Free Fans of the Impossible Life by Kate Scelsa Page B

to strand up straighter, readying for a fight.
    Peter let a tense pause go by before saying, “All right. Thereare two ways that we can do this. The first is that you tell me exactly what Molly has been drinking or consuming in any other ways, and we see that she is able to get the proper help. The second is that I assume you’re all high and drank a full bottle of vodka each and I call your parents and tell them my suspicions.”
    Sarah glared at him, hating to lose a power play, even with a teacher.
    â€œJust wine coolers,” she mumbled. “She had, like, five or something. She probably didn’t eat anything today and that’s why she got sick.”
    â€œLooks like she ate something,” Rose said.
    Molly attempted to say something in her defense, but the effort just got her started again, and Rose grabbed at her hair to keep it out of the way.
    Sarah scowled in disgust.
    â€œCan we go now?”
    â€œYou girls have a ride home?” Peter asked.
    â€œMy mom’s coming to get us later,” Anna said.
    â€œI suggest that you call her now.”
    Anna nodded, more easily intimidated than her friend.
    â€œYou have a phone?” Peter asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen take it out and call your mother to come get you. Now.”
    Sarah stood with her arms folded as Anna did what she was told. Molly had stopped throwing up again but was crying now,trying to say something through her tears about having a sensitive stomach.
    â€œRose and Talia, why don’t you take Molly into the bathroom and help her get cleaned up.”
    â€œI’m supposed to be at the refreshment table,” Rose said. “There’s probably chaos breaking out over the cookies.”
    â€œTalia then,” Peter said. “You can help her?”
    â€œOf course,” Talia said, leading a crying Molly to the gym door. Peter followed behind. Rose and Mira watched them go.
    â€œBitch barfed on my shoes,” Rose said to Mira. “She can clean herself up.”
    â€œPoor Molly,” Mira said.
    â€œHow about poor me?” Rose said. “The one day I get to wear my shit kickers at school and they get barfed on.”
    Mira looked down at Rose’s impressive combat boots.
    â€œProbably makes them more authentic,” Mira said.
    â€œYeah, right,” Rose said. “I better get back in there. You coming?”
    Mira looked around the parking lot, streetlamps illuminating patches of concrete in the dark. Clusters of older kids were sneaking cigarettes behind cars.
    â€œI’m just going to chill out here for a little bit.”
    â€œLetting the boys dance?” Rose said, looking back at the open double doors. Sebby and Jeremy were still in the middle of the dance floor, now doing an improvised version of the electric slide.
    â€œYeah, something like that,” Mira said.
    â€œGenerous of you to share him,” Rose said.
    â€œHe’s his own person.”
    â€œStill,” Rose said.
    Mira shrugged.
    â€œAll right,” Rose said. “See you later.”
    â€œSee ya.”
    â€œWe’re probably going to go to the diner after,” Rose said as she walked back toward the door. “Everyone goes.”
    â€œOkay, cool.”
    Mira watched Rose go back inside and then started to walk around the perimeter of the parking lot. Something sad and sinister had been creeping up on her ever since the phone conversation with her sister, and she was finding it difficult to shake. She sat down on the curb and took her phone out of her skirt pocket, opened her messages, and started typing to Julie.
    You kind of hurt my feelings before ,she wrote, and then immediately deleted it. She watched some seniors smoking nearby. The smell of pot floated over to her.
    Do you even care about what’s been happening to me for the past year or do you just think I’m a fat mess? She stared at that one for a minute. She could feel the pressure behind her