“When in Rome,” I said, cracking the top of my can. Cassandra took a sip from the cup and pursed her lips. “It’s strong.”
I picked up the bottle. “It’s vodka.”
“Huh. I thought it would taste better.”
“I think you’re meant to mix it with something.” I held up my can. “Do you want mine?”
Cassandra shook her head. “I can’t. Alex says beer makes you fat.”
I decided to let the comment slide. Alex had a lot of opinions on what did or didn’t make you fat, despite the fact that she snacked from the vending machine constantly. Seemed she just had a fast metabolism.
I was about to suggest we take a loop around the party when Cassandra smiled and waved at a girl to her right. They’d been on a traveling soccer team together a few years ago, and the girl was a sophomore at Seminole Ridge now. Becki something.
“I should go say hi,” Cassandra said. “I’ll be right back.”
It didn’t sound like she wanted me to come with her, so I gave her a nod.
Becki squealed in delight as Cassandra approached her, wrapping her thin arms around Cass’s neck in a tight hug. It reminded me of how people greeted Alex when she showed up places. It made me wonder if that was how Cassandra would be when we started high school. If she’d have a head start on everyone else socially, being Alex’s sister. People would know her and want to be friends with her. Would it be the same for me?
I was Cassandra’s best friend and didn’t think there would be any reason I wouldn’t be invited to the same things. But did I want that? I thought of what Tommy said about the Hopely sisters and how they acted at school. Did I want to be like Alex? After I’d seen how Alex acted with Nick at the mall, not tomention how nasty she’d been to her sisters lately, I wasn’t convinced that was what I should be aspiring to.
Even so, I was now alone at a party. I scanned the crowd. Cassandra was talking animatedly to Becki and a few older girls I didn’t recognize. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I usually let Cassandra or Victoria lead in moments like this. I lifted the can to my mouth again and took a hearty swallow of my beer, desperate for something to do with my hands.
“Hey.” A voice behind me made me turn around. “Aren’t you Tommy Dearling’s sister?”
A boy was standing behind me. He was tall. I had to look up to see his face. I didn’t recognize him. He had comically large ears that stuck out almost parallel to his short brown hair and a smattering of acne scars across his cheeks. He was smiling at me, eyes locked on mine.
“Yeah,” I said, playing with the tab on the can. It was strange to be called Tommy’s sister. It was always Will people asked about. “I’m Rose.”
He smiled. “I’m Trent. I went to camp with Tommy.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Science or Boy Scouts?” My brothers had always been signed up for a barrage of extracurricular activities by our parents.
Trent chuckled. “Science. I wasn’t Boy Scout material.”
I didn’t know him but had to agree. He did have that look about him that Tommy had too; you could tell they wereindoorsy.
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” I said, finishing my drink. “But science camp always sounded very boring from the way Tommy talked about it.”
I liked the way Trent’s face opened up when he laughed. “It was a little bit. Except for Space Week. They give you all kinds of delicious, freeze-dried food then.”
He held up the Solo cup. “Actually, it would’ve tasted good alongside this.”
I peered into the cup he held. “What is it?”
“Captain Morgan.”
I thought that was rum but didn’t want to embarrass myself, so I just took another sip from my almost-empty can.
“So, are you a freshman?” Trent asked, changing the subject. I hesitated. If I was honest and told him no, that I was fourteen,he’d surely walk away. I nodded quickly, crushing my empty can in my fist. I’d be a freshman in a few months, so it didn’t feel like much of a lie.
Trent smiled. “That’s cool. That was a fun year.”
“Are you a senior?”
“Sophomore.” He was big for a sixteen-year-old. “Matty’s my cousin.”
“Ah. Nice of your grandparents to let you throw this party then.” I smirked.
