Free The Party by Christopher Pike Page B

like the dress she’s wearing tonight? I like when her sister wears it. It looks a lot different on Polly.”
    Michael had met Polly once. Alice had brought her by his store last spring. He assumed Clark was making a lewd reference to her large breasts. His dislike for the guy deepened. “Where are you from?” he asked.
    Clark lost his grin. “Why?”
    “I was just wondering, that’s all. Do you go to school around here?”
    “No.”
    “Where do you go?”
    “The other side of town.” Clark’s gaze wandered toward the playing field. “Our team’s as lousy as yours. But in our stadium, you can always lean your head back and look at the trees in the sky.”
    Michael frowned. “I don’t mean to be rude, but are you stoned?” He was worried about Alice driving home in the car with him.
    “I’m here man, right here.” Clark yawned, turning again to face the wall behind the snack bar. “Alice had better get back soon. I’ve got to get out of here.”
    “Why?”
    Bubba and Kats appeared. Since Clark had not bothered to answer his last question, Michael felt under no obligation to introduce him to them. Bubba had on a black suede jacket, a red handkerchief tucked in the pocket, a white silk shirt underneath. Kats was no longer dripping but still stunk of beer. Bubba had probably thrown Kats’s clothes in the dryer without washing them. Clark continued to stare at the wall. It didn’t even have graffiti on it. Michael allowed Bubba to pull him aside.
    Have you seen Clair?” he asked.
    “No, I haven’t been here long,” Michael said. “But I think the cheerleaders are finished with their halftime routine.”
    “Good.” Bubba gestured in the direction of Clark. “Who’s that?”
    “A friend of Alice’s.”
    “Wonderful. He looks dead.” Bubba turned to Kats, pulling out his wallet. “Get me a large buttered popcorn and a mediumsize Dr Pepper without ice.” He handed Kats a ten. “Treat yourself to whatever you want. Bring it to the fiftyyard line. But if I’m talking to Clair, keep your distance.”
    Kats accepted the money. The side of his face had begun to color from his bout with Nick. “Going to bag her, Bubba?”
    “I’m going to wrap her up in aluminum foil and toast her. Go get in line. Tell them to watch the salt on the popcorn.” When Kats was gone, Bubba said, “Let’s do it, Mike.”
    “I’m waiting for Alice and Nick. I should stay here.”
    Bubba waved his hand. “Don’t worry, they’ll find you. Come on.”
    Michael really did want to see Bubba in action, especially going after Clair. He figured he’d be able to catch Alice on her way back to Clark. And locating Nick would be no problem. He followed Bubba out onto the bleachers. The mood of the crowd appeared upbeat; Tabb High hadn’t been down at half time by only six points in years. The cheerleaders were gathered beneath the stands on the track, near center field. Standing nearest to the microphone, Clair was giving her voice a rest, sucking on a soft drink while waiting for the team to return to the field. With her shiny blond hair tied up in twin goldribboned pony tails, her legs deeply tanned beneath her short blue skirt, Michael had to admit she looked awfully sexy.
    “Are you sure you want me with you?” Michael asked.
    “I consider this a necessary part of your education. Just stay close, like we’re hanging out together. But let me do all the talking.”
    A chest high chainlink fence separated the audience from the track. Leaning casually into it, Bubba waved to Clair, calling, “Hey, come here. I want to talk to you.”
    Clair did not quite know what to make of the order. Holding on to her drink, she approached slowly. “Yeah, what?” she said, looking up at him.
    Bubba smiled. “How are you doing, Clair? Good? You look good.”
    Clair took her straw out of her mouth. Tm all right. What can I do for you, Bubba?”
    Bubba rested an elbow on the top of the fence, dropped his smile for an unhappy