Ten

Kate
Alice had disappeared off somewhere, leaving Marcus by himself. I saw him over Ellen’s shoulder, watching us, looking lonely. But then I looked back and Ellen was right there, right in front of me, and I panicked. Her skin smelled like sweat and a light perfume I couldn’t place. But the scent floated over the air, intoxicating, and I was freaking out. There was so much pressure, I barely knew her and I was supposed to kiss her. And Marcus, standing alone looking like a drag queen because we forced him to dress like that, it tugged my heart.
“I’m going to get a drink.” I yelled. Ellen pouted and let her hands drop from my waist.
“That was getting hot and heavy, huh Kate?” Marcus said into my ear, while passing me a covert sip of his drink.
“Jesus, yeah.”
“I know I shouldn’t say this, but you looked really sexy.” I hit him on the shoulder and took another swig. At least I was getting some support. Where on earth was Alice? I looked around and spotted her, pretty easy when you look for a nearly six foot tall girl with flaming red hair.
“So she’s into it, it looked like.” Marcus continued.
“But I hardly know her. And what if things get weird with us, it’ll ruin our friendship.”
“What does your gut say?” I thought about that and replied,
“Don’t do it yet.”
“So don’t. I was worried about those things too. Plus Ellen is kind of flighty. She might hurt you.”
“Yeah, I got that impression. She’s just so damned cute.” I handed him back his drink, after one final slurp.
“Jeez slow it down.” He raised an eyebrow, a gesture I was becoming increasingly familiar with. “How about some sweet synchronized dancing?”
“Let’s do it!” I pulled him by his hand out to the floor, and we started to do the dance routine we had made up on the walk over. It involved disco points, claps, spins and booty shaking. We drew an audience, and Ellen clapped from her station by the DJ booth. All of a sudden, I noticed Melanie drunkenly joining in, looking hilariously unkempt. I got a newfound appreciation for her then, for her enthusiasm and willingness to really get down. Ellen winked at me, and I smiled back. I looked around for Alice again, and she was by the bar with Blanche, looking smug. I wanted her here with me, dancing and going crazy like we used to. I ran over to her and grabbed her hands.
“Al, come on, come dance.” she gave Blanche a look, like ‘whatever’, and looked back at me.
“Kate, you guys look silly.”
“So?”
“Well, whatever.” there it was again: indifference.
“When did you get mature, Alice?”
“Shut up, Kate. I just don’t want to dance.” Earlier she was dancing in our room, now she was acting like I was her little sister.
“Whatever, Alice.” I stormed back over to Melanie, and continued dancing, but I felt weird. Alice had never been ashamed of me before, never acted like I was some little loser she barely knew. Whatever, Alice, I thought, Whatever.
The rest of the night was a blur of passed sips from Marcus and increasingly bitter drunken thoughts about Alice. I saw Jess again, decked out for disco, and tried to have a good time. I really tried, but the exhaustion of the night before got to me somewhere after midnight.
“I’m going to go, Marcus.”
“Let me walk you back? I’m tired too.” He gave me his arm, and I giggled.
“So, you going to a GSA meeting?” he asked somewhere between the Student Center and the quad.
“Yeah. I’m going to their party too, I think. If I survive another hungover day like today.”
“Are you really that fucked up?” he questioned. I thought about it before responding.
“No, but Alice tripped me out tonight. She was acting all…I don’t know, holier than thou. Only, not holy, like more mature than thou.”
“What are you rambling about?”
“Ehh, I’ll explain tomorrow. Let’s just make it back in one piece.”
He deposited me by my door, giving me a quick peck on the cheek.
“Call me about tomorrow, I’ll go with you even if it means getting dudes numbers.”
“You ain’t that hot.”
“Trust me, I am.” He did his eyebrow thing again and I laughed. “Night, baby doll.” I stumbled up the stairs and into bed. I slept restlessly, waiting for Alice to come home. She never did. Who was this new College Alice and who the fuck did she think she was