by Mia Ford
“So, what are you going to tell Monica when you see her?” Henry’s question brought me back to the present.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to tell her you told Matt?”
“Hell no. And risk not taking one last ride before we scatter to the far corners of the earth? She’s going to need some comforting and I know exactly who she’s going to run to.”
“You’re lucky, Lucas. If I had your powers I’d have pussy lined up outside my door every day and every night.”
“Yeah, well, that’s why you don’t.”
We laughed and watched as Chris Hadek rambled on at the podium in the front of the auditorium. She looked like a straw of black licorice with a flat top.
“Is the party still on for tomorrow?” Henry asked. “I saw your dad’s girlfriend. Is she sticking around?”
"No." I hissed. "She's catching a plane after the ceremony." Suddenly all the fun of the evening slipped away. "I don't even know why she came," I grumbled. My dad isn't here. If she thinks she's anything like my mother she's wrong.
“I know why she’s here.” Henry looked at me seriously. “She was hoping to get a handful of this.” He pointed to his crotch.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Look, Lucas. How long are they going to be gone?”
“I don’t know. I think they’ll be back before I head off to Dartmouth.”
“Right. So, let’s get through tonight and then party tomorrow and leave the hounds at the door, man.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know, Lucas. Just go with the flow, man.”
I smirked and looked around to see who else there was to talk to. It was funny that I found myself looking at Telula again. She looked like she was falling asleep. I wondered what she looked like asleep. I’m not sure why. Maybe I’d see her at the party tomorrow. Maybe.
Chapter 4 - Tilly
“Are you having second thoughts about going?” I pinched my phone between my shoulder and my ear. “Sandy, you know I won’t go without you.”
“No. You convinced me there would be trashing going on.” Sandy bubbled. “I would like to see that. Speaking of trashing what about that graduation speech yesterday. I didn’t think a person had enough saliva in their mouth to talk for almost forty-five minutes straight.”
“Right?” I held up a black pencil skirt in front of my hips and looked in the mirror. “The chances of anyone ever listening to her speak again for any length of time is probably slim so she had to jump on that chance while she could. Hey, what are you wearing tonight?”
“Jeans.” I could hear the smirk in Sandy’s voice. “I’m not getting dolled up for that group. Especially if I may have to make a quick getaway.”
“Why would you need to make a quick getaway?” I shook my head.
“I don’t know.” Sandy’s innocently replied. “Maybe if one of their priceless Ming vases gets broken or a Monet painting gets ripped. I’m out of there before they can blame me.”
“Who said they had Ming vases or Monet paintings? I think you are giving these people a lot more class than they deserve.” I didn’t want Sandy to know that I was nervous so I tried to pretend we were just stopping by to drink Lucas’s liquor, go through his mom’s jewelry and maybe, maybe scratch a wall or crack a tiny piece of plaster. Any small act of vandalism was to make up for all the rude bull we put up with over the past four years.
“Maybe.” Sandy agreed before telling me she’d be on her stoop in ten minutes and I better be there before she changed her mind.
I left a pile of clothes on my bed. It was embarrassing that I was putting this much time and energy into an outfit to wear. Especially when I didn't want Lucas to think for one second I was trying to look good for him. I wasn't. In fact, I wanted to look like I didn't care one bit. But with each shirt, with each skirt or any one of the two dresses I owned, I was mercilessly reminded that I didn't have any money.
That was another reason I wanted to look like I didn’t care. I knew who was going to be at this party. I knew what kind of people they were. They were the same people who made fun of my car, a used Dodge Neon, and my clothes that never had a famous label attached to them.
But they couldn't hassle me about my grades as I was a straight-A student with the exception of Phys. Ed. That was the only grade that disqualified me from being co-valedictorian with Chris Hadek. Mr. Quinn, the gym teacher, gave me a D+. I worked very hard for that D+. It takes a very creative mind to find so many ways to avoid breaking a sweat.
Regardless of the debilitating mark in Physical Education my grades got me a full scholarship to Columbia University in New York. Not too shabby for the girl everyone said would become a stripper after high school.
Oh, yeah. That was another prediction Lucas’s group of friends had said about me. But I never felt as insulted as they expected me to be. You’ve got to be pretty hot to be a successful stripper, right? It was a compliment, even if I had to stretch my mind around, underneath, on top of and inside their words to find it.
Finally, I decided on a denim miniskirt and a white t-shirt with my Converse gym shoes just in case Sandy and I had to make a quick getaway.
“You look adorable.” My mom said as I walked from my room to our tiny kitchen where she was washing dishes.
“That skirt is too short.” My dad piped up from the other end of the kitchen table where he was sorting out some bills. He was always sorting out some bills.
“You think so, Dad?” I smirked. “Mom just said I looked adorable.”
“He’s just worried because I was wearing a skirt shorter than that when we met.” My mom teased.
“Believe me, Dad. I won’t be meeting my future husband at this party. But just cover all bases do you have enough money in case I need bail?”
“If I don’t pay our electric bill.” Dad mumbled without changing his expression. “Why might you need bail?”
“Sandy is coming with me.” I pulled the refrigerator open and grabbed the gallon milk jug and took a swig.
“Sandy’s parents can handle her bail. You’ll just have to serve the time, honey. We love you but we love cable more.” Dad diligently made some notes in his checkbook before looking up and winking at me.
“Thanks, dad. I knew I could count on you.”
“So where is this party?” my mom grabbed a pen and paper and smiled while blinking innocently at me.
“Don’t you trust me?” I put my hands on my hips.
“Of course, I do.” mom rubbed my arm. “It’s the rest of the world I don’t trust.”
“Okay, give me this.” I quickly wrote Lucas’s name, address and phone number on her notebook and handed it back to her.
“Are you kidding?” Mom sighed. “You are not going to Sarkis Estates.”
"What? Yes, I am."
“Honey, the cheapest house in Sarkis Estates costs over three-quarters of a million dollars. That’s the house for the poor family in that neighborhood. Who do you know who lives there?” My mom was suspicious. “I don’t want you to end up like those true crime stories where the wonderful girl with the big heart get ambushed by a bunch of rich monkeys because they think they can get away with it.”
“Believe me, mom. Sandy and I are just stopping by and I promise to be home in about two hours. Three tops.”
“So, if you don’t call me to tell me you’re okay in three hours that’s the signal to go ahead and call the police?”
I looked at my father.
“What is she going to do when I go to New York?”
He shrugged, shaking his head with a smirk on his lips.
“Okay, I’m out of here. I’m going to pick up Sandy and I’ll call you to let you know everything is all right. Don’t worry. I’ll be home early.”
"Be careful and have fun." My mom called me as I left through the back door.
“Don’t call us if you get arrested!” My da
d yelled through the window.
“I won’t!”
"According to the Mapquest, you need to take a right up ahead and the Prine Estate is on that street somewhere," Sandy instructed as she looked up from her phone to the scenery out the car window.
"These houses could house many houses like mine." I gasped. To say they were mansions was an understatement. Huge, rolling brick structures with perfectly manicured lawns and cobblestone driveways were on each side of the street. "Look. Even their flowers all grow perfectly together. I'm a creeped out. Are you?"
"A little," Sandy muttered. She pointed to a well-lit house. "That's it."
“Of course, it’s white.” I sighed. “Jeez. Maybe this is a bad idea.”
“Oh, no way.” Sandy insisted. “We’re here now and I want to know what this place looks like on the inside. I’ll bet you twenty dollars there is a Monet hanging on a wall somewhere.”
“You’re on.” I couldn’t resist a sure thing. “If we separate, keep your phone close and make sure you make your own drinks.”
“Right. Could we be more suspicious?”
“It’s not suspicious. It’s cautious. There is nothing wrong with being cautious. That’s why I’m parking on the street. Just in case we need to make a quick getaway.”
The music was thump-thump-thumping as we walked up the long driveway. Sandy pointed out BMWs, Lexus’, Mercedes and even a Tesla parked all the way up to the front door.
From the back of the house, splashing water could be heard. People were laughing and girls were squealing.
“Are you ready?” I asked Sandy.
“Yeah. Hey, Tilly?”
“Yes.”
“I’m nervous.”
“Me too. I don’t even know why.”
“Let’s do this.” Sandy took my left hand in hers. “Let’s make a lap around, see what’s happening, and if either one of us wants to leave after then we go.”
“Perfect. It isn’t like we have anything to prove.” I soothed.
“Yeah, we won’t even see these people anymore after tonight.” Sandy boasted.
“That’s right.”
We both took a deep breath and while still holding hands we opened the front door and walked in.
After a quick look-around we both realized we didn’t know a soul.
“Are you sure this is the right address? There are bound to be tons of spoiled brats having graduation parties, right?” I asked Sandy.
“This is the address.”
“Do any of these people even go to our school?” I smiled pleasantly.
“No. That’s a good thing. Let’s make a lap.”
I had made the mistake of assuming the entryway was the living room.
I carefully walked the long carpet as I was afraid if I walked on the marble any guest could see almost a mirror reflection up my skirt.
There were no Monet’s hanging on the walls but there were dozens of paintings taking me off to beautifully colored abstract worlds that I would have loved to study them had there not been a couple dozen teenagers loitering in front of them.
“Look. How many kegs are over there?” Sandy shouted in my ear.
There were five silver barrels lined up along a wall, each with a tap attached on top.
“Let’s have a drink and finish walking around.”
With beers in our hands, we continued exploring. But before we got too far Sandy shouted, pointed and burst out laughing.
"Tilly, look who it is!" She let go of my hand and dashed through a crowded room into the open arms of her good friend Sean Householder. I knew Sean and he was a really nice guy. Of course, he was traveling with his entourage, a short dude named Timmy flanked him on one side and a tall, lanky fellow who went by the name of Rob was on the other. I waved hello and watched my friend let down her guard knowing that if there was any trouble these guys would be her first, best line of defense.
“Hey, Tilly.” Timmy came up to me and we hugged. “What brings you to this part of town?”
“Just slumming it, Timmy. How about you?”
“Same.”
“Do you know where the bathroom is?” I asked.
“I don’t even know whose house this is. Sorry.”
“Tell Sandy I’ll be back. You guys staying for a while?”
“As long as the beer keeps flowing.”
I chuckled and had to admit knowing those guys were there, did help take the edge off. Finally, I saw the line of girls. That had to be the line to the bathroom.
"Yikes. I'm not waiting for that." I looked around.
Chapter 5 - Lucas
“Check it out.” My friend Henry elbowed me and jerked his head toward the front door. “Is that Telula Grant?”
“Wow. I’m actually surprised she came.” I tried to hide the fact I was happy to see her. I caught Henry ogling her up and down. Telula brought her friend along. She was cute, too, but I never knew her name. Telula was more my style.
“You knew she was going to come?” Henry asked.
“I invited her.”
"What for? Is this like the last night of slumming before you hit the big time or is there something else going on that you need to tell me?"
“I’m not sure yet.” It was true that I had no idea why I invited Telula Grant to my house. But I was glad I did as I walked up to her.
“Where is your bathroom?” She asked immediately.
"Uh, hello to you, too," I replied. That was annoying. She barely noticed my house or me. "Did you just come here to take a leak?"
“Yeah, I wasn’t dressed fancy enough for the gas station bathroom.” She whipped back.
I rolled my eyes and waved for her to follow me.
I lead her up the stairs and down the hallway to my room. I had my own bathroom. She didn’t seem to notice my Dolce shirt or my Rolex watch. I couldn’t figure out why. I could barely take my eyes off her and I know what she was wearing she probably got at WalMart. My mind had gone blank. I felt my mouth go dry.
“What’s in there?” She asked. I heard suspicion in her voice.
“This is my room. I have a bathroom you can use.”
“You lock your bedroom door?”
“I’m sorry, maybe you didn’t see the group of savages we passed on the way up here. Do you really think I want any of them using my bathroom?”
She laughed.
I held the door open for her to step inside. She bolted for the bathroom, shutting the door quickly and I heard her instantly lock it behind her. Part of me felt a little insulted that she’d think she needed to lock the door like that. I was called a lot of things but I wasn’t a rapist.
The water started to run in the sink and I heard the toilet flush.
“Would you like a tour to the house?” I offered.
When she stepped out she had fresh lip-gloss on and I could smell the not so unpleasant scent of Lemonheads candy. It was impossible not to smile.
“That would be fine. So long as I can leave a trail of breadcrumbs.” She tugged at the hem of her skirt.
“What?”
“You know, like the little kids in Hansel and Gretel? Their evil step-mother tried to lose them in the woods so they left a trail of breadcrumbs to find their way back home. Don’t you read?”
“I must have missed that one.”
She rubbed her hands together. I could tell she was nervous.
“Let me just let Sandy know where I am. She found some friends of hers so I don’t have to worry about her.” As she pulled her phone from her back pocket I thought how happy that little device must have been so close to her ass.
“You don’t trust me?”
With glittering blue eyes that seemed to flash darkly for a split second, she smiled.
“No. I don’t.” Her giggle was condescending.
My chest tightened at the words. There was a brutal honesty to her reply.
After a nod that her message had been received, Telu
la put the phone back in her pocket and looked up at me. She studied me, waiting for me to make a move.
I couldn’t say for sure what was holding me back. The fact that I wanted to stare at her for as long as possible couldn’t be it. I was not that guy. Maybe I was coming down with a fever or something.
“All right. Follow me.” I jerked my head and lead the way out of my room, sure to lock it up behind us. The last thing I wanted was to find someone’s DNA cocktail smeared on my bed sheets.
“Aren’t you worried about leaving your party?” She inquired.
“Why would I be?”
“Well, some of the kids there are not your friends. Aren’t you worried they might damage the place?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” I chuckled as I recalled an epic trashing my house took for a party last year. It got way out of hand. “But that’s what insurance is for.”
“Aren’t you worried what your dad will do?”
"Why do you care?" The words came out sharp. A sensation of dominance crept up from my feet as if it had been waiting there for the right time to spring to life. It wove up my legs and to my chest but stopped short of my brain. Had it continued it would have wrapped over, around and through my brain. Telula's face stared back at me blankly. I didn't know what to do.