Part 1
Larrissa was in her 1953 Corvette, speeding down an empty highway with the top down. This was her favorite highway, and she knew it like the back of her hand. It wasn’t far from the Route 66 highway, which connected to her hometown, Hackberry, Arizona. Flying past the cacti and tumbleweeds was her way of thinking about things. It was a stress reliever for her, like therapy. On some days, she would even see a small herd of horses galloping along the dry, cracked earth beside her. She liked to pace herself to their speed and admire the magnificent creatures moving with so much power and freedom. That happened today too, it was nearly noon, and the sun was hot enough to fry an egg on the pavement in minutes.
When the horses veered away from the road and Larrissa sped back up to almost 100 mph, she heard a familiar chirp followed by a loud whine. In her rearview mirror she could see a police car catching up to her. She slowed down a bit and let the cop drive up beside her telling her to pull over. She just smiled at the familiar face in the driver’s seat across from her and gained speed again, moving ahead of the cop. She didn’t pull over until she passed the big pinyon pine tree that she used as a landmark for a curve coming up in a few miles. By the time the cop caught up and pulled over behind her corvette, she was leaning against her bumper waiting. Then, her good friend Easton got out of his police car and shook his head with an amused look on his face. The two have been friends since they were little as they grew up in the same tiny little town only a few houses apart.
“One day,” he began, “one day you’re going to get into some actual trouble for this.”
“By who?” Larrissa smirked playfully. “You’re the only cop this place has, and we both know no one is looking to start a career here anytime soon.” She waved her arm, gesturing towards the desert around them. “And I refuse to believe that you would turn me in…”
“It is my job, you know”
“You get paid the same either way.” The two laughed together because both knew that one could never betray the other like that. Once Easton was mildly composed, he continued.
“By the way, there’s a dance at the bar tonight that Buck told me about. You want to come? I can walk by your place on the way and go with you if you want.” Larrissa hated going to events like that but she wasn’t sure Easton knew it, even though the two have been best friends for at least 20 years by now. But she did like spending time with him over a drink, even in a crowded space.
“Sure. No reason not to… Maybe we’ll get totally hammered and party till the sun comes up.” That was absolute sarcasm but she hoped Easton wouldn’t really dwell on it. Really, she hoped no one ever dwelled on anything she said… Not that she didn’t always overthink everything those around her said. Easton laughed which reassured her like no one else could do, and the two talked casually for at least a half an hour longer until she went home to finish some housework and he went back to the station to finish his shift.
Later that evening, Larrissa’s doorbell rang. She knew it was Easton to walk her to the bar. She finished putting on her makeup and as she looked in the mirror before letting him in, she frowned at her reflection. There wasn’t really anything wrong with how she dressed herself, she just didn’t like how the final product looked, she never did. She figured that it would be hard to ever look that good with her light brown eyes, such thin lips, and small ears, which were covered up by mid-length hair sporting a bland, brown color. She always wanted hair that would shine like the models in the Pantene commercials, but no matter what, she could never quite figure out how to get hers to do that. So, with a sigh, she went to the door and greeted her friend.
She was right about the party. The music was loud and not that good, and the tiny bar was crowded with nearly every middle aged person in Hackberry. Thank goodness it was a bar because sipping whiskey always helped her feel less overstimulated. Easton led her to a booth in a dark corner across from the entrance and sat across from her. They ordered their drinks and talked for a bit. After a few minutes he was getting a bit restless.
“Do you want to come dance with me?” he yelled over the commotion.
“No thanks, you go ahead!” Easton had always enjoyed blowing some steam at a party and Larrissa wasn’t going to hold him back.
She was subconsciously hugging herself when a guy walked up to her and asked to sit where Easton was. She quickly loosened herself up to look slightly more pleasant.
“What’s a pretty girl like you doing in this dingy place?” he asked over the music.
“Do you mean this corner, this bar, or this town?” He laughed heartily at her comment.
“All three I guess. I’m Jackson.”
“Oh I’ve heard of you.”
“What for? I didn’t think I was that famous!”
Larrissa laughed, “could have been anything, really! I don’t remember. It’s a small town, though. I’ve probably heard of everyone in this bar at least once before. Oh, and I’m Larrissa.” She almost forgot to introduce herself.
“That’s a very nice name, Larrissa.” He looked at her empty glass. “Can I get you another one?” She doesn’t usually have more than one, but to be polite she let him.
“Sure. A whiskey, if you don’t mind”
He looked surprised at her choice but went anyway and in a few minutes, came back with two whiskeys. The two made small talk and Jackson bought them two more rounds in the span of 15 minutes or so. Larrissa wasn’t used to so much at a time and began to get a little restless.
It wasn’t long before she was on the dance floor looking for Easton. She wasn’t sure why she was looking for him or even what happened to the guy she was sitting with… what was his name again? Right! Jackson, his name was Jackson. She was dancing her way through the crowd and as soon as she spotted Easton she stumbled toward him. She felt barely conscious and yet so alive at the same time. It was crazy and seemed impossible. She wasn’t sure why but her eyes were locked on one place by the time she reached her friend. She hung her arms over Eastons neck and before he could say a word she kissed him. He pulled away and looked at her with a confused expression.
The next morning Larrissa woke up with a pounding headache and absolutely no recollection of the previous night. The last thing she remembered was Jackson. Then she started to panic. What if she did something with him that she would regret? She was nearly having a panic attack when she decided to get up and phone Easton. He was there with her. He would know what happened. She was just about hyperventilating by the time she was sent to voicemail. Standing in the middle of her room, she half fell, half sat on the floor and backed up to lean against her bed. This was something she was used to, as much as she hated it. She focused on breathing for about ten whole minutes and didn’t get up until she was fully prepared and a little more composed. She got dressed and had some cereal. It wasn’t until eleven thirty that she tried phoning Easton again. This time he picked up after five rings.
“Hey” Easton sounded unsure, which was relatively out of character for him.
“Hey, Easton, I was just calling about last night. I tried you this morning but I guess you were still asleep. I hope I didn't wake you up. Anyway, I was just wondering if you could come over and maybe we could talk about what I did last night”
“Oh, well, I actually have plans… emergency plans… at work. So I don’t think I can come over right now.”
“Why are you trying to lie? You’re doing a terrible job of it. Why don’t you want to see me?”
“Well things are just…” he sighed so loud she could almost see him run his hand through his wavy, dark brown hair. “Look, Larrissa. I’m going to be completely honest with you, okay? Things just feel kind of awkward with you right now, I’m sorry.”
“Why do you feel awkward? You didn’t even do anything?” She was so confused.
“But you did! Look, I don’t know if last night was just one of your reckless actions that you do so often… but it was too far, honestly.”
“Wait… so you’re saying… I did…”
“You kissed me.” He said it so bluntly she almost missed it.
“What.”
“You kissed me.” Larrissa almost laughed because that seemed way worse than going to bed with Jackson ever would have been. At least her and Jackson weren’t close. There weren't really any risks involved with that but this…?
“I kissed you?” She almost yelled, she was so surprised… and scared.
“You don’t even remember it, do you?” Easton explained the whole night to her, at least as much as he knew. “But I have no clue why you were so drunk. I’ve never seen you like that before” There was almost a hint of disappointment in his voice that threatened to shatter Larrissa.
“I was just stressed and caught up in the moment, I guess.”
“Why were you stressed?” It warmed Larrissa’s heart that even after what she did, he still cared enough to ask a question like that.
“I was overwhelmed. The place was crowded and I was overwhelmed.”
“I didn’t know that kind of thing bothered you,” there was a pause. “I’m sorry I took you.” It probably wasn’t meant to hurt her as much as it did, but that statement dug into Larrissa’s heart and carved a hole. There was a long pause on the phone before Easton finally interrupted the silence. “Did you mean it, Larrissa? The kiss? Or was it something you never wanted to do and you were just too drunk?”
“I…” she knew what she should say, the thing that might still salvage their relationship, but she couldn’t lie. She took a deep breath before softly admitting to herself and to Easton, “I meant it.”
“Larrissa, I have Isabel. She and I are serious… I wasn’t going to tell you until I actually did it but… I even bought a ring for her.”
“You’re going to propose? Already?” This was surprising news and even Larrissa could hear the pain in her voice despite all her efforts to hide it.
“What do you mean already? We’ve been dating for a year and we love each other. She’s a great person and I trust her.”
“And you don’t trust me?” Larrissa knew that wasn’t what he was saying, but she was hurting, and she couldn’t quite understand or comprehend all of her emotions right now. Last night, she had released a feeling that she’d been holding in since the age of twelve. She never meant to let anyone know how much she cared about Easton on a much deeper level than a simple friendship for fear of ruining the relationship with her best friend. As the phone call was proving, that was a very reasonable fear and of course, she had to go and make it come true.
“Listen, I have things to do today. Maybe, it’s best I give you some space for a bit. Larrissa, please don’t ruin what I have with Isabel. It’s a sturdy foundation we’ve built together. I don’t want you to be the wrecking ball of my relationships with one of your thoughtless decisions.” Easton hung up, leaving Larrissa speechless on the floor of her kitchen. It took her a while to fully register what he had said. She was shattered. Was that what he really thought? That she was thoughtless? That she was going to ruin his life? Like a wrecking ball. That's how he viewed her… as a wrecking ball. In all the most unflattering ways, too.
It had been months since the phone call, months of Larrissa feeling broken. She tried to take a drive like what she usually does to clear her mind, but instead she ended up nearly crashing as she could hardly see through the tears in her eyes. She just stayed in her one bedroom house, leaving only for groceries. She didn’t talk to anyone, including Easton, for the whole time, with the exception of one phone call to her mother back in Phoenix. Her mom was worried about her due to the lack of contact, and was making sure Larrissa was alright. Larrissa lied and said she was doing great, just focussing more on some unspecified things happening in Hackberry.
“I probably won’t talk to you for a while, Mom. I just want to focus more on some things here for a bit,” Larrissa explained to her mother.
“How long will these things you’re doing take?”
“Honestly, I don't know yet. I’ll talk to you a bit, okay?” It was a lot of work for Larrissa to sound happy. That was the farthest thing from how she was really feeling. Indescribably and unforgivingly miserable would be a closer depiction. She spent most of her time in bed, sleeping, crying or fantasizing how circumstances would be if she hadn't screwed up that night. She only got up to eat twice a day, and keep up with necessary duties like paying bills as they came in the mail. Despite all this, Larrissa didn’t once touch alcohol. It could have been because she was scared of it and what it might let her do seeing as she didn’t exactly have a great experience with it the last time she had a drink.
Larrissa was going through her mail in a daze when she came across a baby blue colored envelope. She opened it and faltered as she read the blue floral decorated card inside.
You are invited to see the beautiful union of
EASTON BLAKE
&
ISABEL GREENER
As they tie the knot on
SEPTEMBER 21st, 2025
SATURDAY @ 6:30pm
After their four month engagement.
Larrissa ignored the rest of the details. A four month engagement meant that Easton had wasted no time ensuring his relationship with Isabel after the phone call between him and Larrissa two months ago. The wedding was only two months from when Larrissa read the invitation. It didn’t matter, though, she wasn’t going to go after everything that had happened between her and Easton. After all, she didn’t want to ruin his big day.
“Just like a wrecking ball” she said to no one as she threw the wedding invite in her trash.
That was when she decided she was sick of being so isolated. She texted Clara, one of her friends, to ask if she wanted to get a drink together.
