In the small town, people lived in tiny spheres of influence. It was pretty common that the same people would go to school and work together, and then see each other later that week at church. Karla's life was no different, and she had been raised alongside the same group of friends her entire life. A few had managed to leave the small community when their families moved for work, but most lived in the town their entire life. By the time she had graduated, Karla had accepted that she was one of that majority. She did not mind it, even though her life was a bit monotonous at times.
Daniel, Ronald, and Karla had been hanging out together since leaving the crib, and were inseparable. Their families had been close for generations, and it showed. In high school, the three had chosen all the same classes, and even went to prom together as friends, laughing at all the couples that night awkwardly trying to impress each other. It was not to say that none of them had ever been in a relationship. Ronald was dating one of the cheerleaders for a time, but they did not last long. Karla had tried going to a couple of dances with a boy that she shared some classes with, but there was never really a spark. The three had discussed their perpetual singleness and had pretty much determined that the relationships they attempted were just too shallow compared to their own friendship. It was difficult to compare a new connection with the one you have had with someone for the majority of your life.
Nothing romantic ever happened between them. Maybe it was the uneven ratio, maybe the fact that Karla was a big enough tomboy to dissuade, or maybe just because they were that close. Their parents worried that they might be tempted during their adolescence, but dismissed the idea after they finished high school, still just as tight knit as ever.
The summer after graduation, they spent even more time together. With no more school, the three had tons of free time on their hands, at least until their parents made them get full time jobs to earn their keep. When Mrs. Connelly asked if they could help with a bake sale, they eagerly agreed, happy for something to do in the small town.
The day before, Karla waited on her front porch, waiting for her ride. The loud rumble of a struggling motor echoed through the neighborhood, and she stood, recognizing the distinctive sound of Ronald's old truck. The small rusted Chevy pulled against the curb, and the passenger door swung open. Inside was Ronald in his usual jeans and tee, waving her over. She brushed off the dust before climbing in, as if the old truck would take offense to more grime.
"When are you going to get a new ride?" Karla asked as she climbed into the small cab.
Ronald looked at her in sarcastic offense, "I would never replace Sheila. Besides, she's got a lot of life left in her."
Karla rolled her eyes, "We should hurry. We have a lot of catching up to do."
The old truck lumbered down the street. "Daniel better have a good excuse for not helping yesterday. If I'm up all night making fucking scones..." Ronald's complaints were thankfully hard to hear over the symphony of noises coming from the battered vehicle. It did not take long to arrive at Daniel's house, where Ronald laid on the horn until he emerged.
As he walked up, Karla could not help but thinking about how polar opposite her friends were. Ronald was a more athletic type, broad and tall, with the muscles to match and short cut dark hair. He was big into sports throughout high school, whereas Daniel was anything but. The slimmer, more modern one of the pair was more organized, almost anal. It showed even in his appearance, always keeping his blonde hair well styled, even when it was just the three of them. In the last few years, they had all joined the football team, but Ronald was the only one that was an actual player. Karla had been in charge of equipment maintenance, being a bit of a gear head, and Daniel had organized their playbook and helped the coach coordinate calls.
Even their personal styles were opposite. Ronald preferred jeans and a tee, probably whatever was laying on the floor in front of him when he woke up in the morning. Daniel, on the other hand, was always well dressed, but not formal. As he approached the truck, he was wearing a nice pair of shorts and a striped polo.
Trailing behind was Daniel's little brother, Garth, who was about five years their junior, barely cresting his teenage years. Karla leaned out of the window, "Hi Garth," she said with a smile before dropping it and turning to Daniel, "What the Hell, D?"
"Nice to see you guys, too," Garth said sarcastically.
"Mom wants me to drop him off at practice," Daniel said apologetically.
"You do know this is a Chevy, not a minivan?" Ronald said.
"Chevy makes minivans too," the younger brother quipped.
Ronald leaned forward to look at Garth, "Wanna be left here, kid?" After that, the young boy was quiet.
"Fine," Karla said, getting out. They struggled for a while, trying to configure themselves in a way that they could fit all four of them in the truck made for two and a half. Eventually, the truck was chugging along, Ronald in the driver seat, Daniel in the passenger and Garth between them, straddling the shifter. Karla sat on Daniel's leg, wedged between him and his younger brother.
The three were used to packing up in the truck. After Ronald had bought it, the Chevy had become their community transport, its struggling frame holding true over the years. As the truck pulled onto the main streets, Daniel leaned out the window for some extra space, letting in the cool breeze. Karla managed to free her phone and scrolled through her notifications.
Garth was enthralled by the girl pushed against him. Her shorts cut off high on her legs, showing her sun kissed long limbs. Her chest was pressed together by her arms fiddling with her phone. He shifted in uncomfortably beside his brother's friend, his eyes locked on her plump round breasts. Her top revealed a good bit of her cleavage that was framed nicely by her wavy long dark hair, causing the young boy to sweat. When they finally stopped, he scrambled out with muttered excuses.
The group laughed as they drove off after dropping him off. "He's getting a little fidgety nowadays," Ronald said jestingly. They arrived at the store and climbed out.
"Sorry about that," Daniel said.
"He just needs to find something else to entertain him," Ronald said.
Karla scoffed, "Like you? What's your pleasure? Shitty videos or just playboys under the mattress?"
"Nah," Ronald replied, "I'm refined. I read my porn, a neat little site online with all these short stories."
"You can read?" Daniel asked. Karla busted up, and Ronald socked him in the arm. An hour or so later, they were headed out with a cart of supplies for the bake sale. Ronald pushed the cart through the lot quickly, Karla standing on the end. Daniel chased them with his camera phone, hoping to catch a video of them crashing the cart to put on YouTube.
"Hey there gorgeous," a voice called out, stopping their fun.
They turned and saw Brody, the quarterback from their old high school. He had always had a thing for Karla, but he would also be a bit more at home in the Neolithic.
"Why hello, Handsome," Ronald replied sarcastically. Brody rolled his eyes, otherwise ignoring the two guys. He leaned against his motorcycle that he had parked beside their truck.
