Chapter 6 - Party…Animals
"Wait. Run that by me again?" The girl loved coming to the mall. With the diverse offering of stores, it was like paradise. However, into every paradise, some serpents must fall.
"I'm…breaking up…with you." Everyone was surprised by Pat's statement…that is, except the man himself.
"But why?"
"Lina…" His voice took on an atypical calmness. "…it seems to me like we're growing apart. People change. It's not you, it's me. I still love you. It's just that I'm not in love with you." Pat's older brothers had heard every variation on the swill bilging forth from his lips. The jock felt that these comments would work in favor of a man in his family, for once.
By now, a crowd had gathered around the former couple. The girl could allow her shattered emotional stage to come out, but she managed to suck up the tears developing on her face. She balled her hand into a fist and, with a scowl, she punched Pat in the face. He reared back, a few drops of blood falling out of his nose.
The girl shook her hand to relieve the pain as she walked away. Pat turned to the crowd and wiped the blood from his face. He shrugged his shoulders. "Women."
"You know, I couldn't help but notice you staring at that boy."
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"One might think you have a thing for him." The slightly teasing tone in Trixie's voice sent an uncomfortable chill down Tiffany's spine.
She'd been staring at Virgil for quite some time. Given this morning's painful episode, one couldn't fault her for her anger.
"What's so wrong with him? He seems nice."
Tiffany doesn't even raise her head. "He hurt me."
"What, physically?"
"No. Emotionally. All I wanted was some time to myself and he was always there, like a rash. A guy like that is trouble."
Trixie looked on as her friend continued to sulk. "Well, come on. There's a party tonight. I want to look good and I know you do too." She took Tiffany by the hand and walked off.
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Looking up at the two girls was Virgil. He took a deep breath. 'Damnit, Tiffany', he mumbled under his breath. He walked away, passing a number of stores where he recognized some of the students who were working or socializing. In essence, the mall was like school without the education…which seemed a redundancy to anyone who lingered on it long enough.
He headed toward the escalator. Tiffany was the furthest thing from his mind. He just wants to clear his mind. Riding the 'down' escalator was Lina, who, judging from the bags she carried, dealt with the break-up the best way she knew: shop her cares away. He missed her, but she didn't miss him.
"Hey!" Virgil turned and shook his head. He was almost sure he heard something.
Lina walked up the escalator, which earned her quite a few glares from the patrons she shoved by as they rode it down.
"Hey!" Her exclamation was louder, getting the boy's attention. He saw her and groaned. She tried to go back up, but a woman of significant corpulence blocked her path. She grumbled and rode it down.
The girl got off and called out to Virgil. "Wait right there."
Another groan from the bespectacled young man. "Do I have a choice?", he said to no one in particular. "Wait. Yes, I do."
He starts to walk away. "Hey, sweetness." Lina is right there in front of him.
"Hi, Lina." There is very little enthusiasm in his voice.
"You know about me and Pat, right?"
"No. Not really."
"Well, we're no longer together." She ran a finger along his chest. "That's good news for you."
"Right. Good. Listen, I have to get going. There's this…guy I have to meet in this place for this thing. I hope you understand."
He tried to slip away, but Lina grabs his shirt and pulls him back. "Now, there's a party going on at Tricia's house. You know, the girl with the mole? If you're not there, I'll come looking for you. I know where you live."
"No, you don't!"
"Well…I can find out." She pulls his head toward hers and kisses him. The girl walks off.
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The remainder of the day saw Trixie and Tiffany raiding as many as eight different stores, searching for the right outfit. It had been rumored for a while that one of those stores, Everygirl, would be having a going out of business sale. Their material was so beautiful, but the prices were so insanely high, only a select few could ever afford them.
The rich girl was confident that the party would be just the thing to lift the brown-haired girl's spirits. If one could pinpoint the moment of her lightening up, it would have to be the facial that she received. It was as if her troubles were being scrubbed away…that sounded so familiar to the girl, but she couldn't figure out why. From that point, the events of this morning were meaningless to the brown haired girl.
Soon, the two girls were on their way to the party, looking stunning in their blouse and skirt combos.
Tiffany adjusted her pink top, which seemed to be showing a lot of cleavage. "Who did you say was throwing this party?"
"It's this girl in my chem lab; the one with the mole." Trixie pulled her friend close. "Try not to say anything about it. She's kinda sensitive."
"Okay. What's her name, by the way? I think I should know whose house we're gonna be trashing."
The dark-haired girl giggled. "Her name is Tricia Mole (read: moh-LAY)."
"Interesting."
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A number of teenagers gathered into a modest house, from which loud music blared. Standing at the door was a girl with dark brown hair in an elevated ponytail. She was wearing a silk blouse and a light blue skirt. The people that pass her were quick to wave and say very little.
Trixie and Tiffany made their way to the door. Tiffany went in first. "Hey, Trish--aaaah!" The girl was transfixed by the dime-sized mole on the host's face. "Um…thanks for the party. I couldn't be mole happy-- more! More happy. I'm just so emblemished-- embarrassed." She turned away. "I'll just be going now."
Trixie grabbed her shoulder. "Don't rush off." She turned to the scowling girl. "Don't worry. Tricia. "She's cool. She just…" Trixie whispered in her ear, noting the guys walking past them.
Tricia nodded. "I understand." Trixie pulled her friend in. "Sorry."
Tiffany gave a nervous smile. "Me too."
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Virgil went up the path to his house. Between thinking about what he'd done to Tiffany and walking around Dimmsdale, it had been a pretty uneventful day. All he wanted to do was sleep the rest of the weekend away.
Before he could reach the doorknob, a blur forced him to the ground. It was Lina, her hair brushing over his face, her hands holding his arms.
She smiled. "I told you I could find out."
"Mom! Dad! Hel--!" The words he could feel rising from his throat were replaced by Lina's rampaging tongue.
After a minute, she stopped to take a breath and tries again. Virgil bit down, causing her to yell and rear back.
"What the hell do you want from me!"
"To be honest, I'm a very needy girl. I want someone who will love me unconditionally, no matter what my mood is."
"Then might I suggest a puppy?"
Lina shook her head. "There are some things you just can't do with a puppy."
"You don't need someone to love you. You need help."
"That which I need is less important than that which I want." She grinned deviously. This spider was not letting her fly get away.
Virgil's expression changed from fear to one of acceptance. "Call me crazy, but maybe this can work. I mean, you want someone to love and I've never really had a girl, before, so…this could really work out."
"Oh, I knew you'd see things the right way."
"And maybe we could go to that party you mentioned earlier. Who's throwing it again?"
"This girl in my gym class with the honkin' mole on her face. I mean, can't she get that thing removed?"
"Oh. Any idea where she might be? I mean, you found my place. Hers shouldn't be too challenging."
"I was there before for a play date when we were younger. River Drive."
"Now, come on. Give Daddy a kiss."
"You know I will." Lina puckered her lips and lowered them to Virgil. He opened his mouth and bit down. She screamed and caressed her mouth. He pushed her off of him and ran down the street.
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As people socialized, the music continued to blast. It was some kind of dance beat, but then, they all start to sound alike after a while.
Some of the jocks formed a block around the punch bowl. One of them opened a bottle and poured it into the punch bowl. Even if the offender could have been seen, the label of the beverage could not; the container was inside a brown paper bag.
At that moment, Trixie and Tiffany passed by the cluster of guys, each of them wearing a wide grin. One of them stepped forward. "Would you ladies like some punch?"
Trixie waved her hand. "I'm not that thirsty."
Tiffany shrugged. "Why not?"
She took the ladle and poured herself a cup. The guys watch as she raises it to her lips. The liquid sloshed about in the cup.
"Have you seen my mother's vase?" Tricia's announcement startled Tiffany into dropping the cup.
"Oh! I'm so sorry." Tiffany grabbed a few napkins and crouched to dry the spot. The host joined her. "Maybe it's under the kitchen sink."
Tricia gave a confused glare. "Why would it be under there?"
"Well, I saw this movie, and it was there to keep it from being broken, so…"
A blonde girl burst in. "It's happened."
Tricia stood up. "What's happened?"
"Everygirl's going out of business! Everything is 60 percent off!"
Tricia stomped her foot in anger and walked off. It's not like she could leave her house for a sale. Her parents would be home in a few hours and if they saw their home in such a state…
Trixie's eyes goggled at the news. "Oh my…Oh, I gotta get there." She shakes her hands. "I've gotta get there." She rushed toward the door. A gasp escaped her lips. She turned to Tiffany, now holding a fresh cup of punch in her hand. "Sorry, Tiffany, but this is, like, a once in a lifetime thing. Will you be alright?"
Tiffany waved her friend off. "Don't worry, Trixie", she said, hoisting the plastic cup. "I can take care of myself." She took a sip.
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"Mmmmmmm. You know, this punch is really, really good." Given that Tiffany has had about six cups, people weren't about to dispute her on the matter. Her slurring speech, however, was fast becoming an issue.
She stumbled over to the punch bowl and dips a cup in. The other guests had a glass, but stopped. Whatever was added wasn't that appealing. She took a sip of it, but, due to her lack of coordination, most of it ended up on her blouse.
"How clumsy of me." The girl stands up, as best as she can. "My blouse is all dirty." She took it off, revealing her dark blue bra. Tiffany noticed the thumping music. "Oh, man. I love this song!"
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To look at Virgil, one wouldn't peg him as the athletic type. Not that he was out of shape…just scrawny. However, one shouldn't count out how he'll react to someone pursuing him. With the exception of the bus ride that took him part of the way across town, he ran a good distance toward River Drive.
It was typical suburbia; each house looking like the next. He had an idea of what kind of house to look for…but did this street have to have so damn many of them?
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Loud, bass-heavy techno music. The cheers of curious and amused high schoolers. These sounds were very prominent in the living room of Tricia's home.
Standing on a table was Tiffany, gyrating with the music and swinging her top around. You know, some people just can't hold their spiked punch.
The girl let the blouse fly into the crowd, where it landed on a faux plant. She absorbed the sounds of the crowd. At that moment, it was all about having fun.
With a fist in the air and a "Whoo!", she lost her balance and fell off the table. One of the watchers was right there to catch her.
"Hey, there. I've got you."
"Oh, thanks." She kicked her legs slightly. "I guess that stable wasn't table." A girlish giggle.
"Sounds like you've had a little too much to drink. You need to rest it off." The young man walked toward the stairs.
Tiffany grabbed onto him. "Oh, you're so good to me."
"I know. And call me Pat."
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A knock at the door interrupted the reverie. Tricia went to open it.
Hunched over and breathing heavily was Virgil. "May I help you?"
The boy put a hand up. "Tired. Ran…so far." He took a few steps inside.
"Well, I know people were dying to be here, but…"
Virgil took a swig of punch. The girl with the mole walked behind him. "I think that punch is spiked."
He spit most of it out. A worried look appeared on his face. He grabbed Tricia's shoulders. "Did you happen to see a girl named Tiffany here?"
"Oh, you must mean the life of the party. Drank like six cups of punch and did a table dance."
"And nobody stopped her?"
Tricia bit her lip. "Not really." Virgil rolled his eyes. He looked over and saw a pink blouse resting on a faux house plant. "Don't worry. Your girlfriend went upstairs to sleep it off."
"She's not my girlfr--" His tone of regret switched gears to anxious. "Did anyone go up there with her?"
"Yeah. Pat, I think." The color drained from the boy's face. "He took her up..." Tricia turned back to where Virgil was standing…but no one's there now.
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The master bedroom, a very fancy place, especially with its bed of satin sheets.
Pat laid Tiffany down. She stretched, every feminine inch of her being glanced over by the jock.
"I'm having fun with you." She kicked her legs.
"You want to have even more fun?"
"Yeah." He climbed on top of her and started kissing her. She giggled as he worked his way from her lips to her neck. The giggling ceased, however, when he went to work on her chest. "Okay, that's a little low." She tried to push him away, but her arms were like spaghetti.
"Oh, don't be like that." He reached behind her and grabbed the hooks of her bra. As much as she didn't want this, she was just as concerned about the bra. Tiffany still hadn't gotten the hang of putting one on herself.
She shook her head, her consciousness returning somewhat. "Help!"
"Shit. Why are these things so hard to take off?"
The door busted open. "What's going on?"
Tiffany peeked out. "Virgil?"
Pat turned to the door. "Oh, hey. Don't mind us. We're just having some fun."
The boy saw Tiffany under him. "I think you should let her up."
"Don't worry, bruh. You'll get a turn."
"I don't want a turn." Irritation poured from Virgil's voice. "I want you to stop."
Pat snorted. "So, what, you want to do this with me?" The bespectacled boy balled his hands into fists. The guy in bed had some nerve.
Virgil walked over to Pat and slammed his fist on the jock's back.
He yelled out. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Running out of nice ways to tell you this. Now either you get the hell off of her or I make you." Virgil was surprised at what came out of his mouth. He knew that he didn't stand a chance with a guy like this.
"You're gonna make me?" Pat stood up and approached him.
The smaller boy nervously took a fighting stance. Pat started to laugh. He looked back to Tiffany. "Don't worry, babe. This shouldn't take long."
As Pat turned back around, Virgil threw a punch. To his surprise, it connected with Pat's nose. The jock let out a yell and dropped to the floor, knees first.
Virgil walked around him and picked Tiffany off of the bed. He carried her to the door.
Pat grabbed onto his pant leg. "I thought we were tight, you and me."
A foot knocked him backwards against the bed. Tiffany was high enough that she could get in a kick.
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Tiffany held on to Virgil as he carried her downstairs. Tricia ran up to the two of them.
"What happened?"
"Oh. She…partied a little too hard. I'm just gonna take her home." He walked the girl over to the plant and took her blouse. With a free hand, he turned the knob on the door and his foot opened it.
"And by the way, you might want to have someone remove that garbage in the bedroom."
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It took quite of bit of walking (and a bus ride), but Virgil got Tiffany home. Thankfully, her parents were already asleep. Even more so was the fact that a spare key was under the mat in case of emergencies.
Ever the gentleman, Virgil carried the girl up the stairs and to her bedroom. He set her down in her bed and tucked her in. He wasn't sure what else to do, she being asleep and all. He placed Tiffany's blouse at the foot of her bed.
As he stared at her, he mused to himself, 'I probably don't deserve him, but I do want him to be happy.' He puts his middle and index fingers together and kisses them. He places the 'kiss' on Tiffany's lips and turns for the door.
The girl stirred a little in her bed. She saw a blurry image walk out of her room, and heard the words, 'Good night, Timmy' as the door closed.
She exhaled slightly and closed her eyes.
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The sunlight peeked in through the window. Tiffany turned in her bed. Her eyes bolted open. She looks around; she doesn't remember coming back last night. Her hand finds her head.
"Ohhhhh. Why did I drink that punch? Punch…"
She jumped out of bed and looked through the papers on her night table. She picked one up and dialed on the telephone.
The phone rings…and rings. A yawn from the other end. "Hello?"