Chapter 32

‘So then Doons accused me of being Houlder’s girlfriend. ’

‘Doons is a jerk, ’ Eric said.

‘I hate him. ’

‘Me too. ’ He finished his plastic glass of punch, and saw that Beth was nearly done. ‘You want some more? ’

‘Yeah. Good, isn’t it? ’

‘Yeah. ’ He took her glass. I’ll be right back. ’ She smiled, and Eric left her. He made his way across the living room, looking for gaps through the frantic dancers and watching the girls. They paid no attention to him as he weaved among them. Most had vacant looks in their eyes as if entranced by the loud music and the motions of their own jerking bodies.

Aleshia wore pink tights and a white tutu. Her shoulders were bare. A pearl choker hung at her throat, and she wore a tiara in her hair. Eric had never seen her look so beautiful. If only he were more like Eddie Ryker … He watched Eddie dance. The tall, handsome boy wore no real costume – just a football jersey and jeans. He had a complacent smile. His eyes were on the ceiling – not even looking at her!

Eric bumped into someone.

‘Jesus, Prince! ’ Mark Bailey scowled at him from under his helmet liner.

‘Sorry sir, ’ Eric said, and snapped a salute.

‘Creep, ’ mut

tered Mark’s partner.

Eric turned to her. Sue Diamond, the head cheerleader. She, too, was apparently dressed as a soldier. She wore a tiger-striped field bat, a drab olive jumpsuit, and a canteen on a web belt. Her jumpsuit was unzipped almost to her belly, showing a long V of bare skin and no trace of bra.

‘Fuck off, ’ she said.

Eric hurried past, then looked back, wondering what would show if she bent down. She didn’t bend down. Instead, she gave him the finger.

He finally reached the refreshment table. He stood in line behind a clown and a vampire. Nobody spoke to him. He waited, watching Elmer Cantwell dip punch from the cut-glass bowl for the vampire.

Elmer seemed to be dressed as the hunchback of Notre Dame. With his squat figure and bulgy eyes, he looked right for the role.

‘Is that Aleshia’s father? ’ Eric had asked when he first saw Elmer.

‘No, ’ Beth told him. ‘Her dad’s never home. That’s Elmer Cantwell. ’

‘What’s he doing here? ’

‘He’s a friend of Aleshia’s mom. Ugly, isn’t he? ’

‘Sort of. ’

‘Women are supposed to be crazy about him. I can’t see it, though, can you? ’

Eric had shaken his head.

‘He must have something going for him, ’cause it sure isn’t his looks. ’

‘Maybe he’s rich. ’

‘Maybe. ’

The vampire and clown were gone, and Eric looked across the table at the man. He saw the eyes lower to his bare chest, and stare. He fought an urge to pull his jacket shut.

‘Two punches, please. ’

Elmer grinned, showing his crooked upper teeth, and reached for the empty glasses. Eric held them out. The man’s fingers stroked his hands. He squirmed, wishing Aleshia’s mother was still at the punch bowl instead of this man.

Elmer took the glasses. He set them down, dipped into the punch bowl, and filled them with the frothy red liquid.

‘I’ve seen you at the library, Eric, ’ he said in a whispery voice.

‘You have? ’

‘Many times. ’

‘Where? ’

‘The public library. ’

‘Oh. ’

‘You have such lovely skin. A shame to hide it under such filth. ’

‘Oh. ’ He felt as if worms were crawling on his back. ‘Thanks for the punch, ’ he said. He picked up the two glasses and hurried away. This time, passing through the dancers, he didn’t even notice those around him. He found Beth still standing in the comer. Mary Lou, one of the cheerleaders, was with her.

‘Hi Eric, ’ Mary Lou said.

She was a slim redhead, dressed as a nurse.

‘Hi. ’

‘Are you okay? ’ Beth asked.

‘Sure. ’ He handed a glass to her.

‘You look sick. ’

‘I’m the living dead. ’

‘What happened? ’

He shrugged. ‘Oh, that guy Elmer. ’

‘What’d he do? ’ Mary Lou asked.

‘He’s just a creep. ’

‘Do you know what he said to John? You know John? He’s Dracula. He was in front of you. Did you hear what that crazy guy said to him? ’

Eric shook his head.

‘Get this. ’ Mary Lou glanced from Beth to Eric, her eyes bright and eager. ‘He said, “You can suck me anytime. Count. ”’

‘Good Christ, ’ Beth muttered.

‘Gross, huh? ’

‘Is he … gay? ’ Beth asked.

‘God, I guess so. But you know, he’s supposed to be a real lady-killer. ’

‘Maybe he likes both, ’ Eric said.

Beth shook her head. ‘I don’t see why anybody’d be interested in him. ’

‘Haven’t you heard? He’s …’ Mary Lou glanced at Eric, then back to Beth. ‘Well … They say he’s got an absolutely enormous thing. ’

‘Yuck, ’ Beth said.

‘It’s supposed to be – you know – gigantuous. ’

‘Do you think he and Aleshia’s mom …? ’

‘Why else would he be here? ’

‘Boy, ’ Beth muttered. She wrinkled her nose as if disgusted.

Mary Lou turned to Eric. ‘So look, what’d he say to you? ’

‘He said I’ve got nice skin. ’

‘Oh gross. ’

As she sipped her punch, Beth’s eyes lowered to Eric’s chest, and lingered there. ‘He’s right, ’ she finally said.

Laughter burst from Mary Lou. ‘You’re a nut! ’ she gasped. ‘God what a nut! ’

Beth set down her drink. Her mouth dropped open, her head tilted to one side, and she gazed at Mary Lou with wide, vacant eyes. Moaning, she raised her arms; She reached for the girl’s throat.

‘Hey! ’ Giggling, Mary Lou backed away.

‘Gonna eat you, ’ Beth mumbled. ‘Yum yum. ’

Eric started to shamble alongside Beth. ‘Gonna eat you. ’

Mary Lou backed into John the vampire. She squealed as he threw his arms around her and nibbled the side of her neck.

‘Wanta get Aleshia? ’ Eric asked.

Beth nodded.

They moved slowly across the room, moaning, bumping into dancers who ignored them or laughed or pushed them away. Then Aleshia was in front of them. Her head was back, her eyes half-shut and dreamy as she shrugged and flung her arms and twirled. They staggered past Eddie Ryker. He kept on dancing as if they were invisible.

‘Gonna eat you, ’ Beth mumbled.

Aleshia paid no attention.

Eric saw specks of sweat on her upper lip, but her shoulders and chest looked dry. The tops of her breasts showed above her bodice. One hard downward pull would free them …

And every guy in the room would jump on Eric.

Beth grabbed Aleshia’s arm.

‘Hey! ’

‘Gonna eat you, ’ Beth said.

‘Oh yeah? ’ Aleshia pulled free, grinning. ‘Nobody eats me but Eddie. ’

Beth gasped and burst into laughter.

With a harsh laugh, Aleshia resumed her dance.

Eric watched, sick with disappointment. Why hadn’t he grabbed her? At least her arm, like Beth?

Shit!

He’d missed his chance. He’d chickened out.

‘Want to dance? ’ Beth asked.

‘I guess. ’

⇐ Предыдущая 29 30 31 32 333435 36 37 38 Следующая ⇒