Read Online None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing - Free Book Online

gone.
    Ella smiled at Peter, but said nothing. She wordlessly took a cup from his hand and stared at the rocky ground. “What’s up, Ambrose?” His eyes brushed over Ella, then stopped on Grace. “Grace Cutler,” Peter said slowly, holding a beer out toward her. She shook her head, so he shrugged and drank it himself. “What are you doing at one of Johnny’s parties? I didn’t know you knew how to have a good time at non-school-sanctioned events. This isn’t the Homecoming Dance, you know. No chaperones.” He downed the beer and wagged his finger in front of her face.
    As a kid, Peter had been decent—we’d played together a lot until fourth or fifth grade. But then sometime in middle school he’d turned into a prick. Even still, Ella couldn’t get him out of her head. She couldn’t see through the pretty exterior to the rotten core.
    “Peter, it’s so funny you’re here, too ,” I said, taking a sip from my cup. The beer was warm and smelled pungent, like chem lab gone wrong. I tried to channel my new hair as I spat out, “I was just thinking about you. I was going to give my little cousin all my old Barbie dolls, but then I realized you still have a few of them. Do you think I could get them back, or do you still like to play with them?” It was such a stupid thing to tease someone about—what was I, a ten - year - old boy?—but he really did still have my Barbies and I knew Peter would hate me bringing it up. He was the kind of guy that valued his masculinity and image above all else. Which was why the pink polo had been so perplexing.
    Johnny, whose arms were still wrapped around Mackenzie, said, “Aw, Peter, isn’t that brown haired Barbie your good - luck charm at away games? Didn’t you knit her a jersey with your number on it last year?”
    “Rush, shut it. I don’t bring Barbie dolls to the games.” He was so upset. It actually made the whole thing funnier than if he’d just let the stupid crack roll off his back. Peter dropped the empty cup on the ground and thrust his hands in his pockets before puffing his chest out. He looked like a penguin. Unfortunately, Ella didn’t seem to notice that all of this was going on. She’d love him just as much tomorrow, no matter how bad he was at taking a joke.
    Peter squirmed, but was saved from further discussion when someone shrieked from waist-deep in the water. We all turned to see what had happened, and I realized that at least half the partygoers had moved to the lake.
    “To the water!” Johnny cried, waving his arms in the air like an air-traffic controller. “Super-dip!”
    Okay, I’ll admit that I thought maybe the cops were busting the party or something, and we were all supposed to hide in the water for a while. The screaming and the feeling of panic as everyone began to peel their clothes away and run toward the lake—this combination of factors made me wonder if something was wrong. But within seconds, I realized this was some sort of tradition. When Johnny yelled “in,” everyone went in.
    Some people charged all the way out into the deep water, while others lingered quietly near shore, getting only their feet wet. A few people were still entangled in each other’s arms near the fire and didn’t look like they were pulling out anytime soon. The strange, staring guitar guy had turned so he could watch the water, but he played on.
    “Come on, neighbor,” Johnny yelled from a few feet out from shore. “It’s a tradition. Super-dip time.”
    “What’s super-dip?” Grace asked timidly. “Do I have to get naked?”
    It was obvious she didn’t. Most people still had at least some of their clothes on in the water, though many had stripped down to bras and underwear. Johnny and Mackenzie held hands in water that was up to their thighs, laughing and splashing at the people around them. As I watched, he dropped her hand and ran back toward shore. Johnny peeled his shirt away, revealing a slim, tightly muscled torso, and tossed