Free Unconventional Scars by Allie Gail Page A

the woods so you don’t have to worry about the music being too loud or the cops showing up. You just have to make sure you have someone sober to drive you home because half the people will be falling-down drunk by midnight.”
    “You included?” She was pretty sure she already knew the answer to that one.
    “Hell yeah, baby girl!”
    Anna turned around again to look at Alex, who raised his eyebrows and shook his head as if to say y es, I am fully aware that my brother’s an idiot.
    ****
    The bonfire was the primary topic of conversation at the lunch table that day. Karen was so excited , she was practically giddy . “ I’ve only been to one dance there, but you would not believe how much fun it was ! And i t’s the sweetest place for a party ever. Wait ‘til you see it. Oh, and make sure you wear comfortable shoes ‘cause you have to park and then walk there, like a quarter-mile.”
    To be honest, Anna was excited, herself. The only thing that dampened her enthusiasm was the knowledge that Alex wasn’t coming . Karen and Erica tried to coax him into changing his mind, but he only grinned at them and said that a case of alcohol poisoning wasn’t his idea of fun. Erica tried to argue by pointing out that a lot of people wouldn’t be drinking, herself included, but he remained firm.
    “What should I wear?” Anna asked, taking a bite of her fettuccine and broccoli. Marie was a great cook. She had doled out some of the pasta in small containers in the freezer for future lunches.
    “Something sexy!” Karen suggested.
    Erica was more helpful. “I’m wearing a black skirt and that dark green pullover , the one you said looked good with my hair, remember?” Josh took the opportunity to remind her that she looked good in anything , earning himself a kiss.
    “ My outfit’s top secret,” Karen announced, pulling a compact from her purse . She began applying lip gloss. “I saw a totally hot dress at the mall the other day that’s perfect. I’m going to pick it up after school today. I plan on looking fabulous . Especially since Dalton ’s skeevy ex-girlfriend will probably show up. ”
    “Are we even going to know anyone there?” Anna wondered.
    “Oh, yeah ,” Josh told her. “By now half the school has been invited. It won’t be just seniors.”
    “There are going to be an awful lot of high school students with hangovers come Saturday morning,” Alex commented dryly. He crumpled his empty potato chip wrapper into a ball and scrutinized Anna for a moment before asking, “You planning on getting wasted?”
    “I hadn’t planned on it,” Anna retorted. Why do you care?
    The bell rang then, ending any further conversation. He walked with her to fourth period in silence. Later that day in French, she asked Josh why Alex didn’t want to attend the bonfire. He didn’t know.
    ****
    When Phil returned home Thursday evening, he found Anna helping Marie fold laundry that was piled on the couch. He dropped his briefcase by the door and was nearly bowled over by the girl, who dashed over to throw her arms around his neck and proclaimed to have missed him. She definitely didn’t look any worse for wear after her three days home alone. Which was a monumental relief, since he had to return to Philadelphia next Tuesday.
    Marie had prepared a pot of homemade soup for dinner, and there was a fresh loaf of Italian bread to go with it. Anna had already eaten, but she stayed in the kitchen with him anyway while he hungrily devoured his food , chattering happily about the A+ she got on her history assignment, the deer she’d spotted in the back yard the morning before, and some party she’d been invited to. Her enthusiastic exuberance warmed him even more than the soup.
    When Anna tried to give him back the credit card , saying she hadn’t needed it , he told her it was hers to keep. He had never discussed an allowance with her, figuring he could just provide cash when needed. Set schedules were Lisa’s thing, not