K. Randis - Spilled Milk

My cavalier coasted down the driveway and I pulled a pair of sunglasses on as I headed towards Cristin’s house. She was thrilled I was going to sleep at her house for a few school nights and assumed my new carefree schedule was Mom’s attempt to win me over.

“My dad did that when my parents divorced. I could ask him for anything and he felt so guilty about not living at home I would always get what I wanted,” Cristin said.

“Do you want second’s dear?” My plate was smothered in chicken, penne pasta and spinach. I nodded with a mouth full of food. “No thank you Mrs. Vanderport.”

“ Miss Vanderport. Miss, Miss. Not a Mrs. anymore.” She twirled through the kitchen in an ocean blue mini dress and popped out her hip. “What do you think girls, think I could meet Mr. Right in this?”

“Ugh, Mom. Go away.” Cristin waved her hand at her mom. “Where are you guys going anyway?”

“Not sure.” She mumbled through the bobby pins sticking out of her mouth. “I’ll be home late though, don’t wait up. Bed early, you girls have school tomorrow.”

Cristin’s phone rang within minutes of her mom leaving. “Talk to me.” She cradled the phone against her shoulder. “Mmm yep. Dustin’s picking us up, so we’ll be there around ten. All right? Yep. Bye.”

“Who was that?”

“Party tonight. You know the guy I’ve been seeing, pizza parlor guy?”

I shook my head. “Sorry, can’t keep up.”

“Anyway, he’s having some people over in the backroom of the pizza place after they close. The managers gave him a key.”

“That a good idea?”

“Oh yea, do it all the time.” Cristin shoved a piece of biscuit into her mouth. “Let’s get ready. Dustin will be here in an hour to get us.”

I only recognized two people when we walked into the backroom of the pizza parlor. About twenty or so faces turned in our direction when we pushed through the double kitchen doors. Cristin threw her arms around a girl I didn’t know and they disappeared into another back room. I made my way around the kitchen making small talk with one person who looked vaguely familiar from my home economics class.

Cristin disappeared and reappeared all night, and I started to worry about where she went sometime after one in the morning. Making my way towards the back door I was engulfed in a plume of smoke.

The kitchen was on fire and Cristin was nowhere in sight. A sea of people blocked my way and I pushed through them, following the smoke. There was a bright Exit sign above a back door and I flung it open to catch Cristin laughing away surrounded by a group of people.

Embarrassed that I had mistaken it for a fire, I inhaled and watched the joint get passed around. When it got to Cristin she couldn’t even stand up enough to keep it in-between her lips. She squealed when we saw me and pushed a much older guy aside to give me a hug. Her breath reeked like alcohol.

“Cristin, you’re drinking and lighting up?”

“Yaaaa man come on, I’ll get you some.”

I held a hand up as the joint was passed to me. “That’s okay. We need to get home.”

A dark haired guy who was standing near Cristin earlier protested. “Ah come on, we just got here. Need to chill a little, ya know?”

I ignored him and led Cristin by the hand to find our ride home. Dustin was standing at one of the kitchen counters with two other guys in track jackets. He downed a shot of Jack Daniels as I tugged on his sleeve.

“Dustin, come on we gotta go. Her mom’ll be home soon.”

Eyes half closed he pointed at Cristin. “Heyyy you sloppy mess. You need’a go home?” He wiped a dribble of Jack that missed his mouth. “Mmk. Lesss go.”

I squeezed Cristin’s hand when we got outside and Dustin reached into his pocket for his keys. “We can’t get in the car with him. He’s wasted, look at him.”

Cristin strained her eyes. “Ohh nah, he’s okay. He does this allllll the time.” She waved her hand above her head in the shape of a rainbow. “No problem.”

“I’m not getting in the car with him.” I stopped in front of her and crossed my arms. Was she serious about letting this guy drive us home?

“Ah, come on Brooke. He’s good. Look. He’s good.”

Dustin dropped his keys on the pavement in front of him and cursed.

Cristin stared. “All right, maybe ask him if you can drive.”

“Me drive? I don’t even know this guy.” Dustin reached into his pockets to try to find the keys that were already in his hands. I shook my head. “Hey, Dustin. Let me drive okay?”

He squinted at me and brushed the blond hair from his face. “Ah no, it’s cool. I got it.”

Talking to either of them was getting me nowhere. I wasn’t about to play mind games for the next two hours.

“Give me the keys.” I held out my hand. “You’re not fine, you’re not driving. I haven’t had anything to drink.” Cristin giggled beside me. “Or smoke. Don’t be stupid.”

Dustin smirked when I called him stupid and ruffled my hair. “All right little warrior, go for it. Don’t wreck my car man, I love this car.”

Within two miles Dustin was passed out cold in the backseat. “See Cristin?” I peered through the mirror. “He’s out cold. What would have happened if he was driving?”

Cristin huffed as she turned around. “Oh wowww. He never does that, I swear it. He’s like the best drunk driver I know.”

“You’ve done this before?” My voice rose.

“See Brooke that’s why you’re better than me. That’s why you’re gonna have a great life and be so successful.” She completely ignored what I had just said.

“What do you mean?”

“You always think.” She tapped a finger against her temple. “You know what to do all the time. You’re like, the bestest friend ever.” She looked out the window. “Oh hey look that tree looks like a cow.”

“You’re drunk. And you’re smart too Cristin, you just make…” I fought for the right words, “Bad choices sometimes,” I said, pulling into the driveway. Her mom’s car wasn’t there yet so I still had time to get everyone inside.

“No, not like you. I don’t even really know what happened with your dad. I saw something in the paper, but, I’m not sure. I mean, you must be really brave to stand up to your dad. I couldn’t do that. I had an abortion last year, did you know? No one really knows. My mom would of killed me.”

My eyes widened. “Cristin I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

“No, no it’s okay. You’re so brave. You don’t follow the crowd, like some people.” She pointed to Dustin snoring in the back and giggled. “Plus it makes you totally hot, guys love that you have a mind of your own. Jason wouldn’t stop staring at you all night.”

“Jason?”

“Yeaaa. The guy with the dark hair. Tan skin. He’s yummy. He stared at you all night. Stared. I saw him. How did you not notice? I ate a pickle before. Oh, Brooke?”

“Yea?”

“Imma throw up now.”

My door flew open and I raced around the front of the car.

Jason and I had been dating for five months, and we had Cristin to thank for introducing us. Kind of. She was tired of me moping around over Paul and thought meeting someone new would be a good idea.

“Jason’s a total sweetheart. He used to smoke weed, but not anymore, I know you don’t like that. I told him to meet you at your locker after gym so you guys can meet.”

I moaned. “You didn’t.” Cristin would finagle a blind date in high school somehow.

“What’s the big deal? You met him already.”

“No I didn’t.”

“Yea, you did. He was tan boy staring at you all night at the party Dustin took us to. Remember?”