The Party by Christopher Pike

Author:Christopher Pike [Pike, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Crime, Young Adult, Final Friends
ISBN: 9780671019266
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Stepping onto the track near the runners, Jessica had to shield her eyes from the sun. Heat radiated in rippling waves off the ground over her bare legs. She couldn’t imagine how anyone could run three miles on a day like this.

“They should postpone their race till evening,” Alice said, wiping the sweat from her brow. “They’ll get heat stroke in this,”

“Maybe it’ll rain,” Sara said. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. She pointed toward the shadow cast by the scoreboard. “Let’s go over there.”

“Where’s Polly?” Jessica asked.

“She said she was stopping for a drink,” Alice said.

“Not a bad idea,” Jessica said, turning to Sara. “See Russ?”

“No.”

“You haven’t even looked for him,” Jessica said. “You’ve got to tell him you’re here.”

“I’m under no contractual obligation to do so,” Sara said.

“Why wouldn’t you?”

“He’s here to run a race. Why should I bug him?”

“You’re just afraid he won’t remember you,” Jessica said.

“You’re right, I should have him knock me down again in case he’s forgotten,” Sara snapped. “Get off my case, Jessie. If he wants to talk to me, he can come over and talk to me.”

“Sorry,” Jessica muttered, surprised at her tone. Sara was usually about as sensitive to personal remarks as a brick wall.

They reached the shade and sat down. The grass tickled Jessica’s legs. Alice continued to wipe at her head, the sweat literally pouring off her. “Are you all right?” Jessie asked.

Alice smiled quickly. “I’m fine, just glad I’m not running.”

“But you were sick, weren’t you? You didn’t come in Monday or Tuesday.”

Alice found a tiny yellow flower, plucked it. “I was painting.”

“What?” Jessica said.

Alice threw her flower into the air, watched it fall directly to the ground. No breeze. “The blue wind.”

“Really? Sounds interesting,” Jessica said. “You’ll have to show me. Hey, what are you doing this weekend? Want to go to the beach?”

“I’m painting.”

“Couldn’t you set it aside for a few hours?”

“I’ve got to finish it.”

“That’s too bad.” Jessica paused. “I’m going to the movies Saturday night. You won’t believe it, I asked the guy. His name’s Michael Olson.”

Alice nodded slowly, leaning back, looking up into the clear sky. “Polly told me. That’s neat that you found—someone you like.”

“We’re just friends. He’s going to help me with chemistry. That reminds me, where’s that fantasy guy you were going to introduce me to?”

Alice lay down, closed her eyes. “Ask me after your date.” She yawned. “I could go to sleep here and never wake up.”

Jessica patted her arm. “You go ahead and rest.”

Polly reappeared a few minutes later. Seconds b fore she reached them, however, Sara nodded in the direction of the stadium ramp. “That’s him over there with the shaggy brown hair, the muscles,” she said.

Jessica cupped her hand over her eyes again. “He looks tough.”

“You don’t like him?”

“I didn’t say that. He’s very attractive.” He belonged in a black leather jacket on the back of motorcycle. “He’s the one who stopped that black guy from killing that football player?”

“Yeah,” Sara said. “So what do you think?”

“I just told you,” Jessica said.

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