Into the Garden (Wildflowers 5)

"I don't know anyone," I said.

"Isn't there anyone you'd like to know?" Misty asked. I shook my head.

"I don't know anyone well enough to invite to a party. I mean, there are boys I wish I knew, but I've never said two words to any of them."

Everyone was silent.

"In that case I would like to suggest I ask David to bring his cousin Stuart along," Jade said. "They're together quite often and Stuart is good looking, too, and very polite."

"A blind date?" Misty asked

"Cat wouldn't mind, would you, Cat?" Jade asked me. "I don't want to ruin it for everyone else," I said.

"You won't. I know for a fact that Stuart doesn't go out that much and he's not going with anyone. He's just right for you," Jade insisted.

"Who are you? Cupid?" Star asked.

"It's our first party. If they don't get along, it's not the end of the world, you know." She turned back to me. "Stuart's about David's height with darker brown hair. He looks a little like Christian Slater and he's very intelligent, an A-plus student."

"Then he'll think I'm stupid," I said.

"No, he won't. Why should he? You don't do badly in school," Jade countered.

"I haven't done well this year. I missed a lot of school, as you know."

"You're not looking for a job, Cat. You're just meeting some brainy, spoiled, rich kid," Star said. "This isn't going to be an audition or anything."

"Don't listen to her. Stuart's not spoiled," Jade said. She shot one of her sharp, hot looks Star's way. "You don't even know him"

"He's rich, he's spoiled," Star insisted. "But that's okay. That's fine," she said, holding up her hands. "I'm getting used to spoiled people."

"I feel sorry for this Larry," Jade said, shaking her head. "After he meets you, he'll wish he was back in boot camp."

"Is that right? Well, let's just wait and see where he wants to be after he meets me. He might even go AWOL just to keep me happy."

"Oh, brother." Jade stared at her and then they both laughed. Misty smiled at me.

"This is beginning to sound exciting," she said. "Right?"

My heart had begun to race with the thought of being on a blind date. If they all had a good time and my date didn't, I would be like the lead weight I was afraid I'd be and the party would be ruined. It seemed so important to them, too.

"Okay then," Jade said, "we've got our list. Now let's plan the party. I want this to really go well for all of us, and," she said, gazing at me, "especially for Cat."

"Amen to that," Star said.

We talked about the menu and then had a small argument about having liquor. Misty and Jade wanted it; Star thought it might make for trouble.

"Especially if one of us drinks too much," she pointed out. "Something might be said that we'll all regret," she warned.

"That won't happen," Jade insisted.

"When you're having a good time and there's music and stuff, you just can't help it sometimes. All one of us has to do is make one little mistake "

"You're making it sound terrible and dangerous just to have a good time here. It's why we're doing all this," Jade declared, holding up her arms. "If we can't have fun-- mature, intelligent fun--what's the use?"

"I just want us to be cautious, is all," Star replied. All of us were quiet for a few moments.

"The boys are going to be looking for booze," Jade said. "We have the house to ourselves, all this freedom, they'll think we're nerds or something. Do you think your army boyfriend is going to want lemonade?"