HOW MANY ARE there? I don’t know. I’m in the bathroom with the door locked, standing on the toilet holding a hanger like a bat. Somebody knocks again. He drunk, I think. Cussing when he tell me he about to go get Anthony.

I say the first thing that come to my mind. “I’ll be out soon as I pee.”

That’s funny to them. They say they want refunds if I come out stinking. I jump down. Throw the hanger in the tub. Unlock the door. It’s hardly open when they come for me, black-haired lions, cows, and snakes.

They black and white, friends here for a bachelor party. The one getting married is already wasted, so they walk him over to the bed while he unzips.

In kindergarten, kids fought to be first in line. Nobody wanted to be last. It’s the same here. They stand around the room and argue ’bout who gonna follow the one who’s getting married. Somebody drags me to him. “I’m in seventh grade.” I close my eyes when his hand goes up my skirt. “Somebody call my sister. Tell her I want to go home.”

There’s five of ’em. One is on the balcony sitting on a lounge chair, smoking a cigar. Two got their backs against the wall, sipping something brown on ice, watching me. The other one asks the groom-to-be if he need some help. When the door opens, everybody look surprised.

“Shit.” He closes the door quick. “I told you, no underage girls.” His feet and legs move fast as wheels. They all agreed, he says, to each pay their share. “But, man … look at her. She’s a kid.”

The man on the bed tries to stand up. “She wants to be here. Tell him.” Grabbing for my hand, he fall down on the bed.

“Mister, I wanna go home.”

Sam is his name. He pull out his wallet, drops bills on the floor like he at the club. “Do whatever you want with her. But leave me out of it.” The man on the balcony shaking his head. Another man’s face is red.

The door squeaks when it opens this time. Everything happens fast after that. The one who’s gonna get married stands up and falls again. But this time he end up on the floor. I kick him. He grabs hisself and yells. His friends back up like I got a straight razor or gun in my hand. Running for the door, I scream. They got good jobs, didn’t ask for no drama, I hear some of ’em say following me out.

I hear Anthony yelling my name. See doors up the hall open, Carolina coming for me. I scream some more. “Don’t stop. Keep going,” I can hear JuJu say.

Skipping steps. Falling. I run and run. In the lobby, I remember what my sister taught me: “If somebody’s after you, don’t be quiet. Let the whole world know.” So, I scream all the way home.