* * *

 “Oh good! I knew you wouldn’t let me down.” Mart splashed her feet in the water, and smiled, saying, “Bye! See you later.” to her phone friend. I quickly dashed back up the steps into the house before she could turn around. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. But somehow curiosity had just gotten the better of me.

I busied myself in the house, wringing out my long blonde hair. It fell in crinkly waves down my back, sticking to my shoulders. I pulled on my spec’s as Marti knocked on the door.

  “Meg, you want to try your contacts tonight?”

I recalled my last experience with contacts and grimaced.

  “No. Why? What’s tonight?”

   “Remember, you said last night that you’d come with me and Maddie to the big boating party down at McGilligan’s Beach.”

 “What?” I dropped my hairbrush in the kitchen sink. “I don’t remember saying anything about going to a big beach party!” I could feel my pulse quicken and my hands start to sweat. I’d thought I was done with parties after last night. And now she was going to drag me to some beach bash? “Marti, don’t you know what goes on at parties like that?” I asked incredulously.

 “Well, you don’t have to come. I can’t blame you for not wanting to I guess. After all, it’s not really your crowd.” She tapped her lower lip with her finger thoughtfully. “You don’t really mind if I go though do you? Just for a little while?” Her big eyes reminded me of a pet kitten, entreating me to let her play with a ball of yarn.

  I suddenly realized what she was doing.

There hadn’t been any mention of this party last night.

She was meeting him there.

Whoever was on the phone was going to be at that party, I just knew it.

She expected me to say no.

She wanted me to say no.

 

Therefore, obviously my only choice was to say yes.