“What is?” They asked simultaneously.
“Well, promise you won’t laugh or say anything?” They nodded. “I’ve never even kissed a guy before…” I shyly admitted and waited for their reactions.
“Really?”
It was Melissa who’d asked and thankfully, without making me wish a hole in the ground would open up and swallow me for admitting my colossal lack of skeletal remains. Kate, however, didn’t look surprised one iota. I nodded and then putting her arm around me, Melissa shared a little something about herself to make me feel better.
“He was my first. Kiss I mean… He knew, too, and he was really great about it. He didn’t laugh at me or make me feel self-conscious at all. We were saying goodnight after our first date and when he bent down to kiss me, I totally blurted out I’d never kissed anyone. All he said was something like, ‘Well, there’s a first time for everything’ and I remember being so freaking nervous, I thought I might pee my pants or screw it up somehow, but, it was amazing. In fact, I really wish Keith were as good a kisser as Tristan is. Oh and another thing, he’s not the kind of guy who expects sex or anything like it on a first date.”
“That’s totally true. Don’t stress about this, Camie, he sounds way worse than he actually is…I promise, he honestly doesn’t just go around nailing random girls every chance he gets like he did with that other girl. I mean he totally could if he really wanted to, but he just doesn’t. Mostly I think he keeps things pretty minor.”
Melissa was nodding in agreement and with their combined reassurances, I was able to breathe a little easier. I mean I know he’s not a virgin or anywhere close to it—and now, thanks to Brandon, I know that for sure—but even so, I just needed to hear someone I trust and who knows him well enough tell me he’s not like a sex addict and in need of a twelve-step program or something.
Wanting to move away from “graveyard” talk, I thought to introduce Kate and Melissa to Derek and Brandon, but they weren’t within hearing distance yet. They’d stopped on the track on their way back from the snack bar. More accurately stated; they were taking advantage of my “incentive” by scoping out some of the cheerleading squad. I caught Derek’s eye and he wandered over to me, but stood so he could keep an eye on MaryAnn, making it clear she’s the cheerleader of his choice.
“Okay, so what’s our plan for tonight? Keith’s going to Megan’s so should we go there?”
“Yeah, Jeff wants me to meet him there too, and I’m sure he’ll be with him,” Kate said, eyeing my cousin with some suspicion.
“Yeah, I’m sure where Tweedle-Dee goes, Tweedle-Dum will follow. Oh, don’t worry about Derek either…he knows everything and he’s in.”
“Oh, okay. Seriously though, Camie, you need to chill. I swear you don’t need to worry about that other stuff right now, especially since this might take a long time,” Kate told me gently but firmly.
“No it won’t,” Derek chimed in, out of the blue.
Huh?!
“What are you talking about?” I didn’t even think he was paying attention…he’s been totally busy making some kind of visual love connection with MaryAnn. Now I ask you, why can’t my hunk o’ good, good lovin’ be more direct like that?
“He wants you, Camie. Trust me. Hey Bran, how long do you think before she snags him?” Derek asked Brandon who sidled up next to Kate and handed Derek MaryAnn’s phone number. Damn, that was beyond fast! I’m more than impressed!
“Mmm…I say she sees some kind of action in a week, maybe two,” Brandon ventured confidently, crossing his arms over his chest while eyeing some of the football players, who, I think, might’ve been eyeing him and my cousin first. I swear, sometimes I wouldn’t be surprised if guys literally peed on girls to mark them as off limits.
“I’ll take that action. I bet it’s more like three…four tops. He’s a calculating opponent, Camie, but you have this in the bag,” Derek informed me with certainty.
“Uh, thanks for the votes of confidence, guys, but how the hell can you lay odds on a freaking time frame?” I was completely mystified yet gratified at the same time. Also, I love my cousin dearly, but I’m hoping Derek loses this particular wager and that Brandon comes out the victor—along with me. You know, my lacking patience and all.
“Camie, we’re guys. Anyway, you good? We’re gonna hit up a party down at the beach. You can come if you want, but I’m guessing you probably wanna show up wherever the shark’s gonna be,” my cousin the barracuda said of my ocean dwelling predator.
“The shark?” Kate asked, confused.
“Yeah. Camie’ll explain it to you when there aren’t so many listening ears.” Derek winked at us. You’ve really gotta appreciate the support of your family, you know? “Hey Bran, you’re still DD tonight, right?”
“After that concert last weekend…dude, I won’t be drinking for a long fuckin’ time.”
We went our separate ways, Derek and Brandon discussing the concert and what sounded like a possible encounter Brandon had with the missing link. We three girls exchanged an amused look and Kate whispered in my ear, “See? Everyone has a skeleton or two…” I giggled and nodded in agreement. Then I started musing about what sort of unpleasantness I’d eventually bury first and who, if anyone, would be attending the funeral with me. Once we were alone though, I explained Derek’s shark metaphor to Kate and Melissa as Kate drove us to what would be my first-ever keg-party.
Now I have to say if you haven’t been to one of these things yet, I can guarantee your first time will probably shock the crap out of you. At least it did me, unsurprisingly. Upon entering this shindig—or maybe the more appropriate term would be hootenanny…Oz from Buffy would know—I immediately pictured the party scene at Jake Ryan’s house from the iconic ‘80s movie classic Sixteen Candles. It was unreal. I mean there wasn’t a pizza spinning on a record player or anything, but there was just so much chaos my eyes couldn’t focus. With this and everything else I’ve started to learn this week, I’m starting to wonder if maybe I have been sheltered up until now. I guess there’s only so much knowledge one can glean from watching movies and reading books, you know what I mean?
Kate and Melissa navigated us through the throng of underage alcohol consumers and the occasional patch of noxious fog produced by those who were polluting themselves with cigarettes, and over to the three kegs being manned on the patio in the backyard. We waited for what had to be ten minutes before we were each handed a plastic cup overflowing and dripping with a frothy brew.
When I hesitated on taking the proffered beverage, Melissa leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “Just take it, you don’t have to actually drink it if you don’t want to. Just think of it as a prop.” Interesting. I guess it really is all about appearances…
Semi-relieved, I gripped the twelve-ounce cause for all this mayhem and with Melissa bringing up the rear; I followed Kate as she expertly steered a course to where Jeff and Tristan were standing. We made our slow progress through the bodies, being jostled, shoved, and spilled on without ever being apologized to. Or maybe we were apologized to, but music was blaring so loud, I couldn’t distinguish what anyone around us was saying. I knew they were communicating, though, because kids would open their mouths wide and lean towards each other, and then indicating they’d heard what had been said; the recipient of the hollering would nod their head.
Tristan and Jeff, along with some other kids I’m sort of familiar with now, were standing in a corner of the backyard when we finally reached them. Somehow, we lost Melissa along the way so I was grateful to have those other kids to shout at because Jeff essentially began feasting on poor Kate the moment we got close enough for her to become ensnared. He only relinquished her once when he went on a beer run for himself and Tristan. Which incidentally, took him a least a half-hour to return from.
The party was such an intense crush I felt like we were in a can of tinned sardines. Sorry. I know that’s a horrible cliché, but as I now fully appreciate the meaning behind it, I jus
t couldn’t help myself. Honestly though, there are only two things I can say I enjoyed about this whole experience aside from some decent music; 1) Teresa was nowhere to be seen, and 2) Although he didn’t shout, holler, or scream a single word to me, Tristan stayed put the entire night. I’m guessing that’s because there was really nowhere for him to go.
With my first party experience being what it is, I’m hoping tomorrow night’s chosen soiree is more like a shindig, because I’m now definitely certain that Oz would classify tonight’s as being a hootenanny. Seriously, watch that above referenced movie. The only thing this party is lacking is a drunk china-man named Long Duck Dong falling out of a tree. And if you happen to have already seen it, try to keep “the geek and the underwear” scene in mind for the future…
7.
Nippley New Girl
Saturday evening Kate and I were standing in her cavernous bathroom in front of the mirror, primping and perfecting ourselves in preparation for round two of the weekend’s social circuit. By this time I’m admitting that impatience does not look good on me. I’ve become pretty saucy, but not in an attractive way. I totally need to cool it with my verbal lashings, too; otherwise I’ll probably end up alienating all the people I care about.
That was what I was thinking about when I said, “Hey Kate? I’m really sorry about my venomous tongue lately. I know I haven’t been a joy to be around the last couple days.”
“It’s okay, Camie. I get it. Believe me, I do. I’m a big fan of instant gratification too, but we’re making progress so just hang in there. You heard what your cousin and his friend said. Plus, Tristan’s strategy last night means we’re still moving in the right direction.” In the mirror her kind gaze met mine briefly before she returned to touching up her expertly applied eyeliner.
“What strategy? Basically being trapped behind me for the duration of that party was a strategy?”
“Camie, he wasn’t trapped. He chose to remain rigidly where he was because you were there,” Kate told me as if that should’ve been obvious.
I sighed and tried for more softness in my tone. “Okay, explain. Because from where I was standing, he looked pretty hedged in and since I’m obviously not bright enough to figure this stuff out on my own, you need to give me the play-by-play.”
Bending over to fluff her hair, Kate said, “Well, it looked to me like he was doing a couple of interesting things. He could’ve, and always has in the past, gone to get his own refill, but, he didn’t. Instead, he sent Jeff. And I say he sent him, because Jeff was pouting about having to leave. Jeff knew how long it’d take with all those people there, and he didn’t want another drink either. He was already pretty buzzed and he ended up pouring his beer out on the grass before he’d even taken a drink.
“I think Tristan was not only being vigilant about keeping you in his sight, but he was using you as cover...like a shield to protect him from other girls. It worked too. When Jeff left and I was able to come up for air for a while, I saw at least two girls make like they were gonna approach him and both times, he shifted directly behind you and closed the gap between the two of you. It gave the almost unmistakable impression that you guys were there together. When the girls saw that and read the message he was sending, they pretty much turned-tail and left.”
“How do you do that?” I asked, seriously awed once more.
She laughed and put her sandals on. “I don’t know. I guess it just comes easy because I’ve had more experience with this stuff and I’ve known both of them forever.”
“Huh. So, please tell me this party isn’t gonna be one with wall-to-wall human carpeting like last night...God, that was miserable,” I pleaded. Really, it wasn’t much fun and Tristan or no Tristan; I’ve yet to see the attraction to an event such as that.
“Yeah, I know…it really was. Some parties just end up like that, though. Especially the ones after a game because word spreads like wild fire and people from the opposing school inevitably show up, too. Tonight should be better...Mike is usually more selective in his guest list. There’ll still be tons of people there, but his house is massive and if it’s an indoor-outdoor thing, it won’t seem so packed,” Kate reassured me with a smile. “You look really pretty, Camie.”
“Gee whiz, Kate, thanks. You look great too…I especially like your eyes. They look really fantastic tonight.”
“Only because I’m wearing makeup…I swear I was born without eyelashes.” She swept a big, fat blush brush over her cheeks, giving her fair skin a healthy looking glow. “You know, I wish I could get away with not wearing makeup all the time…it’s such a pain.”
“I wouldn’t know…my parents don’t think I need it.”
“Well, they’re right. Be grateful though, wearing this crap isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be.” Kate then gave her overall appearance one more look in the mirror and finding it satisfactory, she snatched up her car keys and asked, “You ready to go?”
“Yeah, I guess I’m about as ready as I’ll ever be…bring on the tinned fish!” I told her genially, trying to get my good sense of humor firmly back in place.
We got to Mike’s and although finding a place to park was tricky with all the cars parked bumper to bumper on the long, winding driveway and along the street, I blew out a sigh of relief and mentally thanked God once we entered the house. Kate was right; this gathering was much more on the shindig scale I’d been hoping for. She wasn’t kidding about Mike’s house being massive either. I mean I thought her place is big, but his is enormous. Get this; he actually has his own freaking tennis courts—yeah, plural—a putting green, and a hedgerow maze out in the north forty of the backyard. There were kids ranging all over the place, inside and out, but like Kate had said, the place is so big that you wouldn’t notice if half of California were in attendance. Except, of course, when you have to use the bathroom. I learned that at last night’s party and I guess it really doesn’t matter if there’re four available bathrooms or nine, the line will always be uncomfortably long.
Upon arriving, Kate and I went to the backyard to hang out with a tolerable sized group of our peers by a fire pit; one I’d no problem envisioning as the centerpiece of an authentic Hawaiian luau with a big pig being roast in the center. She and I were each sitting on one of the many, cushioned bamboo lounges, both of us listening to and participating in the animated talk going on around us, and we were both keeping an eye out for our men. They hadn’t shown up yet and although Kate promised me they would be here, she was starting to have doubts. She kept checking her phone for the time or to see if she had any texts or missed calls. I think the main thing she’s worried about right now is if Jeff’s okay, so I was about to suggest that she just call him herself when she removed her phone from her back pocket again and took the words right out of my mouth.
“You know, I’m worried. I’m just gonna call him and see what’s going on.”
I considered getting in line for one of the bathrooms, thinking of it more as a preemptive strike because I didn’t have to go yet. Instead, I chose to wait by my friend’s side as she listened to “Dear Jeff’s” phone ringing while she nervously bit her fingernails. She got his voicemail and left a message clearly stating that if he wasn’t dead or dying, he’d better call her back pronto or he could kiss his free meals goodbye again.
“I’m sure he’s okay, Kate.” I put as much confidence behind by tone as I could. Truth is, though, anything could’ve happened and she’s really starting to freak.
“I know. You’re right. Okay, come on…I want a drink. I need to calm down or I’ll make myself sick,” she said, suddenly standing up and grabbing my hand to haul me out of my seat.
We made our way into the kitchen and while she pounded down two shots of some various kind of liquor, I took in my surroundings. The kitchen was as large and impressive as you would expect it to be in a house this size, but it was a cozy kitchen nook table situated in a corner that captured my attention. Seated all around it; six guys were playing what looked
to be a game involving a quarter. For some unknown reason—maybe it’s because the coin was so sparkly—I was completely enthralled and went to move closer to better observe what they were doing. However, just as I took maybe a step and a half away, Kate grabbed my arm and showed me that her phone was ringing. Because I didn’t know what to say when she was obviously distraught by seeing Tristan’s name on the caller ID instead of Jeff’s; I took the phone from her and answered it.
“Tristan, what’s wrong? Kate is totally frea—Oh! Jeff! Yeah, sh—”
Realizing it was Jeff on the other end, Kate yanked the phone from me and started lecturing her featherbrained boyfriend, who she’s undeniably head over heels in love with. So as Kate went off on Jeff about how he needs to learn how to use a phone charger and that he could’ve called two hours ago to tell her they’d gotten a flat tire on the way home from the beach, I tapped her shoulder, informing her I was going to go to the bathroom. I figure I might as well, since I have time before my personal special someone—who knows how to use a phone charger, but just prefers to be uncommunicative—apparently won’t be here for a while.
Aw, crap. This is so what I’d hoped to avoid having to endure tonight. I get in line for the bathroom and what do I hear? It’s a sound so horrific it makes my stomach clench and I have to cover my mouth to keep from retching on bile…Teresa using foul words to excrete her toxic designs on Tristan. I’m really coming to hate her. She’s standing next to Lisa and with just one other girl between us; I can hear everything coming out of her mouth. I’m seriously considering sticking my fingers in my ears and singing la-la-la-la to myself so I don’t have to be subjected to her torture, because honestly, my temper’s been particularly short lately and I’m afraid I might unleash verbal hell—or worse—on her. At least automotive difficulties are keeping Tristan incommunicado for the time being and maybe once he gets here, he’ll find a safe place to hide.
Shark Bait (The Grab Your Pole Series) Page 10