Free Long Black Veil by Jeanette Battista

slid away into the safety of the kitchen as more pinstripe suit clad guys crowded around him. They were all guys from the basketball team, although Bro—Micah Landsdown—was the quarterback of their high school’s football team. He thought he was a huge playa with the ladies, but all that meant was that he had no idea what the cheerleaders said about him in the girl’s bathroom. He was Brock’s best friend.
    He was also a giant douche.
    Devon saw him point at her and nudge Brock. She turned away, not wanting to see what he might do next. She found Gil talking to Tara, a tall girl from the volleyball team, and sipping a beer. She joined them.
    “You’re drinking beer?!” Devon mocked as she leaned against the countertop.
    “I’m in costume, remember?” He took a swig and made a face.
    “You’re in costume yes, but you’re not an alien. What have you done with the real Gil?”
    Tara laughed. “Hey, Devon.”
    They were in National Honor Society together, so Devon knew her from meetings. They’d had a few classes together their junior year, but this year they barely had any of their AP classes together so their paths hadn’t really intersected much.
    “Hi Tara. Nice costume.” Tara was wearing short shorts and a white t-shirt that read Merlotte’s and her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
    “Thanks.” She cocked her head, appraising Devon. “Um, are you in costume?”
    “Yeah,” Devon said, again holding up the dowsing rod, “I’m—“
    “Sad is what she is,” Gil interrupted, throwing an arm around her. He handed her a can of PBR. “Come on, let’s see who else is here.”
    Devon waved goodbye to Tara, following Gil once again, like some kind of puppy. He knew everybody, which wasn’t surprising since his family was one of the richest in town. Money bought a lot of friendship, but it didn’t bother Gil, especially since it had saved him from any number of beatings from the hilljacks at school once his sexual orientation became widely known. Between his parents and his own social clout at school, he was pretty much accepted anywhere, and if kids didn’t like it, well, they kept it to themselves.
    Devon cracked open her beer and took a sip just to be doing something. It tasted like all beer did to her—like her Gammy’s liniment mixed with gutter water—but it gave her hands something to do and if she looked like she was drinking she’d probably fit in better. Gil dragged her into a conversation with a few of his newspaper friends and they all talked about school papers and the horrible teachers for a while. Devon found her gaze straying to Brock.
    He was surrounded by his teammates in the living room. A few of them were playing a game on the X-Box, but most of them just hung around drinking. Devon noticed Brock didn’t have a drink in his hand. She set her nearly full can on a console table and tried to pay attention to what Anthony was saying, but her eyes kept sliding to the other room.
    This Brock felt so different from the one she had glimpsed during their afternoons in the Records room at City Hall. That Brock felt real, this one felt like a put on. She remembered what he’d said earlier, about the Halloween party being a tradition from his brother’s time, and she wondered if he’d really wanted to throw it at all. The two Brocks didn’t add up—it all just felt so disjointed. She got that he had a certain status to uphold, but which Brock was the real one?
    He caught her looking at him. He smiled and lifted his chin in greeting. Devon waved, giving him a smile in return, then returned her attention back to the argument over who was tougher: Mr. Sweeney for Calculus or Ms. Denton for AP Chemistry. Gil was arguing heatedly for Ms. Denton, even though Devon knew he hadn’t ever had either teacher for anything. He just liked arguing.
    Gil left to get another beer—his fourth maybe? Devon hadn’t been keeping track, but it looked like she’d be designated driver tonight.