Don't Hate the Player...Hate the Game(19)
“You got that right,” I seconded. The most plastered I’d ever been was after drinking a Dixie cup of that stuff at Jake’s grandparents. After spending half the night puking my guts up, I spent the next day practically paralyzed in bed. Whatever it is, those hillbillies sure put some potent shit in there.
The rest of the night seemed to pass in a blur of faces. Like a third brother, I stood with Jonathan and Jason greeting people. It made sense because everybody from school and even Jake’s family knew me as well. After a while, my hand started cramping up from shaking so many hands.
It was about eight when Maddie and Pastor Dan showed up. Maddie’s dark hair was swept away from her face in a twist—making her solemn dark eyes glistening with tears stand out all the more. She was wearing a straight black dress that should’ve been demure, but to my horny teenage self, it hugged every one of her curves and showed off her fabulous legs. Just as soon as those thoughts went through my mind, I wanted to smack myself. I mean, who the hell is a horndog at his dead best friend’s wake? Deep down knowing Jake, he would have appreciated my thoughts.
After she and Pastor Dan inched forward in the line, she caught my eye by the doorway. She smiled. “Hi Noah.”
“Hi Maddie,” I said.
We stood awkwardly next to each other—unsure who should make a move and what that move should be. Finally, I stepped forward and briskly hugged her.
She stared past me to where Mrs. Nelson was weeping. “How’s she holding up?”
I shook my head. “Not good.”
“Poor thing,” she murmured. She turned back to Pastor Dan. “Daddy, you should go to her. Do something for her,” Maddie urged.
“Sure honey.” He bobbed his head at me. “Excuse me, Noah.’ Like me, he cut in line to go and comfort Mrs. Nelson. No one seemed to mind, or at least they weren’t going to call out a minister for line jumping.
Across the room from Jake’s mom, tension hung heavy in the air between Avery and Presley. It looked like two rival gangs had set up territory in the room adjoining the urn. You had Avery and her fellow Ice Princesses—the girls who usually rounded out the Homecoming Court. The girls that no one for the life of them could explain how they were popular since no one liked them. Then you had Presley’s group—girls whose popularity came from being popular with the guys.
Ironically, as much as each group was staring daggers at the other, their anger seemed to unite when Maddie entered the room. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. As Maddie embraced Mrs. Nelson, a flurry of conversation went up among the two groups.
It was like one of those moments when people are talking about something, and you have no clue what they’re talking about. The more you hang around, the more you feel completely out of the loop, and you start to wonder what the hell is wrong with you.
I stared as I watched these two groups of the social elite annihilate sweet, innocent, Honors program Maddie Parker with their eyes. I couldn’t imagine why they hated her for being Jake’s friend and tutor.
I eased over close to Avery’s group—desperately trying to hear their conversation.
“Look at her acting like she and Mrs. Nelson are united in their grief? I mean, who does she think she is?” one of the girls snapped.
“I’ll never understand what Jake saw in her or why he wanted to be friends with her. I mean, look at her—she’s so not his type!”
“Totally pathetic.”
Another girl nodded in agreement. “Do you remember how whenever we had a party, he always made us invite her—even though we knew Daddy’s little angel would never come?”
Avery snorted. “Thank God she only transferred in last year. Can you imagine what it would have been like to have had to put up with Jake and her all these years?”
What the hell? That funny feeling crept over me again like I’d missed the great secret. Jake had never mentioned inviting Maddie to parties to me. But then again by senior year, I’d refused to attend most of the parties because I’d always end up plastered with some girl puking on me. Sometimes you can only have so much fun doing that. have too much fun.
I inched across the room to get the opposite verdict. Maddie was talking to Mr. Nelson as the slutty girls sized her up. Once again, the issue was what Jake had seen in her.
“I heard she was a virgin,” one of the girls hissed.
Presley rolled her eyes. “Oh get serious, Melody. Of course she’s a virgin! That was her whole allure for Jake—the conquest. I guarantee you if he’d lived, he would’ve tapped that ass by graduation.”
“How can you be so sure? Maddie’s one of those ultimate goody two-shoe girls.”
“I’m surprised she doesn’t wear one of those dorky purity rings.”
Presley’s eyed narrowed at Maddie. “Trust me girls. I know what I’m talking about. Besides, Jake could charm the panties off anyone!” She gazed around the group. “Am I right?”
All four girls nodded in unison. It put me to wondering if Maddie was the only girl in the entire room Jake hadn’t slept with. Well, he and Avery had originally slept together, but then she’d told him she couldn’t handle a physical relationship with him. So, basically, he dated her for appearances while being serviced by other girls. I guess it was a win/win situation for both of them.