About twenty miles east of Wichita, Kansas, in the rolling plains of Bachelor County, rests the all-American town of Augusta. Surrounded by golden prairies and filled with fresh air, Augusta is the epitome of heartland home-living and the perfect place to raise a family. With two lakes, one movie theatre, one bowling alley, and one high school, the children and young adults of Augusta are closely-knit and actively involved in the community and enjoy everything Augusta has to offer…
“Yeah-fucking-right. I bet if anyone asked a teenager living in Augusta if they were “actively involved” they’d probably spit in your face.” April whipped the tri-fold brochure down the drink aisle of the town’s gas station, sending it spiraling like a Frisbee.
“Watch it, you almost gave me an epic paper cut.” Cass’ eyes darted around the small station as her hands silently stuffed her purse with cans of warm beer.
“But seriously,” April said, fingering through the rack of other nearby attractions, “who the fuck would ever move here? I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen a moving truck even drive through this town. People are born here, they live here, and they die here.” April heard Cass make a distracted sound of agreement as she continued procuring their night’s “community involvement.” Cass was a lot prettier than April, and she knew it. She wore tight jeans and low cut tops that made boys and men of all ages give her anything she was using them for at the time. She curled her blonde hair to perfection and lined her eyes with black every morning in the bathroom at school; her parents were crazies who didn’t allow make up. April also knew Cass wore a push up bra and that she occasionally threw up after a meal, which always made her feel a little better by comparison.
April looked at her reflection in the glass wall of the gas station. Too skinny, no boobs, no butt, brown hair, brown eyes, thin lips. She sighed and arched her back, willing curves to appear on her boyish frame. She was sure that puberty was supposed to change her body, but they only thing that grew after her first period in 6th grade was her increasing dissatisfaction of living in her own skin. Cass’ reflection appeared next to April’s, her eyes peering past the window to the outside parking lot.
“Who on God’s earth is THAT?” she purred, licking her glossed lips and nodding towards the station’s auto shop. April focused her eyes past the glare of the fluorescent lights inside and saw a man leaning against the side of a truck, smoking a cigarette while watching cars pass on highway 400. He was wearing a dark mechanic’s jumpsuit that he unzipped halfway, exposing a tattoo on his bare chest. Cass rolled her shoulders back and tugged the front of her shirt a little lower, exposing the black lace of her bra. Push-up bra.
“No idea, probably some grease monkey from Wichita who needed work so badly that he ended up here. Let’s go, the movie starts in ten minutes.” April turned to face Cass but was surprised to find the station, aside from the cashier who was busy thumbing through the newest Hustler, was empty. April looked back outside. “Oh, of course,” she snorted at her own reflection. Through the window was Cass, lashes batted, bumming a smoke from the dirty stranger, who was plainly staring at her tits. April sighed and trudged out of the gas station, intentionally pushing on the glass of the door to leave a smudged handprint behind.
Outside it was dark and foggy, the air so thick that April had to swallow. She hated the heat and the humidity that caused her shirts to stick to her back. The musk of a Kansas summer gets stuck in your clothes, so stuck that even after you washed them they still smell like sweat and fog. April threw away most of her clothes when September rolled around.
The streetlights that lined the gas station filled the parking lot with harsh white light that gave April a headache. The sound of forced flirtatious laughter didn’t help either. She approached Cass, who was practically laying on the hood of the truck, perched up on her elbows and trying way too hard. April tried her hardest not to laugh.
“Uh, hey Cass, we should probably be heading to that movie.” April rocked awkwardly back and forth on the balls of her feet, the foam of her flip flops squeaking with sweat. Cass sat up on the hood, only just noticing that her friend had joined her.
“Oh, Hi. This is Mark. He’s from New York.” She hopped off the hood and mouthed an “oh my god” as she turned to face the gear head, smiling like an idiot and twirling her hair. “Oh yeah,” she spat distractedly, “this is April. She works at Pizza Hut.” Her eyes were fixed on Mark’s tattoo.
“I like pizza,” Mark tossed half a smile at Cass as he reached a hand towards April, “nice to meet you.” His eyes locked with hers for what she thought was an uncomfortable length of time. She let go of his hand after she felt a slight pump of adrenaline that caused her eyes to look down at her toes. She wished her hands weren’t so sweaty.
“Marks invited me to a party in Wichita tonight. You probably have to be home too early, right April?” Cass said absently, her eyes glued on Mark who was lighting another cigarette. April took a hint but felt an incredible urge to yank the stuffing out of Cass’ bra.
“I guess, but what about the movie?” Mark was looking at April, making her feel uncomfortable again; people stare at Cass, not her. Mark cleared his throat and flicked the ash off his cigarette, not noticing when they landed on Cass’ foot causing her face to fall in a scowl.
“What movie did you have in mind?” Mark winked at April. April, confused an unfamiliar with flirtation, looked at Cass for assistance as her memory had been seemingly wiped clean. Cass was noticeably irriatated by the attention she was not receiving from Mark.
“Some weirdo flick where Johnny Depp has knives for fingers or something. But wh
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