“Doyouthink his ghost is here?” Dean asks me back.
“Absolutely not,” I laugh. “He’s probably off somewhere schmoozing Bob Dylan or somebody. There’s no way he’s in this dank ass bar right now.”
“You’re in this dank ass bar right now,” Dean smiles.
“I know, and it’s really fucking dank.” I scuff a stain on the floor with my shoe. The women exit the bathroom, and I see someone I think I recognize. “You know who else is in this dank ass bar right now?” I ask.
“Who?” Dean asks quickly, looking past the women who are now huddled at the bar.
“Your sister.” I point her figure out, with the sparkly tube top and denim jacket, leaning over the bar, ordering a drink.
“Sierra?”
“She’s your only sister.” It’s confirmed as she turns around, drink in hand, wading away with the rest of her presumed friends. They giggle and snicker and are absolutely covered in body glitter.
“How’d she get in here?” Dean asks me as if I know. “She’s only seventeen.”
“Fake IDs have existed since the dawn of time, Dean. She said she’s an Andy McKinney mega fan” I recall. He is not pleased with my answer.
“She shouldn’t be here,” Dean’s voice is harsh, as if he can’t believe his sister would act this way after the way she behaved last time. “I can’t believe she’s drinking again after last time. I’m going to go find her.”
“She’s right there,” I say, eyeing her in the corner with a guy with a wispy mustache, skinny jeans and big, black Doc Marten boots. I follow Dean as he makes his way over to where she’s standing, her friends scattering like birds sensing a storm. Some friends they are.
It takes a moment for it to register on her face what’s happening when we get there.
“What are you doing here?” She asks, sipping on her drink. Dean snatches it right out of her hand and sniffs it.
“Alcohol? Really?” Dean asks, setting it down on a nearby cocktail table. “What are you doing here, Sierra? How’d you even get here?”
“I drove here, dummy.” She has no patience for him.
“With what car?” Dean is deeply, thoroughly angry.
“I just drove Mom’s.” She acts like it’s no big deal and not a grand theft auto.
“Are you serious?” Dean asks, and I can tell he’s pretty pissed by the lines appearing in his forehead. “Are you just planning on driving home after drinking?”
“No, idiot, Johnny’s going to drive.” She elbows the lanky guy behind her with his hand on her ass, even though Dean is standing right in front of him, angry as a wasp.
Dean takes one long look at him. “Johnny, get the fuck out of here before I kick your sorry ass. She’s only seventeen.” Johnny lifts his hands up, and skedaddles, leaving Sierra alone.
“What the fuck, dude?” Sierra barks. “He’s my friend. He graduated last year. We took AP Bio together.”
“I don’t care. You shouldn’t be here. This isn’t a place for kids.”
“I’m not a kid!” Sierra shouts. “I turn eighteen in two weeks!”
“Well, you’re acting like one!” Dean retorts. “I’m taking you home. Right now. Madeline, stay with Mark.”
“Oh, so now you tell her what to do, too, huh?” Sierra starts crying angry tears. I know them well, and I want to interject, but even I know this isn’t my place. “You love to act like—like you’re the boss of everyone. Even when you’re not there!”
“What are you talking about?” Dean barks.
“You just left Mom and me like it was no big deal.” Sierra wipes her hair out of her face.
“I only left to pay foryourcollege!” Dean’s exasperated.
“I didn’t even get into college!” She snaps back.
