Spirit Lake Ep. 1.2

Roy Jackson slowly wiped down the still sticky bar top. It seemed like the grime would never leave that damn thing.

The Hub had just opened, and already the normal patrons were filing in. He put on his normal smile, and went to them, asking what they wanted, even though he already knew the answer. It was the little ritual that made life in that damn town so maddening. There was never anything exciting.

Then he saw a face he hadn’t seen in years.

Paul White stood at the end of the bar, glancing around quickly, a rather curious look on his face.

Roy walked over to him, taking his sweet time. He didn’t want Paul to think that he was actually excited to see him.

"So, what brings your high priced ass into my little dive?" Roy leaned forward, regretting the decision as he felt the hair on his arms become glued to that same sticky grime that he had been battling two seconds earlier.

"Roy, hey. Have you seen Julie?" Paul didn’t look at Roywhen he spoke.

"What would my cousin be doing here? Hell, what would she be doing back in this backwater town?"

"You didn’t hear?"

"Obviously not."

"Julie is back in town."

"You’re kidding me!"

How had no one told him. His own cousin hadn’t even bothered to call ahead to let him know that she was visiting. Sure, she had made it very clear that she had wanted to cut Spirit Lake out of her life, but she and him had always had a special bond.

Roy froze. Why would Paul be asking for her?

Well, of course. The richest man in town was looking for the long lost, and recently famous novelist who escaped him after high school. Wasn’t that just perfect.

It didn’t matter that Roy was the one who had to nurse Paul out of his depression after Julie left. No, that was what friends were for.

Roy stopped himself. He was not going to get into that whole nightmare train of thought again.

Paul was straight. He would just have to live with that sad fact. Well, he was straight when he was sober. When he was drunk he was just horny, and Roy was always the one there to help him out with that.

"Give the house a call. Maybe she’s still up there." Roy turned, pulling his arms from the bar. The skin stung as the bar claimed a few hairs.

I wanted things to get interesting, and they did.