News Flash (10 page)

The night passed in a blur of punch and dancing to bad music. Rory redefined the term “wandering hands” during all of the slow dances, and I had to wonder if he was trying to be a cliché of a guy from a John Hughes movie. After I had moved his hand off my rear for the fifth time in one dance, I huffed out an irritated breath, and stepped out of his arms.

“Look, Rory, I didn't come here to get groped all night.” I put my hand on my hip, and cursed the fact that the dress made me look softer than I normally was.

Rory laughed, and pulled me back into his arms. “You don't mean that. I'm just playing the role you invited me here to play.”

My temples throbbed as annoyance coursed through my veins. Reminding him that he had volunteered to be my date for the evening seemed pointless. Whatever character he had in his head seemed to have taken over his common sense. I wasn't sure I liked whoever this guy was that I was seeing tonight.

“I think Allison would rather dance with me now.” Jake inserted himself between Rory and me so effortlessly I would have sworn he'd been practicing. Before Rory could protest, Jake had moved us onto the middle of the dance floor. I momentarily flashed back to dancing in Gram's barn the day before, and wondered what was coming over me. This was just my best friend. I did not want to become some simpering caricature of the girl who fell in love with her best friend who just happened to be the boy next door. There was nothing original about.

And yet…I didn't dare look up at Jake because the emotions warring in my chest would show in my eyes. Of that I was certain. I wished things hadn't gotten so complicated between us, or that I could just diffuse the weird tension with some smartly placed, well-timed old fogeyism to make Jake laugh. His arm tightened around my back, almost as if by reflex, pulling me closer as if to protect me. Maybe he could read my thoughts.

“You know that guy is a creep, right?” Jake sounded angry, and I looked up at him in surprise.

“Rory's nice. I like him. He likes me. You don't even know him.” I knew as soon as I spoke that I'd said the wrong thing. Jake's face fell into a pout I'd seen dozens of times over the years, and I knew that I'd hurt his feelings. Instead of backing off, though, I pressed on. “Besides what do you care? You came with Mary Beth, and if Rory's a creep, then Mary Beth is the queen of creeps.”

Jake rolled his eyes at me. “You're just jealous of Mary Beth, which is absurd, but true. And the only reason you are with that Rory guy is because he's older and you think he'll help you get ahead at work.”

My mouth dropped open, and I stopped dancing. I took a step away from Jake, and just stared up with him, the ugliness of his words not even registering at the moment. “How could you say that?” My words came out in a squeak.

“Just saying the truth like I see it.” Jake balled up his fists at his sides as he looked down at me.

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes, and I blinked rapidly to keep them away so Jake wouldn't see how much he'd hurt me. “You're a jerk.” My words lacked conviction, but I could tell by the expression on Jake's face that they met their mark. “Don't talk to me.”

I waved him off as I pushed through the crowd to find Rory. Maybe I could fake an illness, and convince Mr. Carson that I should be allowed to leave early. Disgust filled me when I saw Rory standing by the punch bowl talking to some blond girl with long legs and a short skirt. Despite her grown up look, the girl seemed way too young to even be at prom. All guys were the same: lewd jerks.

With my tears threatening to spill over I ran out of the ballroom into the lobby of the convention center. There was a wedding in one of the other ballrooms, and some meeting of balding, middle aged men in suits. Neither seemed like the appropriate place to hide so I turned down a narrow hall from which I could the clatter of dishes.

I pressed myself into a small alcove, and closed my eyes as tears leaked down my cheeks. The sound of footsteps made me hold my breath. When the person stopped in front of me, I squinted up into the dark, only to heave out a sigh. “Jake. What are you doing here?”

Jake shook his head, and reached out toward me. I tried to ignore the hurt expression on his face when I flinched. Why did I care about his feelings after the way he had treated me? Still I let him put his hands on my elbows, and rock me gently back and forth.

“I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have said that stuff. It's just,” he paused, and his hands tightened on my arms, “you can do so much better than that guy. I want you to be happy, that's all. Forgive me?”

I wiped the dampness away from my cheeks, took a deep shaky breath, and said, “Sure, I guess. I appreciate that you care about me, Jake, but I'm a big girl. I can make my own decisions. I think you need to back off a little.”

We both stood there, Jake still holding on to me, and me hugging myself, and all I felt was an incredible numbness spreading through my body. I shook my head to fend off the horrible thought that Jake and I weren't actually friends anymore. That someone who could say such awful things to me wasn't worth keeping in my life. I could barely wrap my head around the thought because life without Jake made me feel so incredibly sad that I felt the hole of grief opening in me like a yawning chasm that I did not want to fall into.

“We should go back to the dance. Rory and Mary Beth will wonder where we are.” And I pulled away from Jake before he could say anything else.

After we dropped Mary Beth off at her house, Rory headed back to my neighborhood. Jake loomed in the back; a big, hulking shadow of disapproval. When we pulled into my driveway, Rory draped his arm across the back of my seat.

“Listen, some of my friends are having a party, do you want to run in and change? Then you could come with me.” He fingered the spaghetti straps of my dress as he spoke. The implication was clear to me, and even though it made me uncomfortable, my anger at Jake made me want to do something kind of reckless.

“Sure, I'll be right back.” I scooted out of the car, and slammed the door. I was halfway up my front walk when Jake emerged from the car.

“Allison, you aren't serious are you? Going to a party with that guy? Who knows what kind of stuff will be going on there. I can't let you do it.” He leaned against the chain link fence that surrounded our front yard.

I spun around on the bottom step. “And what are you going to do about it, Jake? It's none of your business. Go home.”

When I got in the house, I stomped up the stairs, anger radiating off of me in waves. When I passed Brooke in the hallway she leapt aside with a muttered curse, and I just ignored her. Who did Jake think he was anyway? I was eighteen years old. In less than five months I would be fully enmeshed in college. If I wanted to go to a grown-up party why shouldn't I? It couldn't be any worse than the lame high school shindigs I'd been to.

Besides, I trusted Rory. He wouldn't take me anyplace that wasn't suitable for someone my age. It would be fun to meet his friends. That seemed like such a couple-y thing to do. I yanked off the blue dress, and let it slump in a small heap on the floor. In one last fit of annoyance I kicked the dress under my bed. I grabbed jeans and a button down shirt from my closet, and threw them on.

“Mom? I'm heading out with a friend from work. I'll be home by one.” I grabbed my purse and a jacket from the hook by the door. When I emerged into the dark night, Jake was still leaning against the fence with the saddest look on his face. Tugging on the jacket, I forced myself to ignore him as I made my way back to Rory's SUV.

“Does your friend want to come with us?” Rory asked, glancing over his shoulder at Jake.

“No. Just drive.” I clutched my purse to my chest as we pulled out onto my street. As Jake and my house faded behind us I let out a sigh of relief. “So where are we going?”

“You'll see,” Rory said with a grin, as he pushed his foot down on the accelerator.

When he pulled up to the old factory building I felt my pulse pick up as a wave of fear washed over me. The whole vibe gave off a serial killer hang out, which did not do much for my nerves. Then I realized that this building was one of the recently converted spaces downtown that had been turned from a hazard to a haven. I had heard from some people at the station that these condos were extremely high end, which I read to mean expensive.

“So who lives here?” I asked, peering up at the building.

“An ex of mine. Don't worry, you'll love her. She's great.” Rory reached across the center console, and patted my knee. At first it seemed like he was comforting me, but then his hand came to rest dangerously high on my thigh.

The moment didn't last long as I unlocked the door and pushed it open. That movement distracted Rory enough that he removed his hand, and climbed out. I took a deep breath to calm my still racing nerves. When I'd started dating Rory I'd known he was older and more experienced. I was no prude, but I'd never gotten farther than kissing with a boy before, and I wasn't sure I was ready to go there. I doubted he wanted to hear that I had always thought I'd be in a committed relationship, maybe even married before going all the way. Still, I told myself not to worry about that tonight. Nothing would happen at a party with his adult friends. It would be sophisticated.

I followed Rory up a flight of stairs that had been redone to expose the interior brick walls. Despite the shabby appearance of the space, I could tell it was all brand new. The smell of freshly cut wood still hung in the air, so faint that I might have been imagining it. He knocked at a one of two doors on the third floor. I quickly calculated how big the condo must be based on the enormity of the exterior, and I decided that whoever this ex was she must have some serious money.

“Rory! I can't believe you came! Is this the new girl? I can't believe you brought her. Iona will freak!” A leggy blond who reminded me of the girl from earlier threw her arms around Rory as she pulled him into the apartment, leaving me to follow. I closed the door softly, trying not to listen to the girl‘s babbling or Rory's sultry responses.

A girl who didn't look any older than me jumped off a supple looking leather sofa when Rory entered the living room. I assumed that must be Iona the Ex. She flung herself into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. I could feel my eyes get huge and my jealousy radar go off in spades. When she kissed him on the mouth I knew this wasn't a crowd I could handle.

Rory adjusted his glasses, and set Iona the Ex down on the floor. She pouted prettily up at him, and then turned to me. “Is this the new girl? Oh, she so cute.”

I felt like an animal on display at the zoo as she circled around me, but then she smiled at me and I felt like prey being stalked. Maybe I hadn't been so far off thinking that this place was dangerous, only in a totally different way than I had originally thought.

Iona the Ex gave me a cat that ate the canary smile, so self-satisfied that it was almost comical. Almost. If I hadn't felt like I might throw up at any second. “Well, come sit down. We were just going to have some wine and play truth or dare. Do you play?”

I couldn't hide my surprise as Rory came over, slipped an arm around me, and guided me over to the sofa. Iona the Ex poured four large glasses of wine. I twisted the stem of the glass between my fingers. There was no way one drop was going to pass through my lips. I didn't want to embarrass Rory, but I'd have to look like a high school kid to his friends.

“No thanks,” I said, finding my voice and pushing the glass back to Iona the Ex.

She sneered at me. “That's right. I forgot Rory's dating a child. You can take a sip, though. Don't worry, we won't tell your mommy.”

“Leave her alone, I. She doesn't want to drink, so what?” Rory raised his glass to his lips, and shrugged. “She's underage anyway.”

“Actually my aunt is a recovering alcoholic. She's in jail right now after she got her fifth DUI. So, yeah, I don't drink, and I don't plan on it ever. Thanks.” I leveled my gaze at Iona, wondering what Rory would think of this new information. So much for keeping my personal life private. I didn't dare glance at him.

“Wow, what a buzzkill,” Iona said, and her friend laughed with her. In an attempt not to laugh himself, Rory choked on the mouthful of wine that he was about to swallow. That answered my question, and I felt my face flame red.

I sank back into the buttery soft sofa, and tuned out the three of them as they refilled their wine glasses, gossiped about people they knew, and launched into the game. The numbness that I had first felt earlier at the prom came back with a vengeance. First Jake, now Rory. These people that I had trusted with my heart were proving to be untrustworthy with such a fragile piece of myself.

“So what will it be, little girl?” The disdain in Iona the Ex's voice drew me out of my own world, and I blinked at her.

“Huh?”

“Truth or dare?” She raised an eyebrow at me.

My mouth went dry as I tried to buy myself a moment to process what each choice would me. Since I didn't know either girl very well, I couldn't determine which decision carried the most risk. “Truth?”

Iona the Ex exchanged a look with her friend, whose gaze darted to Rory. “Okay, tell us about your first time.”

This girl was out to get me. She was drawing out all the things I buried deep inside, and had hoped to keep to myself for at least awhile longer. When I wanted to share this information I would, but alone. Not in front of his vindictive ex-girlfriend and her sycophantic friend.

“I'm not answering that. That's private.” I infused my voice with as much bravado as I could, and crossed my arms over my chest as I stared at her.

To my surprise Iona and her friend laughed. “I knew the baby girl was too chicken.”

“This is ridiculous. I'm ready to leave. Take me home?” I looked at Rory.