But she would drink whatever anyone handed her and take a hit off any joint that was being passed around. Because of her blatant sexuality, that made her a target among the guys looking to take advantage of her inebriated state.
Reen would never be a victim. She was too cunning for that. Just in case, I felt obligated to have her back.
“I suppose,” I agreed. After all, there wasn’t much else to do.
“Janie, come with,” Reen said, tugging on her hand. “Younevercome.”
“Because I don’t fit in there,” Janie argued. “You know it. I find the whole idea stunningly nonsensical.”
“Eddie’s going to be there. All jacked up probably from his big game. Probably needs an outlet for all that male testosterone given that Bee, sadly, is still recovering from her self-inflicted injuries at home.”
“Will you get off this idea that I have any interest in Ed Rochester!” Jane burst out.
A little too passionately, I thought.
Reen was still bouncing all the balls of her feet. “No. I think you like him and just won’t admit it.”
“I think you’re crazy and I’m leaving. Have fun standing in the middle of the woods with a bunch of teenagers getting inebriated and talking about absolutely nothing useful.”
With that Janie turned and walked away. I considered the idea that we should walk her home first before heading to the park, but I knew there would be enough of a crowd leaving the game, heading to the West End of town that she’d fall in with them and be safe.
Janie, too, knew how to protect herself.
“Then it’s just us. And Locke, once he shows up,” Reen said.
“Are you really interested in him? I mean, likethat.”
Physically, he really wasn’t much to look at. Pale face, a lanky build that hadn’t quite filled out yet. Hair that basically fell about his head without any real style. Reen usually preferred a more sophisticated look with the guys she was interested in. Also, she liked them older.
And of course, she liked them filthy rich.
“He intrigues me,” she admitted. “I feel like he’s hiding something, and I want to know what it is.”
“Then to The Woods we shall go,” I said and locked my arms with hers.
One of the nice things about Haddonfield, geographically, it was a small town No bigger than three square miles. Which meant everything was in walking distance.
There were no school busses because everyone could walk or bike to all the schools.
Also to the main street where all the shops and restaurants were located, the parks on either side of town. And of course, The Woods. Because of that, it was probably the only thing that prevented a significant number of drunk driving accidents every year. Everybody could get trashed and just stumble home.
By the time we made it to The Woods, the party was in full force. There was no one central area. Just a place to put the keg, another place for the can fire to provide some light. Beyond that there was enough phones out to give the woods a surreal glow. But it was also easy to leave the groups, find a space far enough away from the crowd for couples to have some privacy. Although that usually came later in the night.
Right now, it was mostly groups of classmates huddled together in bunches. Some celebrating our great victory, others wondering if Chas would be able to play next week.
I grabbed a Red Solo cup and filled it halfway with beer. It was easier to blend this way, than to have no cup at all. Reen, however, had chugged her first cup and was on her second. Her head on a constant swivel looking for Locke.
“Ugh,” she groaned at one point. “Am I really sitting here anxiously waiting for some guy to show up?”
“You are and it’s not like you. Guys come to you, you don’t wait for them. You’re freaking me out a little.”
“I know! The little shit. If he blows me off…oh wait! There he is. Stay here, I’m going to go get him and bring him over.”
Still obviously in cheerleader mode, Reen practically skipped over to where Locke was hovering at the outer edges of the gathering. While I was left standing alone with a beer I didn’t want and no one to talk to.
“All alone, Bennet?”
This was said into my right ear, close enough that I nearly toppled the contents of my Solo cup.
