Tilt (61 page)

I wanted to tell her to lighten

up. That getting touched in those

places is actually not so bad.

That she might even like it if

she just gave it a chance. But

I didn’t. I wussed out there, too.

And when she asked about trick-

or-treating I told her I thought

we were getting kind of old for it.

Didn’t want to hurt her feelings

and say I’d rather hang out with Lucas.

I’m setting Kurt and Chloe up. Pretty

sure she won’t mind him touching

those places. Mom’s driving me

over to Chloe’s house.
Don’t you

want some dinner first? Or will

your friend’s parents feed you?

Chloe lives alone with her dad, who

works swing shift. But all I say

is, “I’m good. I had some soup.”

I Did Have to Lie

When Mom asked why Bri

wasn’t coming tonight. “She’s not

feeling so hot,” I told her. Any other

year, Mom would have talked to

Mrs. Carlisle about it. They used

to be really tight. Something has

come between them. Not really

sure what it is, but they don’t go

out like they used to, or even

just get together for coffee.

Which is okay for a short time, but

not for good. Mom doesn’t have

a whole lot of friends. She can’t

afford to lose her best one. Which

makes me rethink what I’m doing

tonight. I don’t want to lose my best

friend, either. Still, plans are plans.

I’m not changing this one now.

I’ll call Bri and we can do something

this weekend. I’ll make it up to her.

But I Am Curious

We are almost to Chloe’s when

I get the nerve to ask Mom, “Did

you and Mrs. Carlisle have a fight?”

Mom squirms obvious discomfort.

Not at all. Holly is just going

through some stuff right now.

“You mean, like a midlife crisis?

That’s what Bri says—that her mom

is going through a creepy midlife crisis.”

That makes Mom smile.
I don’t

know about “creepy.” It’s not

uncommon for women of our age.

“Did you . . . have you . . . are you

going through one, too? Is that why

you and Mrs. Carlisle don’t talk much?”

Her smile falls away.
Harley,

honey, that’s not it at all. Don’t

worry. Everything’s okay. Okay?

Something About Her Denial

Makes me think everything is
not

okay. But we’ve arrived at Chloe’s.

Will someone bring you home?

Don’t forget it’s a school night.

“I have a ride home and I promise

not to be out past eleven.” I watch

Mom drive away before going to

the door. Chloe answers in a French

maid’s costume that shows off pretty much

everything. “Wow. You’re brave.”

Always good to make a great first

impression. Kurt
is
worth impressing?

“Oh, yeah.” Not as worthy as Lucas, who

I really hope she doesn’t impress as much

as I think she might. My vampire outfit

is sexy, but not completely see-through.

I totally have to quit wussing out.

“Can I go change?” She points to a hall

bathroom.
Help yourself. Want

a beer? I’m going to have one.

“Your father lets you have beer?”

I call from the far side of the bathroom

door.
Sort of,
she calls back.
He buys

twenty-four packs. Doesn’t miss them.

One beer couldn’t hurt, right?

“Okay. If you’re sure.” I only tasted

beer once. Mom thought she was

teaching me a lesson, and I guess

it worked. The beer was the color

of coffee. And it tasted like how cat

pee smells. I took a couple of big sips

anyway. Haven’t touched beer since.

This Beer Is Light

Colored, and its smell isn’t obnoxious.

And, though I told Mom I had eaten,

that was another lie. Half the can

makes me fuzzy-headed. I’ve started

on the second half when the doorbell

rings. Chloe steps back to let the boys

in. Lucas, who is dressed in a black

duster, boots and cowboy hat, checks

her out. Whistles.
Well, hello there.

You can clean my bedroom any

time. Long as I’m in it!
Now he looks

at me.
You look pretty good, too.

Wow. Nice. Guess I should make

the introductions. “That’s Lucas.

And that’s Kurt. And thish is Chloe.”

My mouth is a little fuzzy, too.

Lucas notices.
Wait a minute.

What’s that in your hand? Miller

Lite? I thought you didn’t drink.

You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?

The Guys Want a Beer, Too

Chloe goes to the kitchen, and

I follow her. “Won’t your dad miss

those?” The last thing I need is for

her dad to tell my mom I’ve been

drinking. But she says,
Nah. He never

keeps track. Can’t drink it all, though.

“I can’t drink any more than this

one. I can’t miss school tomorrow.

I’ve got a history test.” Chloe rolls

her eyes.
I know. I’m in your class,

remember? Don’t worry. We won’t

get drunk on a beer or two.
She might

not, but I’m feeling pretty buzzed.

She hands me a can for Lucas, and

we go back to the boys, who down

their beers in a couple of big swigs.

Lucas drapes his arm around my shoulder.

Ready for a little Halloween fun?

His hand drops down over my boob,

and his fingers obviously play

with my nipple and I’m worried

that he thinks this beer means I’m

going to have sex with him, right here,

right now. “Uh . . . What kind of fun?”

Seriously? Trick-or-treating,

of course. Emphasis on the “tricks.”

That makes me just a little nervous,

but I can’t say no. Chloe stashes

the beer cans outside in the recycling

bin and we all pile into Lucas’s car.

The first thing he does is light up

a pipe stuffed with pot. He passes it

to me, and for a change I go ahead

and take a small puff before handing

it over the seat to Kurt. Chloe giggles

and inhales a big drag.
Good stuff,

she says, trying not to blow any

of it out. I don’t know if it’s good

or not. But whether it’s the weed or

the beer or the combination, I am

definitely woozy. Do people really

like feeling this way? In the back,

Chloe and Kurt seem to have hit

it off. They’re sitting really close,

and she’s laughing at some dumb

joke he’s just spouted. Then they get

really quiet and I think they must

be kissing, not that I want to get all

voyeuristic or anything. I’m glad

when Lucas parks the car in an upscale

neighborhood where, I’m sure, the candy

is plentiful. “Hey. What are we putting

our candy in? Did you bring a bag

or a pillowcase or something?”

The Question

Makes Lucas and Kurt bust up.