by E. Van Lowe
“Oh, my!”I could feel my dinner rising into my chest. I swallowed hard.
What in the world is Erin doing leaving a headless bird in my backyard? The girl’s going crazy.
I recalled the dreams I’d been having where Erin turned into a monster. Ripping the heads off birds and dropping them in your former best friend’s backyard didn’t exactly qualify as monster behavior. I tried laughing it off as a dumb prank by an old friend who was irrationally angry with me. As I kicked the bird behind a shrub to keep Suze from seeing it until Icould discard it in the morning, tendrils of fear, nonetheless, gripped my belly.
#
Ditch day.
I left for school early because I didn’t want Suze to see me carrying the outfit I planned on wearing to The Explosion. I eased out the front door while she was still in the shower without so much as a good bye. I didn’t know what I would tell her about leaving so early, but I had all day to come up with a good lie.
When I got to school, the locker area was near deserted. Seniors were taking the entire day off. The rest of the student body would not go back to class after lunch.
I was at my locker, hanging the capris pants and top in back where they wouldn’t get wrinkled, when Guy ambushed me from behind, wrapping his arms around my waist. I hadn’t seen or heard from him all weekend.
I had planned on pretending to be angry with him for not calling or texting, but when I felt his arms around my waist I lit up with a smile.
“Hey you,” he whispered in my ear. “Miss me?”
“No,” I replied. “I had the best weekend ever. I didn’t even think about you until just now.” I was laughing as I said it.
He spun me around. “Really? Because all I did was think about you.”
And yet you didn’t call or text, is what I wanted to say. “I missed you,” is what I actually said. He pulled me closer. He smelled good.
“I missed you, too,” he whispered. Then he kissed me without warning. It was a brief yet passionate kiss that took my breath away, right in front of my locker.
He took a step back and looked me up and down. “Man, I almost forgot how beautiful you are.”
As curious as I had been about his mysterious weekend, once he called me beautiful, all thoughts of questioning him went out the window. I was overcome by a feeling of warmth and security. “Shut up,” I said. I knew I was blushing.
#
It was nearly impossible to concentrate in class. I knew I needed to knuckle down because the sophomore AP exams were coming up soon. These were important tests because they would help decide our placement for junior year. The right placement in junior year was the key to getting into the best colleges. This is what we AP students were working so hard for.
Still, my thoughts kept drifting to the party and having Guy all to myself all afternoon. When the bell for lunch finally rang, I was tingling with excitement. By the time I had changed clothes, it had increased. As I walked past the cafeteria and out into the student parking lot, I realized I had never done anything like this before.
Maudrina was already waiting next to Guy’s car. Her eyes were bulging with excitement. Ditching class was new for both of us.
A few minutes later, Guy arrived wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and a mischievous smile. “Hey there, ladies. Are we all ready to experience The Explosion?”
“Yes,” we both replied.
“Righteeo.”
The party was being held in a house on top of a hill that overlooked the valley. Mansion was more like it, with a beautiful, rolling, manicured lawn. There was a ten-foot wall surrounding the place so no one could see in. The gate had been left open. As we drove through, I felt as though we were entering the home of a big Hollywood star. The long drive that led up to the house was lined with tall evergreen trees. When we rounded the curve, ahead of us were wall-to-wall cars, like an overcrowded parking lot. People got as close to the house as they could, and just left their cars strewn across the drive at odd angles.
“Guess we’ll have to hoof it from here,” said Guy pulling in behind one of the many pickup trucks that crammed the drive.
When we started up the hill, we could see a small group walking ahead of us. The girls had on the same jeans and tops they wore to school. I started feeling uneasy. I didn’t want to stand out like the geek who was trying to be cool.
“I think I’m overdressed,” said Maudrina, a nervous lilt in her voice.
“That makes two of us.”
“Nonsense, ladies. You both look lovely.”
I appreciated that Guy was trying to put us at ease, but it wasn’t working. “Thanks,” I said. “But I don’t think lovely is what those girls are going for.”
“Yeah. They’re doing the I-look-hip-and-cool-without-trying thing,” added Maudrina.
“Relax. You both look hip and cool. No one is going to think you don’t belong.”
As we got closer, I spotted Ashley Scott and Heather McNamara in bikini tops and shorty shorts sunning themselves on the lawn along with some other girls I’d seen but didn’t know.
“Welcome!” called Jeremy. He was standing with a group of jocks under the white columned portico, pretending they weren’t ogling the girls on the lawn. He separated himself from his friends and came over. He had a beer in his hand.
“How’re they hangin’, Barnett?”
“Hi. Thanks for inviting us.” I was smiling. I couldn’t believe I was actually here.
He looked at Guy. “I’ve seen you around.”
“He’s my boyfriend, Guy Matson. He’s a junior.”
They nodded at each other and did a fist bump that ended with a shoulder bump to prove how macho they were. I don’t know why boys do that. It’s ridiculous.
“And this is Maudrina.”
Maudrina smiled. “Thanks for letting me tag along.”
“No prob. You go to G.U?”
Maudrina’s smile vanished. “Yes, I go to G.U. We were in the same economics class last semester.” She was annoyed.
“Oh, right.” It was obvious he had no idea who she was.
People like me and Maudrina are invisible to the Poplarati. If I wasn’t a friend of Matt’s, Jeremy wouldn’t have known who I was, either.
“Let me walk you guys in. A cooler with drinks is out back near the pool. Speaking of the pool, you can’t go in with your clothes on. If you don’t have a bathing suit, you’ve got to go skinny.” A sly smile crossed his lips.
Fat chance I’d be taking off my clothes in front of all these boys.
“Whose house is this?” I asked as we walked.
“The house belongs to a fellow classmate who wishes to remain unanimous.”
“You mean anonymous,” chimed Maudrina. She was still annoyed.
“Isn’t that what I just said?”
I shot Maudrina a knowing look, and she smiled. “My bad.” We shared a laugh which seemed to cool her off.
Either Jeremy didn’t notice or he didn’t care. He walked us through the front door past Alonzo Briggs who was checking invitations. It really was an exclusive affair.
The home was spacious and beautifully decorated, with oversized white chaise lounges that looked custom made. Artwork was tastefully displayed on white walls. I recognized an etching by Susan Dysinger. Her originals didn’t come cheap.
There were clumps of students everywhere, laughing and roughhousing, enjoying ditch day. All of a sudden, I started feeling sorry for whoever lived here. If the Poplarati trashed the place, the student’s parents would have his hide.
Jeremy walked us into the room where the music was playing. Some of the crowd were dancing, others lounging on the comfy couches. Most of them were drinking.
“It’s my turn on the door. Enjoy yourselves,” he said before heading back to the front of the house.
“Well. Here we are.” I was still taking it all in.
“Yep.” I noticed Maudrina was looking around like a deer caught in headlights. I was experiencing the same feeling. Now that
we were here, I still felt like an outsider. I was in the midst of the Poplarati, at one of the most exclusive parties of the year, and yet I was feeling like I didn’t belong. It’s one thing to feel you don’t belong, but it’s far worse to be in the midst of things, realizing you will never belong.
“I don’t know what I’m doing here,” Maudrina mumbled under her breath.
“Let’s dance,” Guy said, and yanked her out onto the dance floor before she could protest.
He started dancing around her as she stood motionless like a marble column. He smiled at her with his eyes, and gestured with his hands. “Please don’t embarrass me and leave me out here all alone,” he whined, making a pouty face.
She laughed, and her shoulders began to relax. After a few moments she started moving to the music, stiffly at first.
“Houston, we have lift-off,” Guy called out playfully.
Some of the partyers on the dance floor laughed.
A very cute boy said, “Yes, we do.” He danced over to Maudrina to give Guy a hand.
That’s when Maudrina really got into it, doing the Dougie with the two boys as if she did it all the time, and who knows, maybe she did, at home alone with her dogs.
A warmth came over me as if my whole body was smiling. I was proud to have a boyfriend who was so considerate as to put my friend at ease. How lucky am I?
A slow song came on. Guy looked at me across the floorwith his dreamy eyes. Without hesitation I moved into his arms.
“Thanks for cheering her up.” There was a satisfied smile on my face as Guy held me close on the dance floor. Maudrina was dancing next to us in the arms of the cute boy. Her head was on his shoulder, her eyes were closed. “But I guess saving the day is what you’re supposed to do since you’re an angel.”
“True. But I’m on vacation, so I will accept the kudos.” He pressed his hands against the small of my back. A delicious warmth radiated off him, washing over me.
“You have an answer for everything,” I said playfully. His touch left me breathless. I was trying not to let it show.
“I try.” He dipped me at that moment for effect. I came up laughing.
“Where do angels come from?” I asked.
He drew back, looking into my face to see if I was pulling his chain.
“I mean, I know they come from heaven. I got that. But are angels people who died and were brought back to help?”
He laughed out loud. “You watch too many movies.” He drew me in closer, lowered his voce.“God created angels long before he created man. We are a race of beings just like you.”
“Ah. So, being as you’re an angel and all, I suppose you have wings hidden somewhere under that jacket.” I rubbed my hands playfully along his shoulder blades.
“I did have wings at one time.” There was something in his tone, a sense of loss that made me sorry I asked the question. I changed the subject.
“You seem so worldly. I was wondering, have you had a girlfriend before?” I honestly didn’t know I was going to ask. No doubt, I’d thought it. After all, I wasn’t the first person he’d been sent to watch over. I knew how much he didn’t like answering angel questions, but my mind was searching for something to get us away from the subject of wings, and it just came out.
“No,” he replied. It was a one word, straightforward answer to get me to back off. But I was at The Explosion, and in his arms. I decided to go for it.
“Then how did you become such a good kisser? That doesn’t seem to me to be the kind of thing they teach in heaven. Not the way you kiss.” I smiled, hoping to take the edge off.
“Well…” He hesitated a moment. “I have to win people over.”
“By kissing them?”
“Yes. But not loving them.” He was starting to squirm.
“Is the great Guy Matson sweating?” I teased.
“I love you, Megan. It’s thrown my entire existence into turmoil. I didn’t plan on falling in love, but I did. I love you. I always will, and I’m happy about it.”
I suddenly found myself hyperventilating. Could anyone blame me? I was at The Explosion, dancing in the arms of the boy I loved, and he had just expressed his undying love for me.
As I swayed in Guy’s arms, I was thinking of what a beautiful place the world was, of how this was very much like the story book moments my mother read to me when I was a little girl, and how just as in the story books, I wished it would never end.
I was luxuriating in these thoughts when I happened to catch something out of the corner of my eye. Even though we were near the back of the house, it was one of those homes where you could see straight through to the front. A group of scraggly-haired toughs had just entered. They were too old to be students at G.U. There were two provocatively dressed girls with them. One of the girls was a teased-out platinum blond in a short jean skirt and thigh-high leather boots. The other was Erin.
Chapter Five
I tensed in Guy’s arms.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I’m not sure.”
Jeremy was trying to explain to the group that it was a private party. The lead tough who was wearing wire rimmed, oval-shaped sunglasses stepped closer to Jeremy. His right hand shot out and wrapped around Jeremy’s throat. Jeremy was bigger and more muscular than the boy, but obviously not as tough.
Guy turned, peering over his shoulder to see what I was staring at.
By then Jeremy had collapsed to his knees. I could tell he was pleading with the boy. All the jocks were. Finally the boy let go, and Jeremy rolled onto his side, his knees going up to his chest. His hands moved to his neck as he gasped for air.
“Wait here,” Guy said in a tone he had never used before. The command was so soft I almost didn’t hear it.
He started for the front of the house.
The party had virtually stopped. By now everyone knew there was something wrong. No one moved. Everyone stood where they were, staring at the group of toughs.
The crowd parted as Guy moved through to the front. His movement was languid, almost as though he was moving in slow motion. The leader saw him coming. He straightened, like a warrior ready to do battle, an evil grin splayed across his lips.
There were three other boys in the group. They took up positions just off his shoulders, eyeing Guy as if they were itching for a fight.
He seemed unmoved as he continued toward them. He wasn’t intimidated. He kept up the same even pace.
Guy may not have been scared, but I was scared for him. I followed behind him with my heart in my mouth. I didn’t want to fight. I hadn’t been in a fight since grade school, and I lost that one. Yet, if these boys attacked Guy, they’d have me to deal with as well.
By the time he reached the front, I was right behind him.
“Sorry, gentlemen, but you’re not on the guest list.” He said it matter-of-factly, yet there was a low, menacing tone to his voice.
The leader ignored him, looking past him to me. “Hey! I know you. Matt’s little girlfriend.” He removed his sunglasses and shot me a dingy-toothed grin.
I recognized him instantly. It was Danny Tambor, a mean boy I’d had a crush on for a week back when I was ten and he was fourteen.
“You can catch up with the young lady some other time,” Guy said without looking back to see who Danny was talking to. “It’s time for you and your friends to leave.”
Danny looked at Guy, his stare a blatant threat. He opened his mouth to respond. All of a sudden the strangest look came over him. His eyes widened. “You,” he whispered, hanging onto the word as if he was trying to dislodge it from the back of his throat. He started going all white as if he’d seen a ghost.
We all stood where we were for an interminable second. My eyes were on the back of Guy’s head. He seemed taller than I remembered.
Danny let out a soft sigh, his shoulders slumping forward, as if the wind had been knocked out of him. He looked down at Jeremy who was now seated on the floor. “Sorry to have bothered you, br
other.” His voice had turned conciliatory. Danny swung around, facing his crew. “I don’t want to party with these school kids. Let’s get out of here.”
His friends seemed surprised as he pushed past them and exited the house, but they didn’t question his change of heart. Instead they turned and followed on his heels.
It was then I looked over at Erin. Her eyes were caked with the same black eyeliner she was wearing in my dreams. Her pale breasts were overflowing her skimpy bikini top. Her skin-tight jeans had so many rips and cuts in them you could see more flesh than jean. This was not the Erin who had been my best friend since the third grade. This was another person altogether.
“Hey, Erin,” I called softly. I thought of asking her why she’d dropped the dead bird in my garden last night, but I realized it didn’t matter. Everything about the new Erin was a cry for help. She needed saving. This is what my dreams were trying to tell me. I knew it had to be me who saved her. “Maybe we can meet up at the mall some time.”
She rolled scorn-filled eyes at me, and without a word, headed off after her friends. A few moments later the sound of motorcycles firing up crackled in the air. Everyone in the house sighed with relief as the rumble of the bikes faded into the distance.
#
The party was pretty much over after that. The music came back on. Everyone went back to partying as if nothing had happened, but the mood had clearly changed. Shortly after that, people started making their way toward the door.
“What did you do to him?” I asked as Guy and I headed back to get Maudrina.
“Nothing.” Another of his famous one word answers.
“Danny and his friends were about to kick the crap out of you. But he saw something. He said you. What did he mean by that?”
Guy swung around and faced me. “Not today, okay! I just wanted today to be for us.” His words were tortured.
“Sure.” I smiled. I reached out and touched his hand.“I had a wonderful time today.”
His gaze softened. “You did?” He was suddenly a little boy looking for approval.