Part 2 (1/2)

I put on the sparkly pink set, but ditch the garters...I'd feel silly in them. I slip on a form-fitting black V neck s.h.i.+rt and my favorite pair of jeans, do my hair up in a sloppy ponytail, and slap on some makeup. I know, I should make more of an effort, but I'm nervous enough as it is, so I'm dressing for comfort. Well, the outside at least. I kinda hate thongs.

I check my phone again. Still nothing from Johnny, so I decide to call him. It rings and rings, and just when I think I'm going to get put through to his voice mail, he answers.

”Yeah?” he says. He sounds distracted.

”Hey, you,” I say, unsettled by the tone of his voice. ”Uh, I heard you guys won. Congratulations!”

There is a short, but distinct pause. ”Thanks,” he says finally. What's with him? Is he drunk already?

”Yeah,” I mutter. ”So, I'm going to be a little late for the party, but I'll see you there. Okay?”

”Sure.”

Click.

What the h.e.l.l? Why is he in a p.i.s.sy mood-they won, right? I can't believe he hung up on me.

Shoot, I should have asked him for a ride.

I tap my fingers on my leg, thinking. I have a car, but I don't drive once the sun goes down-I have terrible night vision, as well as this weird phobia about driving in the dark. I could call a cab, I guess, but I don't really want to spend more money than I already did today. It's not like I'm rolling in dough, not like some people.

Maybe I shouldn't go, if he's got his panties in a wad. Then my shoulders fall. No, I promised him I would. I'd been dodging parties for long enough. It was time I start making an effort. Part of being Johnny's girlfriend is socializing with all of his friends, and I need to stop making excuses not to.

Speaking of his friends...

I flip through my contacts for Nick's number. Maybe I can catch him before he leaves for the party. Like Heather, Nick is late for everything. I cross my fingers and tap his name on the screen.

”What up, Juliet?” Nick cheerfully answers.

”Hey, Nick,” I greet, smiling at the sound of his voice. ”Congratulations on the game tonight. Did you guys stomp Crawville?”

”21-0,” he says with a chuckle. ”They put up a good fight, though. So, you gonna party with me tonight?”

”That's kinda why I called,” I admit. ”I hate to ask you this, but do you think you could give me a ride? If you're not-”

”Sure,” Nick agrees instantly. ”In fact, I'm already on your side of town. Are you ready right now? I can be there in fifteen minutes.”

”That would be perfect,” I say, relieved. ”Thanks so much, Nick.”

”My pleasure. See you soon.”

Well, that was easy. I've only met a few of Johnny's friends, and Nick is one of the ones I really like. It's hard not to like him, with his easy, laid-back personality and little boy enthusiasm. Nick is in Johnny's close circle of friends, and one of the only ones he trusts with me.

When I said Johnny was the jealous type, I wasn't kidding. It's ridiculous, because most of his friends are hot popular guys who wouldn't look twice at me. I hate to admit it, but it's kind of nice that he thinks I'm that irresistible. I'm really not.

I dated Michael Shaver in soph.o.m.ore year. He always walked a couple of steps ahead of me, and accidentally slammed quite a few doors in my face because he forgot I was behind him. He also left me behind at the movies once because he thought he came alone.

Clearly, I am a genius at picking boyfriends. In my defense, have you seen what there is to choose from? The sea is big, but the fish are scraggly, immature, and obsessed with video games.

I'm waiting on the front steps when Nick's big black Range Rover pulls in.

The Leclare Academy for Rich Kids. That's the unofficial name. Yet another reason I know I won't fit in there. When I whine to Johnny about it, he just shrugs and points out that he's not rich either-Dean's dad is. His father is just a construction worker, and a drunk. He always sounds slightly bitter when he says this, and I guess I don't blame him.

Nick Adler climbs out before I can open the pa.s.senger door of his car. He picks me up and envelopes me in a big bear hug. I love his hugs-they are just so warm and comforting, with just the right amount of squeezing. He could make a fortune as a professional hugger. Companies should hire him to stand outside, and wait for the employees who have just been given the shaft. I'm not saying Nick's hugs would put an end to workplace violence-but it could.

When he puts me back down, I study him standing in the yellow beam of his headlights. He looks good, as always, dressed casually in a beat up gray tee s.h.i.+rt and long board shorts. It could be fifty degrees out, and Nick would look like he's ready for a day at the beach. I love his sun-kissed surfer boy looks: the messy brown hair, sparkling hazel eyes, and lanky, sinewy-muscled build. There's not an ounce of fat on him, but his wide innocent gaze give the impression of a mellow softness.

”h.e.l.lo, beautiful.” Nick salutes me with a wink. ”Ready to do some shots with me tonight?”

”Yeah, right.” I say sarcastically. He knows I don't really drink. I just don't care for the taste of alcohol.

I smile my thanks when he opens the door for me. I crawl in and breathe in the rich scent of leather and more faintly, Nick's spicy cologne. I reach up to swat the wooden Hawaiian warrior helmet dangling from his rearview mirror. The brightly colored feathers sprouting from the top ruffle slightly as it sways back and forth. ”This is cool,” I say, studying it in the weak light.

He glances over at me as he starts the car. ”Yeah, my mom bought that for me on her last trip back to Hawaii. It's sort of my good luck charm,” he ends with a little shrug.

”That's nice,” I say lamely.

I know Nick's mom died last year in a car accident. Johnny says Nick hates talking about it, so I quickly rack my mind for something to change the subject-anything to get that wistful faraway look out of his eyes.

”I had a good luck charm once. My friend, Jenny Ng, gave it to me for Christmas,” I blurt out. ”It was a little jade Buddha. I use to carry it everywhere with me. I'd rub his fat little belly and wish for money.”

He laughs, his eyes clearing. ”How'd that work out for you?”

”Not so good,” I confess. ”I swear, every time I did that, something horrible would happen-I'd accidentally break something, or lose my lunch money on the way to school. Then one day, I took my little Buddha with me to Jenny's house, and her grandmother saw me playing with it. She freaked out on me! Turns out, Jenny stole the Buddha from her dead uncle's altar-because she didn't have any money to buy me a real Christmas present.”

”That's so...” Nick bursts out laughing. ”Sad? Morbid? I don't know. That's an interesting tale, Juliet. Is it true?”

”Unfortunately. Isn't that creepy? I think that little Buddha cursed me for life, though. I'm always broke,” I sigh.

”Oh,” Nick says awkwardly. What can he say to that? Sucks to be poor? I'm sure he's never known what it's like to not have pocketfuls of money. Not that it's his fault.

I didn't mean to make him uncomfortable. I clear my throat. ”So, tell me about the game.”

Nick brightens and immediately launches into a detailed description of the game, especially the last play where Dean threw a spectacular Hail Mary to Johnny, who plucked it out of the air like a magic trick.

Show-offs. I don't say that out loud.

”This party's gonna be great,” Nick enthuses with his infectious smile. ”They got Rick Bob to deejay.”

”The Voice of 97.9'? I'm impressed. Who set that up?”

”Kara, of course. You think Dean or Johnny would bother?” Nick laughs. ”Dean wouldn't even have parties at his house if it wasn't for Johnny-and if it was left to Johnny, he'd just throw beer and chips at us. Kara always plans their parties.”

”And Kara is...?”

”You weren't at her birthday party last week?” When I shake my head, Nick looks slightly sheepish. ”Kara Deschamps. She'll be there tonight.”

Well, that's a vague answer. She's obviously a part of the gang, so why haven't I heard of her before? More importantly, why hasn't Johnny ever mentioned her?

I'm beginning to think I am way out of my depth here.