Weekend by Christopher Pike Page B

done."
    Sol must have still been riding his Jack Daniels' buzz. In a normal state of consciousness, he would not have dared his next words. "Shut up, Lena."
    Shani waited for the explosion. Lena's brown eyes widened. She sucked in a breath. "What did you say?" she asked very slowly, very softly.
    Shani hoped that Sol actually did carry the switchblade Park accused him of keeping. "You heard me,"
    he said.
    "I guess I did," Lena whispered ominously. Everyone waited. Yet the bomb was suddenly defused, or else put on hold. Lena appeared to realise she was moving into a no-win situation. And Lena hated to lose. She smiled at Kerry. "Sol's so drunk, I know you wouldn't want him to drive. Robin and I won't be here much longer. We can give you a ride home."
    What could Kerry say? She had scored the most points, but Lena had still somehow come out on top.
    "Fine," Kerry muttered.
    With the fireworks over, Shani contemplated unconsciousness again. Angie reappeared with a tray laden with freshly tapped litre mugs of beer. Park, Sol, and Kerry each took a glass. Angie set the remainder of the drinks on the corner table next to Robin. Lena went into the kitchen, probably to clean up.
    "You running for sainthood?" Angie chided Robin. "Have a drink."
    "I'll pass. I have to drive."
    "Come on," Park said. "I've been drinking all night and I wouldn't hesitate to climb on top of the wheel."
    "You mean,behind the wheel," Robin laughed.
    "Wouldn't hesitate!" Park swore, drinking deeply.
    Sol put on another record. His brain cells must have been drowning. They listened to an entire side of theCarpenters' Greatest Hits before Bert came out of the bathroom and stumbled into the stereo, turning off the music. Kerry jumped up for a nature call, but ran into Lena at the bathroom door. They exchanged unheard words. Kerry ended up following Bert - who was wandering aimlessly - into the kitchen. Sol shook his head sadly and got to his feet. He did not go into the kitchen or the bathroom, but drifted out of sight down the hall.
    "You look like you need a beer!" Park called at Shani.
    She closed her eyes. "Don't bother me, I'm asleep." And she must have been for the next few minutes.
    When she opened her eyes next, everyone was back in the living room. This party would go on forever.
    Sol was sitting on a chair next to Robin, offering her his mug of beer. Lena was planted precariously on the arm of the chair. Angie was on the floor at their feet with Park, whispering in his ear. Bert was lying face down on the carpet. Kerry was sitting on his butt, her back to Shani.
    "We've got to get Robin drunk," Park announced. "It's our duty, our God-given duty."
    "How are you going to lose your virginity if you won't let a guy get you drunk?" Sol asked, nudging Robin with his half-full glass. Shani wondered if they had spiked it with whisky. It looked darker than ordinary beer.
    "Yeah!" Park cheered.
    Robin blushed and took the glass, weighing it in her hands. "You won't believe this, but I've never even tasted beer before."
    "You haven't missed a thing," Shani muttered.
    "Sleeping Beauty's awake!" Park said. "Did I ever tell you guys how she messed her pants in fifth grade?"
    "In kindergarten," Shani said. It came to her then how the mood of the room had changed. They had had drunken dancing, bursting bladders, spilled food, frustrated seductions, sharp arguments, and none of that had seriously dented the upbeat feeling of the party. Yet now, even in her dull condition, she sensed a building tension, as tangible to her as if a foul stench were being pumped into the room. She studied her friends, finding no explanation.
    "Finish it in a gulp," Lena advised her sister. "You'll be a new person."
    "I don't know why you're badgering her," Kerry said. "If she doesn't want it, she doesn't want it."
    "I'd better not. It will just put me to sleep."
    "Wimp," Lena said.
    "To the eternal virgin," Park toasted with his empty glass.
    "I guess you're going to be the one to drive us