Inseparable

“She’s drunk. She’s probably seeing about three of you right now.”

“Well, you think she’d have enough sense not to pick a fight with a crowd.”

Sean and Timmy pulled us back into their conversation. I was nervous as I waited for the inevitable grapevine of gossip to start weaving its way around me. Lucas hadn't come back from helping Monica and I was starting to feel like a really big fool.

What had I just done? Did I really just give it all up to Lucas Prine? Sandy was going to have a freak out when I told her. Maybe I shouldn’t tell her. Maybe I shouldn’t tell anyone.

“Want another beer, Tilly?” Timmy asked. I nodded and walked with him through the house to what I’d call the keg room.

That was where I saw Lucas talking with Monica. He had her propped up against a door frame and was holding her hands in his. She was looking up at him like a child being scolded by a parent that never enforced any kind of punishment. She looked at me then back at Lucas before slipping her arm around his neck and kissing him passionately.

He didn’t stop her.

“You know, I’m not feeling all that well. I think I better get going.” I said to Timmy who was visibly disappointed.

When we got back to Sandy and Sean I used the same lame excuse.

“Are you sure?” Sandy asked me.

“Why. Are you having a good time?” I looked at her with my eyebrows pinched together.

“Actually, yeah.” Sandy raised her eyebrows high. “No one is more surprised than me. And I didn’t even have to cause any damage. It was done for me.” She pointed to the broken painting that was just lying there on the floor like some kind garage sale castaway.

Looking at that picture I suddenly felt very bad for Lucas. I rubbed my stomach to give the appearance of illness. Actually, there was a knot in my stomach but I knew what it was from. Seeing Lucas not give me a second look after what we had shared in the garage…

No! No! No! I shook my head. You are not thinking that way! This is a party! Have some fun!

“If you’re having a good time we can stay.” I conceded.

Sandy smiled and took another sip from her beer. She scooted over and made room for me on the arm of the huge chair she had perched on. Sean and Timmy were talking about some kind of music they had discovered while Sandy and I critiqued the outfit of every girl that walked through the room.

After a while, I was actually enjoying myself. Timmy was sitting close to me. We had been friends for such a long time it was like we were brother and sister.

“It’s pretty gross that you are always trying to sneak a kiss from me whenever you’ve had a couple beers.” I’d say to him whenever he called me Sissy.

“Says you.” He’d reply.

Tonight as the evening went on Timmy and I danced together and talked and due to the intense physical activity I had with Lucas in the garage I was very relaxed. It took a little extra effort on my part not to look for Lucas. I didn’t want to turn my head every time someone passed through and I certainly didn’t want it to appear to anyone else that I was looking for him. It was a dangerous, delicious secret that I wanted to keep to myself. If no one had said anything yet I wasn’t going to be the first.

But I have to admit that somewhere deep inside I was hoping Lucas would come up to me and just say hello. I thought we'd had a good connection before we "did it". After the act, I thought things were okay.

Just wait until he calls you. You can talk to him then. I soothed myself as Timmy and I talked some more.

"I'm sorry to be a party-pooper but I'm tired." I groaned after my fifth diet coke. "I'm going to hit the road. Do you want to come?" I asked Sandy.

“I’ll drive Sandy home.” Sean offered. “It’s no problem.”

I felt hugely relieved. I didn't want to tell Sandy about what happened with Lucas and now the Monica thing and who needs it. I turned to give Timmy a hug and he grabbed my butt like he almost always did when we hugged goodbye. Sean and Sandy hugged me too but without the butt grabbing.

I walked through the house. It seemed like even more people had arrived. Out of the crowd of people, I didn't know I saw the face of Henry Torrence, Lucas's lackey. He didn't have to say a word. I could tell by the way he was looking at me that he knew. It made me feel dirty but I wasn't going to let him know that.

I rolled my eyes and walked past him without saying a word. I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or if he was really that gross but I swear he started to flop sweat the second he saw me.

Once I was outside there were a few pockets of people sitting on the massive porch, some were in the yard, some were hanging around the parking lot of cars in the driveway. I silently congratulated myself on being smart enough to park on the street.

"Telula!" I heard my voice and turned around. I was disappointed t was Henry again. I kept walking toward my car. "What did you do to him?"

“Who?”