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Carrie and Melinda are also still friends Melinda’s parents are still rich Melinda plays tennis She is a cheerleader Her parents have condos in Vegas, Marco Island, Vail, and sos out with other rich kids And then there’s Carrie Janie doesn’twith Melinda Melinda still can’t stand Janie Janie thinks she knows the real reason why, and it doesn’t have anything to do with havinga record eleven evenings straight, and being caught by old Mr Reed’s recurring nights, Janie collapses on the couch and kicks her shoes off By the nu-stained coffee table, she assumes her mother is in her bedroom, down for the count

Carrie lets herself in "Can I crash here?" Her eyes are rihs inwardly She wants to sleep "’Course You okay with the couch?"

"Sure Thanks"

Janie relaxes Carrie, on the couch, would work fine

Carrie sniffles loudly

"So, what’s wrong?" Janie asks, trying to put as h

"Dad’s yelling again I got asked out Dad says no"

Janie perks up "Who asked you out?"

"Stu Frouy?"

Carrie bristles "He’s twenty-two"

"You’re sixteen! And he looks older than that"

"Not up close He’s cute He has a cute ass"

"Maybe he plays Dance Dance Revolution at the arcade"

Carrie giggles Janie sot any liquor around here?" Carrie asks innocently Janie laughs "There’s an understatement Whaddya want, beer?" She looks at the bottles on the table

"Schnapps? Whiskey? Double-stuff vodka?"

"Got any of that cheap grape wine the winos at Selby Park drink?"

"At your service" Janie hauls herself off the couch and looks for clean glasses The kitchen is a mess Janie has barely been here the past teeks She finds two sticky, lasses in the sink and washes theh her mother’s stash for her cheap wine assortht?" She unscrews the bottle and pours two glasses full, not waiting for an answer froe

Carrie flips on the TV She takes a glass from Janie "Thanks"