Three.

Stacey

"MOOOOOOM!"

Claudia, who had been napping on my bed, jumped a mile. "Are you okay!"

I felt tears welling up in my eyes. Actual tears. "It won't stay on..." I nearly sobbed, holding up my cap. I've had it for four days... why did I never think to try it on?

My mother burst into my room, looking panicked. "What? Stacey? Are you dizzy?"

"Mycapwon'tstayonandmyhairisperfect..." I cried, holding back a sob.

Claudia was looking at me as if I were insane.

"Oh... oh, honey... it's okay! The cap never stays on, it's normal. We'll just use bobby pins." I could see she was trying not to smile.

My lip trembled. I had just spent an hour and a half on my hair, making sure every strand had the perfect curl to it, ensuring that it could bounce back from hathead...

"They're only bobby pins, baby. They won't hurt your hair."

I nodded, still unsure. So we'd have to put my cap on at school. Okay. I guess.

Downstairs the front door slammed. "Hello?" Called a male voice.

Mom made a face. I forgot the cap situation and bolted for the stairs. "DAD!" I shouted, taking the stairs two at a time. He got me a car, I know he got me a car. I'm not supposed to know but I do. I flung myself at him and hugged him.

"Boontsie. I can't believe it's today already." Dad murmured, holding me tight. "I'm so proud of you."

Yeah, yeah, where's my car? "Thanks, Daddy." I replied. Maybe I'm being selfish... but I worked thirteen years for this day! I deserve lots of things, and I know my father got me a car. How do I know? I overheard Mom complaining on the phone that he was showing her up again. "He's never around unless it's to make me look like I can't afford the things she wants." She had said. "I got her diamond earrings, gorgeous ones. He called yesterday to let me know he's bought her a car and is driving it down for graduation."

It was very hard for me not to squeal at that moment. Mom didn't even know I was home. So I kept to myself. Mom gave me the earrings this morning, and that are sinfully gorgeous. I'm wearing them now.

I look at Dad expectantly.

"What?" He asked innocently.

"Do you like my earrings? They're Mom's gift to me." I told him, pushing back my hair to show them off.

"They're very pretty." He shuffled. "Well, I got you something, too..." He said, digging in his pockets. He produced a set of keys and handed them to me unceremoniously. Like he did this every day. That's Dad. Gets right to the point.

"Just what I always wanted. Keys."

Dad looked like he was going to laugh, then realization crossed his face. "You already knew!" He exclaimed, shaking his head. "Well, go look at it..." he followed this with a muttered word that sounded bad.

I giggled and opened the front door. I peaked out, toward the driveway... in which sat a brand-new bright red Nissan Xterra.

I screamed bloody murder. Spinning around, I flung myself at Dad again. "Oh Daddy! It's perfect! It's too much! I love it... oh wow... I never expected... oh Daddy! Thank you! I love you soooo much... MOOOOOOM! CLAUDIAAAA!"

They were coming down the stairs. "Come look!" I shreiked at them, running outside to inspect it. Dad had gone all out. Custom wheels, tinted windows, leather interior... I opened the driver side door and slid in. Claudia slid in next to me, grinning. "We should go get Mary Anne." She said.

I glanced in the rearview mirror. I was ready. It was still early, about an hour til the ceremony... "Let's go." I agreed.

Mom was holding my purse, cap and gown. I jumped out of the car and ran to her. "We're going--"

"Go, go." She said, handing me my ceremony garb with a grin.

I hugged her fiercly. "I love you so much, Mom." I whispered to her. I let go and hugged Dad, too. Then I ran to my new car.

"Try the stereo!" Dad called after me.

" 'Try the stereo'? Is there anything he didn't think of?" Claudia asked, hitting the power button. She found a good station and turned it up loud. "Oh... yes..." She moaned, leaning back into her seat and closing her eyes.

I backed the car out of the driveway carefully, waving to my parents. I drove down the street slowly, with caution. I turned the corner and stomped on the gas. The massive engine roared to life and we took off like a shot. Claudia howled. I sped toward Mary Anne's house. I'm sure she's absolutely flipping out about giving her speech. A nice ride in Stacey's new car will do her good.

As excited as I was about graduation, it turned out to be pretty lame. I was seated next to Cokie Mason, who made a show of looking bored the entire time. During Mary Anne's speech she kept yawning loudly, which I wanted to kill her for, but I knew there were too many video cameras on us and I would never, ever live it down if I got into it with Cokie on tape. Mary Anne's speech wasn't anything to scream about, anyway. She read fast and quiet, looking at her notes the entire time. She'd accepted Valedictorian kicking and screaming. She had been number two in the class for the longest time when, suddenly, in April, the girl who had been first had disappeared. I guess the story is that her grandmother had had a stroke, and she lived in Germany, and the whole family went to stay and take care of her.

When Mary Anne had been informed she was now Valedictorian, the first thing she said was "I don't have to give the speech, do I!" At that, in my new car on the ride over she was dead-serious trying to convince me we should blow off graduation and go to New York City.

She made it through the speech without dying, and everyone stood up and threw their caps. Everyone, that is, but those of us who spent hours perfecting their hair. We all spent the next two hours milling around hugging people, crying, taking pictures, signing yearbooks, and exchanging addresses, promising to write eachother. The only thing really worth mentioning was Alan Gray grabbing Kristy and kissing her only to run away laughing. Kristy was astonished, not knowing why he'd done it. They'd barely spoken since middle school, and when they did he was making fun of her in some way, as usual, she said. She shook it off, collected herself, and went back to reminding everyone she saw that she was having the mother of all parties at her house, with full parental permission at that. I guess Watson really spoils her.

So they day was pretty boring... until ten that night, when Claudia and I pulled up to Kristy's house. I gased at how many cars were surrounding the house, from which I could hear music thumping from down the street. I circled for a parking spot and became irritated at the idea of parking my brand-new car so far away from the house... until Claudia spotted Mary Annes car. I pulled right up to her bumper, figuring she wouldn't mind me blocking her in.

When we got to the door I attempted ringing the bell but being that I could barely hear myself talk, figured no one would hear it. So Claud and I walted in like we owned the place, nearly colliding with Mary Anne.

"Claud! Stacey! You guys!" She exclaimed, hugging us both. Mary Anne had clearly tried the punch.

"You're drunk!" Claudia excalimed. "Where'd you get alcohol?"

"Oh... everywhere!" She giggled. "Oh!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening. "Oh my God! I almost forgot. You guys have to see this."

Mary Anne grabbed both Claudia and I's hands and dragged us to the kitchen, where we found Kristy, with her face apparently glued to that of Mr. Alan Gray. The two appeared oblivious to the party around them.

"That," Mary Anne said, gesturing grandly toward Kristy and the guy who it seemed does not hate her after all, "has been going on for almost an hour."

"Hey! Kristy!" Claudia shouted.

The only response she got was Kristy's hand waving her away.

Mary Anne handed a cup of something to Claudia. "It's useless. She won't answer."

I stared at the cup in Claudia's hand, envious. It was something mixed, and I knew there was not a chance in hell it would be sugar-free. "Don't they have anything straight here?" I asked Mary Anne.

She shrugged. "I don't even know who brought whatever is in this. Sorry, Stace..."

Kristy was finally pulling away from Alan. She grinned at me. "Come with me, Stacey," she said mysteriously. "And Stacey only." She added as Claudia, Mary Anne, and Alan attempted to follow.

I followed her as she went into the formal dining room. She lead me to the liquor cabinet and produced a key.

"You stole the key?" I asked, a little surprised that she would.

"Nah. Watson gave it to me."

Wow. I wish I had a dad like that.

"What can you drink?"

"Nothing with sugar, nothing flavored..."

"Yikes." Kristy took down a bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses. She poured them both and held one up to toast me.

I picked up mine.

"To old friends in new ways." She said with a grin.

"Cheers!" I agreed, smiling back. We both drank, both coughed and gagged a little, both laughed as Kristy poured a second round. Then a third. After the third I started to feel it, and we agreed to meet back here when the mood struck. Then she went off in search of Alan and I went off in search of entertainment.

I found a guy and danced with him for about a half an hour, then found Claudia, who was already plastered. Her and I danced for a while. When the CD ended there was a pause as someone found another one to play, and I realized I had to pee. I excused myself and dashed upstairs, trying to remember which room was Kristy's. She had her own bathroom, and I figured I wouldn't have to wait for it.

I picked a door and knew I was right on the first shot. It was decorated different, but there was still an element of old Kristy in there, like a Derek Jeter poster on the wall, or trophies on the dresser.

The bathroom light was on. Damn... I thought I was being slick.

I heard a sniff, and saw that the door was partially open. I walked into Kristy's room all the way... and from there I could see in the bathroom.

I could see Dawn in the bathroom, sitting at the vanity. Leaning over. I looked at what she was looking at--

And stopped cold. I swear my heart stopped beating.

"Dawn!" I shouted... but it came out as a whisper. I tried to turn away, to run, but was held by some sick facination as I watched her lean over with a straw in her hand, moving the straw to her nose...

I bolted. I ran out the door, down the stairs. I could feel hot tears streaming down my face. Not Dawn. Not that.

I found Mary Anne quickly. She was seated on a couch with Claudia, sitting across from Kristy and Alan. "Mary Anne! Mary Anne oh my god..."

"Stacey! Is everything okay? What happened?" Mary Anne exclaimed, jumping up.

"Dawn..."

Her face turned dark. "Dawn..."

"She's in Kristy's bathroom." I blubbered. "She's... I think she's... she can't be... not Dawn..." but I could see recognition in her face. Not shock, not dismay, not denial... Mary Anne looked full of anger and painful memories. Without a word, she headed back where I had come from.

Kristy, Claudia and I looked at eachother, and silently agreed we had to follow.

Mary Anne was going to need us right now.