I Get Out

and Clare climbs
into the back seat.

Clare is a little shy,
so I do the talking for her.

Come to think of it,
Dion’s not really saying

much, so I’m
speaking for
both of them.

Anyway, I carry on.
Clare goes to school
with me over at Mercy.

She’s the first person
I met when I moved here.

Silence so loud you could hear
a pin

drop.

The Party Is Not Far

from the Mallory Mansion.
In fact, you can see the house
if you look hard through
snow-covered trees.

I take Clare’s hand
as we come up the
walk to give her
an extra confidence
boost.

Inside, the beat
is pulsing.
I feel the pounding
down to my toes.

Neither Clare nor I
know anyone here.
Most of the kids
go to Westwood, the private
school Dion attends.

It’s okay, though.

We’ll handle it together like always—
as best friends.

I’ll Be Right Back

Clare says
after half an hour.
Bathroom break.
Can you imagine
how big their
bathroom must be?
I’ll let you know.
She grins and walks
                    off.
I catch Dion’s eye,
and he walks toward me.
This is great, I’m starting
to say, when he cuts me off:
What are you doing?
He looks seriously pissed.

What do you mean? I ask.

Did you come here with me
or with your lezzo friend?

I stutter. I—

I don’t appreciate
you making me look stupid,
               he adds.

The Party

could fit in the bathroom.
Seriously, the bathtub
alone would probably do.
I’m still laughing about
it. Trying to think of the
perfect phrase to amuse
Zari.
Get your bathing suit, Zar. I’ve
found the pool!
When I see her face,
it’s no laughing matter.
She looks like she’s been
sucker-punched in the gut.
What’s up?
I ask, to which she just
shrugs. Nothing, she says.
I guess I’m just not feeling
that well.

Do You Want to Go Home?

I ask. She shrugs.
Where did Dion go?
I ask. Another shrug.
Okayyyy.
She’s obviously upset.
Did something happen
between you two?
I ask.
She forces a smile.

Let’s just enjoy
ourselves, she says.
Maybe she wants to,
but all she does
for the rest of the night
is look around the room
like she’s lost.

When Zari Gets Up

to refill her drink,
I find Dion.
He leans against
a counter, relaxed,
with a group around him.
I push myself into the
circle of his friends, who
part for me like a wave.
Do you know what’s going on with Zari?
             I ask.
             He shrugs.
She seems really upset, I add.
It’s obvious he doesn’t
care she’s upset,
and my temper flares.
Before I know it,
I’m saying,
              Look, if you hurt her…you’ll be sorry.
The look in his eyes
makes my blood turn cold.
I walk away,
                 the clear loser
                 in this debate.

Goodnight

I call as the car motors
away,
even though the night
was
anything
but good.

The house is
dark. I find Mom
asleep on the couch,
surrounded by
towers of books.

I wake her up,
and as we’re going upstairs
she says,
                         Oh yeah. Zari’s mom
                         called while I was at work.
                         Remind me to call her back tomorrow.