Provex City

by Michael Pierce

  Anna turned to me, intrigued and confused. “What are you gonna wear to the party?” she asked, trying to match Desiree’s tone and inflections.

  “How many times do I have to say this? It’s a surprise!”

  “Bull. He’s lying. He doesn’t know what he’s wearing.” Anna shot Desiree a smug look. She was so confident she had everything figured out.

  “Really?” Desiree asked.

  “Yeah, I can tell,” Anna said.

  “You can’t tell,” I said, offended.

  “How can you tell?” Desiree asked.

  “I can just tell,” Anna insisted.

  “Oh, you’re good!” Desiree laughed.

  Eli sat back and smiled. He seemed quite content with the girls double-teaming me.

  “Whatever,” I said, defeated. “I’ll find something fantastic.”

  “You already know what I’m wearing,” Anna said with a glint of something sultry in her eyes and enticingly licked her lips.

  I couldn’t tell if it was an exaggeration or not.

  “You better!” Desiree cried out. “It’ll be here before you know it.”

  10

  The Unexpected

  On Friday night, the night before the party, I tried not to think about the costume that eluded me. Instead, I spent the night in and relaxed. It was just Frolics and me. I sunk into the couch, reached for the remote on the coffee table, and flipped through the hopeless abyss of stations. That was when my costume found me. I landed on one of my favorite movies, which I hadn’t seen in about a year. It seemed to be rarely on network television and I knew the coincidence in finding it tonight was uncanny. It didn’t occur to me right away that I had found my costume, but when the protagonist wore it I knew it would suit me perfectly. My epiphany came by not searching for an epiphany. I relaxed for the rest of the night knowing that I had nothing to worry about tomorrow.

  I spent Saturday morning at the shopping centers within walking distance from my house. I was lucky enough to find a costume store that had exactly what I was looking for and already 25% off since Halloween was just a few days away. I ran with my bag almost all the way home.

  “I hope you’ve found your costume, because I don’t think I could forgive you if you haven’t,” Desiree said, calling me after lunch.

  “Don’t worry, I’ve got it,” I said.

  “I can’t wait. I’m so excited. Are you excited? It’s gonna be legendary!” Desiree said and hung up.

  Desiree had said I could come over any time after seven. I laid down on my bed, begging for time to speed up. But it didn’t. It ticked away at the same pace it always did without acknowledging my anticipation for the night’s festivities. I looked over at the bag from the costume store sitting on my desk. I had homework to do, but I couldn’t concentrate on it now. That’s what Sundays were for. I slipped on my headphones and hoped music would do the trick of speeding up the clock.

  2 p.m. I continued sifting through the albums on my iPod, especially Elliott Smith.

  3 p.m. I rummaged through the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator, snacking on anything I could find, much of which didn’t pair well together.

  4 p.m. I paced around the pool in the backyard with a Frolics shadow. I climbed up on the diving board, walked to the end, and looked down at the lightly rippled water. Ever since we moved here, the pool had beckoned me, but it couldn’t convince me to jump in. I hadn’t gotten in more than a half-filled bathtub since my accident in the lake. I was either seven or eight. And now I had this pool to remind me daily that I still wasn’t over the fear. Sucked under the surface, sinking to the bottom from pure panic. My flailing limbs failed to keep me afloat, just that one time, but that one time was all it took. I stepped back from the edge of the diving board with the usual, yet aggravating chills.

  5 p.m. I took my skeleton costume out of the bag, ripped open the plastic wrapping, and laid it out on my bed to de-wrinkle. I grabbed my gray hooded jacket—the one I had worn to the cemetery—from the closet and neatly placed it on the bed beside the skeleton costume. Lastly, I located my pair of black Converse with black laces and placed them on the bed beside my jacket. My ensemble was complete. It may not have been elaborate, but it was perfect.

  6 p.m. Mom was preparing dinner. I went into the kitchen to help. I thought the social interaction would be healthy and maybe help speed up the time. We finished up and Mom, Richard, and I sat down and ate. Jeremy was gone again.

  6:30 p.m. I freshened up and put on my costume.

  6:50 p.m. I said goodbye to Mom and Richard and told them I was going over to Desiree’s house. They gave each other a weird look.

  6:54 p.m. I was joyfully out the door.

  I rang the doorbell when I reached Desiree’s house. She yelled from somewhere inside to just come in. Eli and Anna were already there helping Desiree transform the house into a haunted Halloween wonderland. There were cheesy decorative ghosts, ghouls, and bats hanging from the walls and ceilings. Eli and Anna were now stringing cobwebs throughout the common rooms.

  Desiree dashed out from the kitchen. “There’s pizza in the kitchen, if you want some. I’m finishing up with the bathrooms. There are some folding chairs in the garage. Could you please get them and set them up on the back patio? That would be great,” she said and darted up the stairs.

  “Don’t worry, she’ll settle down once the party’s going,” Anna said. “Did you bring your costume?”

  “I’m wearing it,” I said and unzipped my jacket so the skeleton was more prominent. It was then that I noticed no one else was dressed up yet.

  “Oh—now I see. Who are you supposed to be?”

  “A skeleton, of course!”

  “Seriously? That’s it?”

  “All right, I’m a movie character.”

  Anna and Eli stopped what they were doing to analyze my costume. They both came up with nothing.

  “Okay, okay. If you haven’t figured out who I am by the end of the night, I’ll tell you,” I said, confident Anna would be frustrated all night without an answer.

  “Fine. Maybe Desiree will know,” Anna said to Eli, and he agreed.

  The kitchen was already set up: Two-liter bottles of soda, cups, chips, and candy on the counter, and several chests of ice on the floor. Behind the soda were a few bottles of liquor, and I had no idea how Desiree had gotten them. I was holding a bottle of whiskey when Desiree entered the kitchen.

  “Eli got those for us. A work hookup. It wouldn’t be a party without alcohol. Eli and Anna already took a shot, would you like one?”

  “No thanks; I’m good.”

  Just then Anna walked into the kitchen and linked arms with Desiree. “Do you know who Oliver’s supposed to be?”

  Desiree had been too busy with her preparations to notice my costume until now. She looked me up and down and shrugged, “I give up. Who’re you supposed to be?”

  “I told Anna I would let her know at the end of the party.”

  “But you can tell me,” Desiree said slyly.

  Anna gasped in horror that I would even consider such a proposal, which was exactly the reaction that caused me to accept. Desiree broke her link with Anna. I kept my eyes on Anna as I whispered into Desiree’s ear.

  “I would not have gotten that, but bravo. I like it.”

  “How dare you! How dare both of you!” Anna shouted. She grabbed the bottle of whiskey from my hand. “Eli, get in here! It’s time for round two!” She poured them both a shot and they knocked them down in one simultaneous gulp.

  “How about you?” I asked Desiree.

  “I don’t drink. This is for everyone else,” she said.

  “Your girlfriend knows. Find out for me,” Anna said to Eli as she rinsed out the shot glasses.

  “Knows what?”

  “Who Oliver is. Find out for me—please?” Anna pleaded.

  “Maybe I’ll find out for myself and not tell you.”

  “You wouldn’t!”

  “That’s all I ask,” I ch
uckled.

  “You guys suck,” Anna shouted and stomped out of the kitchen.

  After a moment’s rest, with Anna sulking in the other room, Desiree got back to business and left me standing alone in the kitchen. I ventured onto the backyard patio and spread more spider webs around the bushes. I wasn’t sure what other decorations Desiree wanted me to put up because the spider webs were all I could find.

  Eli was also outside setting up his music equipment. He had a plug-in acoustic guitar, half-stack amp, and effects board. He tested out the connections and volume by playing a few scales. After setting his guitar on its stand next to the amp, he disappeared into the garage and returned a few minutes later with three guys. They all carried their own equipment. Eli casually introduced me to his friends. Derek, Todd, and Mike. Eli helped Derek put together the drum set. Todd wheeled out his bass amp, with his guitar bag slung over his shoulder. Mike brought out a second guitar amp and PA, and set up his microphone. There was an industrial web of cords.

  Eli brought out shot glasses and the bottle of whiskey from the kitchen. They each took a celebratory shot and counted off to a pre-party jam. I sat back and soaked in the sonic artistry. Eli seemed to be acting extraordinarily nice to me today, and I wasn’t exactly sure why. Maybe he was finally over the fear that I was after Desiree. Because I wasn’t. She was just a friend and the feeling seemed to be obviously mutual.

  A song or two later, I noticed the girls step out through the sliding glass door. The music didn’t stop, but to me the whole world went silent. Desiree had her blue and red Alice in Wonderland dress with black and white striped stockings and the knee-high leather boots she had tried on at the mall. Her flowing russet hair was curled and voluptuous, quite a difference from the minimal attention she usually gave to it. Anna wore the black corset, a short black skirt, dark purple stiletto heels, and a choker necklace with a purple crystal heart dangling just above her bust line. Her short blonde hair was seductively combed forward, flirting playfully with her dark and alluring eyes, and a bright smile revealed her fresh set of fangs.

  “How do we look?” Desiree asked. They both attempted to strike a high-fashion pose.

  “Beautiful,” Eli shouted over the music. He motioned to the rest of the band to stop playing.

  “Amazing,” I said and got up from the folding chair I’d been resting on.

  Anna walked toward me and did a runway-like twirl with pristine balance on her stilettos and stopped less than a step away. “I vant to suck your blood,” she said dramatically and bared her fangs.

  “I don’t think I’m ready to live forever yet.”

  “Well, the night’s still young. Do you like?” she asked innocently.

  I grunted out a primal, yet undeniably positive response.

  She smiled ghoulishly and turned back to Desiree. “Let’s get this party started!” she said, grabbing my hand, and leading me into the kitchen. She snatched two plastic cups from the table and set them down on the counter. “What can I make you?”

  “Umm—a Coke is fine,” I stammered.

  “Are you sure you don’t want something with slightly more kick?”

  “No, I think a Coke will be fine,” I said, nervous about how much she was going to pressure me into drinking.

  She looked at me inquisitively for a moment and then poured a Coke for each of us. She grabbed a handful of ice cubes from one of the coolers and dropped a few in each drink. Handing me a cup, she smiled so her pearly fangs glistened over her bottom lip. As I took my first sip, she poured a curious amount of whiskey to top off her cup and stirred it with her index finger.

  “Cheers,” she said anxiously.

  Desiree walked in, grabbed a cup, scooped some ice, and poured herself some root beer.

  “How did you get your mom to let you throw this party?” I asked.

  “I didn’t. She’s visiting my grandparents this weekend, and I told her I needed to stay behind for schoolwork. But I’m sure on some level she knows, she just won’t ask. No one’s feelings get hurt that way.” And just as Desiree finished her sentence the doorbell rang. “Our first guests! Woo-hoo!” she screamed and dashed to the door.

  For the better part of an hour, masquerading guests and ghouls filled the house and spilled into the backyard. A few people I knew from my classes, a few I recognized from seeing around school, and many I’d never seen before in my life. There were also plenty of painted faces and masks floating around the house and it became a playful quest to discover their hidden identities. Krystal and Sara, from art class, showed up together. Andy showed up later with some friends. As far as I knew, Blaine wasn’t around, but who could tell with the deluge of costumes overtaking the house.

  Eli’s band roared in the backyard, dance music blasted from the living room, and the sliding glass door in the kitchen was the permeable divide allowing a continual flow of guests to and from the sonically different worlds. I enjoyed the casual ambience of the backyard concert. I was joined by Andy and his friends to listen to the twilight jam. There was minimal conversational pressure. I sipped my Coke and relaxed.

  The girls spent a lot of their time inside. It felt more like a party in there—crowded and claustrophobic with shouting and dancing. Desiree ran around playing hostess; she wanted to make sure everyone was having fun. She came out to watch the band a few times, offer people drinks, and introduce herself to friends of friends she didn’t know. She was always high-energy, but tonight she was on fire. It was her night, her party, and she was determined to make it (to use her earlier word) legendary.

  “Anna’s looking for you. Why aren’t you inside with her?” Desiree asked me.

  “She’s not looking very hard, ’cause I haven’t moved.”

  “Okay... She’s inside dancing, but she’d like to be dancing with you.”

  “I can’t dance.”

  “Then have a drink. It’ll loosen you up.”

  “I don’t want to drink,” I said, feeling embarrassed. “I’m fine with what I have.”

  “That’s okay. She’s pretty drunk and probably won’t notice you making a fool of yourself anyway,” Desiree said with a smile. “Go find her.” She grabbed my hand and led me into the kitchen, maneuvered me through the clusters of people, and walked me up to the hallway that led to the living room. “You’ve got nothing to be nervous about. I have to go fix some drinks. Go,” she said and gave me an encouraging nudge.

  The bass coming from the living room rattled my stomach every time the beat hit. I slowly lurched forward, growing more apprehensive of entering the living room with each step. I didn’t want to walk out onto the makeshift dance floor. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself with my first attempt at dancing with a girl in front of all these people. Everyone was focused on their own affairs, but as soon as my awkwardness on the dance floor was noticed, all eyes would be on me. The thought was terrifying.

  I turned the corner and looked out at the sea of bodies moving rhythmically to the music bellowing from the stereo. Most of the dancers enjoying the music were girls, but there were a number of guys making their moves on the increased odds. I noticed my girl, Anna, in the middle of the crowd, swaying with all those around her and holding her drink high in the air where it seemed just as likely to spill. She didn’t seem to be dancing with anyone in particular—with girls and guys surrounding her, and she was dancing with all of them, all moving in a trance-like ecstasy.

  I stood there, finishing my drink, gathering my courage, and biding my time for the appropriate moment. But what would be the appropriate moment? In between songs? For her to notice me? For a clear path to emerge? There was no path through the sea of bodies. Everyone seemed to be in some way connected, holding the outsiders at bay. Or were they just obstacles, obstacles I was meant to overcome…

  I finished my safety drink and no longer had a way to just stand around without looking awkward. I had to do something. Looking back to the kitchen, I thought of refilling my cup. And then I looked toward the dance flo
or and thought of moving forward. Finally setting my empty cup down on a small table by the stairs, I dove headfirst onto the dance floor.

  I did my best to move with the music and squeeze past the entranced, oblivious dancers. I kept my eyes on Anna as I maneuvered forward, deeper into the ocean and realized I had no easy exit. I stumbled, bumped, and shoved my way to the center and no one seemed to care. The close proximity was natural here, and we were all connected. I broke through the final barrier and stood dumbfounded in the presence of Anna grooving and grinding to the music. She had one hand in the air and one hand on some guy’s shoulder, moving seductively. She gracefully twirled 180 degrees and rubbed her body fervently against his, lost in the pulsating beat and feral rhythm of the music.

  Anna finally looked ahead and released a surprising burst of excitement at the sight of me standing before her. She pounced on me in jubilation and wrapped her arms tightly around my neck, unknowingly spraying our surrounding guests with what was left of her drink. Everyone around us took a step back with caution and groans of irritation, leaving us separated, yet trapped in the middle of the sea of undulating bodies.

  “There you are!” she yelled in my ear. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Are you having fun? Are you happy? Are you here to see me?” she said and stumbled backward when she let go of me. She steadied herself, extending her cup-holding hand to regain her balance. Then she brought the plastic cup up to her lips and attempted to take a thirst-quenching gulp, but got less than a drip. “Aww—it’s all gone.” She dropped the cup on the floor.

  Anna got herself back into the swing of the music and moved into me. She grabbed my hands at my sides and placed them on her gyrating hips. She threw her arms around the back of my neck, and we moved to the music as one person. I had no technique and tried not to think about what I was doing, except to follow Anna’s lead into an uninhibited state of consciousness. Anna had help, and I had Anna.