Party (10 page)

“I fugging sneaked outta my rum like hours ago and you din even fugging notice!”

So, okay, probably a lot drunk. Her words were slurring together all over hell. My first semi-drunk thought was, Why would she be fighting with Josh over the phone when he was in the kitchen? Tommy and I reared back and watched
Morrigan’s performance, but everyone else in the yard had dismissed her.

Ashley walked quickly over to Morrigan and tried to wrestle the phone away from her, pleading, but it wasn’t working. Morrigan was one drunk chick on a tear, and no one was going to ruin her moment of glory.

I was kind of impressed. Whoever was on the other end of the line was really taking a beating.

“Every day it’s like that an’ … an’ … stupid! Stupid sports an’ stupid Barbies! You know sumthin’? Ashley was right! You never even hugged me!
Asshole! I hate you!
”

It hit me through the alcohol haze I was in that this wasn’t Josh she was talking to.

It was her dad.

Ashley managed to pry the phone away from her. Morrigan pulled back her arm and let the beer bottle fly against the brick wall. It shattered and sent a couple of stoners scattering for cover.

Ashley held the phone up to one ear and plugged the other with one finger. Her face was serious, tilted down, trying to put a verbal bandage on what was sure to be a monumental ass-whipping when Morrigan got home. I felt like, frankly, she deserved one, but not necessarily for being at this party. For how she treated Josh, yeah.

Tommy and I sat there, watching the drama. Wish I could’ve heard the other side of
that
conversation. I wondered if her screaming would catch Josh’s ear, but figured the music inside was probably too loud.

“No, she’s fine, we’re just at this party,” I heard Ashley say as she walked by me toward the patio again. Morrigan was already on her way there, holding her head in both hands. I got the impression she was crying, or about to, but when she turned around, her face was red with drunken rage. She was talking out loud to no one.

I could barely make out what Ashley was saying as she walked away. “Yes, I knew she snuck out, but … no, she’s fine. No, I’ll bring her home. I will. No, you don’t have to come get her. No. I swear.”

She walked out of range. I kept watching her. Ashley looked to be putting up a hell of a fight for Morrigan, who by this time had settled down into the lawn chair. Morrigan might be a bitch, but she had a hell of a friend going to bat for her.

I had nothing better to do until the pizza got here, and figured one of us should be near the front door to get it anyway, so I got up and wandered toward Ashley to listen in. She was near the coolers, so I went for a beer and pretended to fumble with the cap. At least, I think I was pretending. I had a pretty good buzz going.

“We’ve been gone since like eight o’clock, don’t you think that’s a little odd?” Ashley said into the phone.

There was a pause.

“No, it
is
my business, because you never pay any attention to her. She was practically crying about it over dinner.”

Pause.

“I know she’s your kid, why don’t you act like it?”

Pause. Head shake.

“No, I’m not going to tell you where we are, because we are fine and we are safe and right now Morrigan needs to get this out of her system. If she comes home now, it’ll just be a train wreck, and we both know it.”

Pause. Ashley rubbed her forehead. Damn, had she always been this cute? I hoped it wasn’t beer-vision.

“Fine. You both want to drive around Santa Barbara all night looking for us, be my guest. But that won’t change what’s really wrong.”

Pause.

“Yes, there
is
. She loves you, she loves you both, but she doesn’t know if you love her back. Come on. It’s really simple. Be her goddammed parents once in a while.”

Pause.

Pause.

Before this, I could hear the volume of the guy’s voice on the other end, but now I couldn’t, so it sounded like maybe he calmed down a bit. This chick was
good
. I thought I’d ask for her phone number so she could talk to my dad next time he erupted. This girl could turn it into a
business
. Parental Reconciliation, Inc. Also, I just wanted her number anyway.

“Mr. Lewis,” Ashley said at last, “I know you’re angry, and I know Morrigan is going to be in a lot of trouble when she—”

A burst of shouting from the phone.

“Okay, she
is
in a lot of trouble, but her coming home right now won’t help anything. I have not had anything to drink, I am totally sober, and I will make sure she gets home in one
piece. Tomorrow morning you all can hash it out, but right now she is way too emotional. Okay?”

More shouting from the cell. Ashley held it away from her ear and looked pained. Morrigan seized the moment to grab the phone back from her.

“Morrigan, no!” Ashley shouted.

“Shut up!” Morrigan hissed at her, and Ashley blinked back. “I’ll fuggin’ handle it, Ash, ’kay?” She put the phone up to her ear—upside down at first before she figured out the problem—and smashed through the open patio door into the throng of dancing kids. “You wanna know somethin’?” she was saying, and then the music covered her voice.

Normally, I’d have the sense to leave Ashley alone after this little display, but she was getting cuter by the swallow. So I said, “Rough night?”

Ashley turned toward me, frowning at first, then relaxing. “Yeah,” she said. “Sorta. This
sucks.”

I tried to strike a protective pose. Not sure I succeeded. “Anything I can do?”

“Thanks,” Ashley said, “but no.”

“What’s the problem?”

“Nothing to worry about,” she said, and rubbed her forehead again.

“I’m Daniel,” I said, like this would help.

“I know.”

“Oh. Okay, well. Cool then. So, listen—”

That’s as far as I got, because right then Josh came barreling
out toward us from the house, a worried look on his face. Matt came crashing after him.

Josh went straight to Ashley.

“What is it, what’s happening?” he said, all breathless.

“Josh, it’s nothing,” Ashley said.

“It’s not nothing, what’s going on? Morrigan’s in the kitchen screaming like a witch. Who’s she talking to?”

“Her dad, okay?”

Josh squinted at her. “What’s the problem?”

Ashley sighed. “Morry snuck out of the house to come here tonight, and now her dad wants to come pick her up.”

“She really snuck out?” Josh asked, looking confused. “She’s never done that before. Never had to.”

“I think that’s part of the problem,” Ashley said.

I started giggling a little as this other chick showed up behind Matt, who was blocking the doorway. I could see her trying to get past him without touching him or saying anything. I sort of recognized her from school. Or at least, I recognized her clothes. She had this weirdo striped hat on. All I really knew about her was that she didn’t talk much.

“Yo, Matt,” I said. “Make a hole, soldier.”

Matt looked behind him and stepped out of the way. The freaky silent chick squeezed past and wandered out onto the patio, looking around at everyone. She stopped cold when her eyes hit Ashley.

Ashley stared right back at her. Me, Matt, and Josh looked from one to the other. A new drama? Should’ve sold tickets to this bash.

“Hey,” Ashley said.

“Hey,” the silent chick said. I could barely hear her.

“What’re you doing here?”

“Ashley …,” Josh started, but Ashley held up a hand.

“Shut up for a second, Josh, okay?” She took a few steps toward the other chick. “So what’s up? I didn’t think you’d … it’s been a while.”

“Ashley!” Josh shouted. “Listen!”

“God, what?” Ashley shouted back.

“I know Morry’s dad, okay? He’s got to be the boss. If you don’t let him come get her, it’s just going to be worse, okay? So would you please call him and tell him where she is?”

“I’m sorry, I should …,” Silent Chick said.

“Beckett, wait, hold on,” Ashley said, and looked at Josh. “Josh, I’ve known him a lot longer than you have, okay? Are you
sure
you want him coming here?”

“Well, I mean, I’d take her home, but … well.”

Ashley lifted her hands and shook them, like she needed some space. “Okay, okay, fine. I’ll call him in a few minutes, okay? Where is Morrigan?”

“Still in the kitchen, I think,” Matt said. “Talkin’ to some skater.”

“I should probably just go,” Josh said. “I don’t think we should meet up.”

“I thought you saw her in the kitchen,” I said, and stifled one hell of a beer burp.

“She didn’t even see me,” Josh said, trying to look like this
fact didn’t bother him. “I could clear out now before she does. You guys want to go?”

“We got a pizza coming,” I said.

Josh looked disappointed. But hell, we were already here. We could get a ride later. Maybe from Ashley.

“Better check with Ryan, too,” Matt said, which to me sounded like he was saying,
Because if Ryan’s staying here and you’re taking off, that means I can start drinking
.

“Yeah, okay,” Josh said. He looked from me, to Matt, and back to me. “Well … see ya,” he said, and pushed back into the house.

Ashley watched him go, then turned back to the silent chick. Beckett.

“Sorry about all that,” Ashley said. “Morrigan’s having a bit of a meltdown.”

“I should really go,” Beckett said. I could barely hear her.

“You could hang out,” Ashley said quickly. “We could talk.”

“No, no, I should just go home.” Beckett turned to go back inside.

Finally! I thought. But just as I was gearing up to keep talking to Ashley—probably a bad idea under the circumstances—who should come back out to the patio, completely skull-bombed?

“Hey!” Morrigan said as Beckett stopped. “Iss my bess friend! My bess friend’s bess friend. Wass up,
chica?”

“Oh, god—Morrigan …,” Ashley said, and moved to intercept her.

Chicks, man. I went back to the coolers for a fresh beer—I’d
finished the last one—and Matt joined me. We could still see the whole show.

Morrigan slapped a hand down on Beckett’s shoulder. “You doan have my cell number, do ya? Get yer phone out,
chica
. Put my number down. An’ gimme yers. So we can
hang.”

I felt bad for poor Silent Chick. Sincerely. She looked scared half to death, so scared she did exactly what Morrigan said and typed her number into Morrigan’s cell. Who knows if it was the right one.

“Cool!” Morrigan shouted as she took the cell back. “Now less sit right back and hear a tale about why you fuggin’ ditched my girl?”

Ashley sighed while Whore-igan looked all drunk and sassy at the quiet kid. Ashley took a step toward Beckett.

“Look, can we talk later tonight? After I get Morrigan settled down?”

“I—I don’t know,” Beckett muttered. “I need to—”

“Beck, come on.”

“I’m sorry, I really need to go, okay? I’m sorry.” She turned and started trying to work her way into the house.

Ashley stared at her back, her eyes wide and unblinking.

“So we’re going to do this again next year?” she shouted suddenly. “You ignoring me?”

Interesting! The drama continues. Should’ve brought a camera.

Beckett stopped, her shoulders bunching up around her ears. “What’s the go?” she whispered. Whatever that meant.

I don’t think Ashley heard her, but Morrigan did. Morrigan’s
head snapped up, and seriously, fucking
bayonets
shot from her eyes.

“Just another year of pretending like I don’t exist?” Ashley went on, folding her arms and not seeing Morrigan’s death glare. I could see just a little of Ashley’s tan skin through the gap in her overalls. Sweet.

“Because that’s just great,” Ashley said. “It’s great to know that all those years didn’t mean
anything
to you. Thanks.”

Ouch. Chicks, man.

Guys got it so easy. Things go wrong, we yell, then punch each other on the arm and that’s it. Chicks, not so much.

Beckett turned back around, but looked at the concrete, the trees in the yard, the stoners hanging by the barbecue, anything other than Ashley.

“I—I just … it’s …”

“Say words!”
Ashley shouted.

Morrigan belched, covered her mouth, and giggled. “I’muh dainty lil flower,” she announced, and narrowed her eyes at Beckett. “How ’bout you, flower girl?”

“Morrigan, shut up,” Ashley said.

Beckett shook her head wildly. “I’m sorry,” she repeated. “I can’t be here.”

“So take off then,” Morrigan blathered. “Thass whatcher good at.” She slung an arm over Ashley’s shoulder. Taking possession.

But Ashley shrugged it off and stomped away, sitting down in the lawn chair and holding her head in both hands.

Me-
ow
, right?

Beckett finally looked up, and locked eyes with Morrigan, whose own eyes were half shut but smoldering.

“Well?” Morrigan said. “Git goin’,
chica
. You could go smoke some ganja, mon!” She cackled, then tripped over her feet and fell square on her ass.

Good
, I thought with a grin. Too bad Josh missed it.

And then Beckett, without hesitating, reached down and hoisted Morrigan back up to her feet. Morrigan stared at her, and yanked her arm away.

“Excuse me,
what’s the go?”
she said, whatever the hell that meant. She stumbled back a step and added,
“Bitch.”

Beckett flinched, and shot a disbelieving look to Ashley. Ashley just grabbed handfuls of her hair and squeezed her eyes tight. “Morry …,” she said, and shook her head.

“Nice hat,
mon,”
Morrigan said to Beckett, and started laughing. Off balance again, she crashed into Matt, who shoved her back the other way. Morrigan just kept laughing. Man, talk about
hammered
.

Ashley reached out for Beckett, who backed off toward the sliding door again. “Sorry,” Beckett whispered.

“Man, hell with this,” Matt said under his breath, and headed for Tommy. I followed him, looking back at the girls over my shoulder.

We went back to the little hill where Tommy had been watching the whole ordeal and laughing his head off, so I had no idea if the quiet kid, Beckett, said anything else. It would’ve been cool if she’d started a catfight, though. Wouldn’t mind breaking
that
up. After a minute.