1977

 

“Mommy, this sweater itches,” griped Delores Brooks as she tugged at the collar of her prickly pullover.

“I know, baby. Mommy is sorry, but it’s part of the uniform.” Elsa tightened the blue ribbons in her daughter’s pigtails one more time. She had to look perfect.

Delores chewed at the corner of her mouth as best she could because her missing two front teeth prohibited her habit, making it almost impossible to do. She was nervous, but she didn’t let it show. She knew how much this meant to her mother.

Crouching to level her daughter with her emerald gaze, she brushed away any imperfections that might reveal just who Delores really was. “Do you remember what I told you?”

Delores’s hooded eyes widened as she peered around, watching with interest as her fellow pupils were walked to the white gates by their parents. They looked so different from Delores’s mom. They wore designer suits and expensive furs, their gold jewelry and different color diamonds illustrating to the world just who they were. In their social circles, they ate people like Delores and Elsa for breakfast. They looked down their nose jobs at people like them, who didn’t have fifty dollars to their name.

They didn’t belong here, and the rich folk knew it. They only had to take one look at Elsa’s thrift store outfit to know where the Brooks stood in the greater scheme of things. But with Elsa’s mother passing and leaving her only daughter a small fortune, Delores now had the opportunity to attend one of the most elite, private elementary schools in California. This institute was a feeder to Harvard-Westlake, where Delores would be attending after she finished the sixth grade. God rest her soul, if it wasn’t for Alene’s passing, then Delores would be attending her first day of kindergarten at the public school close to home. Elsa had no problems with that reality. It was good enough for her.

However, it was Alene’s dying wish that her only granddaughter got the best education she couldn’t provide for her daughter. Alene and her husband, Bram, were Dutch immigrants who came to America to better their life. And they did, for the most part, until Bram ran off with a waitress and left his family to fend for themselves. Alene did the best she could. She worked three jobs to look after her daughter, but times were tough.

Elsa was that kid in school. No one wanted to play with her because she wore hand-me-down clothes and lived off food stamps, but she never cared. She got pregnant when she was nineteen and married her high school sweetheart six months later. Life wasn’t easy, but she and Tyler made it work. Life was good back then, but things…they change.

“Mommy, why are you crying?”

Elsa quickly wiped away her tears, not wanting her nostalgia to ruin her daughter’s first day at school. “I’m just so happy. Look at you in your uniform. You’re such a big girl.”

Delores smiled, peering down at her white shirt and navy pinafore dress. She’d never owned such shiny shoes before. She was certain she could see her reflection in the gleam. The sweater still itched, but she resisted the urge to scratch.

“Delores—” Elsa turned serious, lowering her voice “—what did Mommy tell you?”

They’d practiced this speech a thousand times before, so Delores knew it by heart. “My name is Delores Brooks, and I live in Bel Air.” Elsa nodded, relieved her daughter could recite the lie with ease.

The truth would eventually unravel, but all Elsa wanted was for Delores to be on equal ground with her peers as long as she could before they judged and ostracized her for being different—for being poor.

“Why do I have to lie?” Delores’s innocence broke Elsa’s heart. Her sweet, naïve daughter would soon figure out why.

“It’s to protect you, baby,” she replied, brushing the silken hair from Delores’s brow. “I love you so much. You’re my little angel. Never forget it.”

“I love you too, Mommy. Is Daddy coming to pick me up?”

Elsa’s heart didn’t just break; it shattered into a million unrepairable pieces. She barely held it together, knowing one mishap would taint her daughter’s future forever. “No, I told you…Daddy is with Grandma Alene.”

“In heaven?” Delores asked, not fully grasping the concept. Delores saw the casket, but how could Elsa explain to a five-year-old her father died of leukemia? He was the healthiest man Elsa knew. His life insurance would take care of them for a little while, but if Elsa had her way, she’d give back every penny if it meant he would still be alive.

“Yes, baby, in heaven. That’s right. It’s just you and me.”

Delores could see the tears in her mother’s eyes, but she still didn’t understand why her mother cried herself to sleep at night. She learned, however, that whenever she mentioned her father, her mother went to bed early, taking a bottle of pills with her.

She didn’t want her mother to be sad, so she adjusted her backpack and smiled. “I can walk myself inside. I’ll be okay. I’m a big girl now.”

When tears welled in her mother’s eyes, Delores feared she’d said the wrong thing. But Elsa nodded, wiping both hands down her exhausted face. She felt so much older than twenty-four. One could be excused for thinking Elsa was dropping off her younger sister at school. Life certainly hadn’t turned out the way Elsa thought it would. And that was the reason she was here. She wanted a better life for her daughter. And if lying was the sacrifice she had to make, then so be it.

“I’ll be here at three o’clock.”

Delores nodded, ignoring the butterflies in her belly because like her mother said, it’s only them now and she had to be strong for her mom. Elsa placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, lingering and savoring the sweetness her daughter emanated. She knew she was destined for great things.

Observing the daunting gates, Delores took a big breath. “Don’t cry, Mommy.” Her tiny fingers reached out to brush the fallen tears from her cheeks. “Daddy is watching over me. So is Grandma Alene.”

Elsa sniffled, standing before she broke down. “Have a-a good day, baby.”

“You too.” Delores turned, an excitement suddenly bubbling within. She’d never had many friends. Living in East L.A., in a neighborhood which was commonly known as the “hood” because it literally was a hood, her mom rarely let her play outside unsupervised.

Her home was a small, two-bedroom house which had seen better days. After a while, Delores got used to the sirens and gunshots. They became background noise which helped her fall asleep.

But she pushed those thoughts far from her mind because the noises she heard right now were sounds she didn’t hear too often—kids’ jubilant laughter, the gentle hum of expensive cars’ motors idling by the curb, and people talking in hushed tones, not a hint of vulgarity slipping into their conversations. She could get used to those sounds.

Climbing the three steps, she chewed on her lip, wondering which way to go. A pretty lady holding a brown clipboard to her chest made eye contact with Delores. Her gentle smile and bright pink earrings instantly made her feel at ease.

“Hello there. Is this your first day?”

Delores knew her mother was watching, poised and ready to run to her daughter’s aid if there was a hint of trouble. She didn’t want to be the cause of any more tears, so she pulled back her small shoulders and nodded.

“Y-yes.” She cleared her throat. “My name is Delores Brooks, and I live in Bel Air.” It rolled off her tongue so freely, she almost believed the lie herself.

“Hello, Delores. My name is Miss Jackson. I’m your teacher.” She bent at the waist, clutching the clipboard to her chest. “I’ll show you where to put your bag.” Delores smiled. She was extremely proud of herself.

Miss Jackson gestured for Delores to follow, signaling with her hand. She didn’t look back, only forward as she marched behind, taking in the sights and sounds. St. Martin’s Elementary was everything and more. The high buildings were painted a pristine white, far whiter than anything Delores had ever seen before. There were no cracks in the exterior. No uneven surfaces for one to trip over and break an arm. The yard was clean. The football field was a lush green. The playground was outfitted with equipment which looked brand new. Delores’s feet itched as she was desperate to take off in a dead sprint and see how high that swing could take her.

But she followed, absorbing and cataloguing everything, knowing there was plenty of time to play later.

Miss Jackson turned over her shoulder, ensuring Delores was keeping up. She liked her already. “Our room is just up on the left.” She nodded, gripping the straps of her backpack, her tiny fingers trembling in anticipation.

When they turned the corner, Delores stopped in her tracks, unable to process what she was seeing fast enough. Children her age ran and laughed with their peers, playing tag or maneuvering a silver spring down a set of stairs. Delores watched in awe, as she’d never seen anything like it before.

“That’s a Slinky,” Miss Jackson gently explained.

Although she was being kind, Delores remembered her mother’s warning to act as if she belongs. She shouldn’t draw attention to the fact she’s in a secondhand uniform, or that she’s only here because two people she loved dearly died and left their money to better her life.

“I know, Miss Jackson. I have three,” she said, accenting her claim with a slight scoff. Miss Jackson didn’t say anything, but it was clear she could see through Delores’s lies.

Miss Jackson led the way into a small room where a dozen or so wooden hooks were attached to the wall. Some hooks had blue schoolbags dangling off the ends, their zippers undone, revealing different colored lunchboxes and drink bottles inside.

“You can hang your bag here.” Miss Jackson pointed at a hook at the end and smiled. Just as she was about to say something else, a loud bang was followed by an ear-piercing shrill. There was no mistaking the sound of someone falling over. Miss Jackson’s lovely face turned troubled, and she quickly brushed past Delores to see what the commotion was all about.

Delores exhaled, thankful to be alone. All this pretending was exhausting. She didn’t understand why she couldn’t just tell everyone the truth. Surely, they wouldn’t judge her because her mother didn’t drive a fancy car, or she didn’t live in a mansion in the hills.

She placed her bag on the hook and decided to take off her prickly sweater. Once she’d hung up her things, she straightened out her dress, and satisfied she looked just like everybody else, she exited the coatroom with a rush of confidence. To fit in, she needed to make friends, and she couldn’t wait to find her first best friend. They would be inseparable, just like Bert and Ernie.

The thought was too exciting for words; however, Delores was stopped dead in her tracks when she saw a group of girls form a tight circle around something. At first, she had no idea what they were doing, but when she heard them giggling and noticed them pointing, she realized a blonde little girl was the center of their mockery.

The scrawny girl was crying, her large blue eyes streaming with tears. Delores had no idea why she was so sad but wondered why the group of girls wasn’t asking if she was okay. If anything, they appeared to be making her cry harder.

“Crybaby! Crybaby!” one of the taller girls chanted, egging her two other followers on. This only made the blonde girl sob louder.

Delores hated bullies. She’d seen enough of them in her neighborhood, riding their bikes around as if they owned the place. Her mother had taught her to stick up for what was right, and what she was seeing this minute was anything but right.

She didn’t think twice before she marched over, tapping the taller girl on the arm. “Excuse me?”

“What do you want?” the girl said, turning around and glaring at her.

Delores gulped. She was suddenly frightened that she’d bitten off more than she could chew. But remembering her mother’s words and her father’s strength each time he went to the hospital, she swallowed down her fears. “Stop being so mean to that girl.” She pointed at the little girl who was shaking, tears still cascading down her cheeks. She saw her backpack lying on the ground, opened, the contents spilling onto the cement.

“Why? She deserves it. Her mom is a gold digger; my mommy said so,” the taller girl said, as if that warranted her cruel behavior. None of them even understood what a gold digger was, but sadly, hate bred hate.

“Well, whatever her mom is doesn’t give you the right to be so mean to her. Leave her alone.”

The blonde girl’s snivels stopped swiftly, and she stared wide-eyed, mouth slightly parted. She looked as surprised as Delores felt. This surge of confidence had come out of nowhere, and she suddenly felt like her hero, Wonder Woman.

The tall girl, who seemed to be the leader of the mean girls, narrowed her eyes. She was already a little brat with training wheels on. “What are you going to do about it?”

Delores wasn’t intimated by her. “I’ll tell Miss Jackson.”

“Who’s Miss Jackson?” the girl smugly countered.

“Our teacher,” Delores replied, not missing a beat. “I don’t think she’ll be happy to know she has a bunch of bullies in her class.”

The girls’ faces paled, as they didn’t want to get into trouble on the first day of school. Delores stood her ground, waiting for them to reply. This could go either way. She held her breath, waiting. She exhaled when the girls looked at one another and decided to pick on somebody else.

They shoved past her, almost knocking her to the floor. “Nice dress, by the way,” the tall girl mocked. Delores didn’t understand until she noticed the logo on her uniform was different from everyone else’s. “That was the logo from a hundred years ago. Where did you buy your dress? From the Salvation Army?”

Delores’s cheeks burst into flames. Her mom was going to be so angry with her. She just wanted her to fit in, but Delores had brought unnecessary attention to herself and her secondhand clothes. The girls thankfully left, bored by the schoolyard antics already.

Delores felt sick to her stomach. She had no doubt the word would spread about her, and by lunchtime, everyone would know she was the poor kid who didn’t belong.

A small voice made her remember why she was standing out here in the first place. “Th-thank you.” She turned to see the blonde girl tugging at her plaited pigtail. “I’m Kayla Sinclair. I live in Beverly Hills.”

Delores waved, ignoring the knot in her belly. “I’m Delores Brooks, and I live in…” But she abruptly paused, unable to bear another lie. Kayla waited for her to continue. There was something about her. Delores felt a kinship with her and lying to her suddenly felt like the worst thing she could do.

Hoping her mother forgave her, she started again. “I’m Delores Brooks, and I live in the hood.” She couldn’t pronounce her suburb, but she knew all the kids referred to their neighborhood this way.

She waited for disgust, maybe even a scream, but she got neither. Kayla pursed her rosy lips and nodded. “Groovy. Do you wanna be my best friend?”

Delores gasped, a breath whooshing from her lungs. Did she just have a lapse in hearing? But when Kayla smiled a matching toothless grin, Delores knew she’d found the Bert to her Ernie.

She nodded happily, squealing when Kayla threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly.

Delores never imagined having a best friend would feel that extraordinary. She had visions of them drinking soda by the beach and playing with their dolls. They would be best friends forever.

As both girls went to work picking up Kayla’s spilled possessions and talking about the latest shows on TV, Delores didn’t realize that her kindness had set off a chain reaction which would affect so many people’s lives forever.

Some for the good, but mostly…for the bad.

1988

 

“Delores, seriously, stop. You’re going to ace the test,” Kayla stated as she flopped onto Delores’s single mattress, belly first.

Delores giggled at her best friend’s melodramatics. “You’re just saying that so I’ll come to this stupid party with you.”

Kayla’s ears pricked up at the mere mention of Bobby Ferris’s party. Bobby was the star quarterback at their school, Harvard-Westlake, and Kayla had been crushing on him since the third grade. He was tall, dark, and handsome, everything a quarterback should be. All the girls wanted a piece of him, but he didn’t seem to be interested in anyone.

But Kayla was planning on changing that tonight, and she needed her best friend by her side to ensure she didn’t get cold feet.

“Please, Dee, please come with me. How can I win Bobby over without my wingman?” She propped herself on her knees and interlaced her hands together, praying Delores would say yes.

Delores had never been able to say no to her best friend. They’d been inseparable since they were five-years-old. Even when Kayla was old enough to understand where Delores lived, and even when her mother forbade them to be friends, she never turned her back on her. She didn’t care that she was dirt poor, or that her mother bounced from guy to guy; all she cared about was that she and Delores remained best friends forever.

Kayla never cared that she was rich—far richer than any of her classmates—because money couldn’t buy happiness, and every moment spent with Delores made her happy. They did everything typical sixteen-year-old girls did. They listened to music, went to the movies, and talked about boys. Well, Kayla talked about Bobby, while Delores just rolled her eyes and laughed.

Delores would never tell Kayla, as their friendship meant more to her than some stupid boy, but she too had a crush on Bobby since forever. She hadn’t told Kayla, but after school, while she was waiting for Kayla to finish art class, Bobby had stopped by her locker and asked if she was coming to his party tonight. Delores had never been good around guys, so she nervously squeaked out a maybe. Bobby smiled and said he really hoped he’d see her there.

There was no mention of Kayla, and that troubled Delores.

No question about it, Kayla was the better looking of the two. She was blonde, tanned, big busted, and had legs that reached the heavens. Delores was more the girl next door type. Long brown hair, probably too thin for her five-foot-five frame, and far too many freckles sprinkled across her pale skin.

They really couldn’t be more opposite.

But Bobby had asked her if she were coming, not Kayla, and Delores couldn’t help but wonder why. That curiosity was the reason Delores finally caved. “Fine, you win.”

Kayla squeaked in excitement, jumping from the bed and hugging her best friend tightly. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! We’re going to have so much fun.”

Delores half smiled, hoping the decision wouldn’t come back to bite her in the ass. “Okay, give me five minutes and we can go.”

As she packed up her books, she noticed Kayla hunt through her enormous overnight bag. It wasn’t uncommon for her to bring over various outfits, as Kayla stayed over at Delores’s house at least twice a week. With Delores’s mom working most nights, or shacking up with her latest squeeze, the girls had the house to themselves most days. They sometimes pretended they were roommates, living off campus and surviving in the big, bad world together.

“Here, you can wear this.” Kayla tossed a gold dress at Delores, who scrunched up her nose.

“Where’s the rest of it?” she teased, holding it up to her body and wondering if there was a tiered matching skirt. She was so not wearing it.

“Don’t be such a stick in the mud. I’m sure Ralphie would just love to see you in, or out of it,” Kayla said, shimmying out of her acid-washed jeans and short tank. She slipped into a turquoise leather skirt suit with a bright pink tank which showed off her toned, tanned midriff.

Ralphie Arrington was in Delores’s advanced math class. He was cute in a nerdy kind of way, but Delores had no interest in him whatsoever.

Kayla had been trying to set them up for months, but neither was interested. Delores had seen the way Ralphie looked at Kayla. Kayla, of course, didn’t notice because all she was interested in was Bobby. Delores hoped he didn’t break her heart.

Delores watched Kayla tease up her long blonde hair, making her appear like a lioness ready to pounce. As she puckered her bright pink lips and smacked them together, she looked at Delores’s reflection in the mirror. “I’m going to lose my V-card tonight, Dee.”

“What?” Delores was left speechless. Most girls had offered up their virginity to Bobby, and what sixteen-year-old boy wouldn’t be thrilled at virgins throwing themselves at him willingly? But Kayla and Delores promised each other that when the time was right, they’d lose their virginity to the person they loved.

Kayla’s ploys to snare Bobby hadn’t worked, so now she was pulling out the big guns. This night was sure to end in tears.

“Yes, it’s happening,” she confirmed, slipping on a pair of white lace fingerless gloves. All Delores could do was hope Bobby was too drunk to notice her best friend’s advances.

As they caught a cab to Bobby’s mansion in the Hollywood Hills, Delores tried fruitlessly to persuade Kayla to change her mind. But she knew her friend was just as stubborn as she was. Her mind was set and nothing would stand in her way. Once this night was over, one of them would no longer be a virgin.

Delores wished she’d said no, because as they trudged up the steep driveway toward the towering manor, she had an unsettling feeling sink to the bottom of her stomach. There were so many kids here. Delores was certain half the school had turned up.

Bon Jovi’s “Bad Medicine” blared loudly inside—an omen of things to come even though Delores hoped that wasn’t the case. Both girls entered the open front door, pausing in the grand foyer to take in the beauty. Bobby’s father was loaded; he was some Texan tycoon. She had no idea what exactly he did, but from the looks of this house, he was successful.

“Let’s get a drink,” Kayla shouted into Delores’s ear to be heard over the loud music. Delores nodded, needing the Dutch courage to help calm her nerves.

Kayla made no secret that she was scouring the crowd for Bobby. She looked beautiful, but she always did. She was the beauty while Delores was the brains—as many people had said—and Delores was fine with that. She was happy to sit on the sidelines and watch her friend sparkle in the spotlight. That was why their friendship worked. There was no jealousy, no competition between them.

So when Bobby sauntered down the white spiral staircase and headed straight for Delores, she quickly turned her back and nudged Kayla in the ribs so she was the center of his world, not her. Kayla quickly lowered the already low neckline of her tank and ran a hand seductively down her side.

“Hey,” Bobby said, and Delores squashed down the butterflies. They had no right to be there.

“Hey, Bobby,” Kayla replied, her voice low, seductive. “Cool party.”

“Thanks,” he replied loosely. “Hi, Dee.”

Delores closed her eyes and cursed her choice to come here. She should have said no. But she was here now. Turning slowly, she tried not to gag on air when connecting with Bobby’s mesmerizing hazel eyes. He looked far older than sixteen, his bulging biceps and facial hair rivaling most of their male teachers. He was a complete rebel with a silver stud in his left ear, and a leather jacket complemented his ripped, bleached jeans.

Not wanting Kayla to clue onto her panic, she smiled. “Hi.” Bobby licked his full bottom lip, and the sight shot a surge through Delores.

She knew Kayla was about three seconds from uncovering her secret, so without a second thought, when she saw Ralphie in a Hawaiian shirt a few feet away, she excused herself quickly and ran to his side.

The move was completely chicken shit, but she’d rather that than lose her best friend over a boy. “Hi, Ralphie!” she shouted, a little too loudly.

Ralphie jolted, not expecting the company, but smiled when he saw Delores. “Hey, Dee. You here alone?” He stood on his tippy-toes, no doubt hunting the crowd for Kayla.

“No, Kayla is here. She’s talking to Bobby.” Delores pointed at where Kayla was inching closer and closer to Bobby, who seemed to be combing the crowd, uninterested in her blatant attempts to seduce him.

“Oh.” The disappointment was clear on Ralphie’s face, and Delores couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. She knew the feeling all too well.

“Wanna get a drink?” Ralphie nodded, appearing thankful they both could drown their sorrows in a bottle of beer.

Twenty minutes later, they were sitting poolside, watching their fellow classmates’ unsuccessful attempts at hooking up. It seemed with the alcohol flowing freely, everyone’s guards were down, and before the night was through, Delores had a feeling a lot of V-cards might be checked at the door.

The view from up here was beautiful. There was nothing like seeing the City of Angels from this high up. The bright lights extended as far as the eye could see, and Delores couldn’t help but feel blessed she was able to witness such a sight. If it weren’t for her mother’s sacrifice and her father and grandmother’s deaths, then she couldn’t help but wonder where she would be. Everything did happen for a reason. She pondered on the reason why she helped Kayla on that first day of school. Would it amount to something life changing? She rather thought it already had.

“Hey, are you all right?” Ralphie asked, breaking Delores’s trance.

Shaking her head, she discreetly wiped away her tears. “Yes, fine. I think I’m a little buzzed from the beer.”

Ralphie nodded, stealing a peek into Delores’s almost empty red cup. “Hey, you’re out. I’ll grab us a couple more.”

Delores knew she should have said no, as she was already wasted, but numbing the pain seemed the only way to deal with what Kayla was probably doing with Bobby right now.

Once Ralphie was gone, Kayla’s familiar scent of raspberry and cream caught the warm breeze, and Delores turned to her left, surprised to see her friend. “What are you doing here? I thought you’d be shacked up with Bobby.” She wiggled her eyebrows, hoping Kayla didn’t see through her façade.

Kayla swayed. She was obviously buzzed too. “He said he was going upstairs. He’ll be back down in a minute. I really like him, Dee, and I think he likes me too.”

Delores swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Of course, he likes you. What’s not to like?”

Kayla grinned, clapping her hands in excitement. “How’s Ralphie?” she teased, her voice dripping with innuendo.

“He’s fine. He’s just gone to get us a drink.”

“I’m sure he has,” she mocked, cackling loudly when Delores rolled her eyes.

“Ooh, Dee, tonight is perfect. You. Me. We’re invincible. Promise me we will name our kids after the places we visit when we’re older and traveling the world together.” She slipped her arm around her friend, drawing her to her side.

Delores’s stomach turned at the mention of kids, as she knew what had to happen for that to come about. But quashing down the urge to puke, she nodded. “Deal. I think I’ll name my daughter…Holland.”

“Holland?” Kayla questioned with a laugh.

“Yes, I want to visit where my Grandma Alene lived. She’s the reason why I’m even here. It seems fitting I name my future child after her.”

Her explanation appeased Kayla, and Kayla pondered what she’d be naming her future offspring. “Okay then…I’ll name my son London.”

Now it was Delores’s turn to laugh. “Why London?”

Kayla cocked a hand to her hip, feigning horror that Delores didn’t know why. “Um, hello, fashion capital of the world.”

Both girls burst into laughter, everything falling into place.

“Okay, it’s settled then.” Delores raised her near empty cup to salute Kayla’s bottle of Budweiser. “To Holland Brooks…”

“And to London Sinclair,” Kayla concluded as they clinked drinks. “It goes without saying they’re betrothed the moment they’re born. They have no say in the matter because it’ll officially make us a family.”

Delores raised the cup to her lips and smiled. Regardless of their marital status, they did not intend to change their maiden names. It was modern and progressive. They also felt their children should bear their surnames, seeing as they did all the hard work. “We’re already family, Kay.”

Kayla nodded, tears filling her eyes. “Sisters for life.”

“Sisters for life,” Delores confirmed, drinking to their toast happily.

However, once the beer hit Delores’s empty stomach, she felt the distinctive sensation that she was about to be sick. “Dee, are you okay?” Kayla asked, her eyes growing wide with concern.

Delores didn’t have time to reply. She simply shook her head and covered her mouth, running through the throngs of people, hoping she’d make it to a bathroom in time. She took a wild guess and charged up the stairs, thankful when she saw a line outside the closest door to the right. When it opened, Delores shoved past the girl in line, who called out angrily, but Delores could apologize to her after she was done puking up her guts.

She slammed and locked the door, running to the toilet and throwing up. She’d not eaten much today, but it still felt good to heave up all the booze she’d consumed. After ten minutes, she felt remotely better, but her head felt like a ten-piece brass band was playing the American anthem on a loop.

She needed to lie down.

Once she washed her hands and splashed some cold water on her face, she noticed a tube of toothpaste sitting on the basin. She helped herself, using her finger as a makeshift toothbrush. She felt semi-human.

Smoothing out the snags from her wavy hair, she decided to tell Kayla she was ready to call it a night. She hated to be a Debbie Downer, but she resembled roadkill.

Once she opened the door, she apologized to the girl she rudely cut in front of, who huffed and shoved past her. Out here in the brightly lit hallway, Delores’s head suddenly felt worse. If she could lie down for a few minutes, she’d feel a lot better.

Not really knowing where she was going, she ventured down the corridor and took a left. This place was like a maze. She opened the last door, and thankfully, it was dark inside. She slipped out of her sneakers and fell face first onto the queen size bed. The silk comforter was so incredibly soft against her heated skin. A sigh left her parted lips as she nuzzled deeper into the blankets, the musky perfume wrapping her in a restful bubble.

Her eyes were closed for mere seconds, when they suddenly popped open because she realized where she’d smelled this comforting fragrance before.

“Dee?”

Shooting upright, she moaned and raised a hand to her brow. Her eyes strained to see in the dark, but she’d know that voice anywhere. “I’m s-sorry, Bobby. I didn’t know this was your room. I’ll go.” When she attempted to shift however, the room began to spin, and she knew moving wouldn’t be happening anytime soon.

“It’s okay. You can stay. I’m glad you’re here.”

“You are?” she asked, wishing she could see him to make sure this was really happening.

“Yes,” he replied, his footsteps sounding against the carpet, alerting her he was moving closer to where she sat.

She should move, she needed to move, now, but she was suddenly rooted to the spot. “C-can you turn on a light?” she asked in a whisper.

The room was gently lit when Bobby switched on the bedside lamp. It took her eyes a moment to adjust, but when they did, a wheeze left her because Bobby was breathtaking. His dark hair was tousled, his eyes slightly glassy from the buzz the beer had given him no doubt—he took her breath away.

“I-I should go.” Even though her intentions were pure, her body betrayed her, and she stayed where she was.

Bobby sauntered over to the bed, watching her, not speaking a word. The way he looked at her, hungry and full of fire, stirred something in her she wished she could douse, but couldn’t. “Bobby, I-I…” But she didn’t know what she was trying to say.

Bobby ran a hand through his hair, his bicep flexing with the movement. “I like you, Dee.”

“You what?” she gasped. “W-what about Kayla?”

“I like her, but…she’s not you,” he replied so matter-of-factly.

Delores had always lived in Kayla’s shadow, and it never bothered her, not in the slightest. But she felt wicked, beyond sinful that Bobby Ferris wanted her and not Kayla. She felt so out of place, being here in her ripped jeans and flannel shirt, as she looked nothing like the girls who went to her school. This was the star quarterback, the guy every girl wanted, and he wanted her.

That thought was incredibly intoxicating and had her doing something she’d never done before. When he slipped off his white t-shirt and stood before her topless with a silent invitation, she let go and forgot that Kayla Sinclair existed.

Delores stared at Bobby’s huge, muscled body. She’d never seen a guy topless this close before. Of their own accord, her eyes descended to the front of Bobby’s pants. They were tight enough that she could see his very noticeable hard-on.

A yearning began to burn between her legs.

He was on her before she had a chance to think twice about her decision, not that she would, because kissing Bobby and feeling him against her was unlike anything she’d ever felt before. Her skin was set alight, but suddenly, kissing wasn’t enough. She wanted more.

Their hands grabbed at one another desperately, clothes falling wherever they landed as the need to be naked and pressed against the other was all that mattered. Bobby’s red-hot erection nudged at her slick entrance.

She should have felt disgusting for doing this to her best friend, but she didn’t—she had never felt more alive.

“Are you sure?” Bobby asked, looking into her eyes as he was suspended, naked, above her.

She bit her lip, a habit she’d had since she was a child. This was her last chance to do the right thing. But why did doing the right thing feel so wrong? Closing her eyes, she nodded, knowing this decision would change her life forever.

She heard Bobby open a drawer and then the rumple of foil. Once he was suited up, he kissed her gently, coaxing her to relax. But she didn’t need much coaxing when she felt him slip inside her, breaking down all her reservations.

She lost herself in the moment, focusing on nothing but the feel of him, owning something that would always belong to him. He treated her with care.

They both came undone with a loud, well-sated scream.

As they laid in the afterglow, Delores knew she should feel guilt for what she had just done. But she didn’t. Bobby kissed her brow and asked if she was okay, and she was. She knew once she sobered up and the first light of dawn peeked over the valley, it would be a different story, but for now, everything was absolutely perfect.

“…Dee?”

Kayla felt a knife slice straight through her heart when she saw something she’d never thought she’d ever see. Her best friend in bed, naked, with the boy she’d had a crush on for years. Kayla was betrayed, and hurt, but most of all, she felt stupid because she was actually worried about her best friend.

Ralphie had helped her search the house high and low, afraid someone might have taken advantage of her drunken state. But it appears the only person who’d been taken for a ride was Kayla, forever believing her friendship with Delores was real.

“Let me explain!” Delores shrieked, but her naked form was all the clarification Kayla needed.

The final straw was when Bobby put his arm lovingly around Delores, comforting her. He should comfort Kayla because her friend was no better than her mother—a dirty, bedhopping whore.

“Never speak to me ever again!” Kayla shouted, unable to keep the tears away.

“Kay, no, please!” Delores pleaded, but Kayla had seen and heard enough.

She ran down the hallway, needing to escape this nightmare before she broke down. This was beyond words. She wished this were a dream, but it wasn’t. She officially had no one. Her mother and father barely cared if she was alive or not. They might be rich in possessions, but when it came to love, they were far more impoverished than Delores would ever be. Delores was her only friend, her family, and now, she was all alone.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Ralphie said, stroking her bicep and softly drawing her into his arms. It felt nice that someone cared about her. And after what she’d just witnessed, that was all she wanted—someone to take care of her.

Ralphie’s mouth fell slack when Kayla pressed her frantic lips to his. This was the last thing he’d ever expected, especially after what just happened, but the feel of Kayla’s body twisting and writhing against him was just too much. He’d lusted after this girl for years and only dreamed of them ever entwining this way. He knew why she was doing it, but he just didn’t care.

When she pulled him into the bathroom and locked the door, any shred of second-guessing was long gone. When she slipped out of her outfit, completely bare beneath, he vowed to treat her like the queen she was. It was a flurry of hands and clothes, and before long, they were both naked. Kayla straddled Ralphie, who sat on the toilet seat, rubbing his eyes to ensure this was really happening.

“I don’t have any protection,” he said, still a lick of sense left.

She lowered herself, gasping when she felt Ralphie nudging at her, eager to take away something that should never have been his. “I don’t care,” she gasped, lowering herself onto him, her eyes bulging from the foreign intrusion.

She locked her arms around his nape and began rocking, each painful inch she took etching away at whatever love she had left for Delores. “I just want to forget,” she declared, sobbing at the pain tearing down below. And sobbing at the pain carving through her heart. “Please…just make me forget.”

Ralphie knew what this was, and he knew he should stop, but he couldn’t. He secured his hands around her waist and promised to make her forget. And she did. For a split second in time, she forgot that life as she knew it would forever be changed.

What was done could never be undone, and what they’d all done would never be forgotten…or forgiven, for generations to come.