FYI: Anyone remember their first experience with hunch punch? God knows I do.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The day of Homecoming was slightly gloomier than most. The halls were covered in tacky blue decorations. I sat against the wall in my usual spot with the Indie Kids before the school day began, watching the excited masses with disgust. Stupid school spirit.

"Today is going to be exquisitely lame," said Parker, echoing my thoughts. "We have to go to a pep rally."

"Whatever man," Eli responded, licking the cheese powder from a Dorito. Always a healthy breakfast, that one. "We get to miss eighth period. I'm all about pep rallies if it means I get to miss English.

Parker shrugged. "I'm actually kind of enjoying English now that Mr. Dig is subbing for Fauxman. And I'm really enjoying Lord of the Flies."

"Yeah, yeah, we know, you're a super genius and you love lame book-y shit. Thanks for the reminder, Parks."

Parker and Eli's banter continued, much like a typical morning, and I sighed heavily as I sunk into myself. I found myself people-watching, glancing over the diverse student body and their jungle of overlapping chatter. I fought hard these days against looking towards the center of the commons area, where the beautiful people were, but it's like an accident on the side of the road. You can't help yourself.

I saw Lizzie, donning her fitted cheerleading uniform and attracting the attention of many as usual. And then I saw Gordo, who definitely looked out of place but still looked like he was having a good time. And then I saw Gordo wrap his arms around Lizzie, holding her and resting his head affectionately on her shoulder. Then he placed a kiss on her cheek. And then I wished could hit "Stop" and "Rewind" because… what the hell?

Parker noticed my gaping jaw and followed my gaze. "Oh my god," she said, unable to mask her shock (not to mention jealousy). "What is Gordo doing? They're not like… together, are they? Offically?" She looked towards me expectantly. It was the first time Parker had looked to me for an answer about anything.

I shrugged, barely able to form words. I didn't think it was possible for me to feel any more betrayed by Lizzie and Gordo, but something about seeing them together destroyed me. I'd known for so long that there was something going on between them, but now that I could finally see it in front of my eyes, the reality hit me hard. The distance between us was even greater than I thought. They were officially a they, and I was just a me. Even if we had stayed close friends, I still would have been left out.

Parker cringed and reached into her purse for a stick of Burt's Bees. "The world of high school bewilders me yet again. I will never understand what anyone sees in Lizzie McGuire, especially Gordo. He seemed like such a bright kid."

I looked at my fingernails sadly and said nothing.

"Oh cheer up, little guy," Parker said to me, pretend-punching my shoulder. "What do you say we dip out before the pep rally? Visit Carly? Get some Smirnoff Ice? We'll have our own Homecoming hooplah."

I nodded with a weak smile. I certainly did not want to have to watch Lizzie, sparkling with happiness as she cheered in front of the entire student body. "Sounds good to me, chief."

Parker looked at Eli. "Eli? You in?"

Eli was focused intently on his Doritos, pretending to not be listening. "Hmm? Ah, no I… I think I'll stick around. See what the big deal is about."

Parker and I exchanged suspicious glances. "Eli, what the hell are you talking about? You've never shown any interest in any school activity, ever. Except for that time some guy dressed up like the green Power Ranger came to our class in second grade and told us not to talk to strangers."

"Hey man, that was the real green Power Ranger, and I got his autograph."

Parker glared at him. "Spill it, Saxon. What are you up to?"

Eli sighed and looked down, blushing. "Okay. Well, I told Angel I'd sit with her at the pep rally."

"Angel Lieberman?" I asked in shock. "But you guys argue like, every single morning."

Eli grinned proudly. "I know, and it finally paid off! She's my date for the dance."

"You're actually going to that stupid dance?" Parker asked.

"Of course." Eli dumped the Dorito crumbs from the bottom of the bag into his mouth. "Aren't you guys?"

Before either of us could answer, the Hot Topic-clad Homecoming date in question appeared before us. "Hey Eli," said Angel. She handed him a colorful flyer. "Not that it matters to you, since there's no way anyone's gonna beat my band, but I thought I'd let you know that The Red Lounge is hosting a teen Battle of the Bands next week. The grand prize is five hundred smackers. This thing is the way to L-squared."

"L-squared?" Parker hissed. "You're still saying that?" She rolled her eyes and started packing up her things. "I think that's about it for me, kids. I'm going to head to class early. And no, Eli… I wouldn't be caught dead at that dance." She gave Angel a condescending sneer before strutting away.

Eli shrugged and leaned in to me, showing me the flyer. "What do you think, Mimi? Do you think Glue Babies has a shot at winning?"

I wrinkled my nose. "Glue Babies? I thought we were back to Streak Free Shine?"

"Okay, whatever the hell we're called…. Do you think we could win?"

"Uh, I mean… we've never ever finished a song. And this thing is next week."

"Yeah, but we only have to play one song, right? We just have to practice every day until the contest and we'll pull it together. It's five hundred dollars, man."

I sighed and pulled my knees to my chest. "Sure, Eli. If you say so." I had serious doubts as to our band's ability to focus on music for more than ten minutes at a time, but I didn't particularly feel like arguing that point. I was far more distracted by Lizzie and Gordo, flirting shamelessly, and by the knowledge that even Eli had a Homecoming date. I suddenly felt even lonelier than usual.

In the frenzied chaos of students being herded towards the football field for the pep rally, Parker and I snuck easily off campus. We spent the afternoon at the tattoo parlor where Carly worked, drinking raspberry-flavored Smirnoff Ice and listening to rock and roll. Carly's job consisted mostly of answering the phone and manning the front desk, but later in the evening we were able to witness her tattooing skills firsthand. I watched avidly for two hours while the electric needle rumbled loudly and painted a picture on the girl's skin. I was astounded and titillated by the guts it took to let someone drill ink into your skin.

"What'dya think, Mimi?" Carly asked me after her artwork had left the building. "Wanna give it a try? No charge, since I'm only an apprentice. I'm really good with skulls and butterflies."

I thought of Parker's tattoo, and how it was kind of cool. But then I thought of how I would feel a few years down the road with skulls and butterflies all over my body. I grimaced. "No thanks. I don't think I'm ready for all that."

Carly looked a little disappointed, but she quickly brightened back up. "What about a piercing? You could seriously rock a nose piercing. It would be super hot." It became clear to me that Carly was a little needle-happy; booking tattoo and piercing appointments all day must have left her eager for some a little more action-packed.

"I think I'm good… for now, anyway."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Later that evening, Carly took us to a party her friends were throwing. It was loud and enormous, and Parker and I were definitely the youngest people there. It was like Kate's eighth grade birthday party… times ten.

"Hunch punch for the Homecoming skippers," Carly cheered, handing us plastic cups filled with bright red punch.

I took a drink of mine and almost gagged. "Um, wow," I said, coughing. It was no Smirnoff Ice; it burned like fire. "It kind of tastes like nail polish remover."

Carly aughed and knocked her cup against mine. "I'll drink to that!"

And so our night was set into motion. I lingered close to Parker in the beginning, overwhelmed and intimidated by the pulsing crowd. With every gulp of hunch punch, however, I found myself moving closer to comfortable. I floated through the party with ease, enjoying everything, everyone. Caught up in a tingling euphoria. The world looked distorted and fun, and I liked it. I wanted to talk to everyone because everyone was awesome, and everyone wanted to talk to me because everything I had to say was awesome. I eventually lost track of Parker altogether. I was having so much fun, I even lost track of myself. I found myself stumbling around as my head spun and the party blurred. Things quickly turned from awesome to crappy.

"Hey," said a voice. Someone was hovering in front of my face, looking concerned but also amused. "Hey, you okay? Whatchu doing on the floor?"

What was I doing on the floor? I kind of couldn't remember what was happening. I was leaning against the wall by the bathroom, struggling to keep my eyes open. "I'm just tired," I mumbled. My head was bobbing back and forth. "I just neededasit."

The bathroom door swung open and the bright wash of fluorescent light dizzied me. My stomach churned with unreal nausea, and I remembered I had come here for a reason. I shoved past the girl who was exited the bathroom and ran inside. I slammed the door behind me and dove straight for the toilet. I felt like I would never stop puking. My esophagus ached. I looked in the toilet. My barf was red. My head was throbbing. The cold toilet seat felt good against my hot face, and I eventually drifted from consciousness. I was wakened by someone pounding on the door.

I staggered out of the bathroom, disoriented and embarrassed to have two or three people standing in the doorway, watching me.

"You okay?" one of them asked.

"Yeah," I said in a daze, trying to gain my bearings. Drinking was so not fun. "Yeah, I'm totally cool."

I was not totally cool. I walked away and started looking for Parker, who I finally found sitting on the couch with two older boys.

"Parker, where have you been?" I asked, collapsing beside her on the couch. There was nothing left to puke up, but my stomach still felt like a rumbling volcano.

"Toby took me on a beer run," she said jovially, holding out her oversized bottle of Miller High Life. "It's called a forty. You want some?"

Just smelling the beer made my head spin. I was completely baffled that Parker had any energy left. I was completely spent. "Are you kidding? How are you still drinking?

She shrugged and laughed proudly. "Liquor before beer, never fear! Hey, you've got a pink splotch on this side of your face."

I sighed and rubbed my temples. "I fell asleep on the toilet seat."

"Haha. Rock and roll, man."

I had never been more over rock and roll in my life. I felt sick and miserable all over. "Parker, I kind of want to go home now."

"I'm not sure you're okay to drive, kid." She laughed hysterically at her own joke. She was frustratingly drunk, and the conversation that followed was extremely difficult. She at last instructed me to find Carly to give us a ride home, but after much searching, Carly was nowhere to be found. Parker hardly seemed fazed. She heartily chugged her forty and joked with Toby and the other boy. She seemed to be having a great time, but I was starting to get worried. How were we going to get home?

"Call Eli's mom," was Parker's eventual solution. She carelessly tossed her cell phone to me. "It's under Cocoa."

I bit my lip. "Are you sure that's okay? It's like two in the morning."

Parker nodded, still looking sloppy-drunk. "Yeah, no, it's cool. Cocoa's totally cool. Not like yours or my parents."

Ms. Newbury indeed turned out to be completely nice about being called so late, and promptly arrived to pick us up. Eli was in the car with her, grinning with pleasure at our misfortune. I was more than a little embarrassed. I never thought I'd be asking my old violin teacher to rescue me when I was drunk and stranded.

"You girls can stay with us tonight," Ms. Newbury told us reassuringly.

When we got out of the car and stumbled across Eli's lawn, Parker had to lean on me just to walk. She was still clutching her forty. "Miranda, I officially crown you Homecoming Queen!" she yelled. Her knees buckled and she dragged me down with her. We crashed into the wet yard. She yanked up a fistful of grass with her free hand and flung it over my head like confetti. "Congratulations, your majesty! You're the BIG winner."

I smiled weakly, but this wasn't any fun for me anymore. I was exhausted and sick. I just wanted to go to bed.

"Parker Shannon McKenzie!" barked a clipped male voice from the darkness. We looked across the lawn to Parker's house next door. Her father was waiting on the porch with his arms folded. "Get your rear-end over here right now. You've got some explaining to do."

Parker released me from her grip and marched clumsily towards her father. She pointed the glass bottle at him accusingly. "I'm not going to explain anything to you, Dad. You're not the boss of me." She glared icily at him and took a defiant swing of beer.

She started laughing and tripped. Eli immediately ran to her side, and reluctantly, I followed. I didn't like the sound of Parker's dad's voice. I was mortified.

Cocoa quickly skated into the McKenzie's yard to try and be the peacemaker. "Peter," she said calmly. "I don't think Parker's in a good place to talk right now. You'll both only get upset with one another. Why don't you let me take care of her for the night?"

"Cocoa, I appreciate you bringing her home… but the rest is my responsibility."

Parker chortled from where she sat lifelessly in the yard. She spit beer all over herself. "Oh?" she said coldly. "Oh really, Peter? You gonna play Daddy now? Now that it's too fucking late?" Tears welled in her eyes and cascaded silently down her face. I remembered how she'd told me she didn't drink to get anyone's attention. I realized she was lying.

Eli struggled to help Parker to her feet, but it was hopeless. She was limp, and heavy like stone. I'd never seen her look so… young. She was like a helpless six-year-old, throwing a fit on the ground. It was the first time I realized that Parker wasn't as tough as she wanted everyone to believe. I realized that underneath it all, Parker was just a confused, emotional 15-year-old girl, too.

Parker started crying audibly, and then screaming. She shoved Eli off of her and chucked the empty forty at her dad. It missed by a few inches and shattered against the wall of the McKenzie's big, beautiful house. "I… hate you," she spat.

Mr. McKenzie walked angrily down the steps, lifted Parker up by the hand, and forced her to walk inside the house. She screamed the entire way.

Cocoa placed her hands gently on mine and Eli's shoulders. "Come on, kids. Let's head on home. She'll be fine." She touched my hair affectionately. "Do we need to call your parents and let them know where you are?" she asked me.

I shook my head, stunned by what I'd just seen and terrified at how it might have played out if it were my parents. "No, it's fine," I said. "They think I'm at Parker's house tonight."

Cocoa nodded and gently guided me inside her house. As I drifted to sleep in the guest bedroom of the Newbury-Saxon residence, I couldn't help but be a little unsettled by the thought that Parker McKenzie didn't have all the answers.