Under the Lights by Abbi Glines

toward the clearing. “She’s drunk and dancing. Won’t know I’m missing.”
    â€œOh,” I said, wondering about her. I hadn’t asked questions at school, but I’d overheard enough to know they were an item. “How long have y’all been dating?” I asked, wanting to get the subject on him immediately, far away from me.
    He pulled his tailgate down and motioned for me to hop up. I did, and he sat down beside me. “Not sure exactly. It’s been a casual thing for a few months.”
    Casual? “What does casual mean?”
    He gave me a crooked grin. “Do y’all not do casual in Arkansas?”
    We did, I guess, but what I had seen at school wasn’t what I thought of when I thought of casual. “I’m thinkingwe have two different ideas on what casual is.”
    â€œNo. We have the same idea. It’s Ivy who is confused on the casual thing. She likes to make it more serious than it is.” The guilt that flashed in his eyes wasn’t hard to miss. He couldn’t hide that. I wondered if he even believed what he’d just said.
    I was expecting Ivy to come after us at any minute. Hopefully not swinging fists. I wasn’t drunk, and it wouldn’t be fair to her. After six months living in a facility with tough-ass chicks, I could hold my own. One ass kicking and I’d gotten smart. Made the right friends and learned how to fight. It was the only way to survive that world.
    â€œHave you explained casual to her?” I asked, taking a sip of water. I wanted to know if he’d actually tried to tell Ivy they were casual. Brady was a good guy. But this seemed to tarnish him some. Stringing Ivy along wasn’t exactly part of his persona.
    He chuckled and shook his head. “No point. She won’t listen.”
    â€œThen you must really like her.”
    â€œWhy do you say that?” He frowned like my comment made no sense.
    I thought it made complete sense. But then most teenage boys were idiots when it came to females and relationships. At least, that’s been my experience.
    â€œBecause you continue to keep her around. She can’t annoy you too bad.”
    He was silent a moment, then sighed. “Actually, she annoys the shit out of me. I’m just too nice to hurt her.”
    He clearly looked torn up about it, but that was a weak response. No girl in her right mind wanted to be pitied and kept because the guy didn’t like hurting people’s feelings. “If you don’t like her, stringing her along isn’t exactly nice either.”
    Brady turned to look at me, and I met his steady blue gaze. I’d always had a thing for his eyes. They were piercing. Once I imagined them looking at me with love, but that had been the fantasy of an eleven-year-old girl who didn’t realize what love was exactly. Or what love could do.
    â€œShe’s got a bad home life. Stepmom is mean to her. Constantly stays on her about her body and appearance. She’s insecure.”
    So? This still didn’t mean he had to keep her around if he didn’t like her. “If you like her, then own up to it. If you don’t, let her go so she can feel free to find someone who does.”
    He again went silent for a few moments. I drank my water and looked up at the stars visible in the night sky. It was peaceful out here away from the party. I could forget my past and focus on the fact I’m alive. Even if it wasn’tfair and I didn’t deserve it. I was here. Breathing and able to see the moon as it lit the night sky. These were things I once didn’t think about or appreciate. I was too busy trying to find happiness in ways that only lead to bad things. Terrible things.
    â€œYou’re right,” he finally said. I took my gaze from the moon and gave him my full attention.
    â€œOf course I am. I’m a girl. She’s a girl. I know how we should be treated. What we deserve. And what you