American Honey

“No, but I have to use the restroom,” I say.

“Okay, meet me back here.”

Grabbing his face, I say, “I love you, Finn. I thought I knew love and had felt love before, but I never did until you. Thank you.”

“Tess, I love you, too. Is everything okay?”

“It is now,” I whisper.

The next sixty-two steps of my life are the hardest I ever attempted. I leave one final note on Finn’s truck before pulling out of town.

Finn,

Never forget that I love you. I’m leaving town because your dad has requested so. I hope by saying this much it doesn’t cause any more trouble. Just know I wanted to stay, but our greatest fear came true. I’ve left Tommie, Will and Scarlett similar letters. No one knows where I’m going and it truly is the best for all of you. I’ll always love you, Finn Evans.

Tess

PS- Thank you for the best summer of my life.

Epilogue

Six Months Later

Driving back into town rivals anything I’ve ever had to face. I’ve been gone for months, but have kept in contact with Tommie on a weekly basis. I’ve never been able to bring myself to contact Scarlett or Finn. Tommie begged and pleaded every time for me to come home, and I explained to her I couldn’t. She said they knew everything, and they didn’t care what Dr. Evans could do to them. Little does she know that things will never be the same and Dr. Evans will be really hell bent on war if I ever come back.

Tommie is due to have her baby this week. She called last night with horrible news. Finn found Granddaddy Jimmy dead in his bed. I drove twelve hours straight to get home to Finn and to be there for the birth of Tommie’s baby.

Stepping out of my truck, I first spot Tommie and Will outside the funeral home, and I make my way to them. I hear Kara’s voice and then soon spot Finn. She’s right by his side, standing in the place I belong.

“Tessa,” Scarlett yells.

And that’s when all heads turn, and I feel the need to cover my protruding belly with both hands to protect my unborn child from all the stares.

Tess & Finn’s story will continue in Walk Beside Me

Winter 2014

www.hjbellus.com

Marissa Carmel

Prologue

Laney

The cheerleaders on the sidelines chant: Wolverines … let’s hear you yell ... blue … BLUE! Wolverines … let’s hear you yell … white … WHITE! Put it together what’s that spell … blue … white. The crowd echoes BLUE! WHITE! Then a cheerleader flies twenty feet in the air, touches her toes, and plummets back down to earth. This weird phenomenon has become my life. Three months ago I couldn’t fathom spending a Friday night in the stands of a stadium watching a football game. Yet, here I sit—in the middle of Nowhere, Alabama—cheering on the Wolverines in the state championships. Nowhere is where my father’s from, and after my parents’ divorce, he decided we needed to move out of New York City for a while. Which brings us to the here and now. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not opposed to football, but relocating to the Heart of Dixie has definitely opened my eyes to the magnitude, commitment, and love of the game in the South. My father has always been a diehard fan, but he has become a different man living here. In New York, celebrity Chef Riley (that’s my dad) was going all the time. If not social networking on his phone, he was on the computer—if not the computer, he was in the kitchen cooking up new recipes. There wasn’t much time to sit back and watch four quarters. When we moved, that all changed. Lately he seems to eat, sleep, and breathe the sport, much like everyone else in this small county town. I don’t really get it. I like the cheerleaders; my cousin Miranda (the one who was flying through the air a minute ago) is co-captain. And honestly, if it wasn’t for her, I’m not sure how the transition from big city to small town would have gone.

It’s been tolerable so far. Especially when you get to ogle your chem partner every morning in first period. Said chem partner is also the quarterback currently kicking the other team’s ass. Just like he said he was going to do. Such the ego.

The first day I met Kamdyn Ellis, he called me sugar and I nearly knocked him out. I told him I have a name, and he had better use it. He laughed at me and then corrected himself, calling me Lemon instead. Because as sweet as I look, I’m totally sour. I’m fine with him thinking that. I’m not interested in his arsenal of southern charm, boyish good looks, or baby blue eyes.

Hey, I said I’m not interested, not dead. He’s hard not to notice. Especially when he’s sitting a foot and a half away from you, wearing low slung jeans, a tight Roll Tide t-shirt, and backwards baseball cap.

See, not only have I noticed his southern charm, boyish good looks, and baby blue eyes, I’ve also noticed the revolving door of women he has on his arm. Like, a new one every other week. Sorry, I’m no one’s hot and sweaty solitary southern night.

So I keep my distance and flirt from afar, leaving him to his womanizing ways. Flirting with Kam has become one of the highlights of my day. Because, trust me when I tell you, living in Nowhere Alabama, I need to be creative with my time.

Chapter One