“No, thanks,” I look beyond her, hoping to spot him in the crowd but I already know I’m not going to find him.
“What? Don’t drink?”
“Rach, that’s enough,” Sadie pinches the bridge of her nose, “Be nice.”
“I am being nice,” Rach pouts, “I offered her a drink, didn’t I?”
“And she said no.”
“How about a soda then? Or some punch?”
Sadie opens her mouth to speak but her cell starts to ring in her pocket, “Sorry I have to take this.” I watch her as she listens to the person and only a few seconds pass before she is hurrying back the way we came, leaving me alone with her friend.
“What’s in the punch?” I ask. I didn’t want to drink; I don’t tolerate alcohol well, so I avoid it mostly other than maybe a glass of wine at dinner, or those few sips of beer the other night at the carnival.
“Just juice,” Rach says, watching her friend go too, “Probably her kid. He’s been a bit sick.”
“I’ll have some punch,” I agree, the nerves in my stomach fully knotting now I’ve been left alone with this girl. Who is she?
She grabs a solo and fills it to the top with the punch before she hands it over with a smile, “So how do you know, River?”
The conversation to anyone else might seem friendly, but her tone is edged in venom, she doesn’t like me and it’s obvious. I don’t know why she is insisting on staying here in this conversation, why not just leave?
“He’s fixing my car.”
“The Mercedes?” Again, her eyes drop down my body.
“That’s the one,” I glance away, taking a sip of the punch. It’s fruity and so sweet it makes my jaw ache.
“Couldn’t go to one of your fancy garages uptown?”
“His was closer,” I explain, taking another sip of my drink. It has a strange after taste but it’s good once that initial shock of sugar has worn off.
“Mmhmm,” Rach grumbles, “Well River is racing at the moment. There’s still three laps to go.”
“It’s okay, I’ll just wait.”
An awkward silence fills the space, but I keep sipping my drink and keep my eyes anywhere but on her. I expected her to leave, to get bored like Sadie said but she hasn’t. Sadie also hasn’t come back and while I didn’t know the girl, she seemed nicer than Rach. Less bitchy.
Before I can say no, Rach tops up my cup, “It’s good, right?”
I nod, glancing down into the vibrant liquid, ice clinks together with little pieces of fruit floating in the drink and I lift it to take another sip. At least twenty minutes pass and my head has been getting fuzzier with every minute, my eyes unable to focus on much of anything.
“You good?” Rach smirks at me, “You seem a little wobbly.”
“I don’t feel good,” My words slur as they tumble from my lips and I feel my legs tremble, tipping me to the side. I manage to catch myself on the edge of the table but the drink spills over the front of my white shirt. I don’t remember it being refilled.
I place the cup down and press my hand to my temple, is it the heat making me feel like this? I can’t focus, my stomach is churning and I really, really want to lie down.
“Marly?” A voice I recognize calls my name, but I can’t place it. It’s rough and raspy and I know I’ve heard it before but where?
Hands suddenly grab my arms, and I’m moving until I’m standing up straight though I can definitely feel myself tipping to the side.
“Shit,” They grumble, arms coming under my armpits to keep me up, “You got her drunk!?”
“Hey, she drank it,” Rach replies, “Not like I forced it down her throat.”
“I’m not drunk,” I manage to slur but I can’t lift my head, it’s so heavy and foggy and the grass under my feet is spinning. Wait. Am I drunk?
