“You’re such a bitch, Fani,” Adan said, smiling.
“I learned from the best,” she replied.
Sophia tore herself away from Danielle and her friends and started across the grand room toward us, Christian trailing behind.
“Uh-oh,” Adan said. “Here comes trouble.”
“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” Sophia said when she drew close enough. “Making up that story about me and spreading it so quickly so you could ruin my evening here.”
I shook my head. “I said nothing to anyone about you.”
“Yeah, right.” She looked at Fani. “You’d better pull them off me if you know what’s good for you.”
“Me? I don’t control them,” Fani said. “And I don’t like being threatened.”
“Girls, c’mon,” Adan said. “Let’s just have a good time tonight.”
“Yeah, well, we know what that means for you, Adan Bovio. You probably will have a good time. You have the right girl for it.” She nodded at me, turned, and walked away.
Christian shrugged as if there was nothing he could do about her, but we could see he enjoyed it all, perhaps as much as Fani did.
I was sure my face was red. It felt burning hot.
Adan laughed.
“Now, see,” Fani said. “Doesn’t all this make the party more interesting? I can’t wait for the second round.”
Like the child’s game where a secret is whispered into the ear of everyone in a circle until it comes back to the originator dramatically changed, the gossip began to flow from Sophia and Christian through the ears and lips of the other students at the party. The girls who were my friends in school were again jealous of me because I was with Adan Bovio. They were eager to listen and to unravel the whispers. I had no idea what slurs and rumors were being generated during the evening, but Fani was plugged into the talk and reported to us that Sophia and Christian were claiming Sophia had seen me in bed with Edward and Jesse. She told them my aunt was very upset and had told them to stay away from me. Sophia claimed that was why I had made up this story about her throwing me down a stairway.
I couldn’t breathe for a moment. It seemed that everyone at the party was looking my way and shaking his or her head with disapproval. It amazed me that anyone, especially the girls I thought were friends of mine, could believe such a tale, but there was Katelynn describing how I had been so close to my cou
sin and Jesse at the restaurant, and, of course, there was Christian Taylor claiming I would rather be with them than with him.
Like any terrible rumor, its roots were based on some facts. In this case, it was the fact that Edward had bought me a car and that the two of them had actually picked out and bought the dress I was wearing tonight. Christian confirmed everything. He had seen the car tonight. When I couldn’t deny these things, everything else gained validity, and before the night had ended, the target of the ugly gossip had become me and not Sophia.
“Your cousin bought you a sports car?” Fani asked when she had heard that part.
“Sí. It was a surprise.”
“I bet it was. No wonder Sophia is wagging her tongue so much. She’s probably dying with envy.”
To my surprise and disappointment, Fani didn’t see this as unpleasant for me. On the contrary, she saw the verbal battle as even more fun. Adan had to dance with Danielle after all, and then another of her friends begged him to take her to the dance floor. Boys even grew courageous enough to ask Fani to dance, but no one else spoke to me. I sat mired in my misfortune, watching them all. The party’s strobe lights were turned on and flashed over their smiling faces, making them all look devilish. My ankle even began to hurt again.
How had this wonderful night turned so sour? I couldn’t wait to leave, but no one could leave until the huge birthday cake had been wheeled out. Danielle blew out the candles, and there was an explosion of balloons rising into the night. Then, to everyone’s amazement, we were paraded out to witness a fireworks display that ended with the words “Happy Birthday Danielle” written in bright lights against the inky night. It was all so overwhelming that for those moments, all thoughts about Sophia and the slanders were forgotten.
Adan held me close. “Your face is lit with the fireworks,” he said, and kissed me. It was a warm, soft kiss but passionate enough to send a chill of excitement to my breasts. I felt myself lose all resistance, and he sensed it as well. “Let’s get out of here,” he whispered.
I looked to the right and saw Fani watching us, a sly smile on her face. She had seen us kiss.
“C’mon,” Adan urged. He paused by Fani on our way in to say good night to Danielle and her parents.
“Leaving already?” Fani asked.
“Delia’s foot’s acting up,” he said, and she widened her smile.
“I imagine more than her foot is acting up.”
“You’re such a bitch,” he told her.