36
Amelia
I’ve spent years wondering how I would feel if the truth about that night ever came out. I was certain, of course, that it would someday, because the truth always outs itself. Would I feel triumphant, because everyone would finally see Roxy for the ruthless manipulator that she was, and is? Would I feel embarrassed because I helped her with her scheme? Would I finally feel regret for my role in the events that led up to Sunny’s death?
Now that it’s all out on the table, I can’t stop smiling. Beside me, Ryan is sitting stiffly in his chair, staring at his hands on the table. Beth has turned a ghostly shade of white. This must be so hard for her to hear, poor thing. Sunny was her only real friend in the sorority, the only one who would hang out with a scholarship student. I know I never would, never did. Well, except that fateful spring break.
A strange noise comes from the other end of the table. Greeris standing next to Jamie’s chair, rubbing her arm in support. Jamie is crying. What’s up with her?
“What now?” I ask, but everyone at the other end of the table ignores me.
“Where did you get the roofies to spike Sunny’s drink, Roxy?” Jamie asks in a quiet, scared voice. She’s shaking. Why is she shaking?
“I got them from Brett, of course,” Roxy says. As if everyone should know that already.
I feel my brow arch with surprise. My mouth drops open. “Wait? My date? Dead Brett? That Brett?”
I had no idea Roxy even knew Brett back in their college days. He was a science TA when they were undergrads, so it’s not like marketing-major Roxy was in any of his classes.
Roxy smiles slowly, a shadow of her normal cattiness returning before my eyes. She is full of surprises, this one.
“Your dear dead date, Brett. One and the same. He had quite the reputation on campus back in the day. Let’s just say it’s not a surprise that he went into the pharmaceutical industry. After all, he already had plenty of real-world experience handing out magic pills to cure whatever ailed you.”
“Oh my gosh,” Beth says, staring at Roxy. “Brett sold drugs in college?”
“Yep,” Roxy says.
“Brett, a drug dealer?” I turn the concept over in my mind and realize I’m not actually all that surprised. But, God, it’s probably a good thing the man is dead. If the press got wind ofthe fact that I had been boinking a former drug dealer, well, even I might not have been able to come back from that scandal. I’d never see my face on the society pages again, that’s for sure.
“If you don’t believe me, why don’t you ask our friend Jamie here? She was one of his best customers, right, Jamie?” Roxy says and Beth gasps.
“Drugs? Jamie? No,” Beth says as Jamie hangs her head.
This night keeps getting better and better. “Go on, Roxy. Don’t leave us hanging.”
Roxy seems happy that for once this weekend she is able to turn the glare of the spotlight on someone else. “I saw Jamie buy drugs from Brett on more than one occasion. The first time was after a football game. The crowds had all dispersed back to the frat houses to party, but I’d dropped an earring, so I was searching under the stands. That’s when I saw them together. I thought it might be a little romantic tryst, but instead it was a rendezvous of a different sort.”
“Can you stop now? Please,” Jamie says. She looks like she’s going to be sick. Above our heads the chandelier flickers again, growing dimmer.
“Roxy, stop talking, would you?” Ryan says, eyes flashing with anger.
“I agree. I think Jamie has been through enough this evening, and we’ve all heard enough of your lies,” Greer says. His face is as pale as Jamie’s. “I think we should call it a night.”
“I’m not lying, Greer. And why would you leave now? I’m just getting started,” Roxy says, standing and retrieving a newchampagne bottle from the silver stand in the corner. She pops the cork and says, “This is getting fun. We might as well all spill our secrets. I didn’t confront you back then, Jamie, because sometimes secrets are more valuable later, like now. Champagne, anyone?”
“I’ll have some, of course,” I say, although I can tell Roxy doesn’t want to come near me, almost wrinkling her nose as she pours my glass. “You said that was the first time you saw Jamie making a drug deal. So there were other times too? I’m stunned. Perfect, proper, straight-A, legacy sorority president Jamie had a drug dealer?” In a weekend full of surprises, this might be the biggest one of all.
The whole scene is macabre and a little surreal, but I’m enjoying it thoroughly. “Do tell us more, Roxy,” I say with a big smile. “Cheers!”
“No,” Jamie says, standing and leaning against Greer. She’s pale, and she’s breathing rapidly. Her eyes are wide, and she looks afraid. Very afraid.
“Let’s go to our room,” Greer says. “Come on. You’re in shock. And I don’t blame you, your supposed sister treating you this way. It’s unacceptable.”
Suddenly, all of our mobile phones make a siren sound of alert:
The storm-whipped fires are expected to take out all communications towers in the Palm Springs area in a matter of minutes. Roads are impassabledue to downed power lines and massive car pileups. Driving is prohibited until further notice. Stay off the roads and stay vigilant.
Of course, now that the storm has ended, we have the fire to deal with, and we’re trapped here. With each other. I watch as Greer and Jamie stand to leave the room. Suddenly, Jamie turns back around.
