I blush. “Thanks.” I clear my throat. “I’m gonna ride with Cherry. But you can follow us. All I know is it’s at the Meadows subdivision in Vestavia.”
“I know where that is. Are you sure you don’t wanna ride with me?”
“Yeah. I promised Cherry I’d ride with her.”
“Okay. See you there.”
I put my coat on and toss my work clothes in my car. I meet up with Cherry. She didn’t seem to notice Casper and me walking out together, or if she did, she doesn’t say anything.
The whole way there, I laugh at Cherry’s off-key singing to whatever pop song plays on the radio. She has a way of making me feel less anxious. I can see how much Luke’s influence has on her. She’s more outgoing and seems so much more experienced than me now. I feel like she’s really living her life, whereas I’m along for the ride. Waiting.
Twenty minutes later, Cherry pulls up alongside the curb of a massive house with music blaring. I wonder if any minute the cops will get a call for noise disturbance, but I figure everyone in the neighborhood is probably here. My stomach drops. This isn’t some small get together.
“Well, the party certainly grew,” she says.
“Cherry,” I hesitate.
“It’ll be fine, Meg. I promise. Come on.”
We make our way toward the house that’s shaking from the music. The driveway is empty of cars for the skateboarders, something I don’t expect. Both of the garage doors are open, and people are sitting around in chairs with plastic red cups and beer bottles. As we walk inside where it’s warmer, Luke greets Cherry with a big kiss and spins her around. He introduces her to everyone and tells them that I’m Cherry’s friend. I look at Cherry wondering if he forgot my name.
Luke leads us to a room that’s filled with gyrating bodies and a thump from the bass.
“I’ll take your coats,” he yells over the music.
I clutch onto mine, but Cherry makes me take it off. Luke leaves and Cherry sort of dances in place but stops with a shocked look on her face.
“You invited him?” She gives an appalling look.
“Look, it was a last-minute thing.”
“So? This is going to make him think you’re gonna give it up to him. You’re giving into his game.”
“Nothing will happen, okay?”
“Megan, what about Vincent?”
“Casper and I are friends. That’s all.”
“Yeah.”
Luke comes back and wraps his arms around Cherry. I think he whispers in her ear and she giggles. And now I feel awkward.
“We’re gonna dance,” Luke says. “Be right back.” Cherry laughs as he steals her away to the makeshift dance floor in what I guess is the dining room and sitting room. It all has hardwood floors.
“Hey,” Casper says.
“Hi.”
“No offense, but this doesn’t really seem like your scene.”
“Like you know what my scene is.” It isn’t my scene, but I don’t like how much he seems to know me.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Sorry. Cherry wanted me to come. I’m not sure why though since she has Luke.” I hug myself, feeling completely self-conscious in this dress. I can’t help but notice some of the people staring at us as they walk by. I think my paranoia from my dreams is returning. I feel like a little girl standing in the corner. “Why are they staring?” I yell over the loud music.
“Ignore them.”
“Do they know you?”
“Some of them.”
I cringe. I hope us attending a party together isn’t going to get back to Amber. I don’t need another bruised cheek. Or worse.
“You wanna dance?”
I look at the sea of couples molded together or grinding against each other and suddenly my stomach feels heavy. “No.”
“Come on, let’s go sit.”
With his hand on the small of my back, he guides me to a couch in the living room. It’s filled with people playing a video game, but we find a spot on a loveseat under the windows.
“So why did you lie back at the store? Still think I’m out to get you?”
“No. I just…” Can’t tell him Vincent would get upset. “I don’t know.”
“What did you tell your parents?”
“Who says I told them anything?”
He gives a disbelieving look.
“I told them I was at Cherry’s tonight.”
“Why are they so strict?”
I shrug. “Mom is afraid I’ll turn out like her. I don’t know. They never let me do anything. It’s like an act of God to let me spend the night with Cherry sometimes. Or concerts. It’s like I can’t do really much of anything without my brother. That’s why I’m so focused on school.” At least I used to be until recently.
“That sucks. I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “I work around it.”
“Do you want anything to drink?”
I hesitate. “Sure. A Coke.”
He gets up from the loveseat. I watch the buttons and lines speed past on the TV as four people bang away on Rock Band. I didn’t think people still played this game. The guy who sings is way too pitchy, but it seems like it’s his favorite song. I laugh when he gets down on his knees.
A guy with short brown hair and green eyes takes a seat next to me on the loveseat. He seems familiar, but I can’t place him.
“Hey. My name is Adam. What’s yours?”
“You should move along.”
He shrugs and gets up.
“Who is he?” Casper asks, holding two drinks.
“Adam.”
“You know him?”
“Not a clue.”
He laughs. “Sorry. That tends to happen at these things.” He hands me a cold Coke in a can, unopened. It’s a small gesture, but most guys, from what I’ve heard, can’t wait to get
