Free Maybe Baby Lite by Andrea Smith Page A

won’t have folks thinking
that we're white trash. You know how I feel about that.”
    “ Mom, that’s not a
problem. Kids our age, they just want money, you know? Besides
that, I already bought her a birthday card. All we need to do is
slip some money into it.”
    Laurie produces what
appears to be a brand new birthday card with envelope.
    “ Well, I guess it’ll be
all right,” Mona acquiesces. “You two go get ready while I finish
up these dishes. I’ll run you over then.”
    Laurie and I run up to her
room. I'm elated.
    “ How easy was that?”
Laurie laughs.
    “ Is there really a
Vanessa?” I ask.
    “ Of course there is,”
Laurie replies. “You always use a real name with something like
this. And the good part is Vanessa is going to be at Video Palace
when we get there. She has used the same story with her parents.”
I'm amazed at Laurie’s skillful manipulation.
    “ Is Kyle going to be
there, too?” I question nervously.
    “ Of course he is, dummy,”
she answers. She sees the look of despair on my face.
    “ Look Ty,” she says, “I
know that we both like him. We're best friends, too. There is no
way that we should let a boy come between us, right?”
    I nod, not sure where this
is going.
    “ Here is what I suggest,”
Laurie continues, in her most grown-up voice. “Let’s just see how
things shake out. I mean, other guys will be there too. Vanessa’s
boyfriend is bringing some of his friends. Maybe I'll meet someone
better than Kyle. Maybe you'll. Either way, no boy is worth ruining
a friendship over.”
    “ I agree,
Laurie.”
    “ Pinky promise?” she asks,
offering her pinky up.
    “ Pinky promise,” I reply,
linking my right pinky with hers.
    Mona put a $20 bill in the
envelope with the faux birthday card for Vanessa. Laurie has
already told me that this will be our spending money. We're wearing
mini jean skirts and halter-tops.
    Mona drops us off at the
Video Palace, telling us she will be back at 11 p.m. sharp to pick
us up. Once inside, the music is blasting. A taller, blond girl
approaches us almost immediately--Vanessa. She has more make-up on
than even Laurie. I guess her to be sixteen years of age at least.
They click immediately, giggling at what they pulled off. Laurie
introduces me to Vanessa, and then quickly asks if the guys are
here yet.
    “ They’re out in the car
waiting for us,” Vanessa answers, smiling mischievously.
    “ Cool,” Laurie says,
turning to me. “C’mon Ty, we be partying!”
    “ You mean we aren’t
staying here?” I ask.
    “ No way,” Laurie replies.
“You heard Vanessa; the guys are out back in the car waiting for
us."
    “ But who is old enough to
drive?” I ask.
    “ Vanessa's boyfriend,
Justin,” she responds.
    “ Oh Laurie, I don’t know.
I don’t think this is a good idea. Your mom might find out. She’ll
tell my mom. We’d both be in a lot of trouble.”
    Laurie looks at me as if
I've grown two heads.
    “ What are you worried
about?” she demands, incredulous that I'm not gung-ho on the whole
idea.
    “ Do you really think
either of our moms gives a damn about where we are or what we're
doing?”
    “ Why wouldn’t they?” I
ask.
    Immediately her whole
demeanor shifts. I feel like I'm from another planet by the way
Laurie is staring at me. She lashes out. “What exactly do you think
DATE night is?”
    “ Look,” I hiss,
embarrassed because it's obvious that Vanessa can hear everything
we say. “I know that both of our moms have their dates over. I
don’t think about the sex part. That's their business.”
    “ You're really clueless
aren’t you, Tylar?” she asks without venom in her voice this time.
It was if she suddenly feels sorry for me. I’m not sure which is
worse. “Here’s the deal,” she continues, “What we have waiting for
us in a car are several really, really hot guys, including Kyle.
Vanessa’s guy, Justin, is driving. They are willing to take us to a
house where we can get a buzz going, and then