Chapter 12- Jack

"That worked."

Nancy grinned at me and grabbed my hand. Mrs. Dawes' car left down the street, and we were alone in this strange neighborhood. I had absolutely no idea where we were or what to do next. Yeah. Some party.

"Um….where's the party?" I asked lamely. Nancy was a little too wild for me.

"Oh, Jack. That's Karen's house….I told my mom I was sleeping over there, but first we were going to have a study group together. But the party's at Audrey's crib, a few streets over."

"But how am I supposed to get home…? It's not like my house is right down the street." Just because I was a football player didn't mean I was totally fearless and strong. I mean, I've heard all the reports about stalkers at night.

"You don't mind walking, do you? In the dark…" She leaned over into a shadow and kissed me. I returned it, suddenly feeling fearless.

Maybe wild isn't so bad.

----

Audrey's house was out of mansion territory. I think she was in one of my classes, I'm not sure. She was the one who opened the door. "Hey, Nancy! Glad you could make it!!" She had on a tight, long sleeved black shirt, skinny jeans, and her hair was hanging in her face. Each word she spoke was slow and slurred. "So….is that your hottie? I'm Audrey." She winked at me.

Nancy laughed. "Hottie….hell yes! But he's all mine, don't get any ideas. This is Jack, sexiest man alive. God, what a sweet party!"

"It's really rolling. We have the coolest freshmen, sophomores, and even some juniors. Are you thirsty? There's some beer over in the cooler chest in the kitchen."

I tugged at my sweatshirt strings. I'd never had beer in my life, obviously. I've had so many of these warning talks, that someday someone could pressure me into drinking or doing drugs And that day had just presented itself to me!

"Umm…maybe…later..." I said, not wanting to sound un-cool. Audrey rolled her eyes. Nancy grabbed one.

"I'll leave you two alone for awhile…" she smiled at us, sickeningly sweet, then went over to join another group of kids.

I looked around. The music was blasting so loud, and everyone around us was talking in groups or dancing, a lot of them in a really weird, kind of awkward way if you know what I mean. How different could the term "partying" be to middle schoolers and high schoolers? This was supposed to be fun…how?

Nancy held out her arm. "Come, my date," she said. "We must mingle!!"

For the next couple of hours I stood around awkwardly as Nancy floated from group to group of friends. I didn't realize she was so popular. Even in my newfound part in the Stoneybrook High football team, I didn't have half as many friends at the moment.

Nancy had reached Audrey's group when suddenly the door bell rang. "Oh, crap," Audrey exclaimed, "how could my parents possibly be home?!?!"

She nervously went over to the door. Two policemen stood just inches away from her. "There have been many reports that you are disturbing the peace. I also need to observe to see if there is anything inappropriate present…"

I was suddenly pulled into the kitchen. "We have to go!!" Nancy whispered urgently to me. "My mom can never find out I was a part of this. Look, here's the back door!"

She grabbed at my hand and we were in a small grassy area with a swing set. "Don't worry. I know exactly the way to Karen's from here. We can just say we wanted to be picked up soon. And if I call now and say to leave in like ten minutes, we'll have enough time."

I had to say, Nancy was the quickest thinker I'd ever met. She made up plans in her mind and expressed them faster than I could sing the alphabet twice. I laughed quietly to myself. She grabbed her cell phone out of her purse as we wandered through the trees in the dark night. "Hello? Mom? We're going to be done in about ten minutes, all right? So leave then. I just need to finish going through the flashcards with Hannah….yeah, yeah, yeah. We ate, don't worry. What? Yeah, we got pizza." I listened in as we approached a road. I admired how smooth she sounded even when she was lying. If I tried to lie my face turned red and I had a slight stutter.

These were completely different roads, but Nancy knew them all perfectly. "How long have you been friends with Hannah and Karen?"

Nancy put a hand to her forehead as we turned a corner. "Umm…God…I don't know. It seems like forever. Probably like second grade, maybe? I've lived in Stoneybrook for my whole life."

"Same here," I told her. "It's so weird going to different schools, you know? We live so close but we don't know half the kids around until now."

She smiled at me and grabbed my hand. "It's not only weird. It's such a shame! I mean seriously, Jack. If only you could have met me earlier…." we kissed again. It felt either the same or better, I couldn't decide at first.

Better.

"I wish I'd known you my whole life," I told her earnestly. That sounded like the right thing to say. Of course, I had no idea what was right and what was wrong. She was my first girlfriend, after all.

She seemed to like it. "Okay…McLelland Road. Let's wait here a second."

It was perfect, standing here in the silent road of mansions, in the darkness except for all of those stars up above us. Our hands held us together, our relationship as well as the public and private schools of Stoneybrook, finally united through the high school. I put my arm around her, and…

Karen Brewer's door burst open. I jumped back, surprised, as they came at us. "There you are! What are you guys doing here now?"

"Umm…" I couldn't make out the words to talk. I decided to leave it to Nancy since they were her friends and her problem, whatever it was.

"I just…I wondered why two strange figures were just standing there in front of my house of all places, making out. And they were you guys. Who would have thought?" She shook her head. "Well. Let's start with the most important question."

Nancy's mouth quivered. The strong, sure look on her face that she had had there all night had disappeared swiftly. It had been replaced with a scared, helpless look.

I have to say, I was pretty scared myself.