Falling

by Katherine Cobb

  “What the fuck are you doing?”

  I whirled around and faced Pete, looking mad as hell.

  “Hi, honey!” I stood up and leaned to give him a kiss.

  He grabbed my wrists and kept me at bay. “I said, what the fuck are you doing?”

  I had to think a minute. Pete. Boyfriend. Party. “Partying!”

  “I can see that. Why are you here and not at Nate’s?

  “Hmm…we were at that party, but…but then, um, oh yeah! It was bo-ring.” My words slurred and I struggled to put together a sentence.

  “So you left? That’s great. And now you’re drunk? Nice.”

  “I figgered you’d come here. And here you are!”

  “I’m taking you home.”

  “Whaaaah? No. I’m staying at…someone’s…Mary’s!” I swayed, losing my balance.

  Pete caught me. “You’re pathetic.”

  “Why’re you being so meeeean?” The room began to spin.

  “I don’t appreciate being stood-up.”

  “It’s nah like I did it intenchilly…” I wavered, struggling to keep upright.

  “Whatever. You’re a drunken mess, and I’m too pissed off to be around you. I’m leaving.”

  “Honeeeey, nooooo! Don’ go.” I grabbed for him, but he didn’t stop. I fell, the room whirled, and bile rose up my throat.

  35

  Country Club

  Roger came from nowhere, yanking me up and forcing me into the backyard. “Breathe, Anna. Inhale some fresh air.”

  I tried gulping in the night breeze but gagged. I staggered to the side and fell onto a pruned bush, and everything on my insides came roaring up my throat. The contents ejected from my mouth with such force, I teetered on the plant. I grasped the nearby grill, gagging and spitting until I believed with hopeful certainty it was over. The world spun. I struggled upright and managed to slump into one of the now-empty lawn chairs—any poor soul sitting there surely vacated once the barfing girl had shown up to provide The Greatest Show on Earth. Mary arrived with a wet paper towel, which I gratefully accepted to wipe my face.

  “That was horble,” I said.

  Mary nodded, smoothing some of my hair into place. “Feeling better now?”

  “A lil’.”

  “What happened with Pete?”

  Pete! “He was pissed, pissed, pissed, so he left.” I stuck my tongue out and blew a raspberry.

  “Why?”

  “I dunno. Thoughtta stood him up or sumpin’. Wouldn’t even lemme explain. He can be sush a jerk!”

  “He’ll probably come crawling back to say he’s sorry.”

  “He don’ care. I don’ want his stupid ’pology. He can go screw hisself.”

  “We’ll see how you’re feeling about that tomorrow.”

  “Don’ feel you haf to babysit me. I’m better.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yup. I need to close my eyes. So tired.” I shut my eyes and leaned back into the chair. “Uh oh…the backyard is spinning!”

  “Rest for a minute. I’ll be right back.”

  “Okie dokie artichokie.”

  “Hey, sleeping beauty.”

  I opened my eyes. Reese, Mary and Jake were standing in front of me. I squinted, disoriented.

  “Damn girl, you look pretty ripped,” Reese said.

  I smiled. “Yep!”

  “Did you hurl?”

  “Yep!”

  “Where’s Pete?”

  My face soured. “He left.”

  “I take it you lovebirds had a spat?” he said.

  “Your fren’s ’n asshole.”

  “You don’t have to tell me that. You’re the one who chooses to do the nasty with him.”

  “Not anymore. I don’ like how he treated me.”

  “That’s right, girl. Don’t let anyone treat you like crap,” Mary said.

  “How’s this party?” said Reese.

  “Awesome,” Mary said. “Have you been to the others?”

  “Just Nate’s, but it totally bunk. We heard Drew’s was the place to be, so we’re heading there next. Want to tag along?”

  “Where’s Jaime damey fogamey?” I said.

  “Home. She had a headache.”

  “Uh oh. Dosh she know you’re here?”

  Reese shrugged. Jake snickered. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”

  “Let’s go with them.” Mary’s eyes pleaded with mine.

  “I don’ know…”

  “Up you go.” Reese helped me stand. “You’re among friends, and you obviously need to be shown a good time.”

  Why not? The night was young and I was pissed off at my boyfriend. Screw it.

  Once seated in Reese’s car, Jake lined up some blow and passed it around. It blazed a trail going up my nose and cleared out some of the muscle-relaxer-and-booze cobwebs still messing with my head.

  Mary and Jake climbed into the backseat, necking and groping each other as soon as we hit the road. I rode shotgun, which put me in the hot seat, but I was too mad and drunk to care. I took a long swig from the beer Reese placed in my hand and purged all thoughts from my head. I wasn’t doing anything wrong anyway.

  We cruised by Drew’s house, searching for a parking place among the cars crammed into every crevice of the hilly street.

  “Crap! Tha’s Pete’s car,” I said.

  Reese touched my arm. “You want to go in?”

  “No! I have nothin’ to say to tha’ jerk.”

  “You’re sure?”

  I nodded. My anger bubbled up, and I downed the rest of my beer in response.

  Reese drove away from the party. “I have an idea. Let’s go to the club.”

  Jake hooted. “Hell yeah, brother.”

  “What club?” I said.

  “The Oakland Hills Country Club.”

  “The one by school?”

  A Scorpions song came on, and he turned up the volume. “The one and only.”

  A glance at Reese’s console clock told me it was one-thirty in the morning. “They’re open this late? Wowza!”

  “Not exactly, but membership does have its privileges.”

  “You mean we’re breakin’ in?” It all sounded exciting, like James Bond cool.

  “Just sneaking in,” Reese said.

  “Don’t sweat it, Anna. We do it all the time,” added Jake. “Besides, I’m a member.”

  Reese handed me another beer. I chugged it, ready for adventure.

  Reese drove by the club, making sure the coast was clear, then parked across the street behind some trees. We snorted more lines, and left the mirror, coke and rolled-up dollar bill by the shifter. There was enough for us to do one more round when we returned. After getting out of the car, we hid, waiting for the few cars at the light to move along.

  “Now,” Reese whispered.

  Mary and I followed the guys, who took us to the spot where we could jump the fence. Reese climbed over first, and Jake stayed behind to help us girls. He gave me a boost, and I ungracefully swung myself over. Reese grabbed my waist and helped me down. I breathed a sigh of relief once on the other side. The tall redwood fence shielded a large rectangular pool, a child’s wading area and a round hot tub, plus a clubhouse. Rows of empty chaise lounges sat ready for occupants, and well-tended shrubs and trees gave the club a certain opulence. Every angle protected us from view.

  Reese stripped down to his underwear and jumped into the pool. I gulped. I hadn’t thought about this part, not that I could think clearly. We were swimming…without bathing suits. Jake followed, creating a huge splash, some of the spray landing on me. I grabbed a fresh beer from the twelve-pack the guys brought, but stayed standing. The coke had somewhat improved my drunken stupor, but this newest situation was too intense to handle without more alcohol.

  Mary pressed an oversized button to start the whirlpool, and the bubbles churned to life. “Want to get in?”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ve don
e this before and have never gotten busted. Relax.” She disrobed and lowered herself into the steaming tub wearing only her underwear. “Come on in. It feels great.”

  The guys performed tricks off the diving board and splashed water in each other’s faces. I fretted about the noise, considering the goal was to avoid calling attention to ourselves. But guys will be guys. I walked closer to the hot tub and perched on a lounge chair.

  “Mary,” I whispered. “I can’t.” Intoxicated or not, my sense of adventure evaporated, replaced with bona fide guilt and trepidation.

  “You can. You don’t have to do anything with Reese. Just hop in and enjoy.”

  What the hell. I turned my back to the boys, hurriedly stripped down to my underclothes and slid into the churning water. Warm and inviting, it enveloped me like a big blanket. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, but my heart’s rapid thumping roared in my ears and my head swam, still fighting to right itself.

  “Cowabunga!” Reese yelled as he jumped into the hot tub. Water drenched my face and hair.

  “Hey!”

  “Oops…sorry,” he said with a sheepish grin, settling next to me.

  I scooted a few feet away from him, instinctually crossing my arms over my chest.

  Jake joined us, shivering from the pool. I still didn’t understand how Mary could give in to him so quickly after the way he treated her over the pregnancy, but maybe it all came down to his good looks and thick charm. “You ladies gotta go cold first, then hot. It’s better that way.”

  “We humans are warm-blooded—we don’t like the cold,” I said.

  A hand brushed my thigh. I glanced at Reese, who acted innocent.

  “Warm me up, wench.” Jake waded over to Mary and wrapped her in his arms. He sat down, swiveled her around so she straddled his lap, and they started making out in earnest again.

  “So…come here often?” I said to Reese, a forced laugh escaping my lips as I tried to dispel the awkwardness.

  “Yes I do, but I don’t think I’ve seen you here before. And believe me, I would remember.” He broke into a wide grin, creating small crinkles at the corners of his emerald eyes.

  “I am memorable, so I’m told.”

  “How about you and I create some new memories together right now?”

  I laughed. “I don’t think even you can top my first time breaking and entering.”

  “You’re a regular felon in the making.”

  “Why did you ditch Jaime?”

  He sighed. “Can’t you let that go and allow tonight to be about us?”

  “Reese, there is no ‘us’.”

  “Oh, but there is. You’re here. I’m here. We’re in the hot tub. The mood is right. I want you. You want me…”

  I splashed him. “Good try. I may be wasted, but I have regained most of my faculties. Is that a word?”

  “Hell if I know. But if you’ve regained them, and it means you won’t have sex with me, I think you should ditch ’em.”

  I sputtered, shaking my head. “I know you’re bold. In fact, I kind of like that about you, but what’s that expression…not in this lifetime?”

  “Ouch. Let me kiss you then. Just once. That’s all. If you don’t like how it feels, I’ll back off.”

  “No.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “Nothing.” A lie. I was afraid.

  “Then let me kiss you.” Reese moved closer.

  “It won’t mean anything.”

  “All the more reason not to be afraid.”

  “I’m not—”

  Suddenly, Reese’s mouth claimed mine, his arms pinning me to the side of the whirlpool. I registered the oddness of a stranger’s lips, yet for some reason, did not find it unpleasant, just foreign. Why didn’t I—

  “THE PARTY’S OVER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,” a voice boomed. “PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND SLOWLY GET OUT OF THE HOT TUB.”

  Bright lights blared into our face. The police had us surrounded.

  36

  Busted

  Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! What did this mean? Were we going to jail? Oh my God! Why had I done something so stupid? Shit!

  The icy air assaulted me as I got out of the hot tub. I was mortified to be standing there essentially naked. A policeman handed me my clothes so I could get dressed, but trying to hike up jeans over wet skin wasn’t easy, let alone graceful. As my friends pulled their clothing back on, the police grilled the guys.

  “You picked the wrong night, didn’t you?” said one cop.

  “You the punks who’ve been vandalizing the vending machines?” This came from another officer.

  “No,” Reese said calmly, almost with disdain. I shot him a sideways glance, willing him to cooperate.

  “Check their pockets. Check everyone’s.”

  “Looky what we have here. More beer. You kids don’t look twenty-one to me. Let’s see some IDs.”

  One of the cops poured out the remaining beers, the liquid splashing onto the pavement. Bet the country club wouldn’t appreciate them doing that.

  “Hurry it up. Now,” The policeman said, his impatience clear.

  I explained my identification was in the car, my voice cracking and forcing me to repeat myself. My heart pounded so hard in my chest, I thought it would explode. Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

  “What are you girls thinking? These guys are punks, but you seem like nice young ladies. Why do you want to get mixed up with this kind of thing?”

  I started crying, the fear pumping through every vein in my body finding its escape through my eyes.

  “Nothing here, Frank. No cash. If they broke into the machines, the money’s not here,” said one of the officers.

  “Alright. Let’s go.”

  I brushed away my tears as we walked out of the club to the death sentence that awaited. Three police cars blocked Reese’s vehicle, red and blue lights flashing as they rotated like beacons on a lighthouse. Cherry tops, Pete called them. Their incessant glare hurt my eyes.

  “Open the car. We’re going to make sure you and your little friends here haven’t stashed the cash in here.”

  Reese opened the car door and the trunk.

  An officer shined his light through the car while the others kept an eye on us.

  “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” he said loudly. “This changes the whole ball game.”

  “What is it, Joe?”

  “You all been tooting a little cocaine tonight, eh?” the officer asked.

  Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I had forgotten the mirror and coke in the car, right in plain sight.

  “Whose is it?” Officer Joe demanded.

  No one said anything. Come on Jake…it’s yours. Say it’s yours.

  “Nobody’s, huh?” he said sarcastically.

  What to do? If I spoke up, I would confirm it belonged to Jake. That would make me a rat, and my friends would hate me forever. Why the hell didn’t he just own it?

  “Have it your way,” the cop said.

  He and two others held a small conference. I couldn’t hear anything but murmurs until he said, “Let’s take ’em downtown.”

  A policeman handcuffed me, saying, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…”

  Oh my God, we’re getting arrested!

  “…the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?”

  I nodded yes. He made me answer verbally.

  They handcuffed me behind my back, the metal pinching my skin. A policeman led me to the car and pushed unsympathetically on my head, forcing me to land in the back seat at an awkward and uncomfortable angle. Mary landed next to me, and the cops shut the doors. We craned our necks, but couldn’t see what they did with Reese or Jake.

  “I’m sorry,” Mary whispered.

  My tears started up again. “What’s going to happen to us?”

>   “I don’t know.”

  The glaring lights at the police station made me squint. We were led down a long barren hallway painted a drab gray, but then Mary was whisked in another direction. A policewoman with a big bosom and even bigger belly removed my handcuffs, placed me against a wall and took my photo. A mug shot! There were no pleasantries or small talk. She directed and I obeyed, palpably aware of never being more scared in my short life. And this was probably the end of it anyway. My father would surely kill me.

  She herded me to a table. One by one, she grabbed my fingers and pressed them in black ink before rolling them on thick card stock. It was official. My mug shot, taken along with my fingerprints, meant I was forever in “the system” as a lawbreaker.

  I was led down another long hallway and through a gate to a small holding cell containing a bed and nothing else. Except for me now—its sole occupant. I sat. I stood. I paced.

  I needed to gather my wits. I had no idea of the time but could only imagine the turn of events. The phone ringing at my home in the dead of night, one of my parents answering groggily, shaking the sleep from their bodies while they attempted to comprehend their daughter had been arrested for a variety of things: breaking and entering, underage drinking and illegal drugs. Not to mention she had been found almost naked with two other boys.

  There was nothing to do but cry and await my punishment, or death, perhaps one and the same.

  What was happening to the others? Why were we all separated? Being one hundred percent naive about jail, I thought everyone of the same sex got thrown into one big lockup, like in the movies.

  Hours passed. Maybe days.

  The door to my cell finally opened. “Let’s go, Miss Trapani.”

  37

  The Nightmare

  “What’s happening?” I asked.

  “You’re being released.”

  Relief. Fear. Fear. Fear. “What does that mean?”

  “Your friend admitted the cocaine was his, and you are not being formally charged with anything else. You’re free to go, but don’t let us catch you pulling that kind of stunt again.”

  We turned the corner, and no more than fifty feet away stood my parents, looking unhappier than I’d ever witnessed.