Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

first....
    *
    Directed at me. "No, no.
    Go ahead. I'm not planning on going anywhere special
    today, just hanging out here."
    *
    Mom just shook her head, but
    Kyra sputtered, You're not
    coming? But you have to! It will
    be so much more fun with you.
    *
    Like they really wanted me to come. Talk about TTC!
    "No, you guys go. I don't feel so great today, anyway."
    *
    Kyra might have argued
    more, but Mom decided,
    You should stay home then.
    Last thing I need is a bug.
    201
    Last Thing
    Any of us needs is Mom with a bug. She's bitchy
    enough totally healthy.
    Weird, but I can't remember
    *
    the last time she was sick.
    Too freaking mean, I guess.
    She probably scares the bugs
    away. Anyway, Kyra and
    *
    she continued their mutual
    butt-kiss fest all the way out the door. I have to admit
    I half wanted to change
    *
    my mind and go with them.
    If I believed they really
    wanted my company, I just
    might have. Instead, knowing
    *
    I'll have the place to myself
    most of the day, I called Lucas as soon as the door slammed behind Butt Kissers One and Two.
    202
    After the Last Fiasco
    Lucas was just a bit hesitant.
    Are you sure? Man , last time was a way close call. I definitely
    don't need that kind of trouble.
    *
    What a wuss! But that's not
    what I said. What I said was,
    "They won't be home until three at the absolute earliest.
    *
    Come over right now. Please?"
    Then I made my voice all
    breathy, hoping that was sexy.
    "I really, really need to see you."
    *
    Need to see him, to melt like candle
    wax against his heat. Need his heat.
    Any heat. Need to feel warmed, wanted. For a change.
    *
    But I didn't say any of that, either. No use letting him
    know I'm needy. Anyway, it worked.
    He should be here any minute.
    203
    I Did Shower
    Even borrowed some of Kyra's
    way expensive ginger-scented
    shampoo and lotion. No wonder she always smells so good!
    *
    The last time I went to the mall with Paige, one of the few
    investments I made was in a sapphire blue satin nightshirt
    *
    with matching bikini panties.
    Good thing my cute stalker,
    Bryn, didn't see me buy
    this outfit. He would have
    *
    followed me home for sure.
    I still have his card in my purse.
    Not sure what for. Anyway, all dressed down in sapphire
    *
    satin, damp hair, and smooth
    skin perfumed with ginger,
    I feel sexier than I ever have
    before. Could I really be sexy?
    204
    Lucas Makes Me Wait
    Almost two hours. It's closing in on noon by the time he decides to grace me with his presence.
    I've chewed three fingernails
    *
    clear down to the quick, yanked several strands of hair
    out of my head. Not great
    ways to deal with nerves,
    *
    and I know it when I'm doing
    them, but can't seem to stop
    myself, especially just sitting in limbo next to the window.
    *
    By the time his Eclipse streaks into view, I'm totally in need of fake nails and my scalp
    pulses pain. And I'm pissed.
    *
    But when I open the door, see Lucas standing there, in all his tanned hotness, anger
    morphs back into neediness.
    *
    He checks me out, gives a low
    whistle. You should dress like that more often. Nylons and heels, you'd be just about perfect.
    205
    The pout that pops up is not
    manufactured. "What do you
    mean, 'just about'? Not the right
    thing to say to someone you
    *
    kept waiting for two hours."
    I let him in anyway, and he rewards me with one of his luscious kisses. Def perfect.
    *
    Too soon, he pulls away.
    Sorry I'm late. But I wanted to pick up a little something to make the afternoon interesting.
    *
    He reaches into his jacket
    pocket, pulls out a small metal
    can. Inside is a miniature baggie, a razor blade, and a short length
    *
    of drinking straw. All we need is something to chop this up on.
    Something glass, like a mirror or maybe a picture.
    *
    I'm not sure what's in the bag, let alone if I want to try it.
    So why do I jump to my feet to go find something glass?
    206
    What's in the Baggie
    Is a half-dollar-sized chunk of something yellowish white.
    It sparkles in the sunlight.
    Lucas