Free Friendzoned by P.S. Power Page A

in public?"
    "That's right. Eve is too, Becks. Really, that's half the fun. Catching men trying to peek. Remember to smile when you do."
    It didn't make her feel any better at all for some reason.
    It meant another car ride, and this time, when they got out, Keeley took over. It was a bit strange, but she seemed to know hidden rules for these things. Like she'd done it more times than could be counted.
    "Don't drink anything handed to you. Even if you know the person. I don't know if there will be alcohol, but if so, remember that we have church in the morning and don't let yourself get wasted. Not too much at least. Everyone should stick with their buddy. I'm with Hally and Eve. Darla, you and Becky should stick together. Have fun, but the van turns into a pumpkin at midnight, so don't get lost in a closet making out." She winked, and that got everyone but Becky to seem less than impressed.
    Eve waved at the other girl dismissively.
    "Gee, thanks for the advice, mom . Anything else to tell us before we go into the big bad world?"
    "Sure... No glove, no love."
    What that meant, well, Becky knew what it meant, but what she didn't get was why everyone else was just acting as if it were expected. Darla moved in, a hint of perfume coming off of her, making her smell a bit like vanilla and flowers, but not too strongly.
    "Good. Let's get to the mixing and mingling?"
    The party was actually decently loud inside the house. It was off the main road and not too close to the neighbors, so the police hadn't been called out for noise complaints. Yet. Becky didn't like the way it smelled, since the beer and soft hint of marijuana was just a bit too familiar to her from home. People called out to Darla as they walked in, and Eve. Hally waved to a few people and Keeley just owned the space somehow. People looked at her, as if they wanted to go and talk, but didn't know how.
    Becky was nearly invisible, hiding there in her pretty friend's shadow like she was. Or she thought that was the case at least, until someone took her arm.
    "Hello! I'm Darren." He said it happily, sounding a bit drunk. Just a little. He had a red plastic cup of beer in his right hand, which tried to slosh out as he looked at her. "Wait... Becky ? You look incredible!"
    He leered a little bit, and Darla just stood there, letting them talk, and not leaving her alone with the boy, which was the plan, if she had it right. That was going to make things awkward later if she had to sit in a room with the head cheerleader while she made out with some guy, wasn't it?
    She shrugged, but stood up straight, "thanks! I came with Darla and some of the cheerleaders. Keeley Thomson too. That's all right, isn't it?" It might not be, she knew, but the guy just took a sip of beer, and then nodded.
    "Sure. I should have invited you personally." There was a bit of a lean in, which, she realized was Darren trying to look down her top. It was a bit of a lost cause however, since she had it buttoned up and was wearing the vest over that. Nothing was going to show, in particular. "Say, are you planning on flashing people? If so, wait for me to be there..."
    Darla finally broke in, her voice mellow and happy sounding.
    "Not tonight. Not Becks at least. I think it's Hally's turn, you should get with her on that one." Then, mercifully, the slightly taller girl pulled Becky away by the arm, leading her to a clump of people that she didn't really know at all. Some of them were familiar from the halls at school, but a few weren't and one of them was clearly too old to really be there. He stopped talking and turned with a smile when Darla touched his arm.
    "Oh... Hey! Darla Gibson! I haven't seen you for years. How have you been? You got all old." He had a cup too, but it seemed to have soda in it.
    "Hello Scott. Not bad, all things considered. So, back from college? That doesn't seem to fit the time schedule, does it?" It sounded a bit strange, but the man, who seemed to be in his early twenties,