Four (Their Dead Lives,1) (5 page)

Alec parked in his driveway but hesitated in getting out of the car. He worried about Nicole’s reaction.
What if she thinks I’m pathetic? What if she leaves me? What if—
 

No. Get a grip.
He took several deep, calming breaths, frustrated that he didn’t usually indulge in such weak thoughts. Struggling to escape all the negativity and cynicism that now roiled through his mind, he thought of his childhood.
Think like old Alec.
Growing up, he’d been the levelheaded one out of his group of friends. The brave leader. But eight years ago—that day in high school—a tragedy had changed him.
 

It’d changed all four of them.
 

“Think like the old Alec,” he commanded himself. “We leave as four.”
 

Tonight he would see his old friends, enjoy a drink or two, and be with the woman who owned his heart. Relief. Looking in the mirror again, he wiped the remains of tears from his brown eyes, fixed his short dark hair, and took a few more breaths.
Just like the old Alec.
From the front seat, he grabbed sunflowers he’d bought for Nicole and entered his home.
 

An hour later, he pulled out of her.
I never should’ve doubted her.
He walked to the bathroom for a shower when Nicole moaned at him to come back.
 

“Do we have to go already? I want to play more.” She laughed, causing the white sheet to slip from her breasts and nestle around her sun-kissed legs.
 

Alec flashed her a smile, admiring her tousled brown hair. “Wanna come play in the shower?”
 

Nicole leapt from the bed and joined him.
 

21 minutes later, they were drying off and dressing. Nicole began applying her make-up but paused momentarily. “Are you sure it’s okay that I come? It’s your time to be with your friends. I’ll just hang with Sadie.”
 

Alec leaned over her, staring at her big brown eyes in the mirror. Soft curls dangled over her forehead. He brushed his fingers across her skin, turning her face to his. “It’s perfectly fine. I’m sure Scot will bring a girl anyway. Last I heard he’s quite the womanizer.” Alec gave her a quick kiss. She grabbed his chin, demanding another.
 

My queen gets what she wants.
 

Nicole laughed such sweet laughter. “Scot, a womanizer? Don’t see it. He and Kelsey were perfect together. What happened? She won’t tell me the real reason, even after all this time.”

“No idea, babe. All I know is that I’m ready for a fantastic night.”
 

Nicole reached her arms behind him and grabbed his butt. Her laughing gaze floated up to meet his. “You want a hand jibbers before we go?”
 

“Jibbers?” he laughed. “What has gotten into you, babe?”
 

“I decided to stop taking things so seriously.” She tightened her grip.
 

“You’re a fiend today. Who is this new Nicole?”
 

“Oh, you know, I just love you.” She kissed his flat stomach.
 

“I love every version of you.”
 

In the late afternoon, Alec and Nicole arrived to the venue where the reunion would be held: his brother’s bar, The Last Round. The place was empty. They waited for his brother, sitting at a tall circular table. Alec leaned across it, smiling at Nicole and rubbing her hand with his thumb. His brother, Brian, soon greeted them, coming in from his office.
 

“Thanks again for letting us use this place tonight, bro,” Alec said after Brian poured them some tequila shots.
 

“No problemo, Alejandro. You boys and gals have it to yourself, so enjoy.” He slapped Alec on the back.
 

Alejandro.
While he didn’t hate his given name, he preferred being called Alec. The reason why was lost back in middle school.
 

Brian continued, “Erica will be here in a little bit to serve drinks and whatnot. Everything is on the house but you should tip her well, yeah?” After taking the shot of tequila, Brian wiped his black goatee with his hand. “I’ll be in my office. Let me know if you need me.” The twenty-nine-year-old smacked his younger brother on the shoulder once more, gave Nicole a friendly smile, and returned to his office in the back of the establishment.

Nicole turned to Alec. “So, I decided to invite Sadie and she’s going to bring a couple friends. I figured, hey, Kale and Jeff will enjoy some more chicks around.”
 

“More girls? My friends will love you for that.” Alec smiled and kissed her on the forehead. He looked at the black watch that covered most of his wrist. “You know,” he said and stood, hovering over her, “we have a couple hours until Scot, Kale and Homer get here.” After saying that, Alec began to gently massage her shoulders. He kissed along her collarbone.
I want her again. I always do.
 

“Wait. Stop. You have to tell me how Jeff got the nickname
Homer
.”

“You’ll have to ask him later tonight.” He continued the massage.
 

“No, come on, tell me now,” she pleaded, her eyes wide and sorrowful.

“Nope. I’m going to keep you in suspense.” Alec pinched her playfully.

“Stop!” she giggled, slapping his hand.
 

Alec kept pinching at her while she tried to wiggle away. She tripped over a stool causing them both to crash as Alec reached out and caught her. They continued their little laugh fest on the wooden floor until they caught their breath. Lying on Nicole, he gazed lovingly into her bright brown eyes.
Nothing makes me happier than she does.
“You know I’m crazy about you.” His words traveled in a light whisper.
 

“You’re adorable.” Nicole wrapped a hand behind his neck, looked ready to kiss him until she hid her lips.
 

Teasing me!
Alec’s mouth shot for her and—
 

Someone’s throat cleared. Erica, the waitress, was standing over them. “Sorry to interrupt,” she started and sat at the closest bar stool, chomping enthusiastically on a piece of gum. “I guess I can come back later.”
 

“What? No, you’re fine, we were, uh . . .”
 

Erica smiled at the couple still lying awkwardly on the hard floor. “Seeing how good the wood is?”

KALE

The Last Round.

“What a stupid name for a bar.” Howard raised a hand, hoping for a high-five. He was left hanging.
 

They were sitting in Kale’s truck as he looked at the flickering neon sign that hung above the bar’s wooden patio. “I wonder who’s here.”
 

“Nervous?”

“I guess. I don’t know. It’s been a long-ass time.”
 

Howard rummaged through his backpack, yanked out a flask. “Here. Liquid courage.”
 

“Dude, we’re at a bar.”
 

“Yeah, so? Pre-game, bro!” Although he looked the stereotypical nerd, Howard talked and acted like a frat brother.
 

But he’d made a very good point. “Meh, screw it.” Kale grabbed the flask, pouring its contents down his throat. He choked a couple times. “What the hell is this?”
 

“Perfection,” Howard said, smiling vapidly.
 

“What’s in there?”
 

“Just go with it.” Howard stared vacantly out the window. “Man, I’m so excited for Comic-Con. I swear when I get there, I’m going to Comic-Cum all over the place.”
 

Silence filled the truck. Howard looked back at Kale, who gave him a blank stare. “I have no response to that, Howie.”

“Yeah, yeah. Well, you’re not being yourself.” Howard gave his typical look, the one where he clearly wanted to ask something but didn’t want to start the conversation.
 

Kale had seen this look plenty of times, so he sighed and gave the necessary assist. “What?”
 

“I’m curious.”
 

“Okay, what?”

“Remember when you were really drunk and you told me about saving your friends in high school?”
 

Kale’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Dude, you know I accidentally let that slip.”
 

“I know, I know.” Howard slouched in his seat. “I’m just wondering if these are the same guys? That’s all.”

“Who else would they be?”
 

“I don’t know. Kids from summer camp, or church, or wait, did you even go to church?” Howard took another sip from the flask.
 

“Let’s get going. Oh, and Howard?”
 

“Yes’m?”

“Don’t bring that up again, you hear me?”
 

Back in high school, Kale would’ve loved nothing more than to bask in the attention and explain those events at the well. However, as time passed, as the close group of friends slowly grew apart, he accepted the fact that people just didn’t understand.
 

Kale swung the entrance open, extending his arms out as if the man of the hour had arrived and yelled, “Hey, hey, hey!”

The bar, although cheerfully bright and well-lit, was completely empty. Crickets.
 

“Some party,” called Howard from behind, already slurring his words.
 

Kale eyed him up and down. Slacks, jacket, and tie. “I still can’t believe you wore a suit,” he muttered.
 

From a hallway to the side of the bar, a voice yelled, “Is that Kale the Korean I hear?” Alec hopped into the main room of the bar wearing a bright smile.
 

“Please don’t call me that.”
 

“Kale the Conqueror?”
 

“No, Alejandro.”
 

“How about just Kale?”
 

“That will do.” Kale grinned, slapping his hand into Alec’s as they pulled in for a one-armed ‘bro hug.’ They pushed away, stood in silence. Crickets once again.
 

“Well,”—Alec rubbed his hands together—“let’s drink!”
 

One shot, two shots, three shots, four.
 

Alec, Kale, Howard and Nicole sat around a table, slamming down shot glasses.
 

Swirling his hand sloppily in the air, Alec waved for the waitress, Erica, to bring another round. The sleeves of his collared shirt were rolled up as he rested his arms on the table and looked at Kale. “Glad you’re here. We live so close but never see each other.”
 

You know why we don’t hang out, Alec. Your choice, not mine.
 

“Well.” Kale looked at Erica, hoping his drink came soon. “Different lives I suppose?”
 

“Scot should be here any minute.”
 

Kale groaned, “Fantastic.”

“Hey, man, whatever happened, happened.” Alec leaned back in his tall chair; it wobbled precariously. “We enjoy ourselves tonight, deal?”
 

Grinning, Kale tilted his head, mulling it over. “I’ll behave if he does.” He turned to the others. Nicole eyed him, then Alec, and then Howard, who seemed bored out of his mind. Howard gazed blankly at a wall and fidgeted with his tie.
 

“Nice suit,” Nicole said sincerely to Howard.
 

A wide smile crossed Howard’s face, revealing his crooked teeth. He pointed at Kale. “Told you! NPH is a genius.”
 

“NPH?” Nicole asked, raising an eyebrow.
 

“Ignore him,” Kale interjected quickly.
 

“So how long have you two lived together?” Nicole asked them. One of her eyes was squinting slightly from the alcohol.
Alec has a type, and that type is only Nicole.
 

Kale and Howard looked at one another, doing the mental math. “Since some time after high school.”
 

Luckily, the gods of alcohol interrupted the conversation, and Erica set down the heavy tray of drinks on their table, nearly spilling them all.
 

Then Nicole asked, “How come you don’t come around, Kale? We miss you.”
 

Kale thought about answering, but instead turned to Alec. They stared at one another, neither one willing to speak.
 

The drinks kept coming and the conversation turned to other, lighter topics.
 

“I’m just saying, this generation is royally fuh—” Alec paused, looking at Nicole, and coughed. “Fudged,” he finished lamely.
 

He still won’t cuss in front of her? They’re just words.
 

Howard leaned across the table; he had taken off his suit jacket and loosened the top buttons of his collared shirt. “Why? Because everyone plays video games? I play video games, all the time. I would be able to survive out there.” He waved a glass around aimlessly. “Bring it on, I always say.”
 

“You never say that,” Kale pointed out.

“Yes, yes,” Alec continued his drunken tirade. “But we all went outside. We played outside. We got scraped up, beaten up. The kids I know today sit inside, are babied, and hell, are too self-involved to even know what’s going on.”
 

“I blame
Facebook
,” drawled Kale, emphasizing his point by slamming his glass on the table. The social network was still around, but rarely used like before, at least by himself and others his age. He thought it was a useless distraction.
 

“Well,”—Alec raised his glass, leaning back again, sweating alcohol—“
Facebook
is the devil.”
 

“But it keeps us connected.” Nicole reached for her fiancé, trying to calm his wobbling.
 

“Hell, people shouldn’t need a website to stay connected.”
 

“It’s not aboot necessity, baby, it’s aboot convenience.”
 

“Wait, wait.” Kale squinted at Nicole. “Did you just say ‘aboot?’ Why do you sound Canadian when you drink?”
 

Alec grabbed her wrist and grinned. “She’s my traveling translator.”