me to be in the driver’s seat as I slowly got used to our new
friendship. Relationship? Whatever it was.
On the last day of school before Christmas
break started, Amber barreled over to my locker, practically pouncing on me
with enthusiasm. “Guess what? My mom is going out of town for the weekend to go
skiing with one of her coworkers.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Yeah, and?”
Amber rolled her eyes, “Dude that means
that I have the whole house to myself for the weekend. You have to come over
tonight. We can invite the guys and a couple of friends. IT WILL BE AWESOME!”
Ooh, the possibilities , I thought and gave a devilish grin. “Okay, I will ask my mom if I
can stay at your house for the weekend, but I can’t tell her that your mom will
be gone. You know how she is. She would never go for it.”
“I don’t know,” Amber answered, “your mom
is getting a lot better about that stuff. I mean you are a junior now.”
“I know, she has loosened up a bit, but I
still think it’s better to keep it on the down low this time.”
“Sure. Whatever. Anyway, let’s let the guys
know. They can bring over some of their buddies if they want. Sabrina can’t go
because she is starting her new job at Taco Bell. She is pretty excited about
it, and thinks that if she can make enough money she could maybe get a roommate
and move out of her parents’ house and into town.” Amber was rambling on fast
but I had no problem keeping up. The two of us often talked at furious speeds
when excited about something and only a few would dare attempt to follow along,
much less join in.
We carried on, making plans until the bell
for the next period rang. Then we scurried off with our minds scattered, thinking
about anything but academics.
I was pumped when my mom agreed to let me
spend the weekend at Amber’s. My uncle dropped me off on the way home from
ballet lessons. I threw my things inside the house before scurrying out to the
small barn and stables where I knew Amber would be doing her nightly routine.
Sure enough, Amber was mucking out the stalls where she kept her old mare.
I picked up one of the brushes stored by
the tackle and started to brush Annie down, while we talked excitedly about the
upcoming evening.
The guys were supposed to come by after
they got off work. Gabriel had helped Darren get a position at the grocery
store and both of them were scheduled to close. The plan was that they would
grab snacks and drinks before picking up some of their friends, then head over
around ten.
Back at the house, Amber cooked up Macaroni
and Cheese while I took a quick shower. We gobbled our dinner then flittered
around the house deciding what to wear, fixing each others’ hair and makeup.
The guys showed up with Shawn, Lewis, and
their girlfriends, and Darren dragged a cooler up to the front porch, “Help
yourselves, ladies!”
Amber gave him a smacking kiss and then
opened up the cooler, while I peaked over her shoulder. I scrunched up my face
when I saw its contents. “Beer. Yuck!”
Darren snickered as he prepared the steaks
he’d brought. “Quit being a bunch of girls,” he teased.
I couldn’t help but flash back to the last
time that I’d had a few beers and my stomach tightened in response.
I felt Gabriel watching me as I
contemplated the choice of beverages, clenching my jaw, a little stressed. What
the hell , I thought. Without further delay, I reached into the cooler,
snatched a cold can, popped the top and took a bitter swig. I was determined
not think of that night and was even more determined not to let it affect my
choices. I would drink a beer just to spite that memory. Unfortunately, I
really did hate the taste of beer and barely got the first icy mouthful down
without gagging. “Seriously, how does anyone drink this stuff? It tastes like
butt!” I said emphatically, enjoying the laughter I evoked.
Gabriel snuck up behind me, gently placing
his hand on my shoulder, and whispered, “I have
friendship. Relationship? Whatever it was.
On the last day of school before Christmas
break started, Amber barreled over to my locker, practically pouncing on me
with enthusiasm. “Guess what? My mom is going out of town for the weekend to go
skiing with one of her coworkers.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Yeah, and?”
Amber rolled her eyes, “Dude that means
that I have the whole house to myself for the weekend. You have to come over
tonight. We can invite the guys and a couple of friends. IT WILL BE AWESOME!”
Ooh, the possibilities , I thought and gave a devilish grin. “Okay, I will ask my mom if I
can stay at your house for the weekend, but I can’t tell her that your mom will
be gone. You know how she is. She would never go for it.”
“I don’t know,” Amber answered, “your mom
is getting a lot better about that stuff. I mean you are a junior now.”
“I know, she has loosened up a bit, but I
still think it’s better to keep it on the down low this time.”
“Sure. Whatever. Anyway, let’s let the guys
know. They can bring over some of their buddies if they want. Sabrina can’t go
because she is starting her new job at Taco Bell. She is pretty excited about
it, and thinks that if she can make enough money she could maybe get a roommate
and move out of her parents’ house and into town.” Amber was rambling on fast
but I had no problem keeping up. The two of us often talked at furious speeds
when excited about something and only a few would dare attempt to follow along,
much less join in.
We carried on, making plans until the bell
for the next period rang. Then we scurried off with our minds scattered, thinking
about anything but academics.
I was pumped when my mom agreed to let me
spend the weekend at Amber’s. My uncle dropped me off on the way home from
ballet lessons. I threw my things inside the house before scurrying out to the
small barn and stables where I knew Amber would be doing her nightly routine.
Sure enough, Amber was mucking out the stalls where she kept her old mare.
I picked up one of the brushes stored by
the tackle and started to brush Annie down, while we talked excitedly about the
upcoming evening.
The guys were supposed to come by after
they got off work. Gabriel had helped Darren get a position at the grocery
store and both of them were scheduled to close. The plan was that they would
grab snacks and drinks before picking up some of their friends, then head over
around ten.
Back at the house, Amber cooked up Macaroni
and Cheese while I took a quick shower. We gobbled our dinner then flittered
around the house deciding what to wear, fixing each others’ hair and makeup.
The guys showed up with Shawn, Lewis, and
their girlfriends, and Darren dragged a cooler up to the front porch, “Help
yourselves, ladies!”
Amber gave him a smacking kiss and then
opened up the cooler, while I peaked over her shoulder. I scrunched up my face
when I saw its contents. “Beer. Yuck!”
Darren snickered as he prepared the steaks
he’d brought. “Quit being a bunch of girls,” he teased.
I couldn’t help but flash back to the last
time that I’d had a few beers and my stomach tightened in response.
I felt Gabriel watching me as I
contemplated the choice of beverages, clenching my jaw, a little stressed. What
the hell , I thought. Without further delay, I reached into the cooler,
snatched a cold can, popped the top and took a bitter swig. I was determined
not think of that night and was even more determined not to let it affect my
choices. I would drink a beer just to spite that memory. Unfortunately, I
really did hate the taste of beer and barely got the first icy mouthful down
without gagging. “Seriously, how does anyone drink this stuff? It tastes like
butt!” I said emphatically, enjoying the laughter I evoked.
Gabriel snuck up behind me, gently placing
his hand on my shoulder, and whispered, “I have
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