Fiction logo

14. A Chance at Something Real

Green: Chapter Fourteen

By Blaze HollandPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
Like
Espresso (commissoned artwork)

Chapter Fourteen

Ranger, Number Four

Waspwood, Locksley County

Eleven Months Ago

Ranger ducked into the subterranean Lonephalt club, All That Glitters. It was his turn to visit his best friend, Bronze. When Ranger had called Bronze the previous day to confirm their meeting, Bronze had told him that he had urgent news. Ranger had wanted to rush over to Tenth County right then but Bronze had said that it could wait until the next day.

Ranger scanned the room in search of Bronze. Violet light bathed the slow dancing crowd and the people shooting up drugs around the edges.

“Over here!” Bronze’s voice cut through the hushed murmurs of the crowd.

Ranger turned his head and spied the older man in a booth on the far side of the place. He nodded to the bouncer and pushed his way through the dancers, avoiding the druggies as best as he could. It was upsetting to Bronze that such people hung around his safe haven. Ranger knew that there were drug dealers and users in his own county but he never saw it in the open.

“I already ordered you a drink,” Bronze said as Ranger slid in across from him.

“Awesome,” Ranger said. He kicked himself back and folded his arms behind his head. “What was so urgent?”

Violet light gave way to red.

“Oh, come now,” Bronze said. The waiter swung by with two glasses then. Bronze grabbed his and took a few drinks. “Can’t we catch up first?”

“We just saw each other a week ago,” Ranger said. “Not much has changed. I have a new czar in Kaymouth.”

“What happened to Espresso?” Bronze asked. “I just saw him with you last week.”

Ranger looked down at his glass. Ice cubes swirled around in a pool of cola. Bronze was holding out on him. The kick of alcohol would’ve been nice. “He went to pursue some semblance of happiness in Rockingham Falls,” Ranger said.

“He just left like that? Why didn’t you stop him?” Bronze asked.

Two people passed by close to their table, heads bent together as they conversed softly. “Who am I to say where he should and shouldn’t drive?” Ranger asked.

Bronze’s gaze was fixed in the direction the two people had gone. “What of the new guy?”

“Kid is like a high schooler and drives a motorcycle,” Ranger said, tossing back more cola. “Cobra seems to like him okay.”

Red light faded to orange.

“Maybe the kid can help Cobra improve his pool skills,” Bronze said. “Twister and Cobra will be around next week, right? I wanna play them again.”

“You know I lose to them every time you’re not around,” Ranger said. He took a sip of his own drink. Likely Bronze only ordered him a cola because he knew Ranger would have to drive back to Locksley before morning.

Bronze reached across the table and leaned as close to Ranger as he could with the table between them. “Hey, Range, guess what.”

Ranger leaned forward too so that their foreheads touched. “What?”

“I’m going to be a father,” Bronze whispered.

Ranger sat back, slamming his back into the black vinyl of the booth. “No shit?”

Bronze sat back too and shook his head. “Nope.”

“Stefanie’s pregnant?” Ranger asked just because he didn’t really believe it.

“Yeah,” Bronze said.

“With your child?” Ranger asked.

Bronze air slapped Ranger. “Yes, of course.”

Ranger mock recoiled as though Bronze’s hand had actually hit his cheek. Then he laughed. “Congratulations,” he said. “You’ll be a great father.”

Orange light became yellow.

“That’s what Stefanie said but I’m not so sure.” Bronze laughed too.

“Hey, does this mean I can finally meet her?” Ranger asked. “I’m the godfather, right?”

But Bronze was shaking his head. “I’m sorry, man,” he said. “I still think it’s for the best you don’t.”

“Right,” Ranger said because there was nothing else to say. Nothing that would make him know Bronze as a different person, someone with a first and last name and a street address to go with it. As Ranger sipped his cola, he realized how fake his best friend was. How fake even he was. Bronze had been closer to a person to Ranger than anyone else he’d met as a street racer and even that wasn’t close enough for Ranger to know the real Bronze and meet the other half of his world.

Ranger wondered if the baby would make it so he saw less of Bronze. The thought made Ranger hate both Stefanie and the baby, for taking Bronze away from him. He wanted to hate Bronze too, for being fake, but Ranger realized he was just as guilty of it as Bronze.

If nothing else, that’s why he hadn’t tried to stop Espresso from leaving. There was a chance he’d have something that was real in Rockingham Falls. The thought only advanced Ranger’s jealousy. His fake friends were moving on with their real lives, the kind Ranger hadn’t had in nearly ten years.

Yellow light washed into green.

Excerpt
Like

About the Creator

Blaze Holland

Hello! I am a yet-to-be published novel writer. You can find some of my rough pieces posted here as well as a series of articles on writing advice. If you want to get in touch with me, you can reach me at @B_M_Valdez on Twitter.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.