AGE 17
“Itold the boys we’d meet them in Molly’s in a while,” Jay says, shoving his phone in his jeans pocket.
“I’m ready now.” I place my guitar in its case and lock it.
“You smell and your hair looks like dead raccoons are nesting there.”
“Fuck off.” I thrust my middle finger up at him. “Bet I could still get laid more times than you.”
“Not a fucking chance in hell, lad.” He grabs me in a headlock. “Go shower, and I’ll do the same.”
“Nah,” I say, shoving him away and unlocking the door. “I’m not going back to the house. All they ever do is nag the fucking shit out of me.”
“Shower at mine.” He shrugs. “It’s on the way anyway.”
We head to Jay’s house and take turns showering. I’m brushing my teeth at the steam-clouded mirror in the bathroom when Jamie comes in. “Here.” He hands me a clean shirt, jocks, and socks. “Hurry up. The asshole just got home, and they’ll kick off any second now.”
By the time we make it downstairs five minutes later, his parents are letting rip at one another. There’s a loud crash fromthe kitchen as we creep down the hall towards the door. His mother’s high-pitched shriek hammers at my eardrums as we pull the front door closed behind us.
“Sorry about that.” He kicks dirt across the driveway as we walk, and a muscle pops in his stubbly jawline.
“It’s cool. Not like it’s your fault.”
“It’s fucking embarrassing is what it is.”
I sling my arm around his shoulder. “It’s really not.” I want to add I know all about embarrassing, but it’s not like we’re in a competition for having the shittiest bio dad. If we were, I’d say it’s a close call between Conal Fleming and Simon Lancaster.
“I’m immune to it these days, but anyone else seeing that shit reminds me it’s not normal. I don’t know why they didn’t split up years ago. Honestly, I’d be happy if I never saw either of them again.”
“You can move into the outbuilding with me,” I suggest, letting my arm slide off his shoulders.
Jay glances sideways at me as he lights up a spliff. “You’re living there now?”
I shrug, flicking strands of semi-dry hair out of my eyes. “For the next few nights anyway. No one bothers me there.”
“It’s that bad?” he asks, passing the spliff to me.
I inhale deeply, drawing the hypnotic scent of weed and tobacco deep into my lungs. “They won’t leave me alone, and I’m sick of sounding like a broken record. I just want some peace and quiet.” I hand the spliff over.
“I hear ya.” He takes a smoke and passes it back. “My parents tossed Shauna’s mattress in the shed. I’ll grab that on my way back.”
“So what? She’s planning on never coming back?” I’m kinda pissed at his older sister. She always looked out for him growing up, but now she’s in college up The North it’s like she has forgotten he exists, and that’s not cool. Maybe she thinks ’causehe’s seventeen that he doesn’t need her anymore, but she’s his only real family besides us.
His jaw tightens. “Looks that way.” I suspect he wants to say more but doesn’t too. And I understand that sentiment fully.
“We’ll be out of here by this time next year.”
“I’m so ready to be done with school. I can’t wait to move into town and focus on the band.”
“Same, just keep saving.”
Jay has been laboring all summer in between our gigs while I’ve been taking as many shifts as I can at Lee’s, Aaron is working in a restaurant in Greystones, and Conor has been helping his uncle at his carpentry practice. Anything we’re not drinking or smoking is going towards equipment and the apartment we intend to share with the band. We’ll need at least a few months’ rent in advance to cover us until we get some gigs in town. But I’m confident it won’t take long. We’re getting really good, and we have a loyal local following. All we need is one venue in town to take a chance on us, and we’ll prove ourselves.
I’m also stashing money away for my Kawasaki, and I should have enough to buy a secondhand one just after we finish the Leaving. That’s if I finish it. I haven’t ruled out bailing after my birthday in January. What the fuck do I need the exams for anyway?
All the lads are there when we arrive at Molly’s, and the place is buzzing for a Thursday night. Turns out Shelby Sullivan is having her eighteenth birthday here. Reminds me of her older sister’s eighteenth and losing my virginity. In between knocking back beers and laughing with my mates, I check the room to see if Simone is here, but she’s not. Shelby isn’t quite in the same league as her sister, but she’s got great tits, and the more beers I drink, the more attractive she gets. I also remember someone telling me she liked me, and apparently, she was upset her sister fucked me. That could be advantageous now.
Kylie Walsh is currently sitting in my lap, and I’ve been kissing her a bit, but I’m not interested in anything more. I never go back for seconds. She was a shitty lay anyway, and she’s got clinger written all over her face. Nah, fuck that shit. Kylie’s gotta go. I turn my head when she moves to kiss me again. “Run along now, babe.”
