“Um, yeah, only a little thought. Didn’t like it much thought,” Rachel said.
“Didn’t like it? Then you didn’t give it a fair shot. This stuff is the bomb. You have to try it,” Kelly said, passing her the joint.
“Yeah, you know what, I’m really ok. Thanks for the offer, but you enjoy. Maybe next time,” Rachel said.
“Fine then!” Kelly said, “More for me!”
Rachel laughed and tried to play cool. She hated being in this situation, yet she felt she always managed to get herself roped into them. She couldn’t wait for everyone to grow up around her and stop being so immature.
“So, what have you been up to?” Rachel asked, changing the subject again.
“Oh, ya know, the usual. We moved down here a few years ago and now I’m just chilling,” Kelly said.
“What schools have you applied to?” Rachel asked.
“Yeah, I don’t think I’m going to go to college. I kinda just want to get a job and start working. I need money,” Kelly said. “How about you?”
“I need to get on that. I’ve been a little lax about the whole application process but I need to step up my game,” Rachel said.
Thinking about college, she immediately thought of her sister, Sarah and missed her terribly. She hadn’t spoken to her in ages.
“You know Sarah’s at Syracuse, right?” Rachel asked.
“Yeah, I saw that on FB. I see all her pics!” Kelly answered.
“No way! I didn’t realize you guys were friends,” Rachel said.
“Yeah, we still keep in touch a bit,” Kelly answered.
“Here we are!” Kelly said, as she pulled into a long stone driveway. The stones made a loud crunching noise under the car tires as they drove over them. It was so loud, she was surprised she didn’t wake the neighbors.
“So, whose house is this?” Rachel asked.
“My girl, Kyra. You’re gonna love her!” Kelly said.
“Sweet, how do you know her?” Rachel asked.
“We go to high school together. She was my first friend when I moved here.”
“Cool!”
“Not to mention, you totally look like one of her older sisters. You so have to borrow her ID!”
“Yeah, ok,” Rachel said, trying to sound excited.
As the car pulled up, Rachel got a huge pit in her stomach. She didn’t like the sounds of what was going to happen tonight, and the thought of borrowing a strangers ID freaked her out. For one, she didn’t look a day over 15, at least, she didn’t think she did, and there was no way she was going to pass for someone in their mid to late twenties. She knew this was going to be an epic fail, and wanted to put a halt to it before it even began, but the thought of camping out on her grandmothers property was even less desirable, so she stuck it out.
“Hurry up!” Kelly yelled, as she stood at the front door waiting for Rachel to get out of the car.
“Coming!” Rachel said, trying to buy an extra minute before entering into this uncomfortable situation.
“Hey Y’all!” Trista said, as she opened the front door.
Rachel got out of the car and looked at the modest house that stood in front of her. It was small and made of red brick. It was non-descript but cute in its own way. She looked over at Kelly and Trista standing there waiting for her. She knew she had no choice but to go inside. This was either going to be a good night or a terrible night by the sounds of things, she just had to wait and find out.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Rachel walked into Trista’s house with a smile on her face but inside she was dreading what was about to happen. She knew this night was going to be uncomfortable for her, but she had to make the best of it.
“Hi Rachel, nice to meet you!” Trista said, greeting her with a hug.
Trista was holding a red plastic cup and she reeked of booze. She reached into the bag that was over her shoulder and grabbed a beer and passed it to Rachel.
“Here!” Trista said.
Rachel didn’t know what to do. She thought that was a bit abrupt of her to just hand her a beer the second they met.
“Um, no thanks,” Rachel said.
“You’re a goody, goody,” Kelly said. “First you didn’t want to get in on my joint, and now the beer. Who are you?”
“I’m just not feeling like it right now. Relax,” Rachel said, trying to hold her ground.
“We’ll get her wasted by the end of the night, Kel, don’t worry!” Trista said.
Trista and Kelly laughed, and then looked back at Rachel who was standing there, looking back at the door, wishing she could make her big escape.
“HA!” Rachel said, joking if off. “Funny!”
“So, anyway,” Trista said. “What are you girls gonna wear tonight? This club is supposed to be hot tonight!”
Kelly reached into her bag and pulled out a few different outfits. All Rachel could think about was how neon and hideously bright they were.
“OMG! I almost forgot it was neon night!” Trista said. “In that case, I need to reevaluate my look ASAP!”
“You forgot?” Kelly said.
“I assume you don’t have you neon clothes with you?” Kelly said, looking over at Rachel.
“Um, nope! Didn’t think I’d need those visiting Grandma!” Rachel joked and then laughed.
“It’s OK,” Kelly said. “You can borrow what I’m not wearing.”
“Um, thanks, I guess,” Rachel said.
She couldn’t imaging putting one of those outfits on, let alone go out in public wearing them. This was going from bad to worse and she felt like she couldn’t get a handle on things.
“BEIRUT TIME!” Trista said, pulling a ping pong ball out of her pocket.
“Yes! You in?” Kelly asked, looking over at Rachel.
“BAY What?” Rachel asked.
“Um, you’re joking, right?” Trista said. “Who doesn’t know what Beirut is?”
Trista looked at Kelly and then back at Rachel and let out a laugh.
“Where did you find this one?” Trista asked Kelly.
“Oh, come on T, be nice!”
Rachel had never felt this much pressure to drink and do drugs before and she didn’t know how to handle it. Part of her wanted to cave in and just drink the beer, but the other part of her wanted to stay strong and resist. She hated feeling like this inside.
“We’ll be right back, Rach,” Trista and Kelly said, as they headed in towards the kitchen.