Luke nodded curtly and stood up. He crushed the can under his foot and walked toward the store building, frowning at the weeds.
“I just don't know what to do,” he whispered. His shoulders slumped in defeat. The anger seemed to have burned through him, leaving him hollow. He turned around, his face had nothing but despair etched in it. “How do I fix this?”
Everyone was quiet. I wished I had an answer for him. I hated seeing my big strong protector so beaten. Britney stood up and hugged him, her tiny frame wrapping around his tall one like a vine around a tree.
“I don't think this is something you can fix by yourself, honey,” she said quietly. “I know that we will help you through this, though. You aren't in this alone. We all know how much you love Tyler. We all love that kid too. We will find a way to get him to where he belongs.”
Everyone nodded, murmuring words of encouragement, but it felt like so little.
“Have you talked to your mom about this at all?” Andrew asked as he fished in Eli's backpack for a beer. He found one and tossed it to Luke before pulling another one out for himself. He glanced over at Britney, his eyebrows raised in question as he opened the bag for another. She shook her head no, then released her hold on Luke but remained near to him. Andrew turned to me. I nodded, and he tossed one carefully in my direction, then left Eli's bag open and sitting against a wood pile.
“Like she listens to me. They still see me as a child. It's frustrating as hell,” he said popping, the top, but instead of drinking he just stared into the can.
“What about the lawyers?” I ventured, playing with the cold can. The weight felt good in my hands, but I had no intention of opening it.
Luke shrugged noncommittally. “My dad's lawyer said if we want to appeal, we need to prove a more stable home life, a better family structure or something. I wasn't paying much attention at that point.”
The silence hung like a cold mist among us. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't pleasant either. We all were just looking for the right words to say. Searching for words that would make this better, but unable to find any.
“Thank you guys for being here today. It means a lot,” Luke said quietly. A cloud crossed in front of the sun, making the sunny yard suddenly gloomy. He looked around at everyone, the corners of his lips curling up in an attempted smile that didn't reach his eyes. Britney hugged him again and then sat down next to me.
“Anytime, bro. Anytime,” Eli replied, setting down his can on the ground. He smashed it with his foot, the metallic crunch punctuating his sentence before he dove into his backpack for a second. I played with my own can, feeling the cool metal slide against my skin. I didn’t want to open it; I didn’t want the responsibility that came with it. Too many memories.
I caught Andrew looking at the can, unopened in my hands. His dark eyebrows twitched together, curious as why I didn’t wasn’t enjoying the beer like I used to. I set the beer down next to me on the wood, hiding it from his line of sight. I turned to Luke, ignoring the questioning look Andrew shot toward me.
“Luke, you know we'll help you out any way we can. We are here for you,” I smiled at him. He smiled back halfheartedly, tossing his empty can to the ground and stuffing his hands deep into his pockets. He kicked the empty beer can toward a tarp covered pile. It pinged hollowly through the small space.
Britney stood up and starting walking toward Luke. “I'm really sorry, Luke, but I have to get to work. My shift starts in a little bit. Come by though, and I'll get you a drink or two on the house,” she said, giving him a hug. He held onto her, drawing from her strength. I could see her whisper into his ear, and he pulled her in closer before letting her go. She waved to the rest of us, hoisting her purse onto her shoulder as she disappeared around the corner of the hardware store.
Luke paced between the lumber pile and the back of the building, kicking the aluminum beer can every time he passed it. The repeating kick then ping seemed to tick away the moments like a clock as Eli, Andrew, and I sat there, counting the number of metallic pings. The sun began to set behind the mountains, sucking the rest of the day's warmth with it, but turning the sky brilliant shades of orange and gold. I messed with my jacket, wishing that I had worn a heavier one. Eli's phone began to sing some sort of rap song, but he picked it up before I could recognize any of the lyrics.
“Hey... yeah, I'll pick up some milk on the way home. Be there soon.” Eli hung up his phone and picked up his backpack. “Luke, man, I'll see you tomorrow. Tyler will be okay. He's a good kid.”
Luke nodded, his hands somehow going deeper into his pockets. Eli clapped him on the shoulder as he walked toward the path to the parking lot, then disappeared into the darkness.
“I’ve got to get home too. Holly, could you give me a ride? Britney dropped me off so I don't have my car,” Andrew said as he stood up. I nodded and hoisted myself up as well, grabbing the tarp and pulling it back over the wood. Andrew and Luke grabbed the other tarps, putting the space back together. It felt cold and distant when everything was back in place, our perfect spot nothing more than an illusion. It made me sad.
Luke walked with us back to the front of the store. He stood in front of the glass door, the light spilling out onto the sidewalk and casting dark shadows across his face. He looked so tired, so broken. I hugged him tightly, wishing I had a way to fix this. I wanted so badly to wave a magic wand and make his world bright again. As I let go of him, Andrew gave him a hug as well. The three of us stood there for a moment, all looking at one another, not really wanting to break apart. None of us wanted to be alone, but we had no reason to stay.
A customer opened the door and brushed past Luke, breaking the spell. Luke sighed and went inside, turning the sign to “Closed”. I could see him heading toward the register to start closing up for the night, but he turned and waved. Andrew and I waved back, and began walking to my car in the far corner of the lot. The streetlamp sputtered to life, the electrical hum filling the empty lot with light.
I unlocked the car door, and Andrew slid into the passenger seat, kicking an empty grocery bag out from under his feet. The engine whirred to life, heat slowly trickling through the vents after an initial blast of cold air and the radio playing some oldies. I pulled onto the main street and began heading toward Andrew's house. We sat quietly until I turned onto his street. Andrew’s house was the last one on the block but I stopped before I reached it.
“Do you have to get home right away?” Andrew asked, breaking the silence. I shook my head, and he grinned at me. That grin made my heart jump. “I don't want to go home yet. I haven't gotten to see you much since you got back. Can we just sit and catch up?”
I nearly slammed the brakes, but instead managed to pull over and park the car. I had forgotten the effect Andrew could have on me. He sighed, unbuckling his seat belt. I glanced over at him, wondering if he knew how much I had missed him. How much I missed just hanging out and being near him.
“Why don't you want to go home?” I asked, turning the music down to just a gentle murmur in the background. Andrew shrugged, looking out the window and playing with the bag under his feet. “Come on, Andrew. You know you can always tell me anything.”
“I got a letter in the mail today about my scholarship,” he started slowly. He stared out the window, avoiding my eyes. He sighed, his breath fogging up the window. “I didn't want to say anything around Luke. There was more than enough bad news for one day without me adding mine.”
“What did the letter say?”
“My scholarship is going to expire. They gave me a grace period, with my dad dying and everything, but they can't save it for me any longer. If I don't go next fall, I lose it.”
I exhaled slowly. I knew Andrew dreamed of going to medical school someday. Ever since he helped a kid who broke his arm on the playground, he wanted to be a doctor. He was always looking up medical stuff and volunteering at a free clinic in the city. I always thought he would be halfway there by now, not still stuck in this small town and living with his mom.
“Why don't you go? Your mom would understand.”
“I wish I could," he said. He sighed, before continuing. "Do you know what happened the last time I left my mom alone for a weekend, let alone long enough to go to school? She called the cops and reported me a missing person. She doesn't know how to be alone anymore. I can't leave,” Andrew said, sounding exasperated and tired. “She won't let me have my own life, but she doesn't even realize she's taking it from me.”
He sounded so alone in the dark. So lost and forlorn. I wished I could take the pain away from his voice, absorb it into myself so he wouldn't have to have it anymore.
“I'm sorry,” I said, saying the only thing I could think of. I could see his shadow shrug, his head slowly turning back toward me.
“It's not your fault. I'm just so frustrated. The worst part is she doesn't even realize she is doing it. I hate that I'm stuck in this stupid town because she doesn't know how to be alone anymore. I hate it here. There is nothing I want here anymore,” he said into the darkness. I was glad the night hid my features. Nothing I want here. I knew this had nothing to do with me, but I wanted to cry. The insinuation stung.
“I'm sorry,” I repeated softly.
“I didn't mean it like that, Holly. I just... I just don't want to be here anymore. I want to get away from this place. Away from the memories. I feel like I am just spinning my wheels here while the world passes me by.” He rubbed his forehead, trying to figure out how to say what he was trying to say. I stayed quiet this time, not really trusting my voice. Andrew could always tell when I had been crying, or was about to cry. It was like a superpower of his. An awkward silence started to fill the car, but before I was forced to reply, Andrew's phone began to wail.
“Hey Mom. No, I... I'm fine, Mom. I'm actually with Holly. We just stopped to talk for a little bit... Mom says hi, Holly,” he said as he leaned back in the seat. I could see his shoulders sag from an invisible weight as he spoke with his mother. “I'll be home in a little bit. Just turn the thermostat up a little... yes, please start dinner. That sounds great, Mom.” A moment later he put his phone back in his pocket and sighed.
“Tell me your troubles,” I said, turning toward him.
“What? No.” He shook his head.
“Come on. We used to talk all the time. Talk to me. If nothing else, vent. Get it out. No judging here. Everything stays in the car, you know the drill,” I coaxed. He sighed and flung himself back into the seat. It took a moment, but he started talking.
“Mom 'forgot' to get the groceries again this week,” he said flatly.
“I remember—I saw you at the store. You said she wasn't up for it.” I nodded encouragingly.
He sighed and continued. I closed my eyes, imagining the scene he was laying out. I could see his mom, the setting of his house, the way their kitchen somehow always smelled of fresh bread.
***
Andrew set the last bag of groceries from the car on the floor of the kitchen, making sure he didn't track any mud into the house. Audrey, his mother, was busy putting them away as quickly as he brought them in. He began to help her, putting the milk in the fridge and shuffling around the contents to make room for the rest of the food.