So I'm A Double Threat

by Julie Prestsater

  Eric spent some time at my house Thanksgiving Day. He actually ate dinner with us. It seemed a little soon to have him over for a holiday, but my mom insisted. She likes what she sees in Eric so far. He’s polite on the phone. He walks me home after practice and my mom said she noticed a “skip in my step” when I announced I was with Eric, again.

  At dinner, he made himself even more likeable. He pulled my chair out for me and made small talk with my family. It really impressed my dad. And when we were finished, he helped clear the dishes. Eric is what all mothers hope for. He’s definitely growing on me.

  After such a peaceful Thanksgiving Day and a tiring weekend of shopping, I actually can’t wait to get back to the routine of school.

  “How was practice, Meggie?” Keesh asks as we start taking off our gear.

  “Alright, I guess,” I say, yanking my sweaty socks from my feet. “At least, I can walk now when we’re finished.”

  I laugh and throw my dirty sock at her.

  “Gross. You’re sick.” She throws it back. We both giggle.

  “Hey, Keesha. We gonna go to your house or what?” this tall Amazon-like girl asks.

  “Yeah. Hold on. I’m almost done,” Keesha tells her.

  “So, you must be Megan.” She waves at me.

  “That’s me. What’s up?” I smile.

  “Oh. Meg this is Nicole. Nicole this is Meg.” Keesha points at the both of us.

  “So are you coming, Meg?” Nicole smiles at me.

  “Uh. Where to?”

  “We’re going to my house. Wanna come or are you waiting for Eric?” Something in her voice tells me she’d rather me wait for Eric. That’s not like Keesh, at all.

  “Why not. Eric went home early today. He wasn’t feeling well.”

  “Let’s go then, I’ll drive,” Nicole says.

  Well, who the hell else is going to drive? As if she doesn’t know Keesh and I can’t. We stuff our crap in our bags and stand up. I slide my flip-flops on and follow Keesh and Nicole out to the parking lot.

  This is weird. Nicole seems to know who I am but Keesh has never mentioned any of the girls on her team. They’re acting like close friends. I guess it makes sense though. I mean…if you spend every day after school together for three hours, you are bound to become friends. I already knew most of the girls on my team because we’re all pretty much the same age. But the varsity team is mostly seniors, except for Keesh.

  “So where is everyone?” I ask Keesh. It’s library quiet in her house which means we’re alone.

  “Mom and Dad went to the gym.”

  Nicole opens up the slider leading to the backyard. She makes herself at home, as if she’s been here many times before. Keesh follows her.

  “You coming, Meg?” Nicole asks, slyly, raising her brow.

  I walk outside and shut the door.

  I stand there as Nicole takes out a little purse. Why in the hell is she going to fix her make-up after practice? My face is probably still red from running up and down the soccer field. It usually stays in this altered form till I go to sleep. No amount of make-up would help.

  Wait…wait a minute.

  “What the hell is that?” I shout.

  I kind of have a feeling but I’m not really sure. I’m not too experienced with this sort of thing. Actually, I’m not at all experienced—but the knot in my stomach tells me this is not good.

  “It’s a pipe,” the words roll off Nicole’s tongue. “What? You’ve never seen one?”

  “No actually, I haven’t,” I state. “What are you gonna do with it?”

  I guess I don’t need to ask because she takes out a small black film canister and puts a pinch of something—that looks like a mixture of bay leaves and oregano—into the glass pipe. Before you know it, she pulls out a lighter, puts the pipe to her lips, and lights the small little bowl at the end on fire.

  WTF. WTF. Seriously. WTF.

  “Is she smoking?” I turn to Keesh.

  “Chill, Meg. It’s just a little weed. It’s no big thing. Really.” Keesh shrugs her shoulders and takes the pipe from Nicole. She lights it up like an old pro.

  WTF.

  I turn and walk inside the house. Keesh is too into her new friend to follow.

  I take out my cell and start to dial Eric. I shut my phone. What the heck can he do? I flip it open again and dial.

  “Speak on it,” Alex says. So stupid.

  “Hey, Alex. Are you busy right now?”

  “I’m at Amy’s. Why? What’s up?”

  “I need a favor, but you can’t tell Amy, okay?” I wait.

  “Sure, you sound upset. What’s wrong? It better not be Ben.” His voice starts to flair.

  “No, no, nothing about Ben. I’ll explain when you get here. I’m at Keesha’s. Can you pick me up from here? I’ll be outside waiting, okay?”

  “I’m on my way.” He hangs up.

  I open my phone again and text him directions to Keesha’s house.

  I get my bags and walk out the front door. I look back. Keesh doesn’t check to see if I’m still here. Or ask me to stay. Or see if I’m okay.

  I’m so pissed. I can’t bring myself to wait outside. I fling my bags over my shoulder and start walking toward my house. I text Alex again to let him know where to find me. My heart is beating like a time bomb.

  Not even ten minutes have passed before I hear the Golf pull up along side of me. I walk toward the curb, open the door, toss my stuff in, and jump inside.

  I look up into Alex’s concerned eyes and start to sniffle.

  “What the heck Meg? What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you?” he asks, with fear, clutching my arms in his hands. He turns me toward him, looking me over like he’s inspecting me for signs of violence.

  “No, no, I’m okay. Just a big nerd I guess.” I’m still crying, but laughing too, in between sobs.

  “Meg, you’re not making sense. Tell me what’s going on.” He releases his grip.

  “Well, I just watched one of my best friends doing drugs and I freaked out.” My teeth beginning to chatter. I’m so scared, I start to shiver. “I’ve never seen anything like that before. I’m such a wimp.” I shake my head and frantically wipe the tears from my face.

  “Okay, so what was she doing?” he asks.

  “I guess Keesh has this new friend from soccer. Her name’s Nicole. We went to Keesh’s house after practice and Nicole took out a pipe and started to smoke weed. Then, Keesh did it too.”

  Is this really happening? It doesn’t even seem real as I tell Alex the story.

  “Hmm. I don’t know what to tell you.” Alex searches for the right words. “When you get into high school, things are just different…your friends are different. Sometimes people do things you wouldn’t expect them to. You just need to make a choice about what you’re gonna do.” He smiles. “But it looks like you already made your choice.”

  “Well, I wasn’t gonna stay there and smoke out with them…I don’t know why I got so freaked…I felt like being there was all wrong. I know I don’t always do the right things but smoking dope out of some funky pipe thingy just doesn’t seem right,” I explain.

  “So. Now we know. You’re a lush, just not a pothead.” He slaps my thigh, jokingly, and laughs. Even though he’s kidding, the touch of his hand on my thigh sends a million tingles through my body.

  “Oh, gee, thanks. You make me sound like I’m one drink away from AA meetings.” I smack him back, laughing. My body’s still tingling from the slight contact I had with him.

  “So, you better now?” He puts his hand on top of my mine. The tingling intensifies.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry I called you. I just panicked and dialed your number.” I pull my hand out from underneath his and wipe my eyes again, trying to calm the jitters he’s making me feel.

  “Nah don’t even trip. It’s all good. I’m glad you called. I’m glad you let me be here for you.”

  “Oh crap, I’m sorry I asked you to lie to Amy. Do you think I shoul
d tell her?” I’m not quite sure I should rat her out to the girls.

  “Hey, don’t worry about it. I just told her I had to leave. She didn’t know it was you on the phone. Should you tell her, I don’t know. It depends on what you want her to do or what you think she’ll do.”

  “Honestly, I don’t know what I want. I don’t even know what to say to Keesh. Maybe I need to talk to Steph and Amy so we can figure it out together. I think this one is beyond me.” I start to tear again.

  “Keesha is lucky to have a friend like you. It’ll all work itself out. Are you ready to go?”

  “Yeah, can you take me home?”

  “Sure,” he says, as he starts his car and takes off down the street.

  We get to my house quickly. I gather my things and open the car door.

  “Thanks, Alex. Thanks for everything. You’re always saving me.” I laugh.

  “I don’t mind the job.” He winks. “Call me if you need me.”

  “Thanks.” I grin, and shut the door.

  I walk into my house and straight to my room to throw down my stuff.

  I take out my cell phone and begin texting:

  Do me a favor. Next time you wanna hit the pipe, don’t invite me. I’m NOT interested.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I wake up feeling conflicted. What the heck happened yesterday? It was truly upsetting. I can’t believe this is bothering me so much. Teens do drugs all the time. I even know some of them. Shoot, a few kids were even trying stuff in elementary school. But this is different. It’s different when it happens right in front of you. At parties, the druggies find some place away from everyone else to do their business. My circle of friends has never been into drugs, so naturally, I’ve never seen anything myself.

  Now, I feel like everything has changed. I went to Keesh’s yesterday thinking we were going to just kick back and work on some homework. The next thing I know she’s packing a bowl—I think that’s what I’ve heard people call it—and inhaling marijuana from a pipe. All she needs is a syringe, a spoon, and a rock and she can be a real junkie. I’ve never experienced that sort of thing in real life either, only in the movies. But still, this is crazy. And no wonder so few kids get caught with drugs at school because their stuff is so easy to hide. Nicole’s pipe was so small it could fit in the palm of my hand, and I have really small hands.

  I take a shower, dress, and go down to the kitchen. My mom is there already, engrossed in her daily routine: coffee, English muffin, and the love of her life, Ryan Seacrest, on the radio.

  She notices me shuffle in and says, “Good morning. You must’ve had a restful night. I didn’t hear your cell beeping every five minutes like usual.”

  Why does she notice my cell phone not buzzing, but she never notices when I come home drunk from football games? How do parents miss these things? How do Keesh’s parents not know she is doing drugs? How did I not know one of my best friends is doing drugs?

  “I was tired so I turned it off,” I explain.

  “What’s up, honey? Did you get in a fight with Eric? Sometimes you just have to be patient. Boys don’t always know the right things to say or do, Ryan’s the only guy who’ll admit it.”

  Oh great. She’s talking about Seacrest again.

  “No, Mom, Eric is perfect. I was just tired,” I lie.

  “Oh, are you sick? Don’t you feel well?” Now, she’s concerned.

  “No, Mom. I said I’m fine. Just tired from so much soccer practice,” I tell her.

  I grab my whole wheat English muffin and a bottle of water and stalk out of the kitchen.

  “See ya later,” I call out.

  “Okay, bye.” I hear faintly.

  I debate on whether or not to tell Amy and Steph. I don’t think either one of them knows. Keesh is still giving Amy the cold shoulder because of Alex. I don’t know why ‘cause I’m totally okay with him and Amy now. Really, I am. And I’m not even lying to make myself feel better. I’m really okay with it. Did I mention I’m okay with my best friend dating the guy I loved all summer long? Really, I’m okay.

  And Steph…she would’ve been more freaked out then I am so I’m sure she would’ve said something. She would’ve definitely told me our best friend had traded ice cream and Cheetohs for the herb.

  I’ve decided not to run and tell Amy and Steph what happened. I’m going to see how things go today…see what Keesh says and how she acts. I guess I’ll take it from there.

  Things seem pretty normal during class. Same ol’, same ol’. Lots of review since finals are coming up right after winter break. We just got back from Thanksgiving and we’re already getting ready for Christmas vacation.

  This year is flying by.

  At lunch, Keesh seems to be her normal self. I keep staring at her eyes looking for clues she’s high. I don’t know what I’m looking for but I’ve always heard you can tell by looking at someone’s eyes.

  Eric takes out his hacky sack and starts to kick the little mesh bag around. He is pretty good, landing it on his knee, the top of his foot, and bouncing it up again. I can barely volley a huge soccer ball, I don’t know how he manages that tiny thing. But he looks good doing it.

  “Hey Eric, you’re pretty good,” Alex says, as he and Amy walk over.

  He joins Eric, Jonathan, and Josh, while Amy sits down with us.

  What are they doing here? They never sit with us during lunch.

  “What up, Ames? Whatcha doing on this side of the tracks?” Keesh snarls.

  “Alex was jealous of Eric kicking that thing around and wanted to come over to play.”

  Oh. This was Alex’s idea. I have a feeling it has more to do with Miss Pothead over here than playing kick ball with the guys. If I know Alex, like I think I do, he stopped by to check on me.

  “So, all it took was a hacky sack to get you to hang out with us again, huh?” I joke with her, trying to squeeze out a laugh, although I think I’m the only one who thinks it’s funny.

  “Yeah, Ames, it’s cool to have you around,” Steph adds.

  “Whatever,” Keesh mutters and joins the guys. “Hey, Eric. I bet I can keep it up longer than you can,” she shouts.

  “I hope not,” I call out to them.

  Everyone stops and stares at me, including Alex.

  “Hey, I was just joking.” My cheeks warm with embarrassment.

  “It’s too bad you’re just kidding, Meg.” Eric winks at me.

  For a split second, I’m beginning to forget about my drug addict friend. Maybe we should start calling her Mary Jane.

  We watch them play, in complete silence, and after a while Alex comes over.

  “Break time,” Alex sits down with us on the grass. “How’s everything goin’ ladies?” he asks, looking directly at me. I’m right, he’s checking on me.

  “Good,” I respond. Then mumble, “So far.”

  “Good to hear,” he says with a nod. “Amy, we should get back and get our stuff before the bell rings.”

  “Oh, okay,” she says. “Bye guys, see ya in a bit.”

  Keesh runs over. “Bye, Amy. So nice to talk to you.” She’s not wasting an opportunity to take a jab at her.

  Why is she being so freakin’ rude?

  Fifth period comes and goes, as does sixth period.

  Eric and I walk out of English together, as usual.

  “Meg.” Ben smiles and nods at Eric. “Looks like you settled for second best, huh?”

  My face immediately scorches with anger.

  “No, Ben. Honey, if that was the case, I’d still be waiting around for your dumb ass.”

  I stand on my tip-toes, peck Eric on the neck—which is as far as I can reach—grab his hand and walk in the opposite direction.

  I knew a confrontation with Ben was inevitable. I’m actually surprised it didn’t happen sooner and it wasn’t much worse.

  “Sorry, babe,” I say.

  “Don’t apologize.” Eric smiles. “Thanks for calling him a dumb ass but I could’ve come up with something w
orse.”

  He leans down and kisses me on the side of my forehead as we walk.

  Moments like this make me forget about all the other drama in my teenage life.

  Chapter Ninteen

  I love winter break. It comes at just the right moment every year. Just when my brain is fried and I don’t think I can endure any more, two weeks of mindless relaxation and snuggling up to my wonderful boyfriend is the answer to my prayers.

  I don’t know why I even came to school today, the day before break—we haven’t done anything all morning, just party after party. We’re not having Christmas celebrations though, these are all cultural experiences. Cultural smultural. I know why I came to school today. Eric. It’s really happened. I love this guy.

  By the time lunch comes around, I can’t eat another thing. I think I polished off an entire container of those brownie bites with powdered sugar on them. They’re so addictive. The delightfully moist sweet little squares were just calling my name and I couldn’t say no. Now, I’m just lying down on the grass with the back of my head resting on Eric’s thigh. I’m even contemplating undoing one of my buttons, my stomach is that full. Shit. I can even feel it in my neck. I think I have brownies stuck in my esophagus. Seriously.

  “Hey, Keesha. You gonna come or what?” Nicole asks, looking only at Keesh.

  “Yeah.” Keesh stands up. “I’ll see ya guys later.”

  She walks off with Nicole and doesn’t even wait for a response.

  Oh no, she didn’t.

  But she did. She just left with that sasquatch stoner.

  “Who is that? Where is she going?” Steph questions.

  “I don’t know.” I’m in shock.

  I’m not sure what to say to Steph.

  The bell rings not too much later and we’re off to P.E.