tonight, Bunny. I’ll keep an eye on Pepper. I’m driving anyway. Does she have a curfew?”
Bunny eyes him. “No, no curfew. What kind of party is this, anyway? Pepper, you’re wearing a pair of those high top Converse sneakers that your dad used to wear. Are you going to be playing basketball or something?”
“No, Gran. It’s just, I heard the party was at Remy Laroche’s house, and he lives up the mountain a ways, so I thought we might be outside hanging out.” I look at Ryan, who smiles encouragingly. “I’ve never been to one of these things, but I hear sometimes there are bonfires and stuff, and I need some shoes on so I’m not tramping around in the woods with sandals or heels or something.”
“Heels?” Gran scoffs. “Baby girl, you don’t own any heels.”
I shrug. “I know. I’m just saying, if I did.”
“I suppose this is dressed up for you,” Gran concedes. She gestures to me and looks at Ryan. “She looks nice, don’t you think?” I’m wearing a cutoff jean skirt, and a button-down plaid cowboy-style shirt that I got at a thrift store.
“She always looks great, Bunny,” Ryan assures her. “And especially beautiful tonight.” He grins at me.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Okay! Shots?” I pick mine up and look at Gran. Her eyes twinkle. We clink glasses and I throw mine back, like I’ve seen on TV. I’m surprised when it’s sweet, and I barely taste the alcohol. It’s like lemonade.
“That was actually pretty yummy, Gran!” I exclaim.
“Yup. Now, just cause you can’t taste it real strong and it’s yummy, don’t mean you should keep on drinking. One of those will make you feel good, but more than that and you’ll start to get drunk. So no more lemon drops for you tonight.”
We finish up dinner and Gran hugs us good-bye. Ryan tries to insist on doing the dishes, but we’re shooed out the door.
We wind halfway up Mt. Lincoln before we see the cars parked along the road and hear the music coming from Remy’s house. My palms are sweaty and my knee won’t stop bouncing. I’m glad Gran gave me that shot. I’m a wreck as it is and I think I’d be freaking out even more without it. Ryan opens my door and I realize I’m still sitting in the passenger seat, twisting my hands. I’m grateful when he takes one and holds it as we walk towards the music. His hand is warm and firm.
If I’m honest with myself, I’m not just nervous about the party, or how people will react to me being here. I’m nervous because I know Jace will be here, and I don’t know how he will react. Ryan squeezes my hand and I smile at him.
Remy and Ben are standing outside smoking cigarettes. They’re the captains of the soccer team, and I’m surprised to see them smoking. But I try to pretend like I’m not. “Hey, guys.” I wave at them stupidly.
Remy puts out his cigarette and walks towards me. “Pepper? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” He looks concerned.
“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t it be okay?” I clutch Ryan’s hand. Maybe Remy will make me leave. Oh no. I shouldn’t have come.
“Jace isn’t here. He doesn’t come around our parties as much these days,” Ben explains, standing next to me now and staring at my hand locked with Ryan’s.
“Oh. Okay. Um. . . why not?” I feel like that’s what I’m supposed to ask.
“College parties are more his thing,” Remy says, as if that should explain it. I feel like I should know this. Jace is my friend. But he never talks about parties with me.
“That’s okay. I’m not here to see Jace. I came with Ryan. Is that okay?” I feel like they are blocking our entrance and that I need to ask permission to enter.
Remy looks at Ben, who shrugs. Remy glances at Ryan and hesitates before relenting. “Sure, yeah, head on in. Keg’s out back. I’m trying to keep people outside so the house doesn’t get trashed.”
As we
Bunny eyes him. “No, no curfew. What kind of party is this, anyway? Pepper, you’re wearing a pair of those high top Converse sneakers that your dad used to wear. Are you going to be playing basketball or something?”
“No, Gran. It’s just, I heard the party was at Remy Laroche’s house, and he lives up the mountain a ways, so I thought we might be outside hanging out.” I look at Ryan, who smiles encouragingly. “I’ve never been to one of these things, but I hear sometimes there are bonfires and stuff, and I need some shoes on so I’m not tramping around in the woods with sandals or heels or something.”
“Heels?” Gran scoffs. “Baby girl, you don’t own any heels.”
I shrug. “I know. I’m just saying, if I did.”
“I suppose this is dressed up for you,” Gran concedes. She gestures to me and looks at Ryan. “She looks nice, don’t you think?” I’m wearing a cutoff jean skirt, and a button-down plaid cowboy-style shirt that I got at a thrift store.
“She always looks great, Bunny,” Ryan assures her. “And especially beautiful tonight.” He grins at me.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Okay! Shots?” I pick mine up and look at Gran. Her eyes twinkle. We clink glasses and I throw mine back, like I’ve seen on TV. I’m surprised when it’s sweet, and I barely taste the alcohol. It’s like lemonade.
“That was actually pretty yummy, Gran!” I exclaim.
“Yup. Now, just cause you can’t taste it real strong and it’s yummy, don’t mean you should keep on drinking. One of those will make you feel good, but more than that and you’ll start to get drunk. So no more lemon drops for you tonight.”
We finish up dinner and Gran hugs us good-bye. Ryan tries to insist on doing the dishes, but we’re shooed out the door.
We wind halfway up Mt. Lincoln before we see the cars parked along the road and hear the music coming from Remy’s house. My palms are sweaty and my knee won’t stop bouncing. I’m glad Gran gave me that shot. I’m a wreck as it is and I think I’d be freaking out even more without it. Ryan opens my door and I realize I’m still sitting in the passenger seat, twisting my hands. I’m grateful when he takes one and holds it as we walk towards the music. His hand is warm and firm.
If I’m honest with myself, I’m not just nervous about the party, or how people will react to me being here. I’m nervous because I know Jace will be here, and I don’t know how he will react. Ryan squeezes my hand and I smile at him.
Remy and Ben are standing outside smoking cigarettes. They’re the captains of the soccer team, and I’m surprised to see them smoking. But I try to pretend like I’m not. “Hey, guys.” I wave at them stupidly.
Remy puts out his cigarette and walks towards me. “Pepper? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” He looks concerned.
“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t it be okay?” I clutch Ryan’s hand. Maybe Remy will make me leave. Oh no. I shouldn’t have come.
“Jace isn’t here. He doesn’t come around our parties as much these days,” Ben explains, standing next to me now and staring at my hand locked with Ryan’s.
“Oh. Okay. Um. . . why not?” I feel like that’s what I’m supposed to ask.
“College parties are more his thing,” Remy says, as if that should explain it. I feel like I should know this. Jace is my friend. But he never talks about parties with me.
“That’s okay. I’m not here to see Jace. I came with Ryan. Is that okay?” I feel like they are blocking our entrance and that I need to ask permission to enter.
Remy looks at Ben, who shrugs. Remy glances at Ryan and hesitates before relenting. “Sure, yeah, head on in. Keg’s out back. I’m trying to keep people outside so the house doesn’t get trashed.”
As we
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