Life of the Party by Christine Anderson Page B

it’s no big deal. Just pass it on.” Grey spoke softly.
    “No. I want
to.” I decided. Of course I would do it. It was no different than E
or mush or weed, just another means to the desirable end. And I
wanted that end. I wanted to be higher that I’d ever been before. I
smiled at Grey.
    “I don’t know
how.” I giggled, ashamed.
    “Just pinch
your other nostril shut.” He leaned in close to me, explaining
under his breath. He handed me a rolled up twenty-dollar bill.
“Then suck it in with this, and chase the line.”
    “From the
mirror?”
    He nodded. My
heart beat convulsively in my chest, I was so nervous.
    “Don’t make fun
of me.” I pleaded. Grey laughed.
    “I won’t. Look,
no one’s even watching. Just don’t blow out, whatever you do. I
promise, you’ll love it.”
    “I will?”
    He nodded
again. That was it for me. Sold.
    I leaned over
and did it the way Grey had said. I sucked in quickly and moved the
bill down the line. Then I straightened up, sniffing, feeling an
immediate burn within my sinuses. I sniffed and sniffed, rubbing at
my septum, and pushed the mirror towards Charlie. Grey laughed and
watched me.
    “What do you
think?” He wondered. I looked at him, and honestly felt no
different. Just that my nose was on fire.
    “I … I don’t
….” I was about to say, “feel anything,” but was suddenly unable to
speak. Because I did feel something. I felt amazing. I looked at
Grey with wonder. My hands were shaking and I felt so good I wanted
to cry. I can’t even describe the euphoria that flooded over me,
the total and complete joy and contentment that became mine in that
instant. I was physically numb but mentally clear, completely awake
and alert. Totally confident. I looked at Grey and smiled,
buzzing.
    “Wow … it’s
just so, and I never realized it was like this. Is it always like
this? Did you do some? Do you feel the same? Can we do some more?”
I was whispering. He laughed, hard, like I had said something
outrageously hilarious. I didn’t even bother worrying if he was
laughing at me. How could he be? I was so awesome at that
moment.
    The mirror was
passed around a few more times, clandestinely. Grey showed me how
to pull my forehead back afterwards and inhale sharply to get
better absorption. I loved it, more than anything I’d ever tried.
Grey had been right.
    After a few
more lines, I was not content to sit anymore. I grabbed Charlie’s
hand and we went to the washroom, then to the shooter bar, then
back to the booth, then back to the washroom, gabbing the entire
time. Neither of us could talk fast enough or run out of things to
say. Everything we said was so profound, so right on. My entire
body was humming; I could feel my heart beating rapidly.
    Then, I felt
something else. In my mouth, there was a sudden, terrible, horrible
taste. I made a face and put my hand over my lips, sliding back
into the booth.
    “How you doing,
Mackenzie?” Grey noticed my grimace as I sat next to him. “Does it
taste like hairspray?” He asked.
    I nodded in
disgust, my hand still over my mouth.
    “Try to swallow
it. It’s just the coke. Back drip.” He explained.
    “Lovely.”
    “Want some
more?”
    “Yes.”
    Of course I
did. I didn’t want this feeling to ever end. Grey and I sat, almost
completely by ourselves now as the others dispersed, some to go
dance, some to get drinks. I leaned comfortably against him as we
shared another mirror or two. His arm rested loosely around my
waist, his hand warm. He smelt so good.
    “Do we have to
get you back anytime … curfew or anything?” He asked, his voice a
deep rumble in my ear. I lit my eightieth some odd smoke and blew
it out in a laugh.
    “Hardly. My mom
works nights, my dad’s away on business. They’ll never notice that
I’m gone.”
    “Well, maybe
I’ll just keep you, then.”
    “Sounds good to
me.” I agreed.
    I was content
to sit now, with Grey beside me, but nothing could stop the
uncontrollable chatter that