leather gloves. Gloves? I thought, surprised. That style went out with Michael Jackson.
At least the other guy, Alonzo, seemed normal — and extremely cute, with a tight body, springy black curls and soft, full lips. From the way Mauve was eyeing him, it was obvious she’d staked her claim.
“Yo, girls,” Warren said with the eloquence of a cave man. “How ya’ doing?”
“Much better now,” Sadie said as she sidled up to him.
“Yeah,” Mauve agreed, her gaze lingering on cute Alonzo. “The traffic is insane but I don’t mind so much now.”
They were paired up evenly and didn’t need me. So I said nothing, having zero flirting style. I tried to blend invisibly into the seat, humming to the CD. But of course I was listening to the drama unfolding outside with acute fascination.
“So, hey,” Alonzo flipped his black curls in Mauve’s direction. “Where you headed?”
“Venice,” Mauve answered.
“Italy?” Warren said with a snort, like he’d made a joke.
“You’re too funny,” Sadie giggled.
Gag me. Sadie couldn’t really like this brute, could she?
At least Mauve wasn’t impressed with Warren. She rolled her eyes. “Venice
“For spring break?”
“What else?” Mauve leaned against the open car door and turned to Alonzo with a bright smile. “So how about you?”
“Same, except Warren and I keep our options open so we got no definite plans. You really know how to get a guy’s attention, although I would have noticed you anywhere,” Alonzo said, reaching over and curling a strand of her spiky hair around his finger.
“Hey, Lonz, check out the back seat.” Warren suddenly peered through Mauve’s open window and leaned over to wave at me. “There’s another girl.”
“That’s Rayah,” Sadie chirped. “She had a wild night and spewed in a parking lot this morning. She’s kind of out of it.”
“I’m just tired,” I said with an exaggerated yawn, hoping Warren would get the hint and leave me alone.
But no such luck.
“Party Girl, come out and party with us,” Warren urged.
“You go ahead without me.”
“Come on, Warren, let Rayah rest.” Sadie moved closer to Warren, obviously realizing that two guys divided by three girls weren’t great odds unless you removed one girl from the equation.
Warren ignored her and tapped on my window. “Come on, join our road party. You’ll have more fun with us.”
“I’m enjoying the music,” I said, pointing to the front seat where Sadie had kept the power on and music playing. I bobbed my head to the rhythm to show I was having plenty of fun sitting by myself.
“If it’s music you want to hear, Lonz and I have some cool CDs in our car.”
What was it with this guy? Sadie was practically dripping all over him yet he wouldn’t leave me alone. So I shook my head in a firm
“Forget her, I’d love to hear your CDs,” Sadie told Warren. “Let’s go to your car.”
“And leave your friend?” Warren stared me in a way that gave me shivers.
“If you know what’s good for you,” Mauve put in with a wicked grin. She raked her black-tipped fingernails through her pink head and gave Warren a warning look. “You better leave Rayah alone.”
“Why?” he asked, frowning.
“After a night of partying, she’s got a short fuse.” Mauve turned so I could see her face (but the guys couldn’t) and winked at me. “If you push her, she could get dangerous.”
Me, dangerous? Was Mauve trying to help me or stirring up drama for her own amusement? I was like the most non-violent person ever. I rarely lost my temper — not even when my little sisters turned an essay I’d spent a week writing into paper diapers for their dolls.
Mauve’s lie was ridiculous … or was it? What if Sharayah’s personality change included violence? How could I be sure until I knew more about her? I needed the GEM to tell me the truth. Then I wouldn’t stumble around in this borrowed body like an actress without a script.
“Let’s go sit in your car,” Sadie urged Warren, gently pulling on his arm.
“Sure.” Warren glanced over at Alonzo. “You coming or staying here?”
“Coming, as soon as I’m done listening.” He tilted his head toward the car stereo, which was still playing loud and strong. “I didn’t know this album was out yet.”
“It’s new. I’ll burn you a CD, for a price.” Mauve smiled.
“A price?” Alonzo asked, grinning. “What did you have in mind?”
“What can you give me?” Mauve asked playfully.
“I can think of a lot of things — but not in public.” Alonzo rubbed his thumb over his lip ring. “Maybe we should wait till this traffic clears up and go somewhere private.”
“Whoa, you’re moving too fast,” Mauve said with a flirty laugh. “All I’m offering is a CD … for now.”
“Excuse me, but that’s my CD.” Sadie whirled from Warren to glare at Mauve. “You can’t give away my stuff.”
“I’d never take anything of
What was that about? I wondered, leaning closer so I wouldn’t miss a word. I was puzzled yet intrigued, like watching a movie with subtitles.
I was relieved to watch them leave and sit anonymously in the back seat, analyzing my feelings about this “college girls gone wild” drama. Part of me was appalled by the way my “friends” were acting, yet another part was impressed. Mauve handled the guys with enough attitude to stay in control. Even over-eager Sadie carried herself with a bold confidence.
And I felt like a high school girl — for good reason.
Sharayah wouldn’t be sitting nervously in the back seat like me. But without the GEM I didn’t know enough about her to know what to do. What did I know about spring break? Only what I’d watched on TV.
Of course Sharayah probably didn’t know much about spring break, either. According to Eli, she used to be so studious that she never had time for anything except homework and volunteering. A far cry from this new Sharayah, who partied hard, trashed her dorm room and randomly hooked up with guys. I didn’t think her behavior had anything to do with drugs — I would have suffered symptoms or cravings by now. Something traumatic happened to change her. But what? Was it the older boyfriend, Gabe? Hmmm … where was Gabe anyway? If he was “my” boyfriend, why did Mauve say Sharayah didn’t have a steady guy?
Suddenly there was a roar of shouts, honks and cheers. The traffic was moving! I leaned forward to peer out the window as the others rushed back.
“Taillights are flashing!” Sadie announced, jumping excitedly.
“So soon? Too bad, I was enjoying the view.” Alonzo leaned on the open door, his gaze lingering on Mauve.
“We can hook up later.” Mauve smiled. “We’re staying at Sadie’s cousin’s beach condo.” She rattled off an address on Tide Pool Street, which I memorized so I could let Eli know where I was next time I called him.
“A beach condo? Sweet deal,” Alonzo said as he nodded. “Count on seeing me again … really soon.”
Sadie turned from her conversation with Warren and lowered the volume on the stereo. “We can all hook up later.”
“Or sooner,” Mauve said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
“You guys better hurry,” Sadie interrupted. “The traffic jam is over.”
“Hey, Party Girl, be seeing you, too.” Warren moved away from Sadie and peered into the back toward me.
“The car behind yours is honking,” I told him, pointing.
“We can talk more next time.”
Or not, I thought, disliking him strongly although I wasn’t sure why.
