Free Every Girl Does It by Rachel van Dyken

baristas look between each other as if I just ask them if they could spit in my drink , and then tell me nicely , “ You don’t have to pay for the Americano then, it’s our fault.”
    Walking away , I feel a confident grin begin on my face just as the first barista yells after me. “Miss! Miss! Sorry , but you still have to pay for your bagel!” My face tightens as Preston tries to unsuccessfully hide his laughter from me with his coffee.
    Turning around , I walk back to the counter and slam two dollars onto the surface top telling them to keep the c hange. Then I strut past Preston with my head held high and bagel fu ll in my mouth. He better not ask me to share. T r ying not to focus on the fact that I ’ ve lost a bet to Preston, I sit down next to Kristin in a huff.
    “So how was your walk or whatever or wait a second…” Her eyes lock onto my coffee then back at me, “How many of those have you had?”
    Preston plops down next to me and laughs. “Three. Actually she ’ s had four shots of espresso and one cup of coffee , to be exact.” Amused h e flip s open the newspaper and smiles as Kristin stares at me with ice in her eyes.
    “You know what caffeine does to you .” She hits Brad to involve him in the conversation sealing my fate.
    “You did what ?” He yell s jumping out of his seat. “You know what caffeine does to you!”
    “Preston dared me!” I protest in true teenage fashion while Preston looks innocently at both of our friends as if to say , “I have no idea what she ’ s talking about.”
    “Just out of curiosit y , what does Amanda do when she has too much caffeine?” Preston has now put down his newspaper. He ’ s staring at Kristin and Brad in anticipation of the story he knows they ’ ll probably blab.
    “A t least let me tell it so I know there are no exaggerations or falsifications.” I look Brad ’ s way causing him to look down in shame. He has a t endency to exaggerate everything .
    “So i t’s not that big of a deal. It o nly happened one time , and I ’ ve since learned my lesson.” Preston needs to understand that it isn’t a regular occurrence for me.
    “You know wha t?” I say with heavy sarcasm . “I’m not going to tel l and neither are you!” Pointing at both of my friends , I dare them with a silent gla re. “ True friends keep secrets; just know that you have nothing to worry about.”
    Kristin eyes me as she turns back to Brad. “Okay , blue pants.”
    “Shhhh , ” I say patting her on the knee.
    “Did you just call her blue pants?” Preston wants to know.
    “ Yeah, on account of the blue pants she rocked during her last caffeine surge. Those poor kids didn’t even see her coming.” Brad takes off his baseball cap and holds it to his chest as if the children died or something , and I feel my resolve weaken as I look again toward Preston.
    “Fine, I drank a lot of caffeine then wanted to go play laser tag, wore blue pants to blend in to the blue walls in the laser tag place and stayed for three hours while I attacked small children with my laser gun.” I tried to let the words flow as fast as possible , hoping he wouldn’t’ catch all of it.
    “She wouldn’t let us leave until she won.” Brad admits , re- living the event.
    “We were so hungry.” Kristin holds Brads hand as they both lean in to touch heads.
    “It was dark. Cold, so very cold.” Brad continues as he c loses his eyes as if he ’ s traumatized.
    “Ok. We ’ re done.” I say as I leave all of them and sit by myself to pout.
    They ’re l aughing , and I tr y to keep the smile off my face.
    It’s hard to stay mad at people who are so funny. With reluctance, I have to admit it has been the most fun vacation I have had in awhile , even if it ’ s been with Preston . But as I think this, I have a sickening feeling that I have a lot more “fun” to look forward to. I groan a little as I realize the caffeine is now hitting my stomach full force. I need the bathroom.