I couldn’t see Molly’s parents anywhere. They must have gone away for the weekend. I wondered how they’d react to seeing their home in its current state of mayhem. In the back living room, couples lay entwined in drunken affection on the brown leather couches. I could see empty beer bottles strewn on the floor, and the snacks of corn chips and M&M’s that Molly had put out in glass bowls had been ground into the carpet. I spotted the familiar face of Leah Green, one of the girls from Molly’s group, and made my way over to her. She was standing by glass doors that opened onto a wide deck area and a pool.
“Beth! You made it!” she shouted over the music. “Great party!”
“Have you seen Molly?” I shouted back.
“In the hot tub.”
I squirmed out of the grasp of an inebriated boy who was trying to drag me into the mêlée of dancers and dodged another who called me “bro” and tried to give me a bear hug. A girl pulled him off me apologetically. “Sorry about Stefan,” she yelled. “He’s wasted already.”
I nodded and slipped outside, making a mental note to add the new words to the glossary I was compiling.
More empty bottles and cans littered the ground outside, and I had to pick my way carefully around them. Despite the cold, teenagers in bikinis and shorts lounged by the pool and crowded the hot tub. The lights threw an eerie blue glow over the frolicking bodies. Suddenly a naked boy streaked past me and dived into the pool. He emerged shivering but looking pleased with the loud cheers he drew from the others. I tried not to look as horrified as I felt.
I felt a flood of relief when I finally located Molly sandwiched between two boys in the hot tub. Seeing me, she hoisted herself out, stretching like a cat, and lingered long enough for the boys to admire her wet, toned body.
“Bethie, when did you get here?” she said in a singsong voice.
“Just now,” I said. “Has there been a change of plans? What happened to the facials?”
“Oh, babe, we ditched that idea!” Molly said as if this detail was of minor importance. “My auntie’s sick, so Mom and Dad are out of town for the weekend. Couldn’t pass on an opportunity to partay!”
“I’ve just come in to say hello. I can’t stay,” I said. “My brother thinks we’re testing out face masks.”
“Well, he isn’t here, is he?” Molly grinned mischievously. “And what Brother Gabriel doesn’t know can’t hurt him. Come on, just have one drink before you head off. I don’t want you in trouble because of me.”
In the kitchen we met up with Taylah, who was standing behind the kitchen counter mixing something in a blender. An impressive array of bottles were scattered around her. I read a few of the labels: Caribbean white rum, single malt scotch, whiskey, tequila, absinthe, Midori, bourbon, champagne. The names didn’t mean much to me. Alcohol had been omitted from my training — a gap in my education.
“Can I get two Taylah Specials for Beth and me?” Molly asked, draping her arms around her friend and swaying her hips in time to the music.
“Comin’ right up,” said Taylah, filling two cocktail glasses almost to the brim with a greenish brew.
Molly shoved one of the drinks into my hand and took a big gulp of her own. We made our way into the living room. The music was blaring so loudly from two colossal speakers positioned in the corners of the room that even the floor was vibrating. I sniffed my drink cautiously.
“What’s in this?” I asked Molly over the din.
“It’s a cocktail,” she said. “Cheers!”
I took a swig out of politeness and regretted it instantly. It was sickly sweet but at the same time burned my throat. Determined not to be labeled a buzzkill, I continued sipping at the mixture. Molly was enjoying herself and led me into the seething mass of dancers. For a few minutes we danced together, and then I lost sight of her, and a throng of strangers closed in around me. I tried to find a gap in the bodies to worm through and escape, but the moment one appeared it closed up again just as quickly. Several times I noticed that each time my glass was empty it was refilled as if by invisible servers.
By now I was feeling light-headed and unsteady on my feet. I blamed it on my being unused to loud music and crowds. I sipped at my drink, hoping it would refresh me. Gabriel was always going on about the importance of keeping our bodies hydrated.
I was just finishing my third cocktail when I felt an overwhelming desire to sink down to the floor. But I didn’t reach it. Instead, I felt a strong hand take hold of me and lead me away from the throng. The grip around my arm tightened when I stumbled. I let my weight be supported and allowed the stranger to guide me outside. There, I was helped onto a garden bench where I sat doubled over, still holding the empty glass.
“You might want to go easy on that stuff.”
The face of Xavier Woods came slowly into focus. He was wearing faded jeans and a fitted long-sleeved gray top. It made his chest look broader than it appeared in his school uniform. I pushed the hair out of my eyes and felt that my forehead was damp with sweat.
“Go easy on what?”
“Um… what you’re drinking… because it’s pretty strong,” he said as if stating the obvious.
The liquid was starting to churn in my stomach now and my head was throbbing. I knew I wanted to say something, but the words failed to form, interrupted by waves of nausea. Instead I leaned weakly against Xavier, feeling close to tears.
“Does your family know where you are?” he asked.
I shook my head, which made the garden spin dangerously.
“How much of that have you had to drink?”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled groggily. “But it doesn’t seem to agree with me.”
“Do you drink often?”
“This is my first time.”
“Oh, jeez.” Xavier shook his head. “That would explain why you’re such a lightweight.”
“A what…” I lurched forward, nearly tumbling onto the ground.
“Whoa.” Xavier caught me. “I think I’d better drive you home.”
“I’ll be fine in a minute.”
“No, you won’t. You’re shaking.”
I realized with some surprise that he was right. Xavier went back inside for his jacket, which he placed around my shoulders. It smelled of him and was comforting.
Molly stumbled her way over to us.
“How’s it going?” she said, too cheerful to be bothered by Xavier’s presence.
“What was Beth drinking?” he demanded.
“Just a cocktail,” Molly replied. “Mostly vodka. Aren’t you feeling well, Beth?”
“No, she’s not,” said Xavier flatly.
“What can I get her?” Molly said, sounding at a loss.
“I’ll make sure she gets home safely,” he said, and even in my state I couldn’t miss the accusatory tone.
“Thanks, Xavier, I owe you one. Oh, try not to say too much to her brother, he doesn’t seem like the understanding type.”
The smell of the leather seats in Xavier’s car was soothing, but I still felt like there was a furnace burning inside of me. I was vaguely aware of a bumpy car trip and of being carried to the door. I was conscious enough to hear what was going on around me but too drowsy to keep my eyes open. They seemed to shut of their own volition.
Because my eyes were shut I didn’t see the look on Gabriel’s face when he opened the door. But I couldn’t miss the alarm in his voice.
“What happened? Is she hurt?” I felt him cup my head in his hands.