Authors: S.K. Munt
‘That’s weird.’ Callie heard Reece mutter. ‘At eight years old yeah but… sixteen?’
Callie scowled at him over Hunter’s shoulder, any urge to flirt with him that she’d felt earlier disintegrating. ‘I’m not the only person in the world with a weird phobia, Reece.’
‘Or the only girl in the world with only guys as friends. Or the only girl in the world with a Canadian accent, a famous mother and tomboy proclivities… and yet when one girl has all of those attributes…’ Reece shrugged. ‘Can I say unique instead of weird?’
Callie smiled despite herself, for he had a point. ‘I’ll accept unique.’
The phone rang, startling them all. Ryan’s hand left Callie’s back, though he did so slowly, reluctantly. ‘That’ll be your parents.’ He said, smiling ruefully at Callie over his shoulder as he crossed to the black cordless phone on the coffee table.
‘Checking up on their poor widdle Callie-wallie.’ Hunter teased affectionately, tugging the brim of her cap down lower on her forehead. ‘You are such a baby, Cal. If you weren’t so talented, I wouldn’t be seen in public with you.’
‘Speaking of status…’ Callie punched him lightly in the upper arm, and her knuckles came back wet and cold. She shivered and tucked her arms together. ‘Where’s your prom queen?’
‘Hopefully, not still in the park.’ Hunter turned and waved Marnie and Reece in. ‘Don’t just stand there looking uncomfortable. We know you’re not going to steal anything.’ He pointed towards the door to the music room. ‘Pool room is through there. How about we go fix Callie, and perhaps ourselves a drink from Mr Weaver’s liquor cabinet while she talks to her rents, eh?’
‘Fuck yeah.’ Reece high-fived Hunter as he breezed past, then winked at Callie. ‘You brought a bikini, right?’
Callie rolled her eyes, not just from the dumb remark, but at Hunter’s chummy display with Mr Popular. ‘Because lightning storms are such an awesome time for a swim?’
Reece turned and backed out of the room, pressing his palms together in prayer and said: ‘If the gods love me- and I think that they do, this storm will pass just in time for you to be wet and liquored up.’ He retreated past Ryan as he said this, who bopped him on the head with the cordless phone, before extending it to Callie and smiling tightly.
‘Want to assure your parents that you were in my arms when that happened? I don’t think they believe that you’re not swimming across the Whitsunday’s.’ Callie reached to take the phone from Ryan’s hand but he held it slightly out of reach, looked at her with anxious blue eyes and whispered: ‘I’m really sorry about before Cal. It was a big mistake. We cool?’
Callie was surprised by how much that little statement cut her. But she smiled tightly and nodded. ‘We cool.’ And then took the phone from him and turned away before he could see her stricken expression. A mistake? What did that even mean? Suddenly, a drink sounded like a wonderful idea. Possibly seven. She was feeling both loopy and yet incredible aware, as she always was once her adrenaline had attacked her nervous system.
‘Hi mum,’ she said smoothly into the phone, turning her back from the guys in her life, to stare out at the stormy sky over the valley instead because suddenly, it was the least confronting view there was. ‘Yeah,’ she lied. ‘I’m cool.’
Like I have another option, she added silently.
By the time Hunter’s initial panic about ditching Meredith, fearing for Callie’s welfare when the storm had let loose halfway across town to Ryan’s place, and then walking in to find his best friends in a tangle of limbs and clothes had abated, so had the storm. The party, which now included several other friends of Reece’s and Marnie’s, had actually become a party, and Hunter was in the thick of it; the epicenter of both cliques and yet somehow, on the edge of every social circle forming.
And he did not like it. He did not like the fact that Reece had gotten all worked up when Gotta Be Movin On Up had started playing, which was a shit song. He did not like the way Sacha had complained about him playing the same song he’d been playing at lunch the day before- because he wasn’t playing a fucking song at all, but tuning his guitar. He didn’t like the way Marnie was hanging off Callie and Ryan like she was the third, not him. He hated the way Reece’s obnoxious friends bomb-dived in and out of Ryan’s pool like they owned the joint and most of all, he hated the way Ryan and Callie seemed so much more comfortable with the interlopers than him. They were definitely avoiding him, and they’d exchanged quite a few loaded looks as though they had some silent dialogue going.
Exclusion was the sharpest blade known to man and Hunter was feeling the tip of it pricking at the flesh between his shoulder blades. He knew he’d been a jerk by blowing off band practice, but was that reason enough for Callie and Ryan to act like… like… Like they were best friends. And Hunter didn’t count the way he used to.
Hunter slammed his fourth tequila shot down on the tiled bench and turned away from where Ryan was silently handing Callie a margarita, which she accepted with an awkward smile. They’d obviously talked about Hunter so much that they couldn’t think of a single word to say to each other in his presence.
Well screw you too! he thought, without conviction, and pretended to be engrossed in the panoramic view of Horizon beneath them. Not so much as stretched out beneath them (for the town was so small) but nestled at the foot of the mountain amongst the cane fields. If he squinted, he could see the the dusting of lights in the distance on the coast, where the nearest city, Araulen Valley lay. It was a great little city and Hunter would have liked to have gone in more often than he did to try and finagle some gigs, but it was an hour’s drive away from Horizon. He often felt like he was at the end of the world there in Horizon, but on Ryan’s balcony, it was more like being on top of it but out of reach of the rest.
Shale Creek was the next nearest town, only a ten minute drive northeast from Horizon. But it was half the size of his own, and was a sandfly-riddled hell hole which just so happened to sit on a wide creek mouth near the coast. Hunter’s parents kept their yacht there, but he never went to the town, only passed it on his way to the one scrap of sandy beach near the marina. From where he stood, he couldn’t see a single light on in Shale Creek, like the city had an eight p. m curfew or something.
Hunter’s father hadn’t been lucky enough to design any of the houses on Solar terrace; instead of timber, Ryan’s mansion had been crafted out of a golden-red brick which loomed not two but four split-stories into the forest. The street entrance was actually the third floor; Ryan’s steep concrete driveway circled around stone pillars before meandering off into a sunken four-car garage beside it. On that level were the fun rooms; the foyer forked off to the theatre and music room on one side, the billiard room and opulent bathroom on the other, with a kitchen in the middle. The billiard room, music room (originally a meals area) and kitchen had walls made of glass doors which opened up onto the balcony- a balcony which sunk down to the pool area, where they were now and made it the ultimate party retreat, complete with jukebox and bar.
The pool was nothing special- in fact it was little more than a concrete rectangle sunken into the thick portico. But it was flanked with white lounges and had been tiled with the palest blue hues that made the water sparkle like the water flanking Grecian islands. It was all very Spartan and elegant, a direct contrast to Hunter’s wood-cabin like home. On really sunny days, it was almost impossible to swim with all of that white glaring in the sun, and Ryan had declined one of the massive bedrooms on the floor beneath, which was actually level to the terrace, because even moonlight could be hard on the eyes when it bounced off the pool area through the glass doors.
Ryan had claimed the basement as his own instead, and his parents had the entire top floor-meaning that almost no one ever set foot on the second floor so it had become a study Ryan’s father was never home to use flanked by guest bedrooms for visitors who never came. Maybe when the Weavers had built the house, they’d intended to have several kids to fill all that space, but either they were just too busy with their exciting careers to give Ryan a brother or sister, or they simply didn’t want to. As a result, the entire floor was too-bright and too-silent.
That was something else they all had in common- Ryan, Callie and Hunter were only children to parents who either couldn’t have, or didn’t want more kids. It was no wonder they’d bonded so easily. And no wonder he was feeling so shaken at the sudden flexibility within that bond.
Not wanting to talk to anyone but the people who were not talking to him, Hunter took a moment to take stock of his strange mood while Natalie Imbruglia crooned in the night, not quite rising above the din of his ‘friends’. Exclusion aside, he sort of had everything he wanted then; a hot girlfriend who couldn’t get enough of him or his lips, a gig coming up the following week which promised to have an actual crowd for once, and a whole new world of friends.
And yet, he felt flat. There was a bit of jeering and taunting going on, the sounds of merriment and stupid teenagers filtering through Hunter’s thoughts. He turned to see Callie crossing the deck, take a long drink from her margarita like she’d never had her thirst quenched before then, and then place it down on the edge of one of the small white and glass-topped tables by a chaise.
‘Fine, fine fine!’ She exclaimed, as her hands went to the hem of her aqua Mighty Ducks jersey- which was way too big for her and clashed horribly with his red hat- and reefed it over her head, exposing a two piece so red that it was like a bulls-eye against against the stark terrace behind her, even in the darkness.
Hunter blinked, expecting the bronzed, dark-haired goddess poised so close to him to vanish and be replaced by his Callie-the one who usually wore boardies and a crop top swimming, but she was still there when he got his senses back and she had her thumbs under the pubic line of her bathing suit bottoms and was working her tights down from beneath. It wasn’t a bikini, but a two-piece dance leotard, and one Hunter had never had the pleasure of seeing before.
‘You are so on Marnie!’ Callie was wiggling her hips like she had that night in her room to get her knees out of her tights one at a time in a complicated maneuver that required the sort of balance and flexibility only Callie Clay had; one which held Hunter’s riveted gaze as the bottom half of her leotard was sliding threateningly off her hips with every movement. But then the tights were being shaken off her legs while the rest of her remained covered, much to his disappointment.
‘I am truth. And thanks to Hunter’s lack of mathematical calculations when it comes to weight versus tree branch-’ she paused to dramatically point to her hat with both hands. ‘I am dare!’
There were a few shouts of approval as Callie picked up her glass, drained it, and then smashed it back down on the table top. The base of the glass at the stem almost hit at the wrong angle and droplets of tequila and mix splashed over her hand, but she didn’t seem to notice and that was when Hunter knew that his friend had self-medicated after the storm with one too many cocktails. That wasn’t anything unusual- for as much as freaky weather tended to bring out Callie’s hysterical side, surviving each time always put her in a giddy: Let’s jump from the gorge! sort of mood. He shook his head, sort of amused, and sort of annoyed that she’d amused the other kids at his expense.
But the truth was that Callie looked so good that she could say whatever she wanted so long as she remained scantily-clad. She had his hat between her teeth and was yanking pins out of her hair, an action which was lifting her breasts against the scooped line of her red halter top enticingly. And then dark hair was tumbling down around her shoulders and her hat was back in place. Aside from the slight red line around her abdomen from where her tights had been digging into her flesh all afternoon, Callie could have been a sports model. And as he watched her tug down her cap instead of keeping it off, he felt a flush of pride to know that despite how many sets of eyes were ogling her, and how estranged they had become since he’d started dating Meredith, Callie Clay was still his girl. She didn’t have to be his girlfriend to belong to him, because she was his guardian angel, number one fan and his ultimate confidante and that was a bigger honor than simply being that guy who she may or may not want to hook-up with, like Reece.
‘Then you’re up first!’ Reece declared, rising from the submerged steps of the pool and saluting her with his drink. ‘Callie Clay: Truth Or Dare?’
Callie began to amble down the pool steps at the shallow end, her empty glass out-stretched and her movements slow as Marnie re-filled her drink. Marnie also looked incredibly good. Her glasses were off, her usually frizzy brown hair was hanging in wet waves from the water and her abdomen was muscular without being too masculine. In her bright blue bikini, she was getting quite a few looks herself from Reece’s gang.
Weight settled on the table behind Hunter and a low voice said: ‘She’s half-cut. We’re going to need a bigger boat.’
Hunter looked up at Ryan, who’d sat behind him with his guitar and grinned, his anger at being left out of their whispered conversation dissolving to be addressed as casually and warmly as ever. ‘First question; about us, or about girls?’
Ryan chuckled, strumming an A to D. ‘About girls.’
‘Truth!’ Callie exclaimed, stepping down again, headed in Reece’s direction. ‘I’ll start slow for y’all.’
Everyone laughed. Reece’s arm slid around Callie’s waist and pulled her to his side. Hunter stared at it like it was a bee about to sting her. ‘Callie Clay…’ Reece seemed to get some sort of kick from using her full name. ‘Hmm… what to ask first?’
‘If she likes being felt up by a neanderthal,’ Ryan whispered darkly. Hunter laughed, but still watched that hand in what he assured himself was a protective, brotherly way.
‘I’ve got one!’ Marnie chimed, giggling over her own cocktail. ‘Cal if you had to sleep with one of the guys tonight, who would it be… Ryan, Hunter or Reece?’
Callie threw back her head and laughed to the sky. ‘Bloody hell!’ She exclaimed. ‘You gotta love these dramatic sexual multiple choice scenarios that come up during this game that have no bearing in actual life…’
The girls laughed, but Hunter had gone silent, and he would see that Reece had tightened his grip on Callie. Beside him, Ryan fidgeted.
‘Answer the question Cal…’ Sean Peters teased.
Callie sighed, looking from Reece, then over to Hunter and Ryan. She closed her eyes and whispered: ‘Dare.’
There was lot of hooting in response to this. Reece grinned, held up the hand not on her waist and declared: ‘Callie Clay! I dare you, to kiss me.’
Hunter’s abdomen tightened. Fingers were about to get broken.
‘Fuck he doesn’t waste time does he?’ Ryan’s voice was dark as he positioned his finger pads on the neck of his guitar in a familiar pose- for years Ryan had been struggling to perfect a C minor in first position. Hunter could do it, but he’d never actually had a chance to use it.
But Callie splashed Reece and slid out of his grip. ‘No way!’ She exclaimed. ‘My first kiss is not going to be public, or on a dare. I’ll answer the question instead!’
‘You’re a virgin?’ Reece exploded, eyes wide and eager.
Callie giggled and held up one finger. ‘Hold on: are you changing the truth question? Because that’s a less embarrassing answer.’
‘No!’ Marnie bayed before Reece the dip-shit could ruin their question by asking such an obvious one. Of course Callie was a virgin, or she would have been kissed by then. Everyone laughed. ‘Answer the multiple choice Callie!’
Hunter took a sip from his beer, relaxing. He could handle Callie saying she wanted Reece a lot more than he could handle seeing them pash! And he liked the annoyed look on Reece’s face from being cock-blocked by his own over eagerness. Geez a few more shots and Callie might have kissed Reece privately and with her free will, given how flirty she was being with him. Now she was going to be self-conscious all night.
‘Fine…’ Callie’s eyes swept from Reece, to Ryan, and then to Hunter. She screwed up her face (which Hunter tried not to take personally) looked back to Marnie and said: ‘I’m going to give you the best truth I know, okay? Doesn’t mean it’s a plot or anything. Just a thought off the top of my head…’
‘Today…’ Sean drawled.
Callie laughed, took a swig of her drink, tugged her hat back down and said very softly: ‘Well, considering it would be my first time… and I’d want to keep things simple…’ she took another small sip, swallowed and said. ‘I guess I always sort of assumed it would be Hunter.’
Hunter had been swallowing back his beer and now the bubbles caught in his throat on his shocked inhalation and choked him, shooting out of his nose and dribbling down his chest. Not in a cool cartoon way but an eye-watering, spluttering way.