Long Lost War Hero

Chapter Seven

Catherine

Leaving the gas station with pops in hand and Anna's favorite lolly pops in a bag, we heard sirens heading east of town. A panicked Matt of course, being the only person with a siren always seemed to be going somewhere important. We climbed into her car with time to spare before the barbeque.

" I wonder if Brad will have anything good to eat like steak or lobster?" Anna pondered as she opened a lolly pop to suck on.

"I don't think so Anna!" I said laughing at her thought.

Speeding off towards the Deykhausen ranch which was a huge ranch of horses just west of town. Spreading almost all the way towards Winters, it was one of the largest horse ranches in the state. Brad always threw parties since his parents went on vacation any chance they could get with school being out.

"Party! Party!Party!"

We heard chanting as we rolled down the long drive way that had horses running in massive fields on both sides.It was a beautiful sight to see with the sun setting beyond the tree line a few miles away.

"Ohhhh this is gonna be fun!!!" Anna exclaimed as she slammed on the brakes and threw the car into park.

We both got out of the car and went I to the huge house. A two story that had wrap around porches on both stories.

We walked through a dutch layout that had a hall that walked right through the entire home. It was absolutely beautiful in here, the first time I came here a few years ago when we both got invited freshmen year, I fell madly in love with the whole aspect of the entire ranch.

"Beautiful Anna and the wonderfully gorgeous Caterina!" Brad yelled from the backyard walking quickly towards us as we emerged from the house.

Brad was handsome and very much in love with Anna but she couldn't see it even when he followed her around everywhere.

"Bradley William don't you ever get tired of flirting?" Anna asked with a smirk.

"Never! Lets get this party started, ladies?" he asked as he bent down on one knee in front of Anna holding her hand up to his mouth.

The crowd behind him gasped as they circled the three of us.

"Awwww" A girl screamed loud enough that Brad looked her way with a bright smile.

"What are you doing Bradley?" Anna asked as her other hand went up to her mouth.

"My dearest Anna Lee, Will you be mine forever and eternity! I wrote this in eighth grade so be mindful here people!" He joked as people laughed at his speech.

"Anna Darling, Become my soulmate and share your life with me as I get drunk tonight and waste way through drunken bliss?" He asked as he brought out a bottle of beer a kissed it dropping Anna's hand and making passionate kiss making to the bottle.

Laughter erupted through the crowd as Anna blushed then smack the bottle out of his hand.

"f**k you Brad!" she yelled as she walked through the crowd to where wall the alcohol was at near the pool.

" Oh Anna it was only a joke!" Brad said as he followed her grabbing her hand to pull her into his arms.

He kissed her head and hugged her as tightly as he could before lifting her off the ground grabbing her thighs so the he could wrap her legs around his waist.

"I'd only ask you to marry me if two things happened." he stated before walking close to the pool which caused her to tighten her feet together.

"Which are?" she asked with nervousness in her voice.

"Haha umm well you gotta meet my momma, I'd have to ask your daddy before asking you or get you pregnant so that we can be like John and Catherine married so young and everlasting love." he said with laughter cascading out of him. He turned facing away from the pool before falling into it with Anna still in his arms.

Anna emerged to the surface with laughter before Brad did which caused a lot of the girls to get alarmed. He came up shortly with an equally big smile on his face. They swam to the side of the pool before walking into the house together. Leaving me to fend for myself, I busied with making myself food. I walked over to the side of the pool. I took of my sandels and out my feet into the pool. Something Brad said resonated in me, why would he say anything about John and me being pregnant. I'm not pregnant, John and I only just had s*x this past weekend. A week pregnant, ha! Yea right! I laughed with only thinking to myself. Drinking a wine cooler with a burger and some fries. At Brads house there was always staff around to cook food, to clean up or even just be there when you were throwing up in the bathroom which is where I was last summer when I drank too much. See here the legal age to drink is only sixteen so we young adults learn at a young age where our drinking limit was at. My limit was two wine coolers and a beer then I was toast but John's was a whole flat of beer before he got wasted. I laughed at how childish we all were last summer, lazy drinking with some horse riding and lounging during the day by the pool. I looked at my phone and saw that three hours passed while I was stuck in my thoughts. It surprised me that Anna had not came back and joined me by the pool. I got up from my spot and walked into the house having trouble with everyone bumping and grinding on each other everywhere. It made me chuckle wishing John was still here, we'd be on eof these couples.I looked everywhere for them then found them in his bedroom. Anna was putting her dress back on and Brad was shirtless. Thankfully they didn't see me through the crack of the door, I quickly hid in the next room afraid she'd see me and think I'd quickly judge her.

"Why'd you say that about Catherine?" Anna asked in a hushed tone.

"Because why else would she and John marry right out if highschool?" He asked putting on a shirt and sitting on the bed.

"Well Nicole told me it was because his mom and his dad did the same." Anna explained.

"Nope, Rachel got married to Leroy because she was pregnant with John but it's rumored that Leroy couldn't even have children and that's why he quickly jumped in the marriage." Brad replied.

"Stop spreading rumors then Brad, I mean what are you spreading about us?" Anna asked in disbelief.

I had to cover my mouth because I thought they heard my snort that I made when she said that, it was good funny! Everyone thought she slept around and that he would go drink in the basement at these parties since they were seemingly gone at the same time but no one ever thought they were doing each other! They both got quiet and looked to the door but continued after a bit of silence.

"Anna honestly, If I told anyone you'd stop being with me. Your too shy or selfish wanting me to yourself to even be public with me!" Brad exclaimed while he went into the bathroom attached to his bedroom. She followed him so I couldn't hear her reply.

I quickly left the spare bedroom across the hall from his to walk quietly down the stairs and out the back door rejoining the party. I grabbed a wine cooler and strode into the woods behind the ranch. It was more calm and quiet out here. More space for me to think about that conversation. It made me so darn irritated that my best friend would be gossiping with her liver than just talking to me about it.

"It's bullshit!" I yelled at the owl in the tree in front of me.

" Why wouldn't she tell me what he thought! We didn't even have s*x until after we got married! f**k them!" I yelled crying more intensely.

I settled along the river knowing no one followed me to cry in misery and miss the one person that always made me feel better.