The next three days at school seemed focused on two things — the upcoming dance and complaining about finals. Kind of a dichotomy. By the end of the week, DJ realized that a lot of the talk and excitement wasn’t only about the dance, but about what was happening after the dance.
It turned out — big surprise here — that some of the guys had rented some hotel suites in the same place where the Winter Ball was being held. And there was no mystery as to why they’d done this. Oh, sure, DJ had overhead guys saying things like, “We just want to keep the party going,” or “we need a place to just relax and hang.” But DJ was pretty sure she knew what it was all about. She mentioned this to Conner as they were going into the cafeteria for lunch on Friday.
“I’m assuming that you had the good sense not to rent a room?”
He looked shocked and then chuckled. “Well, I’m not a saint, DJ. But, no way! You know I would never do something like that.”
“Besides being a waste of money, you’d end up dancing by yourself at the Winter Ball.”
“Trust me, I know that.”
She laughed. “Well, actually, I’m sure there are plenty of girls who’d want to dance with you, Conner. But I wouldn’t be among them.”
“Thanks.” He grinned. “I got that.”
“So what’s up with these guys?” she said quietly, since they were getting into the lunch line now. “I mean, I even heard that Harry talked Josh Trundle into going in with them.” DJ glanced to see if Kriti was around. “And I just can’t imagine that Kriti would go for that.”
“Unless Eliza talks her into it.”
“Good point.”
“And I’m sure you’re aware that your roommate is on the guest list.”
“Not that she’s told me, but I assumed.” DJ rolled her eyes as she picked up a tray.
“I heard that Garrison is in on it too. He and Seth reserved an adjoining suite.”
Now this surprised her. “Does Casey know?”
Conner shrugged as he reached for a burger.
DJ sighed. “I wish our friends would just act like normal teenagers.”
Conner laughed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
DJ had to laugh too. “I don’t know . . . I guess I just wish everyone wasn’t so into playing grown-ups. Won’t we get there soon enough?”
Unfortunately, Madison Dormont overheard this. And she laughed so loudly that she snorted. Then she took off, and DJ could only assume she ran to tell her friends. Not that DJ cared. Sometimes DJ wanted to shout her opinions from the rooftops. “Everybody just chill!” she would scream at the top of her lungs. “You don’t have to drink alcohol or do drugs or have sex or break the rules to have fun in high school. News flash — it usually turns out to be exactly the opposite!” But DJ figured most kids wouldn’t listen. Or if they were listening, they’d probably pretend they weren’t.
Just the same, she decided to bring it up at Carter House. But not while her grandmother was listening.
They were just finishing up dinner. Grandmother had excused herself — she and the general were meeting for dessert, which was probably in the form of an after-dinner drink. DJ thought it was somewhat unusual that all six girls were still sitting around the table on a Friday night. But there wasn’t a basketball game, or anything else it seemed, to tempt anyone besides Grandmother to go out on a cold blustery evening in East Connecticut. And DJ supposed, because of the big night planned for tomorrow, everyone was taking it easy tonight.
“So I hear some of the guys are planning an all-night party tomorrow,” DJ mentioned casually.
“Are you coming?” asked Eliza.
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
Eliza laughed. “I didn’t think so.”
“I’m curious as to how you explained this to my grandmother.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.
“Nothing . . . just that I’m curious.”
“You’re not planning to rat on us, are you?”
DJ innocently held up her hands.
“I’m not completely sure that I’m going yet,” said Kriti quickly.
“Good for you.” DJ smiled at her.
“Yes,” agreed Rhiannon. “That’s the wise choice.”
“Not that she’s made up her mind,” said Eliza with a cool smile.
DJ turned to Casey now. “So how about you?”
“What?”
“Are you joining in the all-night party?”
Casey shrugged. “I told Garrison we could go up there for a while.”
“For a while?”
“Yeah . . . what’s wrong with that?”
“What do you think is wrong with that?”
She shrugged again. “Nothing. We’ll just hang and party awhile. Then I’ll come home. No big deal.”
“And do you honestly think that’s why the guys are shelling out the big bucks to rent these expensive suites?” DJ asked her. “Just to put your feet up and have a few laughs?”
“Why not?”
“You don’t think they expect anything in return?”
“Oh, DJ, lighten up,” said Eliza. “Maybe we do just want to hang and have a few laughs. What is wrong with that?”
“What’s wrong is that you know that’s not what this is about, Eliza.”
Taylor, who had been silently watching, had a sly grin on her face. DJ turned to her. “Tell them, Taylor. Why do you think the guys are renting hotel suites tomorrow night?”
“Why not?”
“See,” said Eliza. “Even Taylor gets that it’s no big deal. I don’t see why you and Conner don’t pop up to check on us if you don’t believe it.”
“Yeah, right.” DJ glanced at Rhiannon for backup now.
“I have to side with DJ on this,” she said firmly.
“What a surprise,” said Eliza. “But, really, girls, if you’re so sure that we’ll be up there having some big orgy, why don’t ya’ll pay us a little visit?”
“Maybe we will,” DJ said hotly.
Taylor laughed. “You will not.”
DJ sighed in resignation. “Probably not.”
“If it makes you feel any better,” began Casey, “I’ll lay my cards on the table with Garrison.”
“Meaning what?” DJ challenged her.
“I’ll tell him that if he’s asking me up there to have sex, then he’s out of luck.”
DJ nodded. “I can actually imagine you saying that,” DJ told her. “But I wonder if Garrison will take you seriously?”
“That’s a good point,” said Rhiannon. “It’s like saying one thing and doing another.”
“Like you tell a guy no and then you follow him up to his hotel room,” DJ added. “What’s that really saying?”
Casey seemed to consider this.
“I think Josh would understand,” said Kriti quietly.
“I’ll admit that Josh seems like a mature kind of guy,” DJ told her. “But he’s a guy.”
“That’s right,” said Rhiannon. “I thought Bradford was more mature too . . .” She glanced at Taylor, as did everyone else. “But I’ve been disappointed.”
“All I’m saying,” DJ said to everyone except Rhiannon, “is that if you go up to the suite with your boyfriends, no matter what they say, they will want things to go further.”
“And, really,” said Eliza in an exasperated tone, “is that any of your business, DJ?” She stood like she was leaving, and Kriti stood too, just like her puppet or puppy dog or lady-in-waiting.
“Because we live under the same roof and because some of you are my friends . . . yeah, I think it is.”
Taylor narrowed her eyes at DJ. “So what are you saying, DJ? Are you threatening to tell your grandmother? Because if that’s the case, I will have my alibi ready.”
“So will we,” said Eliza. She was obviously speaking for Kriti too.
Casey said nothing.
“All I’m saying is that I hope you all use good sense tomorrow night.”
“Yo
ur good sense?” asked Taylor. “Or our own?”
“Whatever.” DJ rolled her eyes, wondering why she’d even bothered.
“Nice try,” said Rhiannon after the other four had left.
“What’s the point?”
“Do you think that’s how God feels when he sends warnings to us?”
DJ sighed. “I don’t know.”
“Well, people have the right to make their own choices,”
Rhiannon reminded her, “and their own mistakes.”
Although DJ knew Rhiannon was right, she still wished there was something she could do. Sometimes the only thing to do was to pray. And maybe that wasn’t such a small thing.
4
“I DOUBT THAT ANY OTHER HOUSEHOLD in Crescent Cove has six young women under the same roof all getting ready for the same dance,” said Grandmother at breakfast on Saturday morning.
“It’s times like this that make me miss having my own bathroom back home,” said Eliza longingly.
“Don’t we all,” said Taylor.
Grandmother got a thoughtful look. “However, this house does have six bathrooms.”
“Yes, but not in our rooms,” I reminded her.
“Well . . .” Grandmother placed her forefinger on her chin. “I’m going to be out this evening . . . so I suppose I could let someone use my bath . . . and someone else could use the powder room downstairs.” She chuckled. “But I doubt that Inez will volunteer her bathroom to anyone.”
DJ laughed. “I doubt anyone would want to use it. I had the privilege when my leg was broken, and it’s almost as big as a postage stamp.”
“Still, that means all but two girls would have their own baths if — ”
“I’d love to use your bathroom, Mrs. Carter,” said Taylor quickly.
Eliza glared at her. “Well, then Kriti gets to use the powder room downstairs. At least I can have our bathroom to myself for a change.”
“And I don’t mind sharing.” Rhiannon glanced at Casey.
“Me neither,” said Casey.
“Miss and Miss Congeniality,” said Taylor.
DJ knew it was silly to feel snubbed by Taylor’s hasty claim on Grandmother’s bathroom, but really, was she that hard to share a room with? It wasn’t like living with Taylor was a walk in the park.
“Well, if you’ll excuse us, Kriti and I have salon appointments,” said Eliza as she stood.
“Have a good time getting pretty,” said Grandmother. Then after they left, she looked around the table. “How about the rest of you? Are you getting hair or nails done today too?”
Rhiannon smiled. “We’re playing beauty salon in our room. Casey’s doing nails, and I’m doing hair.” She glanced at DJ now. “Anyone interested?”
“I already made appointments for DJ and me,” said Taylor quickly.
“What?” DJ frowned curiously at Taylor.
Taylor just smiled. “My treat, roommate. But you’ll have to drive us there.”
“What?”
“I made us appointments at Yobushi’s.”
“The new day spa that was in the paper last month?” said Grandmother, obviously impressed. “I heard they were booked for ages.”
Taylor nodded. “Want to go, DJ?”
“Of course, she wants to go,” said Grandmother. “And then you girls can come back and tell me everything about it tomorrow. I’ve been wanting to go myself, but I didn’t think it was possible to get in.”
“Maybe you should take my appointment,” suggested DJ.
Grandmother laughed and waved her hand. “No, of course, not. You girls go and have a lovely time.”
“Our appointments are for eleven,” said Taylor. “But it’s a forty minute drive to get there, so we should probably get ready.”
DJ still wasn’t sure, but with the encouragement of Grandmother and even Rhiannon and Casey, she figured why not? As they were heading upstairs, Eliza and Kriti were coming down.
“Guess where Taylor and DJ are going?” said Casey. It figured that Casey wouldn’t be able to resist trying to bring Eliza down a notch.
“I can only imagine,” said Eliza as she adjusted her bag.
“Yobushi’s Day Spa,” said Casey as proudly as if she were going too.
“Oh, sure,” said Eliza. “I heard they were booked until summer.”
“I guess it depends on who you know,” said Taylor.
Eliza stopped and stared at Taylor, then smiled. “Maybe you only think you’re going to Yobushi’s, but you’ve actually booked an appointment at a sushi bar.”
“Yes, maybe they’ll give you a seaweed wrap,” said Kriti.
DJ couldn’t help but laugh. “Good one, Kriti.”
“Or a wasabi facial,” added Eliza.
“We’ll get back to you on that,” said Taylor lightly.
As it turned out, Taylor had gotten them appointments at the real Yobushi’s, and DJ had never felt so pampered. Between the elegant showers and the thick bathrobes and all the luxurious extras, DJ was starting to feel like a princess.
“Have you done this before?” she asked Taylor as they were soaking in the hot tub following their facials and waiting for their pedicure/manicure appointments.
“Oh, sure, haven’t you?”
“No . . .”
“So, you like it?”
“It’s nicer than I expected.”
“Everyone needs to be spoiled sometimes,” said Taylor. “Even tough girls like you.”
“You think I’m a tough girl?” DJ wasn’t sure whether to be insulted or flattered.
“Well, you’re the girl who jumps in front of SUVs to rescue kids. Then you do sports, swimming with a broken leg. I’d say you’re pretty tough.”
DJ sighed and leaned back into the tub. “Or maybe it’s all an act.”
“We’re all actors . . . and the world is our stage.”
“Is that Shakespeare?”
“Something like that.”
By the end of the afternoon, DJ and Taylor emerged from Yobushi’s feeling refreshed and beautiful. Not only did they have facials, pedicures, and manicures, but styled hair and makeup as well.
“I’ll have to give Yobushi two thumbs-up,” said DJ as she started her car. “Thanks for treating me, Taylor.”
“You’re welcome.”
DJ glanced over at Taylor. She looked even more beautiful than usual, but she also had a sly little smile.
“Hopefully this wasn’t meant to be some kind of bribe.”
“No, of course not.”
“If you were worried about me squealing to my grandmother about — ”
“No, not at all. Even if you did, I can take care of myself. You know that.”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe I just wanted to be nice . . . to keep you off balance.”
“Why do you want to keep me off balance?”
“I was just kidding.”
“Oh.”
“And, just for the record, Taylor Mitchell doesn’t allow any guy — no matter how much money he puts out — coerce her into having sex with him.”
“Unless vodka is involved.”
Taylor threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, DJ, one of these days, girlfriend, one of these days . . .”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean one of these days you’ll figure things out.”
DJ wanted to question this. DJ would figure things out? How about Taylor? If anyone was mixed up, it was Taylor. But no one could tell Taylor anything. Taylor knew it all already.
“And another thing, DJ . . .”
Hopefully this wasn’t going to be sex advice.
“I do respect you for not having sex with Conner. I mean, if that’s your choice, that’s cool. But just don’t go around forcing your morals and values on everyone else, okay?”
“Okay.” The truth was DJ didn’t want to force anything on anyone. But didn’t she have the right to express an opinion? And to be fair, wasn’t that what Eliza and Taylor did most of the time?
“Cool,” said Taylor. “Me too.”
DJ knew that their definitions of fun were as different as night and day. Although DJ did not get that, she decided not to think about it right now. Right now, she was feeling good. And tonight was going to be good. But before she stepped out with Conner in a few hours, she would check her email to see if Haley had responded yet. It was odd not to hear from her. Usually she wrote right back. DJ tried to convince herself this was not her problem. She was not responsible for Haley’s emotional health.
“Do you know where the guys are taking us to dinner?” asked DJ as she exited the freeway into Crescent Cove.
“I do,” said Taylor.
“Where?”
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Well, it would spell trouble.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s supposed to be a surprise.”
“I know, but how is it that you know? I thought it was something that Harry had cooked up.”
“Yes . . . you’re almost right.”
“Huh?”
Taylor laughed.
“Are you saying that Harry told you something?”
“I’m not saying anything, sweetie.”
“So Harry told you where we’re having dinner, but Eliza doesn’t know?”
Taylor didn’t answer, but DJ could tell by her smile that was the case.
“Why would Harry tell you and not her?”
“Maybe some girls can’t be trusted with secrets.”
“Why is it a secret?” demanded DJ. “What is going on anyway?”
“Don’t get all hot and bothered,” said Taylor. “It’s no big deal.”
“Well, what’s going on?”
“Can I trust you to keep your mouth closed?”
“It depends.”
“Okay, here’s the deal. Harry’s parents paid for a very nice catered dinner for all twelve of us at their beach house. The limo will take us there and then to the dance.”
“Really?”
Lost in Las Vegas Page 3