When Your Heart Stops Beating Part 4

Takoda stood there, his jaw dropped and eye wide as Zack’s smile turned upside and held Penny tight. Penny looked down to the ground as she twiddled her finger. Wiyot and Calian looked at each other before they turned to look back at Takoda, Penny and Zack. Takoda took a deep breath which enabled him to loosen up once more.

“I didn’t realize that you two were an item”. Takoda said with a sigh as his eyebrows dropped.

“It’s a classic love story”. Zack said, putting his left arm around Penny’s shoulder.

“Stop it Zack”. Penny said, taking his arm off her and turning towards him, standing next to Takoda. “Zack is a friend of mine”.

“You guys met in class or something?” Takoda asked.

“Or something is about right”. Zack said with a douchey smile.

“Stop it Zack!” Penny said, shoving her right elbow into Zack’s left rib cage. “Anyway, where’s Halian?”

“Your goons up front denied him entrance”. Calian said.

“What? Are you serious?”

“They said he was too young”. Wiyot said.

“Sorry about that guys. I forgot that they had been cracking down on that lately”.

“Hey, not your fault that he looks like a preteen popstar”. Takoda said.

“This is boring”. Zack said. “Trying to drink?”

“Actually, I want to introduce them to a few friends”. Penny said.

“C’om”. Zack whined. “Do that later”.

“If we’re interrupting something we can go”. Takoda said.

“No, you’re not interrupting anything at all”. Penny said. “Now let’s go”.

Penny took Takoda, Wiyot, Calian and a begrudging Zack outside on the back deck. The back deck with covered with clear Christmas lights, illuminating the entire backyard. There were two silver kegs on a table as people were all over, smoking and drinking. Penny had taken Takoda and the rest of them over Cindy and Yolanda, two of Penny’s friends. Both were average height and in fit as it were. Cindy was a white young lady with blonde hair. She was wearing black jeans, a red leather jacket, and a purple scarf. Yolanda was a black young woman who wore blue jeans, a black and white stripped turtleneck, purple lipstick, and had long thin braids.

“Ladies, meet Takoda, Wiyot, and Calian”. Penny said. “Guys, Cindy and Yolonda”.

“Hey”. Wiyot greeted, his face not emoting much of anything.

“You two aren’t from here huh?” Yolanda asked, standing ina bit of a pose with her right hand and wrist resting against her right hip with her right let bend ever so much.

“Why made you say that?” Calian responded with.

“Too nice I guess” Cindy said, standing more straight and somehow looking down at Wiyot and Calian even though they were taller than her.

“Their cool ladies!” Penny said, putting her hands up. “Their cool!”

“What is the definition of cool?” Yolanda asked.

“Might be different depending on who the perceiver is”. Cindy said.

“I’m not sure what’s going on”. Takoda said.

“Don’t worry, this is kind of their shtick”. Penny said. “You just get into it”.

“I bet you do”. Calian shot back.

“Anyway”. Yolanda interjected. “How did you four meet?’

“A friend of theirs needed help and I was part of the help”. Penny said.

“Just like you Penny to exercise your savior complex”. Cindy commented.

“I don’t have a savior complex!”

“There’s no way you can be that nice”. Yolanda said.

“I think she’s just a good person”. Takoda said.

“How would you know?” Yolanda snapped back, her and Cindy now facing Takoda with their eyebrows bent and lips crossed. “You just met her!”

“I mean, true. But all the same, from what I gather she is just someone who cares about people”.

Penny looked at Takoda as a big bright smile lit up across her face. Takoda put on a calm smile as he stared into Penny’s eyes. Takoda’s eyes eye became hyper focused as from his vantage point Penny’s began to sparkle. He could not move, even if he dared.,

“Sounds very naïve”. Cindy said.

“I think you’re just bitter”. Wiyot said.

“Excuse me?” Cindy asked.

“Who do you think you are?” Yolanda asked.

“Nobody”. Wiyot answered. “There’s nothing noble in being superior to another person”.

“…What?” Cindy asked with a great deal of confusion.

“I think that is where your problems lay”. Wiyot said. “All it takes is a little self-reflection”.

“What the hell is this?” Zack butted in with.

“Zack!” Penny said. “Be nice!”

“What?” Zack asked, smiling in a non-cholent way as Takoda rolled his eyes. “We’re just standing here talking bullshit”. Zack said. “I thought that this shit was a party”.

“I thought we we’re partying bro?” Takoda asked.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Zack asked, stepping to Takoda”.

“Zack, stop it”. Penny said.

“Stop what?” Who gives a shit about this guy?”

“I do!”

“What the hell is he even to you?”

“…I don’t know!”

“And what about me?” Zack asked.

“You’re…” Penny began, looking down to her right. “You’re probably not what you think you are to me”.

Takoda was caught off guard by this revelation as Zack’s mouth opened. Takoda noticed that once Zack saw that everyone was looking at him he straightened up and tried to regain his previous cadence. All the while, his eyes betrayed him.

“I see”. Zack said.

“I’m not trying to hurt your feelings”. Penny said.

Takoda caught Zack staring him down. Zack had a mean scowl on his face and stood still, looking right at Takoda. Takoda looked at Zack and did not move much as Zack stood there in silence.

“Whatever”. Zack said as he turned and walked away.

“Somebody needs a snickers”. Calian said.

“Everything okay?” Takoda asked coming in closer to Penny.

“Yeah, everything’s fine”. Penny said. “Zack just gets confused and gets in his feelings sometimes”.

“Some guys can’t take a hint”. Takoda said.

“He’ll have to learn”. Penny said as she smiled at Takoda. A smile crept up on Takoda’s face as well as the two locked eyes for a moment or two. A warmth rushed over Takoda as he drew closer to Penny.

“So”. Penny said. “You guys want a drink?”

Takoda, Wiyot, and Calian were taken into the kitchen by Penny where there were more groups of people gathered round. The kitchen was a nice, if not stereotypical design that could please anyone. There was no smoking on the inside, but plenty of alcohol was being consumed as people sat on the black and cream granite counter stops and leaned against the stainless-steel fridge. On the counter tops were bottles of hard liquor ranging from Black Label to Grey Goose. On the hardwood floors was a white large Yeti cooler packed with craft beer.

“What’ll be?” Penny asked. “Liquor or beer? Can’t go wrong either way”.

“The Black Label looks good to me”. Calian said.

“I’ll grab a beer”. Takoda said.

“Make that two”. Wiyot said.

“Sure thing!” Penny said as poured Calian a glass of Black Label and handed Takoda and Wiyot each bottle of craft beer. Penny went back in a grabbed herself a bottle.

“Cheers”. Penny said, lifting her bottle towards Takoda.

“Cheers”. Takoda said lifting his bottle as Wiyot and Calian followed suit. As they touched their bottle Takoda began to down his beer. Out of the corner of his could see a couple enter the party and were walking towards them. They were dressed up a bit more than the occasion called for. He then looked at woman who entered and she had a strange exotic look.

“Excuse me”. Sheila asked with Greg at her side. “Mind if we join you?”