Read Online Harsh Pink with Bonus Content by Melody Carlson - Free Book Online
Authors: Melody Carlson
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Jocelyn barely opens her mouth before Jonathan jumps in. “Don’t you mean you heard that no one invited them?” he says.
“Of course they were invited,” she says lightly, slipping an arm around Jonathan and giving him a squeeze. “This is a victory celebration! All the cheerleaders were invited.”
“Then what made you think they didn’t want to come?” persists Ben.
Kendra laughs, then puts a carefully manicured finger over her perfectly glossed lips. “Maybe it’s because they heard there would be more than just soda and punch served tonight.” She looks directly at me now. “Isn’t that true, Reagan? You and Jocelyn are opposed to drinking, right?”
Okay, this is actually true about me, although I haven’t told a soul this. Not even Jocelyn. I turn to look at my new friend, curious as to whether this is news to her. I also remember the cheerleading contract we all signed (well, everyone except Kendra). But Jocelyn just looks Kendra in the eyes, then grins. “Hey, I have no idea where you heard that, Kendra, but it’s a big, fat lie. So, anyway, where’s the beer?”
Everyone laughs and Kendra’s blue eyes widen as if she’s surprised, but she points Jocelyn over to the bar, where several cheerleaders are already drinking from cups topped with foam. “The keg’s right there, sweetie. Help yourself.” Then she turns to me. “How about you, Reagan, do you want to drink?”
Now, peer pressure isn’t new to me. What teen hasn’t felt it? But back in my own school, my friends pretty much accepted me for who I am. They knew I wasn’t into alcohol, and although they teased me occasionally, that’s where it ended. They never pressured me to drink, never pulled a stunt like this. Once again I’m reminded that this is a whole new game — a game I almost feel too tired to play. Will it ever get easier? Is it even worth it?
It occurs to me that I could walk right out of here. I could snub Kendra and maintain my pride at the same time. But then I’d be right back where I started. Maybe this game will end sooner if I simply play along. Even so, I look around the room, checking to see if Falon is here tonight, because I have a feeling she’d report us for breaking the rules of the contract. Then I realize she’s probably with her boyfriend. I’m sure they’d think this was too juvenile. I also consider the possibility of the cops showing up, but that seems unlikely in this gated community.
“Reagan?” persists Kendra. “You want a drink?”
“What do you have besides beer?” I ask tentatively. Okay, I feel slightly defeated just now, but not ready to give up.
She starts reeling off a great long list, and I’m sure I look pretty baffled, which must be amusing since she just throws back her head and laughs. “Come on, Reagan.” She hooks her arm into mine like we’re old buddies. “Let me fix you a good drink.”
Okay, this is dangerous. I’m thinking you should never, ever let your enemy fix you a drink. I’m sure this is one of the most ancient survival rules of civilization. Then again, I remind myself, I don’t have to actually drink it. Plus, if I watch her closely while she makes my drink, I can be relatively sure that she doesn’t do anything weird to it.
“Okay,” I say with some reluctance as she navigates us through the crowd and over to the bar.
She leans her elbows opposite me onto the granite top and looks at me. “Hmmm.” Her eyes narrow slightly, as if she’s studying me. “I think you must be a Cosmo girl.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, still suspicious.
She reaches for a clear plastic cup and tosses some ice in. “It means I think you’d like a Cosmo.”
Then I vaguely remember hearing that it’s a drink. “What’s in it?” I ask, further revealing my ignorance but hoping it might help to disarm her.
“You’ve never had a Cosmo?”
“Not that I recall.”
She’s got a bottle of something clear opened now, but I can’t read the
“Of course they were invited,” she says lightly, slipping an arm around Jonathan and giving him a squeeze. “This is a victory celebration! All the cheerleaders were invited.”
“Then what made you think they didn’t want to come?” persists Ben.
Kendra laughs, then puts a carefully manicured finger over her perfectly glossed lips. “Maybe it’s because they heard there would be more than just soda and punch served tonight.” She looks directly at me now. “Isn’t that true, Reagan? You and Jocelyn are opposed to drinking, right?”
Okay, this is actually true about me, although I haven’t told a soul this. Not even Jocelyn. I turn to look at my new friend, curious as to whether this is news to her. I also remember the cheerleading contract we all signed (well, everyone except Kendra). But Jocelyn just looks Kendra in the eyes, then grins. “Hey, I have no idea where you heard that, Kendra, but it’s a big, fat lie. So, anyway, where’s the beer?”
Everyone laughs and Kendra’s blue eyes widen as if she’s surprised, but she points Jocelyn over to the bar, where several cheerleaders are already drinking from cups topped with foam. “The keg’s right there, sweetie. Help yourself.” Then she turns to me. “How about you, Reagan, do you want to drink?”
Now, peer pressure isn’t new to me. What teen hasn’t felt it? But back in my own school, my friends pretty much accepted me for who I am. They knew I wasn’t into alcohol, and although they teased me occasionally, that’s where it ended. They never pressured me to drink, never pulled a stunt like this. Once again I’m reminded that this is a whole new game — a game I almost feel too tired to play. Will it ever get easier? Is it even worth it?
It occurs to me that I could walk right out of here. I could snub Kendra and maintain my pride at the same time. But then I’d be right back where I started. Maybe this game will end sooner if I simply play along. Even so, I look around the room, checking to see if Falon is here tonight, because I have a feeling she’d report us for breaking the rules of the contract. Then I realize she’s probably with her boyfriend. I’m sure they’d think this was too juvenile. I also consider the possibility of the cops showing up, but that seems unlikely in this gated community.
“Reagan?” persists Kendra. “You want a drink?”
“What do you have besides beer?” I ask tentatively. Okay, I feel slightly defeated just now, but not ready to give up.
She starts reeling off a great long list, and I’m sure I look pretty baffled, which must be amusing since she just throws back her head and laughs. “Come on, Reagan.” She hooks her arm into mine like we’re old buddies. “Let me fix you a good drink.”
Okay, this is dangerous. I’m thinking you should never, ever let your enemy fix you a drink. I’m sure this is one of the most ancient survival rules of civilization. Then again, I remind myself, I don’t have to actually drink it. Plus, if I watch her closely while she makes my drink, I can be relatively sure that she doesn’t do anything weird to it.
“Okay,” I say with some reluctance as she navigates us through the crowd and over to the bar.
She leans her elbows opposite me onto the granite top and looks at me. “Hmmm.” Her eyes narrow slightly, as if she’s studying me. “I think you must be a Cosmo girl.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, still suspicious.
She reaches for a clear plastic cup and tosses some ice in. “It means I think you’d like a Cosmo.”
Then I vaguely remember hearing that it’s a drink. “What’s in it?” I ask, further revealing my ignorance but hoping it might help to disarm her.
“You’ve never had a Cosmo?”
“Not that I recall.”
She’s got a bottle of something clear opened now, but I can’t read the
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