A Song for Us by Teresa Mummert

shoulder at me, smiling as her hand fell on mine, and she laced our fingers together, giving my hand a squeeze.
    “You ready to get your ass kicked?” I asked next to her ear so only she could hear.
    “As long as I don’t end up looking like Derek when you’re done with me,” she joked sarcastically as we made our way to the tables.
    “He got off easy.” I sighed as I ran my free hand through my messy hair.
    “That’s what she said,” Chris said quietly as he walked by.

SARAH
    I HAD THE OVERWHELMING urge to write. My fingers burned to put ink to paper to try to sort out everything that was on my mind.
    I sat down at a small table along the wall, and Donna took the seat on the other side as we watched the guys prepare for their game of pool.
    “You all right?” she asked as I drummed my fingers on the table.
    “Just thinking of some lyrics.” I smiled politely at her as my eyes went back to the guys. E and Terry were on one team against Derek and Chris. They were already taking jabs at each other as Chris broke.
    “I wish I could put words down on a paper and have it come out as a beautiful song.”
    “Some of the most beautiful songs come from pain,” I said sullenly as my eyes danced over E, who was bent over the table and lining up his shot.
    “You and E are close, huh?”
    Her words caught me off guard, and I quickly looked down at the chipping black paint on my nails. “We’re just friends.” I regretted using the word just , but Donna ignored it.
    She nodded and took a sip from her beer as her eyes followed E around the pool table. “I’m worried about him.”
    “Why? What did he say?” My voice rose an octave.
    “You know E.” Her eyes fell to mine and she smiled sadly. “He doesn’t say much. But when he gets down, it is nearly impossible to pull him out of it. He doesn’t open up.”
    E walked over, pool stick in hand, and grabbed Donna’s beer from the table, winking at her as he picked it up and put it to his lips.
    “You winning?” she asked,
    He smiled with a quick nod. He glanced at me but quickly looked back to Donna and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m doing all right.”
    She smiled and reached out to run the pad of her thumb over the small cut on Eric’s bottom lip. “That looks like it hurts.”
    “You should see the other guy.” He winked as he tucked her hair behind her ear and turned around to watch the game.
    I picked at the chipping paint from my pinkie nail and watched the flake flutter to the dirty wooden floor as I hummed to myself.
    “I’ll be right back,” E called to Donna and disappeared into the main bar area.
    A few minutes later he returned with a pen and a piece of paper from an order pad. He set them down next to me and his lips curved up slightly.
    I stopped humming, realizing that he had heard me.
    “Write it down,” he said quietly, and turned back to the pool game. My heart stuttered at how well he knew me.
    I flipped the paper over in my hand before jotting down a few lines.
I drove all night trying to escape,
the truth of you I cannot take,
On E and broken-down,
why is that bad luck follows when you come around?
    “Get me a beer?” My eyes shot up to Derek’s and I nodded as I crumbled the paper and tossed it on the table.
    I slid off my stool and made my way into the crowded bar. Country music blared from the speakers and I bobbed my head to the beat as I waited for the bartender to notice me. Fingers trailed over my lower back, followed by the unmistakable smell of E’s cologne. My body stiffened but his hand fell away, an easy smile on his face.
    He leaned in closer to my ear so I could hear him over the noise. “You all right?” His breath against my neck gave me a chill.
    “I’m fine.” I stared ahead at the cash register.
    “Nothing’s changed.” His voice was lower, and I knew exactly what he was referring to.
    “I know. I promise I’m fine.” Everything seemed to have changed. He nodded and held up his hand to get