Tac

Colter High was a big school, but throughout the day, you could still make out all the activities of the students as they prepared for their extracurriculars. Some played basketball, some packed into small rooms for math or English club, and everything in between. Jack and his friends would meet up at the table after school, since the school was only five blocks from the wharf. Camron would often buy the drinks, since his father had a lot of money from working in the music business as a financial guru. He knew how to balance accounts and create new cash flows for the music market. Everyone called him Mr Fantastic because he wore an appearance that resembled a manikin, although he was really cool.

Devnel rode up on his BMX and met Jack and Camron sitting at the table.

"We're all here," Jack announced.

"Indeed we be," Devnel replied.

Camron got up and started to dance while sipping on his energy drink. Camron passed Devnel a sparkling cherry soda and sat down.

Jack walked over to the payphone near the bathroom structure by the table and was very excited to ring Tysen.

"Hello," Tysen answered.

"Hey it's Jack. So for the wondrous event, we have everything planned out!"

"That sounds impossible Jack! I'm excited, and so is my friend Laura," Tysen said in an overly mature voice. "I invited her since my parents didn't want me going alone."

"Sounds fine. Well, there should be a good male to female ratio no matter the case, but I will go ahead and keep Laura in mind," Jack assured Tysen.

Jack walked back to the table and told everyone that all is set and ready to boom.

Camron commented, "Any more fuel to the fire and I might have to call my dad to bring a fireman!" Everyone laughed.

Devnel jumped in and added, "Don't make me call my dad; he'll call a fireman, then call the popo's. And he hates popo's!"

The week went along as any other week in the harbor city and the clan was doing their day to day in anticipation for a break from their natural cycles. Hour by hour, they did their assignments, finished their homework, and waited for the big day.

Tac shared a room with his nine year old brother Von. Tac was ready to party, but as an aside from his requirement of having to deal with little kid things. Tac never had a real relationship, but got close to girls at several parties, even some kissing action, and nearly dated one of them. Though, he chose school over the impending time requirements of such a situation.

"Knock, knock," Travis knocked on Tac's front door. Tac's dad Randy answered.

"Hey Travis boy, looking tall there buddy," to which Travis replied, "Yeah, but it doesn't come with chest hair, sad to say."

"I'll get Tac," Randy said with a smile.

As Travis was looking extra tall that day in his long basketball jersey, Travis got an alley oop when Tac came to the door.

"Now I get it when they call me shady," Tac joked.

Travis and Tac decided to check the gang at the table, but upon arrival, Trent and a few of his friends were huddled around Jack and Camron. Jack saw Tac and waived at him to come over. As him and Travis inched their way closer to the table, the atmosphere started to change. It could be seen the fear in Jack and Camron's eyes.

Trent spoke, "Hey Tac, you know my brother Parker. These are his teammates, Vince, Billy, and Joel. They play football together."

Tac and Travis nodded silently, being scared themselves as they knew what Trent was up to.

Camron interjected, "so apparently, Parker is bringing some cheerleaders, eh?"

Jack added, "I think that's all here. Drinks anybody?"

Trent was the same age as Tac, fourteen, and was pretty well known around the harbor. His dad worked at The Anchor Bar & Grill, one of the wharf restaurants, as a supervisor, so Trent spent a lot of time around the wharf and the main grounds.

Trent and his boys left the table in a subtle but tough way. You could smell the danger in them. All nearly six foot tall. However, Jack and Camron were no little boys, nor was tall Travis. Trent wanted to see if any of Jack's friends would fight for Devnel, but, it seemed the party was on everyone's minds more so.

The gang spent the next few days going about their business but patiently anticipating the party and campout. However, things took a sharp turn at the gym the night before the big day. Devnel was changing into clean clothes after his track and field practice in the locker room when he met up with Trent's big brother Parker.

"I know you and my little brother have some beef, Devnel." Parker put his hand against Devnel's locker and added, "We can settle this right now. If not here, in another place. I'm crazy, too. That's my little brother, guy." Devnel frowned hard, being much less blessed with muscle than Parker. Parker walked off, watching his own back the whole time. Devnel gazed into the gym floor in shock, his eyes wide open, brought nearly to tears. He stuffed all his stuff into his locker, zipped his red Jansport, and walked out of the locker room angry.

Time came. It was time for fun in the sun. The cove was the best spot for fishing and camping, and there just was nothing better. It was supposed to be an all out, wild adventure.

Tac and Travis borrowed Tac's dad's truck and packed it with all their gear.

"You ready?" asked Travis, driving cautiously and steadily to the spot.

"Ready as ever, and also, umm, watch the road, please!" Tac added. "When we get there, we can get as crazy and wasted as we want. For now, some music." And off they went rockin' Tac's dad's tapes, specifically Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

It was just past noon and everyone was preparing as Tac and Travis pulled up. Everyone was in their swimwear. The party was about half set up, and so Travis and Tac asked if they needed any help.

Jack welcomed them, "Wassup my people!"

Tac asked, "where is Tysen?"

"She's coming with her friend Laura before sunset. She is being dropped here by her aunt Vilma, since she lives nearby. Her parents rather this be the case."

"Shoot," said Tac. "I know Vilma. She stays near here. She lives up on the hill, right?" Tac commented.

The almighty Devnel is seen hanging out in the corner with his boombox in a sort of worried state. This made the party a little gloomy, so he was called on over to hangout and help Tac and Travis set up their tent.

Devnel replied, "No problemo my gentleman. I'm keeping my peace guys. I'm excited for the full sound setup. It should be awesome!"

"Indeed," Travis exclaimed. And just before everyone was into the party atmosphere, Trent and his crew roll up in a big, blue heavy-duty Jeep, blasting heavy metal music, drowning out Devnel's little boombox. They were all in tanks, and already gone and drunken.

Devnel bit his lip and asked Tac and Travis, "You guys got my back, right?"

Travis grabbed Devnel by the shoulder and looked him in the eye and said, "Devnel, don't worry about it. We know Trent; from around the harbor, dude. We'll make sure he keeps his cool."

"What about his brother and his friends?" Devnel asked.

"Well, this is our close friend Jack's gig, and if they want to take it that far, then so be it," Tac explained. "Plus, you should have thought twice before laying down a biggie smalls."

Devnel smiled and shouted, "Then let's get-a-partyin'!"

"What goes up must come down bro," Travis continued. "If all is well and good, it will amount to nothing and all of us will do what we came to do. Party, right?"

An hour passed. It was nearing sunset, and Jack was done setting up. Like he said, there was a grandiose spread, a lot of beer and liquor, and a rockin' sound system. Devnel was the most happy, and it was very obvious. He was the first to get up and start dancing with the girls, and to jump in the water. Soon after, everyone jumped in the clear, blue ocean, and the party was officially on.

Two very pretty girls in bathing suits came walking down from a drop off above the cove near the road. It was Tysen and Laura who just got dropped off by Tysen's aunt Vilma who lives near the cove. You could see the excitement in Jack, and it seemed the whole party stopped and smirked. Jack ran up to Tysen and grabbed her by the hand. Jack was shirtless, wearing blue board shorts and surf jewelry, and looked very groomed. He hadn't yet got into the water. Tysen giggled, looking at Laura.

As Laura smiled along with everyone, Tac jumped in as Tac does and introduced Laura to Travis. Travis became very shy and looked down slightly, but this didn't negate his charm.

Trent and his brother were at bay the whole time up until Devnel got totally wasted. He started very early and was quite tipsy by sunset. He was all over the place and yelled a manly roar several times from the beach toward Trent's brother Parker. "Wassaaapp bro? Want some? Come get some!" Devnel shouted.

Tysen rushed in laughing, protecting Devnel, as he was no match to a buttload of football players, but Devnel hilariously refused. He pushed Tysen at the forehead, requiring Travis to calm Devnel down a tad bit. "Hey man, that's not cool. I thought we had an agreement!"

Parker stood, hovering with his chest out looking directly at Devnel.

This time Jack stepped in. "Hey man, I don't want no trouble here," Jack explained to Parker.

Parker remarked with a sharp smile, "No way, I'm just having fun like everyone else, but I do have to protect my people and my little brother, bro. However, on another note, I aint no wuss, and I aint goin' to let Devnel get away so easily with that foul play."

Trent stood up and backed up his brother, feeling confident after Parker's display. "Yeah Jack, what's up?"

Jack smirked and made a fist, but let go in a passion, sighing. Jack then replied, "Definitely don't make me look like a wuss at my own party, either!"

"Naw, Jack. You're the man here. We're just tryna have fun, too," backing off in an understanding way.

Jack responded in some relief, "Don't worry about Devnel, he's not really like that. He's like one of the funniest guys here. Give him a break."

Tysen grabbed Jack by the hand and said, "let's walk it off."

Travis looked at Laura and smiled. He mumbled from the corner of his mouth, "heh? Want to walk?"

Tac explained to them, "go ahead, I'm a harbor kid. I'm tough with this stuff," fake crying.

Tac walked over to the cove by himself with the loud music in the background, sat, and watched the party from a distance. He smirked and thought to himself, "what a week! All this trouble and we finally got to this stinkin' party. So much trouble. Atleast Tysen's safe. And Travis. Hopefully in both ways, and we still have a whole night to go."

He closed his eyes and meditated to the soft crashing shore. After a few minutes, he stood up, dusted off the sand, and walked back to the party. As Tac approached his setup, Laura and Travis came running in their swimsuits half naked, wet and laughing. Tac grinned at Travis in support. Travis smiled back in pure joy.

"What the hell, I might as well enjoy myself," Tac thought to himself. Tac went over to Devnel's crowd and sat near one of Devnel's lady friends. "Meet Whitney," Devnel mumbled in drunken speech. Tac grabbed a Budweiser from the case and threw an oldschool toke-signal for 'spark it up.' Devnel got up and danced to the opening of his backpack. He said once again, "An ounce; no more, no less." He broke out a rolled joint for Tac.

Whitney smiled at Tac and said, "Spark it!"

That night, Tac got pretty wasted with Devnel and his little circle. He couldn't even get back to his tent, and when he woke up, Whitney was sleeping on his lap. The two got up and they both smiled at eachother. Tac took his best shot and asked her, "So, umm, you wanna 'dance with somebody?' Tac grabbed an empty beer can and started, "The clock strikes, upon the hour, and the sun begins to fade."

She laughed.

"Wanna explore the cove?" Tac asked. Whitney agreed and off they went. Tac walked Whitney through his peaceful process as they walked up the northern bend. He asked her to close her eyes and focus on the soft, breaking shore. She happily agreed and started to get goosebumps, as Tac's romance was like nothing she had ever experienced. She couldn't help it anymore. She grabbed him by the head, looked at him in his big green eyes, then kissed him passionately. Tac followed along. The night was perfect. The party was over.