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I pretended to zipon an Honors Study Group party"

"Great" He pointed at a number on the piece of paper now in my hand "You can buzz that apartment, but if it’s really loud--oh, hold on" He took the paper back and wrote his phone number on it "You can call me, too I’ll keep my phone in , so no worries People will probably be outside anyway, so the door will be open You shouldn’t have a proble in"

"Okay" I tucked the piece of paper into my textbook "I’ll see you Wednesday for class"

"Yeah" He followed me to the door "And then Thursday for the party"

I nodded Yeah, the party

The as uneventful I hated to ady class wasn’t fun There were no co No one made me feel aith sexual innuendos, oryet But that hy I switched Logan was too ht as I was headed to Jere I wouldn’t have that proble on the front steps of Jerenized a few of the, but I faltered Did I really want to do this? Go up there and be social? But no This hy I came to this party, I reminded myself It couldn’t only be Claire and Jason It was the sa a job--which I still needed to do But until then… I looked up to an openedon the third floor Music and laughter drifted down

Okay, Honors Study Group party, here I coirl was there instead Her cheeks were red, along with her neck, and her eyes glazed over She held a huge glass in her hand, filled to the rim with red liquid, and she al the door "Whoa" She skidded a little Keeping a fired some of her hair from her face with her arm and squinted at me "Do I know you?"

"Uh--"

She pointed at me "You’re Claire’s friend"

I frowned Claire was here?

"Hold up" She turned around and hollered, "Claire! Your high school bestie is here"

I didn’t hear a response, but when I stepped inside, the girl shut the door behind h above her head and weaved through the crowd standing in the living roo up frouy and two of his buddies, circling the table covered in fruit trays, cheese trays, platters of meat, and bowls of crackers There was popcorn too, next to little clear plastic plates and a bowl filled with toothpicks A pile of napkins sat next to the plates, but no silverware