor holding my hand over my mouth, my body was stuck in a state of fear and disappointment and disbelieve. Jesse ran up behind me falling to the ground around me he wrapped his arm around me but did I car? No.

Sure the ambulance came. But I’m not sure.

The cops asked me questions. But I wasn’t listening.

Mom and Dad came. But I wasn’t talking to them.

I was missing a piece of my heart, a remembrance that was vivid alive and loving just an hour ago. I was missing something I could never get back and that was my brother.

Notes