Free Wash Me Away by Wendy Owens Page B

business?”
    “Excuse me?” I gasp, stumbling backwards.
    “I mean, really, all this happened before you were born. What good would it have done to share this information with you?”
    “Well . . . I . . .” I wasn’t sure why I felt the way I did. Why had I been so upset? “I don’t know . . . it would have been nice to know more about my mother’s history.”
    “I’m guessing nobody shared this with you because they felt like it didn’t shed any light on who your mother was. Your aunt and uncle love you. They don’t want to bring you any more pain. But, if you really want to know about it, I’m sure you can ask them. They seem like pretty amazing people.”
    “I guess,” I say, but I have no intention of asking about such an uncomfortable topic.
    “Feel better?” he asks me, leaning in to look into my eyes. Oddly enough, I do. I nod. Then he asks, “Hungry?”
    I shrug. “I could eat.”
    “Come on.” He places an arm around my shoulder, guiding me back to the trail. “I’ll buy you some lunch.”
    “I’m skipping your dad’s class right now,” I add. “Do you think he’ll let me slide?”
    He grins, then laughs. “Absolutely not.”

I SIT ON THE EDGE of the oversized chair, arms folded, as Julia makes a fool of herself, shaking her ass on the dance floor. Based on the predatory glare from her date, Todd, he would not agree with me. My date, Matthew, is shoving another brownie down his throat. Based on his athletic physique, I can only assume his bingeing is due to the pot he smoked earlier in the car, despite my protests. The contact buzz has long since faded, but the odor in my hair is a constant reminder. I wonder again why I let Julia drag me here.
    The party is being hosted at a vacation home that belongs to one of the families of a Burton student. I’ve never actually met this student, and based on the unfamiliar faces at the party, I’m pretty sure I probably never will. When we pulled up I actually thought it was an event hall of some kind. Julia giggled at my reaction and chimed, “Isn’t she cute?” Sometimes she can be a real jerk and I wonder why I am her friend at all. Then I remember what it was like when I had no friends.
    The music is blaring to the extent that the wood floors beneath me are vibrating. A sea of sweaty adolescents throws their hands up into the air, pumping their fists, their bodies convulsing, rubbing against one another. I haven’t recognized a single song that has played, and I’m not sure if that means it’s a terrible DJ or I’m just completely unconnected with other members of my generation.
    Matthew stumbles in my direction, crumbs settled at the corner of his mouth. Oh yay— I think. He grins at me, bits of brownie between his teeth. He falls into the empty spot next to me, causing my already too-short skirt, borrowed from Julia, to slide upward. I yank on it, awkwardly shifting from side to side.
    He leans into me, sucking his teeth, before telling me, “Hey there, don’t you look delicious.” He peers at me as if I am one of the brownies and he is about to devour me.
    I deliver a tight-lipped grin, pulling away, shifting so that his lips land on my shoulder. He doesn’t seem to notice or care. He repeatedly presses his lips against my shoulder before collapsing back against the cushion. As he falls back, I see he has a surprisingly large pop tent in his pants. He groans, seemingly content with his current sudden half-state of consciousness he has found.
    I’m not sure I’ve had an actual conversation with Matthew all night, yet somehow I don’t think I’m missing any tidbits of meaningful wisdom from him. Julia has shifted into the crowd of bodies. I want to go home, but she’s supposed to be spending the night with me.
    My breath catches when, from across the room, I snag a glimpse of Leo. He’s staring at me, and I wonder how long he has been there. I smile. He doesn’t return the favor. Matt moans and shifts onto his side,