Lauren took a hearty gulp of punch and immediately regretted itthe
stuff tasted disgusting.
"C'mon," Stock urged, pulling her out of her chair. "They're playing
my favorite."
His favorite turned out to be a soapy rendition of "Rocket Man."
She hated it, especially when he began to get romantic, pulling her
close, rubbing his crotch up against her leg and singing off-key in her
ear.
Tonight's the night, she thought gloomily. He's going to make a move
and when he does I'm giving him back his ring.
About time, too.
Across the dance floor Nick edged his way nearer to Lauren, guiding
Dawn until she finally realized something was up and said, quite
testily, "Where are we going? You're pushin' me around like I'm a
vacuum cleaner!"
"We're gonna play excuse me."
"Huh?"
"Like I'll ask Lauren to dance-an' you'll take care of Stock."
"I will?"
"Yeah. We gotta liven things up."
"That'll liven things up, all right," she said, getting the picture and
not particularly liking it. If Nick thought he was about to score with
Miss Thighs Together Roberts he had another think coming. Sweet little
Lauren wouldn't give him a second glance. And Stock would punch his
brains out if he made a move on his precious fiance'e.
As soon as he'd maneuvered them next to Lauren and Stock he gave Dawn a
shove and an encouraging "Go for it!"
Dawn smiled provocatively at Stock. After all, she knew him well
enough-they'd been secretly sleeping together on and off since eighth
grade, and his engagement had certainly made no difference in his sex
life. My turn," she said gaily, pulling him away from Lauren, throwing
a perfunctory "You don't mind, do you?" over her shoulder.
"Go ahead," Lauren said, one eye on Nick-who winked as if to say How
did you like the way I arranged this?
Stock was easily led. Could he help it if girls found him
irresistible?
Dawn played her part, dragging him off to the middle of the dance
floor, clinging to him tightly.
"Hey," Nick said, staring intently into Lauren's eyes. "Looks like you
need someone to dance with."
She felt her heart begin to beat erratically. All of a sudden she
could hardly breathe. "I guess so."
He took her in his arms, pulling her in real close. "Tonight you're
breakin' your engagement," he said, very quiefly.
"I know," she found herself replying.
He held her even closer. "Just so long as you know."
"There's gonna be trouble," Joey said.
"What kind of trouble?" Cyndra asked.
"Big trouble," Joey replied, nodding toward the dance floor.
Cyndra had no idea what he was talking about. As far as she could see,
everybody seemed to be having a good time.
"You don't get it, do you?" he said.
She wondered what she was supposed to get.
"Stock Browning."
Browning. The very sound of that name made her shudder. Damn the
whole disgusting Browning family, they were the worst kind of people.
"What about Stock?" she asked, trying to stay cool.
"Your brother's makin' a move on his girl."
She frowned. "How many times do I have to tell you? Nick's not my
brother."
"Don't make no difference, he's gonna get his ass kicked."
"Good."
"You want him getting' beat up?"
"I don't care."
"Yeah, well . . . I'll havta get into it."
"Why?"
Cause he's my friend."
She studied the dance floor. Stock was gyrating with Dawn. Nick was
way over the other side, slow dancing with Lauren. "Nothing's going to
happen," she said.
"I hope you're right."
"I usually am."
"What's Lauren doing with him?" Meg said, staring furiously across the
dance floor.
Mack was not listening to a word she said. "Y'know, I always had eyes
for you-even when I was going steady," he said.
Meg was distracted. She was enjoying all the attention, but at the
same time she didn't appreciate her best friend cozying up to Nick
Angelo. "Where's Stock?" she demanded. "He should put a stop to
this."
"You got the cutest little butt I've ever seen."
A compliment was a compliment. She forgot about Lauren for a minute.
"I do?"
"Yeah. Cute butt. Cute face. I really dig you, Meg. Always did."
"Yes?"
"Let's go outside an' sit in the car."
"It's cold out there."
"We'll put on the heater, play the radio, finish up the champagne.
C'mon, say yes . . . I wanna tell you about when I first noticed
you."
How could she resist? "You won't. . . try anything?"
He looked suitably hurt. Girls were the most stupid cretures on
earth-did she really imagine it was conversation he was after?
"Who, me? I have too much respect for you, Meg. I really do."
She allowed herself to be persuaded. After all, he was pretty damn
cute himself.
"Well . . all right." ten minutes to touchdown! With a great deal of
effort he tried to keep his eyes off her plump, ripe breasts as he
steered her outside.
As midnight approached a sense of anticipation hung over everyone.
Excitement was definitely in the air.
The band was blasting out a Beatles medley. Nick's arms tightened
around Lauren. "This is a very special night," he said, his voice low
and warm. "The start of something' new."
"I know," she said softly.
"This time in ten years we'll be old."
"Sort of."
"Very."
"I guess."
"But we'll be together."
He sounded so sure, and yet she knew this wasn't going to be easy.
Stock she could deal with-but her parents would go crazy if she ever
started dating Nick Angelo.
Don't be negative, Roberts.
Okay, okay. Take it easy. I'll try to be as positive as I can.
The Beatles medley ended, and the band blasted into their own noisy
version of "Born to Be Wild."
Dawn grabbed Stock's hand as soon as he began backing off.
"Where you going', big boy? We were just getting into it." She licked
her lips suggestively and wriggled her hips. "Don't flake on me now.
Stock felt altogether foggy. "Gotta find Lauren, it's almost
midnight."
"Oh, yeah, midnight," Dawn sneered. "Big deal. I can show you a
better time than little Miss Goody-and you know it."
"Gotta find her," Stock repeated, slurring his words, his face red from
too much Scotch surreptitiously sipped from his father's silver flask
hidden deep in his pocket.
Dawn felt she'd done her part, she wasn't going to beg. Screw Nick
Angelo-this wasn't how she'd planned on spending her New Year's.
Over by the edge of the dance floor Nick and Lauren were locked in each
other's arms, oblivious to everyone around them. Stock spotted them
and started over.
Joey stood up. "Here we go," he groaned, stubbing out his cigarette.
Cyndra toyed with her glass of watered-down punch. "Nothing's gonna
happen."
The bandlea
der grabbed his microphone. "Five minutes to midnight!" he
roared excitedly. "Five minutes to blast off! Are we ready?"
"Yeah!" the crowd roared back. "We're ready!"
The band switched to "Crocodile Rock"-they were in an Elton John
mood.
"Lauren." Stock placed his hand on her shoulder and whined a plaintive
"I didn't mean to dance with Dawn for so long. C'mon.
it's time to go.
Lauren was startled, for a moment she'd forgotten about everyone and
everything except Nick, Stock had ceased to exist. She turned to face
him. "I I don't want to go," she said quietly, her heart pounding.
"Why not?" he demanded belligerently.
"Because I don't."
Stock began to get angry. Was she giving him a hard time on account of
his dancing with Dawn? For a moment he stood there swaying, suddenly
realizing that while he'd been busy, Lauren had been cozying up to Nick
Angelo.
"What the hell you dancin' with this dumb prick for?" he demanded.
"Take a look at him-he's wearing sneakers, for crissake.
Can't even afford shoes."
She felt Nick stiffen, ready for battle. Quickly she touched his arm,
hoping to restrain him.
"Three minutes to midnight!" yelled the bandleader.
"You come with me where you belong," Stock said.
"No," she replied.
"You're my fiance'e. Cut the shit an' do like I tell you."
Without saying a word she removed her engagement ring and handed it to
him.
He was stunned. "What's this?" he said blankly, staring at the
sparkling diamonds.
over, Stock," she said, finally feeling in control.
"Over?" he said incredulously. "It can't be over."
"It is," she replied calmly, experiencing an overwhelming sense of
relief.
He raised his voice, his face becoming even redder. "Nothin's over
until I say it is."
She stifled a hysterical giggle. Was it her imagination or did he look
like a boiled lobster? "Don't yell at me," she managed, without
breakingup.
"Two minutes!" from the bandstand.
"Shit!" from Stock.
Now people were beginning to notice something was going on and couldn't
help watching.
Nick decided the time had come to join in. He put his arm around her
waist. "Let's go," he said.
"You-fuckin' butt out," Stock shouted, enraged. "This has nothing t'do
with you."
"You've got it wrong there," Nick replied evenly. "It has everything
to do with me.
"Fuck you!" Stock screamed.
"We're rollin' into countdown," the bandleader yelled, his microphone
drowning out everyone. "So let's all do it together. Countin' back
from sixty. Fifty-nine . . . fifty-eight. . . fifty-seven "Jesus!"
Stock smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand and glared at
Lauren. "Now I know why I couldn't get into your friggin' pants. This
cheap, nigger-lovin' prick got there first!"
"How dare you talk to me like that," she said.
"I'll talk to you any way I want. You're nothing but a tramp bitch -I
should've listened to my mother."
Nick stepped forward. "This asshole is asking' for it."
"No!" She tried to block him from getting to Stock.
"Nineteen . . . eighteen . . . seventeen .
"Get out the goddamn way," Stock warned her. "I'm teachin' this
white-trash punk a lesson."
"Don't!" She tried to stop them; she hadn't wanted it to come to ten
.
. . Okay, now everybody together. Let's this.
Eleven hear you all!"
The crowd launched into a raucous chant.
Joey fought his way through, hoping to stop the inevitable. Cyndra
trailed behind him.
Five . . . four . . . three . .
Stock shoved Lauren roughly aside. Nick went to protect her, and
before he realized it was coming, Stock hauled back and let one rip,
sending him sprawling.
..... Two... one. HAPPY NEW YEARRR!!"
Nick didn't have a chance. He fell like a slab of concrete. Just
before he lost consciousness he saw balloons. Hundreds and hundreds of
pretty pink balloons floating through the air.
"Then we'd better get you over to the emergency room," Joey said,
taking charge.
"What emergency room?" Cyndra asked. "This isn't Chicago, you know.
We've got two doctors in town and they're probably both out
celebrating."
"Are you sure it's broken?" Lauren asked, filled with guilt.
He touched his nose again. "Yeah, I'm sure."
His face was covered in blood, and some of it had dripped onto Lauren's
dress, leaving big wet stains.
"I didn't mean this to happen," she whispered softly. "I'm really
sorry.
He tried to make light of it. "Hey, a broken nose is worth it if it
gets that asshole out of your life."
She considered his words. Yes. Stock was certainly gone, there was no
doubt about that. "He is out of my life," she said quietly.
"Forever.
"Well," Joey said, "this is all very cozy, but what're we gonna do?"
"We could take him over to the hospital in Ripley," Cyndra suggested.
"They've got an emergency room.
"How'll we get him there?" Joey said, scratching his chin. "It's
snowing, freezing cold, an' it's New Year's Eve. How'll we do it? On
the back of my bike?"
"I guess not," Cyndra said.
"He can't go to the trailer park," Lauren said firmly. "It's too
far.
I'll call my father and ask him to pick us up. He can stay at my house
tonight."
"Are you nuts?" Joey exclaimed. "Your parents will freak when you
tell em you've finished with Stock."
"You're right," she said glumly. "But it's my fault he's hurt and I'll
take responsibility."
Nick groaned. "I'd like to kick that asshole in the balls."
"What makes you think he's got any?" Cyndra said coolly.
He attempted a weak laugh. "So, it takes something like this for you
to talk to me, huh?"
She shrugged. "Don't get carried away."
Lauren hurried off to call her parents. She stood at the pay phone,
impatiently waiting for someone to answer. Then she remembered e came
to gradually, gasping for breath, his head aching like it was going to
bust right open. Groaning, he raised his hand to his face and touched
sticky blood. Slowly he opened his eyes.
Lauren was sitting on the floor, his head cradled in her lap. They
were in the corridor outside the gym. A few people stood around
watching-waiting to see if he was dead, no doubt.
Mr. Lucas, one of the school chaperons for the night, glared down at
him. "That was disgusting behavior, Angelo," he said sharply. "We
don't condone fighting in this school."
"He didn't do anything, Mr. Lucas," Lauren protested. "Stock hit
him."
Mr. Lucas ignored her. "Somebody better get him home," he said
impatiently, puffed up with his own importance. "I have to go back
inside."
Now that the excitement was over, the few onlookers drifted away.
Only Joey remained, Cyndra hovering close behind him.
"Jesus, man, you all r
ight?" Joey asked. "I was on my way over when
that moron laid one on you.
Nick tried -to think straight. He felt like shit. Gingerly he touched
his throbbing nose. "I . I think it's broken." the?"d gone to a
party and probably weren't back, which was all the better to smuggle
Nick into the house before they could object. She called the local
taxi service and was lucky enough to get a cab.
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