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Cars are parked all over the driveway and in the yard. I walk through them, down to the long strip of concrete that’ll take me anywhere but here. It dawns on me now that I probably shouldn’t go to anymore stupid hicktown parties. Fletcher’s party was a disaster, and so are Mike’s parties. Maybe I’m just not a party person even though everyone else seems to love them. Maybe I’m just broken.
I make it to the end of the driveway and look out at the vast stretch of county road in front of me. Across the asphalt is a field with cows and tall grass. To the left and right is just darkness. They don’t even put streetlights this far out of the city limits. With a sigh, I call Shelby. She doesn’t answer.
My mind races to solve my inconvenient problem right now. I stare at my small number of contacts, completely bypassing my parents. I’m not calling Dad unless as a last resort. Maybe walking home, which is a really crappy option, would still be the best idea. Alyson isn’t exactly a come-and-rescue-you type of friend, but I call her anyway.
“Hey girl!”
She’s clearly drunk. But I ask it anyway. “Are you drinking?”
“Hell yeah, I am! It’s Friday night before Regionals week!”
“Where are you?” I ask, kicking at a loose rock on the road.
“Mike’s party. Where are you? You should come out here.”
I glance back at the house, its lights all on and music pumping through the walls. With so many people here, she hadn’t even seen me earlier. “Yeah, maybe.”
I try Shelby again but she still doesn’t answer. It’s probably movie night with her boyfriend so who knows how long it’ll be before she can call me back. With no other options, I call my little brother.
“Sup?” he says. The sound of bullets flying tells me he’s glued to his Xbox.
“Hey, Teig.” I try to think of a way to say this that doesn’t make me look like a total loser. “Don’t you have a few friends with older brothers who have cars?”
“Uh yeah, why?” The gunfire pauses.
“I’m kind of stuck at Mike’s party and need a ride home. Could you maybe get one of your friends to come pick me up?”
He snorts. “Call Ash.”
“That’s not happening.”
I can practically hear his eyes roll from across town. “He’s home for once, and he has a truck, and he will be happy to come get you. Wait, are you like, wasted or something?” he asks, his voice getting all conspiratorial.
“I haven’t been drinking, Teig. But Lincoln has, and he’s kind of a d—” I let out my breath and remember I’m talking to a ten-year-old. “Jerk.”
“Wow, well okay. Don’t worry, Hana. I can help you.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Awesome. Do you need Mike’s address?”
“I don’t, no. But Ash might need it. You can give it to him when you call him.”
“Seriously, Teig?” The urge to throw my phone as hard as I can makes my fingers tingle. “You’re going to do this to me?”
“I’m not doing anything bad, Hana. Just call Ash. I love you!”
The call ends, and I press my forehead into my palm. I’d rather ask my mother to drive all the way here from Dallas before calling Ash to rescue me from a failed date.
“Hana!” I spin around at the sound of my name and find Lincoln stumbling down the driveway, a look of pure regret plastered over his drunken features. “There you are. Why’d you leave like that?”
He comes to a stop in front of me, and I move over, stepping near the grill of an old Ford truck. I want distance between us, however small it may be. “Of course I left,” I say, throwing up my hands. “I was on a date with you and found out you’re sleeping with other girls.”
His mouth falls open like he just can’t fathom why I’m upset. The simple gesture sends anger coursing through my veins. “Hana, wait. We just need to chill for a second.”
“I’m chill.” I lift my shoulders. “I’m super chill. You need to leave, please.”
Lincoln bends his knees a little. “Why? Hana, I don’t get it. We’re not even officially dating, and you’re acting like I cheated on you or something.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t say that. I know we weren’t official, but I didn’t think you were that kind of guy, so whatever we had between us is over now.”
