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Emily stood up, padded over to the mirror, and stared hard at her reflection. “Get over it,” she told the mirror. “You’re not that seventh grader anymore. You’re stronger than you used to be.”
She splashed cold water on her face and walked into the front room again. The crowd was just as thick, but she used her elbows to maneuver between kids until she was face-to-face with the elves. Emily tapped Cassie on the shoulder. Cassie squinted at Emily, her mouth pinched into a sneer.
“Thanks for inviting me,” Emily said sarcastically. “I’ve had a blast.”
Cassie peered at her from under her white-blond bangs. “Who the hell are you?”
Emily wanted to groan. “You know who I am. Emily.”
“Emily?” Cassie looked at Heather, Sophie, and Lola, who were now peering curiously at her, too. “Ring any bells, girls?”
“I didn’t invite anyone named Emily,” Lola said, slightly slurring her words.
“Me neither,” Sophie and Heather piped up.
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Did my brother invite you? I told him we were way over capacity.”
“You invited me!” Emily exclaimed. “It’s Emily Fields! Santa!”
It was as if a light went on over Cassie’s head. She smiled. “Santa? I didn’t recognize you without your beard! Guys, it’s Santa!”
“Santa!” Heather whooped. “Wassup?”
“Hey, Santa,” Sophie said.
“You should have worn your hat.” Lola looked annoyed. “How were we supposed to know it’s you?”
“Hang on a sec.” Cassie shot up and disappeared into a back room. Moments later, she appeared with another lawn chair and plunked it down next to her. “Here you go, Santa. Hang out with us. What can I get you to drink?”
Emily blinked at the empty chair, then stared at the two inches of orange juice left in her cup. “Um, how about a vodka and Red Bull?”
“Excellent choice.” Cassie winked. “Those used to be my favorite.”
I know, Emily wanted to say. She sat in the lawn chair, suddenly feeling kind of amazing. Just like that, the party had gotten much, much more interesting.
Chapter 7
The Cool Crowd
“More vodka, anyone?” Cassie raised a bottle of Absolut in the air and shook it. A bit of liquid sloshed in the bottom.
“Me, me!” Lola raised her hand. So did Heather and Sophie. Instead of topping them off, Cassie made a beeline for Emily, glugging a good three shots’ worth into her cup. “I’ve barely seen you take a sip, Santa!”
It was about an hour later, and although the party was still raging inside Cassie’s house, the elves and Emily had formed a little VIP section in Cassie’s backyard, which had a big deck and a couple of heat lamps to fend off the cold. It was peaceful out there, though, with the stars in the dark sky making a chandelier over their heads and the heat lamps providing a soothing warmth on their skin.
The elves talked about the best college ragers they’d ever been to, how lame the Devon Crest Mall was, and tales about the previous Santa at Santa Land, whose name was Fletcher, and who’d apparently tried to make out with all four of the elves on the same day. “That dude was dying to get some,” Cassie moaned, hand over her eyes. “He didn’t even care who it was.”
“Remember that prissy-looking brunette girl who actually fell for him?” Lola snickered. “I’m convinced those two snuck off somewhere.”
“Yeah, right.” Cassie sniffed. “She wouldn’t have gone for him. Even she wasn’t that stupid.”
“Nasty, huh, Santa?” Lola giggled, tapping Emily with her foot. Emily nodded.
“Speaking of gross guys.” Cassie propped her feet on the deck rail. “I can’t believe what an ass**le Colin’s being tonight. He hasn’t said one word to me, not even thanks for inviting me to your party. Do you think I should try and talk to him, or should I just let it go?”
“Forget him.” Heather waved her hand as if to sweep him away.
“We’re in the same boat.” Lola slumped down in her chair. “I saw Brian disappear up the stairs with Chelsea. I guess that was his way of telling me it’s over between us.”
“At least he didn’t break up with you in a Facebook post.” Sophie lit a cigarette. “I’ll never forgive James for doing that to me.”
“That’s a Yale boy for you.” Cassie clucked her tongue. “And you should never go out with someone from your dorm.”
Emily peered at Sophie. “You go to Yale?”
Sophie shrugged. “Yeah, but probably not for much longer.”
Cassie snickered. “Oh, please. Sophie was valedictorian at Prichard. She probably still does her homework the night it’s assigned. And the extra-credit.”
“Nuh-uh.” Sophie’s braids bounced as she shook her head. “I’ve totally slipped.”
“Okay, Daddy does your homework,” Cassie corrected.
“Are you still going to be a doctor, just like Daddy wants?” Heather teased.
Sophie blew a smoke ring. “My grades this semester blew. I probably won’t be able to get into the premed program if I keep this up. My parents are going to murder me when they find out.” She said this toughly, but when she turned her head away there was a petrified look on her face.
Heather must have sensed her fear, because she snickered and said, “Poor little Sophie, under all that pressure. You were bound to crack sometime.”
