Chris introduced me to Talen before taking off with Paul for a day. That night we went to a place called the Falls, which I thought was weird because my family used to go to a reservoir in eagleville we referred to as the Falls, because of the waterfalls. This place was unlike any place I expected to exist in Tucson. Steep valley walls and rocky outcroppings that overlooked a great expanse below. Trevor brought us there and smoked a joint as I talked incessantly, trying to acquaint myself with my new friend. He was the most nonchalant person I’d ever met. Completely unaware that everyone just flocked to him.  I think he really was my first crush on a boy. We agreed to meet back there the next night and that would be our spot that someday we’d say “this is where we met”. I was meeting up with my mom that day to go back to Benson, but I planned to ask her if I could just get picked up on their way through town because I wanted to attend some event… which I don’t remember making it to. It might have just been to shop for the outfit Dave said I would be required to wear during the trip home. It was a strategic nondescript, don’t draw attention, plain type get up that I would never wear but he was very strict about his travel itinerary and would not be undermined about any of it. Mom said to humor him while we made the long car trip home in the Suburban. That morning I let Talen wear first my red Ralph Lauren beanie type ski cap and then my old navy ski jacket. It was orange and grey and had two items in the pockets: a blue ear muffler head band, also Ralph Lauren and in the inner pocket a crushed up pack of. Newports that had been tucked in there for several months and were easily identifiable. There was three in there and we smoked one and I told him to make sure to save me one of the remaining two and he promised we’d smoke them together upon reuniting.  He left with a couple girls and I waited for my mom to page me. I asked him to meet her with me but they were off to some sale. I wanted him to stay with me, but instead I was hanging with Trevor, kinda. Then Paul came and Trevor told me to go with him and we would meet up with his brother along our route. Paul brought me to this scary looking place. It looked like plastic tarp covered chain link fences made into a makeshift lean to. I did not want to go in but Paul said Talen was inside and so I followed him into the small dwelling inside the cave like entryway. It reminded me of a scene from Flatliners. All prefabrication and barren with visquane everywhere. Paul brought me to get a bite and then asked when my mom was coming. I told him at 3 and he said he should bring me and meet her and we could just go from there. I told him that I wasn’t sure yet exactly where, so I had to call her when it was time and she’d just come pick me up. I went back to wingspan to make the call and she met me and we had dinner at Red Robin and she gave me a few bucks for the sale that I said I wanted to go to. She pointed out that if what I said was accurate it was already over but I told her if not there I’d find somewhere to get the slacks and button down and a haircut per Dave’s instructions. 

I went back to wingspan and just when I’d given up Chris showed up and he had Levi with him. We all went back to Trevor’s and he drove us to the falls. I asked after Talen and Chris said Paul was going g to bring him. Trevor said he had to run an errand but he’d be back in an hour or two. Chris and Levi were very chummy towards one another and I felt kinda left out, but was waiting for Talen to show up. Paul came about two hours later and he said Talen was looking for me and he’d take me to him at that scary place we stopped at. He left me off nearby and told me he’d be back after he went to someplace I could  not go with him to. I waited maybe an hour and it was starting to get light.  I knew I had to check in first thing to finalize my plans to get picked up by my mom and Dave. I walked around fourth and downtown for another hour or so, thinking I’d gotten blown off and that it was pointless to have stayed the extra night. Out of nowhere Chris and Levi appeared and Chris was wearing the earmuffs. I asked where Talen was and he said they didn’t see him. I asked where he got the ear warmers and he said Paul gave the blue and white ear coverings to him. I was not concerned too much but then Paul showed up and insisted if he didn’t give me a ride I wouldn’t be where I had tentatively told my mom we should meet in time. When I hopped in the car, he asked if I needed a smoke and handed me one of the two newports that I recognized from my coat. 

He told me he knew Trevor since he was Talen’s age and had ruined that boy and how he looked forward to the same debauchery with Talen. I asked if he would ruin him less severely, but he laughed and said he had plans for way worse.  I could see the past tense in his statement and then we were there  at the gas station  the pilot I think and my mom pulled up right away and we were off. 

Many years later, Trevor told me that his brother was missing, except he was dead. He said that he was given the choice to watch or die with him and he chose to live and that pushed him over the edge. They didn’t just rape and murder him they did unspeakable things that no one would believe. And kept it up until there was not much left. I didn’t know how much to believe until he said that he had been wearing an orange jacket that was what they used to dispose of him. And that he’d been waiting for Trevor to drive him to the falls. But Paul had planned on bringing someone else for his friend who he owed his life to, but Talen would have to suffice instead. And the biker was appeased by the trade. 

The next time I was in Tucson there was a big building where that shanty had been. The Tucson opera house I believe. No  maybe the fire station.  Paul said the biker was like a guard dog that kept people from messing with the property until construction commenced.

I think they were relatives of Ari for some reason.