by Emma Knight
Rachel and Sarah both ran into school the next morning, anxious to see the list outside the girls’ locker room. As Rachel headed towards the bulletin board, she saw swarms of girls huddled by it searching for their names.
When she reached the list she ran her pointer down the white piece of paper, scanning each name typed out in alphabetical order by last name. Rachel finally spotted “Wood,” slid her finger moved to the right of the page and it read, “Sarah.” She looked again but her name wasn’t on the list.
Rachel sank back away from the board, and she felt ill. All she wanted was to be part of the team, especially now that she was in competition with her sister. Why did Sarah always get everything that Rachel wanted? It wasn’t fair.
“I’m sorry, Rach,” said Sarah. “I won’t do it if you want.”
Rachel was surprised by what Sarah had just said. Would she really give up her spot on the team for her? Maybe Sarah wasn’t as awful as Rachel thought. Maybe they would actually become friends.
“No, it’s fine. It’s more your thing anyway. Thanks though,” Rachel said.
Rachel headed off to homeroom as she slowly let her desire to be part of the cheerleading team fade away. She guessed it was for the best; she didn’t really want to be on a team with those girls anyway, especially after what had happened yesterday.
When Rachel got into homeroom class, she went right over to Emily, who was waving at her.
“So, you make the team?” asked Emily.
“Nope.”
“Sorry,” Emily said, “you ok?”
“Yeah, you were right,” Rachel said. “I didn’t really want to be on a team with those girls anyway. They don’t seem so nice.”
“They’re terrible -- especially Arielle. Consider yourself lucky for not making the team,” Emily said.
Rachel laughed and smiled.
“So, you meeting people?” Emily asked.
“Some…not really though,” answered Rachel.
“Sit with me at lunch today. I’ll introduce you to my friends. I think you’ll like them,” said Emily.
“Cool, that’d be great,” Rachel said.
Mr. Allen started his lesson, cutting Rachel and Emily’s conversation short. Today’s topic was a continuation of women in history. Mr. Allen said he wanted to teach that first, because so often women get overlooked even though they have done some pretty incredible things to get our country where it is today. As he began talking about Susan B. Anthony and the 19th Century Women’s Movement, Rachel couldn’t help but to wonder if she’d be a powerful woman.
She envisioned herself changing the world when she grew up. She’d always dreamed of becoming a doctor or a scientist. She loved being in the laboratory and she loved helping people. She related deeply to the topic Mr. Allen was discussing and it gave her inner strength to think about her future as a powerful woman in America. Rachel was getting lost in her daydreams when the bell rang. She got up from her chair and headed to the door.
“I’ll see you at lunch, meet me by the entrance,” Emily said.
“Great!” she replied.
Rachel was doing an inner happy dance, she was finally making friends.
Day three and things were starting to look up, Rachel thought.
As lunchtime neared, Rachel watched the clock tick in her science class. Only a few more minutes until she would meet her new group of friends at AHS. She hoped they would like her, and she also hoped she would like them. Thinking back to her first day in the cafeteria, she saw each clique flash vividly through her mind. She couldn’t help but wonder which group she was going to sit with, and which group was going to be her clique. Rachel pictured herself eating, laughing, swapping phone numbers and making plans for the weekend with these girls. God how she wished these girls would like her.
As the bell finally rang, Rachel walked to meet Emily at the entrance of the cafeteria. A few minutes went by as she stood there alone, watching and waiting for Emily to appear. Thoughts of Emily not showing up flashed through her head. She couldn’t bear to stand there alone as kids flooded into the cafeteria. As she stood there, feeling her hopes deflate, she heard a voice.
“Sorry, got held up in class!” Emily said, as she appeared from the sea of kids.
“No prob, just got here myself,” Rachel replied, not wanting Emily to think she was waiting anxiously.
As the two headed into the cafeteria, they approached a table with Rocker and Punk types. Rachel approached them with an open-mind.
“Hey Em,” shouted a girl at the table wearing a thick black eye liner and red lipstick.
“Hi Jen,” Emily said as they arrived at the long lunch table. Emily pointed to Rachel and said, “Guys, this is Rachel, she just started here.”
The crew at the table smiled at Rachel, which made her feel warm inside.
Maybe this was it. Maybe these are my new friends.
Rachel sat down and opened up her brown paper bag and pulled out her PB&J and can of Arizona Iced Tea. She looked around the table as the kids each said their names -- Liv, Kate, Jen, Jessica (Jess for short) and Taryn. They were all curious about Rachel and asked her where she was from and why she moved to their school. The conversation flowed nicely as they all got to know each other. Rachel felt excited.
“So, what are you up to this weekend?” Taryn said.
“No plans yet.”
“We’re all going to the movies tonight -- if you wanna join.”
“Sounds fun,” Rachel said.
“Cool, we’ll pick you up around 7 o’clock. Where do you live?”
“42 Pine Road.”
“Great!” Taryn said and the other girls nodded and smiled in agreement.
Rachel couldn’t have asked for anything more. Meeting these new girls went just the way she had hoped in her head.
The thought of going out on a Friday night thrilled Rachel – especially on the first weekend of school. Rachel so desperately hoped that she could join them at the movies, but she knew she had to ask her parents first. He parents were usually cool about her going out with friends, but she was never allowed to drive with a friend who had just gotten their license. Her parents worried a lot, and were scared that she’d get into an accident with a young, inexperienced driver.
Did Rachel really just make plans for a FRIDAY NIGHT? She was elated as she walked out of the cafeteria with her new group of friends by her side. She felt good for the first time about this move. Maybe this was going to be better than Pennsylvania; maybe Emily and these girls would be more fun than Dana and her old crew.
“See you tonight, Rach!” Taryn and Jen said as they branched off to go to their 6th period class.
Rach, they were already calling her by her nickname. Rachel felt so cool.
As the day progressed, Rachel couldn’t think of anything else but her plans with her new friends that night. She couldn’t wait to be picked up.
During her eighth period class, Rachel stared out of the open door of her classroom as she daydreamed about her evening as she. All of a sudden, her thoughts stopped, as she saw Rob walk by and peek into her classroom. He smiled, and continued walking.
Was that a coincidence, or was he coming to see me? Rachel thought.
All of a sudden, she felt her body get up out of the chair and grab the bathroom pass as she headed into the hallway. She didn’t know what she was doing, but she was hoping that Rob would still be in the hallway, somewhere.
She walked towards the Girls’ room and didn’t see him anywhere. She pushed the door open and was about to step inside, when she heard his voice.
“Rachel, hey, I was hoping to see you this afternoon,” Rob said in an eager voice.
Rachel was so excited, her heart started beating faster and she could tell her face was flushing. Trying to gain composure, she started walking towards him.
“Hi, what’s up?” Rachel said, trying to sound cool.
“Did you hear about the party tomorrow? At Jordan’s house. His parents are awa
y for the weekend and he’s throwing a party.”
“No, I didn’t. Who’s Jordan?”
“He’s on the team, cool kid,” replied Rob. “You should come, it’s going to be sick.”
“Yeah, sure,” Rachel said.
Rob took Rachel’s phone number and put it into his cell.
“I’ll text ya tomorrow.”
“Cool,” Rachel said smoothly, as if she didn’t care.
Rachel walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water on her cheeks. Did that really just happen? Was she just asked out by Rob Greene.
Not only did she now have plans for Friday night with her new girlfriends, she had a DATE on Saturday!
This is the best day of my life. Who would have thought things could turn around this quickly. Does this mean I’m popular?
Rachel walked back to her classroom and sat there doodling in her notebook. “Rachel Greene” she wrote on the back pages of her notebook, then scribbled it out so nobody could read it. She looked at her watch and counted down the minutes until school ended for the week. She was eager to get picked up so she could ask her mom about tonight.
The bell rang and she flew out the front doors of the school and into her mom’s car.
When she shut the car door, she felt a rush of nervousness. She worried that if her mom said no, her social life would be over before it had even started.
“Hi Mom, guess what! I have the best news,” Rachel said with excitement.
“What Darling, what is it?”
“I met some new girls today, they’re very nice and they invited me to the movies.”
Skeptical, her mom asked, “What movie?”
“Not sure yet, but I really want to go.”
“Okay, what time should I drop you off then?”
“Well, actually this girl Taryn is going to pick me up. She’s been driving for a year now, she’s in 11th grade.”
Rachel’s mom gave her a look. Rachel knew what that “look” meant without her mom having to say a word. A big, fat NO.
This can’t be happening. She can’t NOT let me go. This is tragic.
“But Mom, please, you let Sarah drive with HER new friends.”
“They’re seniors, Sweetie. They’ve been driving for a few years now.”
“If I don’t go out with these girls tonight, my life is over. They will never ask me to hang out again. I will be the biggest loser ever.”
Her mom sighed. “Fine, since it’s only a few minutes drive, I will make an exception. But only to the movies and back -- don’t go anywhere else,” her mom said.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ll be fine, I promise. You are the best.”
Rachel figured she would cross her Saturday night’s plan bridge with her parents the next day. She didn’t want to overload them with too many things at once, in fear they would say no.
As she scurried into the house and up to her room she was jumping with joy. She couldn’t believe her mom said yes. It was 3pm and Rachel had a few hours before her big night with the girls.
Rachel rummaged through her closet in search of the perfect outfit. She wanted to fit in with this crowd, so she figured there was no better way than to dress like them. She had all different types of clothes and she didn’t feel she fit into one specific style. Tonight Rachel thought she would wear something punk. She looked through her wardrobe and found a cute, cut-off Nirvana tee.
Perfect! she thought. Now, what to wear on the bottom?
Skirt, pants, leggings, jeans (bell bottom, skinny, flair, boyfriend, jeggings)…Rachel had so many choices. If she chose the skirt, she would want to wear her fishnets underneath, but because it was a cool day she worried she’d be too cold. Especially because everyone knows that movie theaters are the coldest places on the planet.
Rachel tried on different options and decided she would wear her black skinny jeans with her Dr. Martens black lace up boots. Rachel loved her Dr. Martens and she switched out the boring black laces for magenta laces. She thought it looked much cooler that way.
She tied up her laces, went into the bathroom, looked in the mirror and thought she looked perfect. Now, all she needed to do was makeup. Since it was a Friday night, she wanted to do a dark smoky eye. She also thought it would compliment the punk rocker outfit she had on. As she picked up her Maybelline smoky shadow set, and began to swipe the brush over her eyelid she couldn’t help but wonder what the night was going to be like. She wondered what movie they would see and who she’d sit next to in the theater. She liked all the girls, but was hoping to sit next to Emily. Rachel really liked Emily and was so glad Emily took her under her wing.
Rachel wondered if Emily would become her new Dana. Thinking of that reminded Rachel that Dana had been MIA the past few days and hadn’t returned her calls. Dana sent one lousy text that said, “All’s good here in PA. Miss ya.” But that was it: she didn’t even call to see what Rachel’s new school was like or if she had made any new friends. Boy would Dana be surprised when she heard she made new friends AND had a date.
Rachel finished her makeup by putting on a light pink lip-gloss, and headed downstairs for dinner.
“Look at you,” Rachel’s dad said. Where are you going?” “Movies with my new friends,” Rachel said with a smile.
“You look…nice.” Her dad said. Although Rachel knew he would have preferred to say “different” rather than “nice.”
“Thanks!” she said back.
As Rachel’s mom, dad and Mark sat there and ate their spaghetti, they talked about their week. Sarah was not at dinner that night because she went up to visit Gary, her boyfriend, for the weekend at Skidmore College.
Mark looked at Rachel in surprise, “So you made some friends?” he asked sarcastically.
“Yup! A bunch of em,” Rachel replied smartly. “And am getting picked up in a few minutes by Taryn, she’s a Junior,” Rachel bragged.
“Look at you, cool dude,” Mark said.
“Stop that, kids,” Rachel’s mom said. “Leave each other alone.”
Mark and Rachel stopped bickering and finished up their dinner. Rachel cleaned her plate off in the sink and put it in the dishwasher.
“Rachel,” her dad’s voice said as she was on her way out of the kitchen.
Rachel walked back and said, “Yeah?”
“Be home by 11. We’ll be waiting up.”
Rachel let out a sigh, “Ok, I will.”
Rachel heard the horn blowing from outside in her driveway. She looked out the window and saw a blue BMW 330xi. Fancy, she thought.
She said goodbye to her parents and walked outside. The horn honked again, and Taryn rolled down her window. “Cute outfit!” Taryn said.
Rachel noticed that Jen and Emily were in the car, too, and she hopped into the back seat. As she entered the car she could smell the new car and leather smell that infused the air. She had never ridden in a car with leather seats. Her family’s Station wagon had blue cloth seats with stains on them from years of spilled food and drinks. As the car pulled out of the driveway, Rachel’s parents stood in the doorway, waved and watched as the car rolled down the street.
I hope nobody noticed them, she thought from her seat.
As the car turned out of view of Rachel’s house, Taryn sped up. Rachel buckled her seat belt with a pang of nervousness, but acted calm. She wasn’t used to speeding down the narrow back roads of Bedford.
“So, what movie are we seeing?” Rachel asked.
“A thriller, or horror,” Jen answered, “Not sure which-- it depends what the show times are.”
“I vote for a thriller,” Taryn said.
“Me, too!” said Emily.
Aren’t thrillers rated R? Rachel thought.
“You have your ID don’t you?” Taryn asked her.
ID? Rachel thought for a moment. What did they mean, ID? Rachel didn’t own a fake ID and she had no reason to: not in Pennsylvania, anyway.
“Um, no.” Rachel replied. “I don’t
have one…yet.”
Apparently all these girls had fake IDs that said they were 21. Rachel knew if she were going to continue to hang with this crew, she would need an ID -- and fast.
“My sister, Sarah is up at Skidmore this weekend visiting her BF, Gary. I told her to try and get me one from one of his friends,” Rachel heard herself lie.
“Nice,” replied Jen.
As Taryn drove them toward the large open parking lot at the movies, Rachel worried that she wouldn’t get in. She fluffed her hair, put on lipstick and got out of the car. She wondered if she could pass for 17 if she walked with her head tall. She didn’t want to look nervous when she walked into the theater, so she put on a smile and opened the door.
Rachel saw Emily look up at the large display of show times and then order four tickets to the thriller that was playing.
The ticket lady looked at Emily, Rachel, Jen and Taryn and said, “Okay, here you go.
Emily handed each girl a ticket and said, “I think we’re in!”
Rachel looked around and saw two guards in uniform collecting the tickets. Security is tight here, Rachel thought. They looked like bouncers Rachel had seen standing outside of bars. Not that Rachel went into bars; she’d just seen them as she passed by on the streets.
As the girls entered the line, Rachel began to get nervous again. She had never tried to fake an age that she wasn’t and she had never feel pressure like this before.
“Tickets please,” said one of the guards sternly.
Taryn, Jen and Emily got through the guards. Only Jen needed to show an ID and they glanced at it and let her through. After all, it was only a movie.
Rachel handed her ticket to the guard and he looked at her.
“ID please,” the guard said.
“I left it at home, sorry.” Rachel said trying to get out of it.
“No ID, no movie…Next,” said the guard.
The guard had Rachel step aside, on the outside of the black ropes.
Uh oh, now what?
Rachel looked at her friends; they were standing there looking at her in disappointment.
“Let’s just go,” Emily said as she subtly rolled her eyes at her friends.
Rachel felt awful.
“Sorry guys, you can still go, I’ll have my mom pick me up,” Rachel cringed as the words came out of her mouth.
“Nah, we’ll do something else,” said Emily.
As the girls walked outside, they were (spewing out?) different ideas of what to do instead.
“We could go to Jess’ house,” Jen said. “She wasn’t allowed out tonight because she got in trouble in school.”
“Her parents won’t let us in,” Emily replied, “she’s grounded.” “I have the BEST idea,” Taryn interrupted. “We are going to the city to get Rachel a fake. I know of a good place in the East Village.”
Rachel could tell that Taryn was a bit of a rebel and knew a lot of places from her older brother Ben. Taryn had told Rachel that Ben just started college at NYU in the city, and his dorm was on 7th street, right in the heart of the East Village.
“Awesome idea!” said Emily.
As the four girls got back into Taryn’s car, a wave of nervousness and guilt swarmed through Rachel’s body. Rachel never lied to her parents and the thought of DRIVING into the city terrified her. What if they got into an accident? What if they weren’t back by 11pm? What if her parents found out she wasn’t really at the movies? It was almost too much for Rachel to bear, but she knew that if she spoke up, she would be cast off back into her world of solitude. So, she said nothing.
Taryn started the car and turned up the music. The station was set to Z100, which was apparently the best radio station in New York. They broadcast from the top of the empire state building. Rachel felt the car accelerating as she pulled her seatbelt tighter across her chest. She took two deep breaths, quietly, so the girls wouldn’t hear.
Rachel tried to stay calm in the back seat of the car. She didn’t let on that she was worried or that she would be in BIG trouble if her parents knew what she was up to. She wondered why the girls didn’t think it was a big deal to head into the city on a random Friday night. She was surprised none of them called their parents to let them know their plans hand changed or to ask their permission.
Rachel was feeling more and more out of place. This was not what her friends back in Pennsylvania would do. Rachel never disobeyed her parents. She may not have agreed with them, but she never disobeyed. It was clear to Rachel that her world was about to change.
As the car drove over the Triboro Bridge, Rachel could see all the bright lights of Manhattan glistening in the distance. She felt bad she was doing this, but she also felt excited. She always wanted to go into New York City and had only been there a few times before, to see Broadway shows and do touristy things with her family.
The girls arrived at their destination safely and got out of the car. Rachel looked up at the street sign above, which read “St. Marks Place.” She looked around and clutched her bag closer the throngs of people passed in all directions.
“This way,” Taryn said as she pointed towards a sign that read, “2nd Avenue.” Rachel’s heart beat faster and faster as they walked down the street. She felt like a rebel and she kind of liked it. After all, it was her fault that they were in the city in the first place. If she had had an ID, they would be happily munching on popcorn at the movies right now in Bedford. So she couldn’t be mad. Taryn and the girls were doing her a favor: they were helping her get a fake, which would get her into all the “cool” places.
Rachel struggled with her inner battle of feeling cool in the city and feeling guilty about lying to her parents.
“So, where’s this store?” Rachel asked Taryn.
“It’s a block away, on St. Marks Place and 1st Avenue. It’s in a costume store, but it’s tricky to find because you have to go into the basement. I’ll show you.”
Rachel followed as the girls entered the costume store. It was a peculiar place, and not your average costume store. There were black leather chaps hanging on the wall right when you walked in and a red feather boa hung above them. She saw platform black boots with spikes coming out of the sides and belts with metal rivets. She definitely felt out of her element. This was a combination; Halloween, porn and goth store, and she didn’t quite know what to make of it.
As the girls made their way down the musty smelling basement steps of the store, Rachel saw a black curtain. A heavy-set bald man, wearing a tank top, came out from behind it.
“What do you want?” he snapped skeptically as he peered behind them to make sure nobody was following.
“My friend needs an ID,” Taryn said as she pointed at Rachel.
“Come, quick,” he said, as he whisked the girls behind his black curtain.
The man handed Rachel a large black binder to look though. She opened the cover and started flipping through the pages of sample IDs.
“Which state?” he asked her.
“Um, I don’t know,” Rachel said, and she turned to her friends.
“Get Michigan,” Emily said, “those are the best because they scan. Don’t get New York-- it will be too obvious.”
“Michigan,” Rachel said to the man.
“Address?” he fired back.
Rachel didn’t realize she’d be asked so many questions and took out her cell phone. She opened up the map app and looked up places in Michigan to get an accurate street name.
“444 Grand River Avenue,” Rachel replied.
Four was Rachel’s lucky number and she felt like she could use some luck.
“Birthday? You want to be 21, correct?” he asked.
“November 1st. Yes 21, please” Rachel spat out.
“Stand over there,” the man said, and pointed to an X made of duct tape on the floor. Rachel slowly walked over to the X and stood on it.
The man snapped her picture.
“Wait upstairs,” he said.
/> As the girls headed back up the dark musty staircase, Rachel wondered what she would need that ID for, other than movies. She didn’t go to bars or clubs, but wondered if her new friends did.
All of a sudden she heard a phone ringing. It was Taryn’s cell. Taryn picked up and Rachel wondered who she was talking to. “Cool,” “Now?” “We’re here.” She heard Taryn say.
Taryn hung up the phone and said, “Guys, let’s meet my brother, he’s a few blocks away. It’ll be fun.”
Rachel looked at her watch, it was 9 o’clock and she knew she only had two more hours until she had to be home. The man came upstairs and handed Rachel her ID; she looked at it and ran her fingers across the front.
“Nice!” she said.
“It’s $60,” the man said holding out his hand.
Sixty dollars? Rachel thought. That was a lot of money, and she definitely didn’t think she had it in her wallet. Trying not to show her worry she smiled and opened her bag and started rummaging for her wallet.
“C’mon Rach,” Taryn said, “We have to get going.”
Rachel quickly pulled out her wallet. She found $40. She looked around the outer pockets of her wallet for the $20 her dad gave her for emergencies only.
This is an emergency if I’ve ever seen one. If I don’t use this twenty dollars then I can’t get the ID and if I don’t have the ID, I’ll have no friends. And if I tell the girls I can’t afford it, they’ll think I’m poor and I don’t want that.
So Rachel unfolded her last remaining twenty-dollar bill and handed it over to the man.
Rachel was, all out of money, in the city, lying to her parents, buying a fake ID, and now, she found herself on her way to meet up with Taryn’s brother Ben.
What am I getting myself into?
The girls walked down St. Mark’s place. Rachel noticed many outdoor vendors set up selling hats, sunglasses, socks, belts, etc. She also saw restaurants, clothing stores and stores with bongs and smoking paraphernalia in the windows. This was unlike any place Rachel had ever been. As the girls stood there on the corner of the 3rd Avenue and St. Marks, Taryn said, “This is it!” as she pointed to a tattoo parlor.
Rachel stood there in horror. She didn’t know what to do. The pressure was building as Emily, Jen and Taryn headed inside. Was she really going to stand there on the street, alone? Rachel pushed the door open and followed the girls inside.
“Hey T!” said Ben
“Hi,” Taryn said back. She gave Ben a hug and said hello to his friends as well.
Ben apparently knew Emily and Jen, and hugged and kissed them on the cheek.
As Ben came closer to Rachel, she waited for Taryn to introduce her, but she didn’t.
“I’m Rachel, Taryn’s new friend at AHS.”
“You have any tatts?” he asked.
Of course not, she thought.
“Nope,” Rachel replied.
“You getting one tonight?” Ben asked.
Was he serious? Rachel thought. Were the girls getting tattoos?
“No,” Rachel said.
“Should I do it, guys?” Taryn asked, as she turned around from the wall of tattoo designs.
“Why not?” Jen and Emily said.
Rachel looked at Ben’s arms, which were covered in tattoos.
“I’m getting Brian’s name on my back,” Ben said.
Apparently Brian was Ben’s best friend in high school, who had just died from a drug overdose.
Rachel couldn’t believe her ears, and she wondered if she really belonged here. She felt like a fish out of water.
“What should I get?” Taryn asked.
Rachel thought about what her parents would do if she came home with a tattoo. She knew exactly what they would do: they would ground her for LIFE.
“Do you guys have tattoos?” Rachel asked Jen and Emily.
“Nope, not yet,” replied Jen, “but I want to get a rose on my ankle when I go to college.”
“No, don’t really want one,” said Emily.
Rachel felt better hearing that she wasn’t the only one that didn’t want a tattoo. She didn’t understand, though, why this was no big deal to these girls. Was getting a tattoo an ordinary occurrence? It was as if nothing fazed these girls.
“A unicorn!” Taryn pointed to a picture of a unicorn on the wall. “This is it, I’m getting it!”
“Are you sure?” Rachel heard herself ask.
“Um, yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Taryn said, with a little attitude.
Rachel didn’t reply. She didn’t know why she even said anything in the first place.
Rachel watched as Taryn sat down in the chair and the tattoo man rubbed her back with alcohol. The smell infused the room. Rachel cringed as the man took out his tattoo pen, changed the needle and filled it with black ink.
“Hold my hand.” Taryn said.
Jen went over to hold her hand.
Rachel listened as Taryn was screaming with pain.
“It’s not that bad, T,” said Ben. “Man up!”
After an excruciatingly long 45 minutes, Taryn was finished. The man put a white bandage on her back and taped it up on the edges.
Rachel looked at Taryn and thought she looked a bit out of it. Her face was flushed.
“You okay?” Rachel asked.
“Been better,” Taryn replied.
Ben and his friends were still getting their tattoos when Taryn said she felt sick and wanted to leave.
Rachel looked at her watch: 10:45pm.
Oh no.
How would she ever make it home in fifteen minutes? Rachel felt bad that Taryn was sick but she was also relieved that they were heading home. As the girls walked towards Taryn’s BMW Rachel tried to hurry them up. Emily and Jen walked slowly down the block looking at the many things the street vendors were selling.
“C’mon guys, Taryn’s sick.” Rachel kept prodding.
As they approached the car, Taryn said, “I can’t drive, my back hurts and I’m dizzy.”
Now what? Rachel thought. Who was going to drive them back?
Rachel didn’t have her license and wasn’t turning 16 until November, and Jen and Emily did not have their license yet either.
“Maybe Ben will drive us,” Taryn said.
Taryn took out her cell phone and began texting with Ben.
“He’ll take us, but we have to wait for them to finish their tatts,” Taryn said.
I’m done. My parents are going to kill me. My life is over.
Time crawled by slowly as they waited in the Starbucks for Ben to finish. Rachel kept checking her watch. 11, 11:05, 11:10, the time was rolling on and she was late for curfew. At 11:25 Rachel’s phone buzzed.
1 New Message:
Dad: Where are you, young lady?
Rachel didn’t know what to do; she wished she could be transported from that Starbucks in NYC to her house in Bedford, New York.
Rachel: I’m running a little behind, movie is just letting out.
Rachel didn’t know what to respond, but she knew if she didn’t respond, her parents would drive to the theater to look for her.
Dad: When are you going to be back?
Rachel: ASAP, I’m sorry.
The text conversation ended and Rachel’s nerves grew. How could this be happening to her?
Rachel heard a knock on the window of the Starbucks; she looked over and saw Ben standing there with his friends. Ben poked his head in and said, “I need to stop by my dorm quickly. I’ll just be a few minutes.”
Rachel felt a panic attack coming on. She’d never had a panic attack, but if she were ever going to get one, it would be tonight.
“Hurry,” said Taryn, “I’m really feeling nauseous.”
As Rachel sat there and watched Ben leave towards his dorm, she wondered how long he was going to be. For a second Rachel thought maybe she could offer to drive Taryn’s car home; she didn’t think it would be that hard to learn. Then she realized that was a terrible idea.
Ben returned to the Starbucks twenty-five minutes later smelling of smoke.
“Ready?” he said.
The girls got up and headed to the car. Taryn sat in the front and Rachel, Jen and Emily sat crammed in the back seat. The car reeked of smoke and Rachel knew she was going to be in BIG trouble. Not only was she going to be late, but she would also come into her house smelling of smoke.
Rachel looked at the orange-lighted clock on the dashboard: 12:08.
BUZZ. Rachel felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Rachel hoped that if she didn’t open it that it would just go away. 12:12 Buzz, another buzz. Rachel flipped open her phone and held the screen away so that Jen and Emily couldn’t read it.
2 New Messages:
Dad: WHERE ARE YOU? GET HOME NOW.
Dad:?
Rachel didn’t know what to respond. They were still a good 45 minutes from home and stuck in Friday night city traffic.
Rachel: Long story, I’m on my way, 45 minutes. I’ll explain.
Dad: We need to talk. You’re in trouble, missy.
Rachel put her phone back in her bag and sunk down into her seat. She didn’t know what was worse: being stuck in that car, or what she would face when she got home. She hated this night and wished it had never happened.
Chapter Seven
