Chapter Two
Jessica
One night, during my senior year in high school, I was invited to a party at Tommy’s house. I was never really into partying. I knew many of my peers would go to these get-togethers to drink, make out, or have sex, all things that didn’t interest me. But, despite my hesitation, I decided to go because my best friend Gloria didn’t want to go by herself.
Gloria was half Indian and half white. She was exotically gorgeous. She had these beautifully shaped thick eyebrows, that hung over her large, almond-shaped eyes. She had long, voluminous, bouncy black hair and a wicked fashion sense. She was on the track team, so she also had a set of stunning legs, but unlike me, she has smallish breasts. And unlike me, she didn’t have a forgettable face.
As far as Gloria and I went, we were always viewed as part of the “good girls” at St. Hilda’s. The good girls were a select few who were obsessively focused on their future and who didn’t let boys get in the way of their ambitions. The good girls were the ones who didn’t put out and, therefore, didn’t get invited anywhere.
But little did everyone know that Gloria had a little rebellious streak in her, even if she was still a virgin at the time. The worst thing she’d ever done was get her pussy rubbed by her boyfriend, Max, whom she’d known since the fourth grade. They’d recently broken up and she was a free girl for the first time in her post-adolescent life. And that was the chief reason she wanted to go to Tommy’s party. Well, that and she was pretty excited that Chrissy Shein had invited Gloria personally, saying that I could come too if I wanted. I was still pretty floored that we’d even been invited. Chrissy, with her long platinum hair and her expensive clothing, was the most popular girl in school. And she also put out. A lot.
“Look, I know Chrissy has a reputation,” Gloria started as we walked down the hall toward our next class. “But Terrence told me the party will be pretty chill. Everyone’s going.”
“Will there be drugs and alcohol?” I asked, my tone concerned, even though I already knew the answer.
“I don’t know about drugs, but there definitely will be booze,” Gloria answered. Then she nudged me in the ribs with her elbow. “But stop being such a prude, Jessie! Just go and be cool for once in your life. No one will force you to do anything you don’t want to!”
“Fine, but neither of us is going to drink alcohol, take drugs, have sex, or leave each other’s sight,” I said, sticking out my hand at Gloria to shake on it. “Deal?”
“Deal,” Gloria said, shaking my hand enthusiastically. “And we’ll show up maybe an hour or so after the party has started, just to make our entrance.” She took a breath. “At least that’s what it said to do in Cosmo.”
***
That night, I decided to wear something a little more daring than usual. To a girl like Chrissy, it would have been considered too conservative, but for me, it bordered on daring. My black dress was tight, figure wrapping and cut slightly above my knees. It wasn’t too short; in fact, if some stick-figured girl had worn it, it would have looked like she was wearing a trash bag. But because I actually had some hips, a butt and a well-endowed set of breasts, it somehow looked sexy.
Gloria picked me up in her dad’s Benz that night. Her father was a successful ear, nose, and throat doctor and would reward Gloria for her outstanding grades by letting her drive the family’s candy-apple-red S-Class on the weekends. As soon as I sat down in the passenger seat, Gloria exaggeratedly belted out, “Daaaaamn girl!”
“What?” I asked, carefully putting on my seatbelt.
“Do you want to get laid tonight or something?”
“Of course not,” I said, frowning as I took a quick glance at my dress. “What? Is this too much or something?”
“Every guy at this party is going to ask you for your number. You know that, right?”
I gave Gloria a worried look. “Maybe I shouldn’t go.” The truth was that there would be lots of people at this party who were from other schools and that information made me nervous. I’d known most of the students from my class since grade school, which made them seem… safe.
“No... we’ll have fun,” Gloria insisted. “I promise I won’t stray too far from you,” she finished, lightly patting me on the lap.
“I can’t help it, you know?” I asked as I sighed.
“Can’t help what?”
“It’s not like I can hide these boobs or this booty,” I answered with a sigh as I glanced down and found my cleavage looking back up at me. “I can’t help it.”
“It’s a gift, Jess. I don’t know why you don’t realize it. You’ve been given a gift. Do you understand the power you have?” Gloria stated emphatically. “You could basically have any guy you want with that body.”
“No, I can’t start thinking like that,” I said, shaking my head as I repeated the same sentiment to myself. “Thinking like that is what’s going to lead to trouble,” I insisted and reminded myself of the importance of sticking to one’s life goals.
Gloria didn’t say anything more but continued to drive a few miles over the speed limit on the boulevard. Her father wouldn’t have approved. “You know Steve, right?” she asked, as she turned to face me.
“The wrestler from Juniper High School?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she nodded. “He’s going to be at the party tonight.”
“And?”
“Terri says he has like the largest dick ever.”
I covered my mouth in shock. “Oh my God. Why would you tell me that?”
“Oh Jess, shut up!” Gloria said as she frowned at me. “Stop pretending to be so innocent! I know you aren’t! I mean, I’ve seen the way you look at Tommy in physics class! You practically want to suck his cock right there!”
“What?” I nearly shrieked, coloring instantly at the mention of Tommy because I immediately remembered all the dreams I’d had about him. And, really, the last thing I wanted to think about was sucking his dick. “No, I don’t!”
“Jess, it’s okay. You’re human. If you didn’t want to suck a guy’s cock by now, then you would be in desperate need of some major therapy. Well, that, or you’d be a lesbian.” She was quiet for a second or two before she turned to face me. “Are you a lesbian?”
“Oh my God, Gloria!” I yelled at her.
“That’s what I thought,” Gloria said with a laugh. “So, if you don’t want people to think you’re a lesbo, start acting like you like dick.”
I sulked in the passenger seat as I wondered how much of a prude I really was. As a virgin, I guess it made sense that I was a prude but now it seemed like my prudishness was getting in the way of my having a good time. Yes, Tommy was undeniably hot, and of course, Gloria was right, there were times that I thought about sucking his penis, but I never was outspoken about my feelings toward him or any other boy. I kept my mouth shut because I thought that was the best way to curb my unwholesome thoughts and feelings.
We arrived at Tommy’s house and the party was already in full swing, with cars lining both sides of the street. It took us a good three minutes to hike up the incredibly long, private driveway which was lined with white roses. Behind them were maple trees. When we reached the house, which was really more of a palatial estate, I couldn’t help my gasp. The thing looked like the White House with its white façade and numerous columns.
There were teenagers hanging out front on the manicured lawn, some of them smoking. I didn’t recognize any of them. Aside from the teenagers, there were also a bunch of red cups already strewn about the lawn and I wasn’t sure but there might have been a pair of panties on one of the bushes. I could hear the sound of music thumping from inside or maybe from the back yard. The neighbors must have had soundproof walls and windows, because the party was raging undisturbed. Of course, the neighbors were also a good acre away on either side, given how huge the grounds of this house were. Gloria gave me a cheeky smile as we walked up the walkway to the front double doors. I shook my head, giving her a look of disapproval as my nerves started raging full-bore.
“Come on, Jess,” Gloria said, as she reached her right hand out to me. I hesitantly grabbed it and followed her up to the house. She rang the doorbell and then we waited.
“Hey guys, come on in,” Chrissy greeted us as we walked into the packed house. Chrissy was wearing a tight, yellow miniskirt with a short, white cotton tee that exposed her midriff. I hated to admit it, but her legs were super long, and beautifully shaped. I could see why Chrissy, and her precocious blue eyes, were in such high demand from all the boys at school and elsewhere. Even though I too had a body, I wasn’t popular. Chrissy was.
Jason, who was Chrissy’s boyfriend, came up behind her and started pecking at her neck. This guy was a stud too and he was from a different school, which made him even more of a mystery. He was really tan, which helped further define and outline his toned arms, and he looked awesome in a pair of tight, weathered jeans. Jason happened to be the star wide receiver at Quinn High so everyone knew who he was. Chrissy squirmed as soon as he wrapped his arms around her.
“I have some margaritas ready. You girls want one?” she asked.
I gave Gloria a quick, discouraging look and shook my head. Gloria gave me a playful punch on my shoulder and turned to Chrissy and said, “Sure, lead the way.”
As we walked through the house with its twenty-foot ceilings, exotic Asian rugs and dark wooden floors, I realized that Tommy came from major money. All of the oversized furniture looked expensive and I was fairly sure that the oil paintings on every wall were original. I couldn’t help but gulp with worry as I noticed the various cups and bottles place precariously on tables, and mantels, looking like they were ready to spill over onto the gorgeous floors or the equally exotic rugs.
When we reached the kitchen, I realized Gloria was right: every guy at the party was checking me out with intense, predatory stares. I felt a strange sensation—one of severe vulnerability but, at the same time, I also felt a bizarre, awkward confidence. Somewhere, deep inside of me, I liked the fact that the guys weren’t looking at Gloria, nor even at Chrissy; instead, all eyes were lasered on me. As soon as the feelings of confidence bubbled up inside of me, I immediately forced them back down again. Pride was not something I wanted to encourage within myself. It was far better to be humble. I instantly regretted my outfit. I lowered my eyes to the ground as I followed the girls, purposely avoiding any and all eye contact.
The kitchen in Tommy’s house was an expansive one, just like the rest of his home. It had expensive black granite countertops and high-end stainless steel appliances. His father was a well-known lawyer and after he’d divorced Tommy’s mother, he and Tommy had moved here to Vergennes. Apparently, Tommy’s father was on vacation in Belize and he’d left Tommy alone, oblivious to his sinful ways. Remembering the various half-emptied beverages teetering on the edges of the tables around the house, I imagined Tommy’s father would live to regret that decision.
“Here you go,” Chrissy said. She handed a Jose Cuervo branded margarita glass to Gloria, filled to the brim with the lime-tequila mix.
“Jess?” she asked. The strawberry margarita Chrissy was offering me stared me right in the face. I shook my head and put my hands up in a play of disinterest.
“Jess? Come on, seriously,” Gloria said, in a dry, caustic tone.
I subtly tugged on Gloria’s blouse as we briefly turned our backs to Chrissy and Jason. “I told you I wasn’t going to drink and neither should you,” I said, whispering softly.
“Jess, this is probably the last party we’re going to attend before we graduate and all go our separate ways. For once, just let loose and have fun... please?” Gloria pleaded. “Do it for me?”
Gloria was very persuasive and maybe she was right. This was the last party before graduation and then who knew where everyone would end up, or if I’d ever see any of these people again. And it was just one drink, so really, where was the harm in that? “One drink, okay?” I asked, obviously relenting.
“Chrissy, she’ll take one,” Gloria said, sticking her index finger up in the air with gusto.
“Here you go. There shouldn’t be too much Patrón in this one,” Chrissy remarked, eyeing me askance, like she had no idea why she’d invited me, let alone why I’d come.
I reluctantly took the margarita from Chrissy and then I turned around to find there were about twelve other people in the kitchen with us. Strangely enough, I found everyone’s attention on me. It looked like they were all waiting, waiting on me, the good girl, to take her first sip of alcohol. Jason stoically grinned as he held Chrissy by her hips. Gloria’s eyebrows were raised as high as they would go as she egged me on, “Just do it... come on!”
“Fine,” I said, slowly placing the edge of the glass on my lips. The strawberry concoction entered my mouth as I instantly smelled the pungent, sweet smell of the Patrón in my nostrils. It was immediately overtaken by the sugary, fun, candy-like taste of the strawberry margarita mix as I swirled it around my mouth. I gave the group, who displayed elated expressions, a slight nod. “I can’t even taste the alcohol,” I said with a reluctant smile.
“See? That wasn’t so bad,” Gloria said as she thumped me on the back.
“Wooooo!” Chrissy yelled, pumping her fist in the air. “Let’s go to the back yard. I want you guys to meet some peeps,” she excitedly said. She must have been pretty drunk, considering she gave a rat’s ass about us meeting anyone. Or maybe this was embrace-your-closest-nerd day, I wasn’t sure.
I gave a playful shrug and said, “Sure.”
And for the first time in my life, I disobeyed that nagging voice in the back of my head. For the first time, I decided to be open-minded to new experiences. And I wasn’t going to lie, I kind of liked it.