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"I guess I can talk to Jay about it," I said, leaving out the fact that it was Patti I’d have to convince "But you know that I don’t really party, as in party party" I couldn’t even , but I didn’t want hi any false expectations

"Yeah, I know," he said "Why is that?"

How could I explain it? I didn’t have any nagging judg I kneas innocent rebellion and self-exploration But there was always a proly desired Ironically, it was that desire that repelled me

"Are you scared?" he asked

"Kind of," I adhtI wouldn’t normally do"

"That’s the fun of it It makes you open and free"

Open and free I wondered if that was how Danny Lawrence had felt when he passed out on the lawn of a party last year and the other drunk guys thought it would be funny to stand around peeing on hi that happened over Christirl as high and drove off the road, killing her best friend in the passenger seat Had she been feeling bold? Every ti the halls in a black cloud of re," I mumbled

I was ready to close down this conversation I looked up at the clock, thankful to see the bell was about to ring

"Trust me, Anna" Scott leaned in "One drink in you, or one hit of X, and you’ll feel anything but boring"

Everything inside of htened X Ecstasy The word bounced around in my head like a rubber ball, out of control and i and e that darkness It rose at any s and alcohol And to be honest, it hat had drawn h not exactly the same

A dark strand ran under the surface of his e, especially at the mention of alcohol I didn’t knohat it ht be able to help hi he was a brawny guy

I looked at Scott, who grinned at -with-you grin

Veronica ht wind of our hushed conversation, because she turned and gave a conspiratorial s to the party, Anna?" she asked