Therestilldidn’tseemtobeanyonewatchingherasshewentuptothe drinkcooler.Shepretendedtoexaminethebottlesofsodanexttothoseofthe beer.Withonelastlookaround,shereachedintothecoolerandextractedtwo bottlesofbeer,dumpingthoseintotheouterpocketsofKrisee’sjacket.
Shebrisklywalkeduptothefrontcounterandputhertwopacksofgumby theregister.Sheflashedhercutestsmileatthecashier.“Isthatgoingtobeall, sweetheart?”themanasked.
“That’sit.Igottahurryandgethome.”
“Well,youbecareful.Thesestreetsaren’talwayssafeforlittlegirls.”
“I’llbecareful,”Karisaidassweetlyaspossible.
Shepracticallyskippedoutofthestore,feelingthefamiliarrushof giddinessasshefledthecrimescene.SheopenedthedoortofindKrisee leaningagainstthebuilding,smokingacigaretteandstaringdownanyonewho mightbegivingherafunnylook.
“Yougotthestuff?”
“Yup,”Karisaid,punctuatingitbykissingKrisee’scheek.
“Thenlet’sblowthisjoint.”Sheflickedhercigaretteawayandthenthey left,maintainingaleisurelyswaggerastheywent.
InanalleyKaridistributedtheirloot.Onlythendidsheallowherselfthe giggleshe’dwantedtoletoutearlier.Theyhadgottenawaywithit,noone questioningher,noteventhecashierlookingrightather.
“Youaresooooamazing,”Kriseesaid.SheleanedovertokissKarionthe lips,hermouthtastinglikethebeershe’djustdrank.Thentheysatbackand devouredtheirill-gottensnacks.
Theydidn’tneedtoresorttoshoplifting;theymademorethanenough moneyattheclubtocovertheirsnacksandasabartenderKaricouldeasilyget asmuchalcoholastheywanted.Itwasjustagametheyplayed,onethatwent alongwiththeirtattoos,piercings,andunnaturally-coloredhair.Theywere experimenting,asTaihadsaid,justlikenormalteenagers.
Kari,alwayssoshyandproper,hadneverthoughtbeingbadcouldbeso fun.Whilesheknewshoplifting,kissingagirlinpublic,andcarvinghername onalightfixturewerejustpettycrimes,shestillgotathrilloutofit.Theywere rebellingagainstthesystem,asystemTaihadcreated.Evenifhehadgiven themtacitapprovalbymakingthemlookthisway,itstillfeltgoodtotweakhis nosejustabitbyrebellingagainsthissquare“perfect”world.
Thensheheardtheclocktowerringoutfouro’clock.“Ohshit,”shesaid, gettingtoherfeet.“Wegottagettotheclub!”
Eventeenagedrebellionhaditslimits.
***
TheyfoundMissKilgorewaitingforthematthedoor,flabbyarmsfolded acrossherchest.“Sorrywe’relate,”Karisaid.“Wejustlosttrackoftime,you know?”
“That’sthefourthtimethisweek,”MissKilgoregrowled.Sheturnedto Krisee.“Val’stakingyourplaceforthefiveo’clockandMakiscoveringthebar untilsix.Youlittlehoodlumsgowaitintheofficeuntilyou’reneeded.
“Yes,ma’am,”theysaidinunison.AssoonasMissKilgoreturnedaround, though,KriseegrinnedatKari,whosmiledback.Theybothhadtostiflelaughs.
Thoselaughsdidn’tlastlong.AssoonasKaristeppedthroughthe doorway,shesawtheblackmarkappearonherhand.Shetastedsomething metalinhermouthandfeltaroundtotouchbracesaroundherteeth.Something coldtouchedhercheeksandshefeltapairofthickplastic-framedglasses.She alsofeltcrustyzitsalonghercheeks.TurningtoKrisee,shesawherfriend’s cutepinkhairunravelandthengrowuntilitreachedherwaist,whereitbegan graduallyfadingintoamousybrown.Zitspoppeduponherfacetoo,butno glasses.WhenKriseeopenedhermouth,Karisawshetoohadbraces.
“Thiththuckth,”Kriseegrumbled.“Welooklikegeekth.”
“It’thnotthatbad,”Karisaidastheytrudgedovertoacornertable.She touchedherfriend’splainhair.“You’rethtillpretty.”
“Thankth.Youaretoo.Thotheglaththethlookcool.”
KarineededamomenttorealizeKriseewastalkingaboutherglasses.
“Thankth.”ShetookoffKrisee’sjacketandsawthathertattooshad disappeared,exceptfortheprancingunicornonherrightarmthathadKrisee’s namestenciledinacloud.AtleastTaihadletherkeepthat.
“HowamIthuppothedtogoonthtagelikethithe?”Kriseeasked,tossing herhair.
“Youcanwearawig,”Karisuggested.
“Igueth.”
Seeingherfriendwasindireneedofcheeringup,Karilookedaroundthe club.Makwasstillatthebar,mixingadrinkforacustomer.MissKilgorehad gonebackstagetogetthegirlsreadyforthenextshows.Shedidn’tseeTai around,thoughhecouldbeanywherehechose.
Still,forthemomentthecoastwasclear.Feelingthatgiddinessinher stomachagain,sheleanedovertowhisperintoKrisee’sear,“IthinkIhavetogo tothebathroom.”
Krisee’sbracesglintedinthelightasshesmiled.“Leadon.”
Karitookherhandandthentheysprintedintothebathroomstall.Kissing withbraceswasanewadventureastheyhadtobecarefulnottohooktheir bracestogetheroroneachother’slips,buttheysoonfoundtherhythm.From thenitwasjustlikeoldtimes—braces,glasses,zits,andall.
***
Onlyonecustomeraskedherthatdayifshewastooyoungtobeserving drinks.Shejustshruggedandkeptmixingtheman’sdrink.Ifhewantedto complainhewaswelcometotry,thoughshehatedtothinkhowgeekyshewould endupshouldshegetanotherblackmark.
Kriseecameoutonstageateightforherset.Shestillworeherleatherskirt andjacket,alookthatseemedtoplaywelltothecustomers.Somehowshe’d gottenholdofabrightpinkpageboywig.Eitherthatorsomeonehaddonea reallyfastdyejob.FromwhatKaricouldsee,Kriseehadcoveredthezitsby paintingherfaceadeathlywhitewiththickblackeyeshadowandlipstick.
AsKariwasadmiringthisnewlookandwonderinghowitmightlookon her,Valsatdownonastoolinfrontofher.“CanIgetsomewater?”sheasked.
“Thure.”Karifumbledbeneaththecounterforthewaterwhilewatching Kriseestripofftheleatherjacketandthenchuckitbackstage.Freedfromthe jacket,Kriseedidacoupleofbackflips,endingwithahandstand,herskirt pullingdowntorevealherprivates.Seeingthis,Kariwoundupspillingmostof thewateronthecounter.“Thorry.”
“Youreallyloveher,don’tyou?”Valsaid.
“Igueththo,”Karisaid.Shepluckedatowelfrombeneaththecounterto wipeupthemessshe’dmade.“Areyoujealouth?”
“Doyouwantmetobe?”
“Iathkedyoufirtht.”
“Oh,that’ssoooomature.”
“Wellneitherofuthithverymatureanymore,”Karisaid.Thankstoher goodperformances,Valhadgottenevenyounger,sothatnowshewasabout fourteen,thoughherskinremainedunblemishedandherbodylookedevenmore womanlywithherenormousbreastspushingagainstherwhiteblouse.
“Youdon’tseemtomind.”
“Neitherdoyou.”
“Well,good.Thenwe’rebothhappy.”
“Arewe?”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“AreyouhappywithTai?”
“OfcourseIam.YouthinkIcameoverheretogetyouback?”
“Thenwhydidyoucomeover?Youhavewaterbackthtage.”
“MaybeIjustwantedtoseehowmybestfriendwasdoing.”
“Why?Ithoughtyoudidn’tneedmeanymore.Ithoughtyouhadthoooo manymorefriendththanIdid.Ithn’tthatwhyyouweregoingtodumpme?”
“No,Iwasgoingtodumpyoubecauseyouwereaclingybitch.Butyou’re notanymore.Nowyou’rejustaregularbitch.”Foremphasisshethrewthe waterfromherglassinKari’sface.
“Youlittle—”
“Thinkwhatyou’redoing,”ValinterruptedasKarireachedforabottle.
“Just
remember,allIhavetodoisaskTaiandhecanputyouandyourgirlfriend indiapers.”
AsmuchasKariwantedtodenyit,Valwasright.Allshehadtodowas crawluponTai’slapandaskhimsweetlyandtheStoneofChangewoulddothe rest.Karileftthebottleontheshelf.“Fine,butwe’renotfriendthanymore.
Gotit?”
“Fine.Idon’twanttobefriendswithastuck-uplittlebitchlikeyou anyway.”
Theyturnedawayatthesametime.KariheardValstormaway.Forthe restofthenightshewatchedherlefthandforanothermark,butnoneappeared.
Astheclubcloseddownforthenight,Kriseecametositdownatthecounter.
Shelitupacigaretteandsighed.“YouandValhaveanotherfight?”
“Yeth.”
“Youwannatalkaboutit?”
“Notreally.”
Kriseestudiedherforamomentandthenshrugged.“Hey,Iheardthere’th
apartygoingdowninthewoodthoutthidetowntonight.Lotofhighthchool kidththere.Ithoughtmaybewecouldtakeacoupleofbottlethandgoover there.Thhouldbefun.Unlethyouwannajustgohomeandrelax.”
“No,I’mfine.”Karikneltdowntoretrieveacoupleofbottlesofvodka.
Maybeshe’dgetablackmarkforit,butatthemomentsheneededtounwind afterherfightwithVal.“Let’thgo.”
ShetookKrisee’shandandtheyhurriedoutthedoor,intothenight.
Chapter15
Eventhoughshehadn’tgottenablackmarkinoveramonth,thepimples onKari’sfacehadtripledwhileherwholefaceseemedtohaveagreasysheento it.Shewipeditoffasbestshecouldwithawashcloth.It’sprobablyjustnormal teenagehormones,shetoldherself.
ItcomfortedheralittlethatKriseewasgoingthroughanawkwardphaseof herown.Inthelastmonthshehadshotuptencentimeters.Hergrowthspurt hadgottentothepointwhereevensheadmittedherskirtsweretooshort.The addedheightlefthersoskinnythatinbedKariwouldtickleherribsasifplaying axylophone.TheextracentimetersalsomadeitmoredifficultforKriseetodo someofhermoreacrobaticmoves,whichhadcurtailedhertipsabit.Ifthings didn’timprovesoon,shewouldprobablyendupwithablackmarkforpoor performance.
Astheywalkedtothebusstop,Kriseesaid,“IheardfromMissKilgore there’sgoingtobeabigmeetingtoday.Theownerissupposedtobethere.”
“Tai?What’shewant?”Inthelastmonththey’dbothgottenusedto talkingaroundtheirbraces,makingconversationaloteasiertounderstand,plus notnearlyasmuchspitflyingaround.
“Idon’tknow.Probablytofireusforthatlittlewitch,Val.”Sinceher fallingoutwithKari,Valhadmadeitherlife’sworktoostracizeKariandKrisee fromeveryoneelseattheclub.Sometimeswhenshewentbackstage,Kariheard thegirlswhisperingandgigglingtoeachother;theywouldstopassoonasshe enteredtheroom,whichmeanttheyhadbeentalkingabouther.Kriseereceived thesametreatment.Theotherdancershardlytalkedtohernowandtheynever invitedhertoanypartiesoranythinglikethat.ClearlyValhadtakenKari’s crackaboutValnothavinganyfriendsveryseriously.
“Youthinkhe’dcalleveryonetogetherforthat?”
“Sheprobablyinsistedtohumiliateus.Imeanhumiliateusmorethan beingpizza-faceddykes.”
KaristoppedtogapeatKrisee.“What’sthatsupposedtomean?”
“Nothing.I’mjustsayingthat’swhattheysayaboutus.Notjustbackstage either.They’vegotthewaitressestellingthecustomersthatstuffsowewon’t getgoodtips.”
KariputahandonKrisee’sarm.“Comeon,it’snotthatbad.Evenifthey aretalkingaboutus,westillhaveeachother,right?Andwehavelotsoffriends outsidetheclub.”Thoughperhaps“friends”wasn’ttherightword.Therewere otherkidswhosepartiestheywenttoandwhosecouchestheysometimes
crashedonafteranightofdrinking.
“That’strue.”
“Areyouhavingsecondthoughts?Aboutus,Imean?”
KarisawaclocktoweroverKrisee’sshoulder.Shegotonhertoestokiss Kriseeonthelipsandthensaid,“Iknowwhat’llcheeryouup.Wecangoto thatlingerieboutiqueandI’llshopliftyousomethingnicetoweartonight.”
Kriseegiggledatthis.“Youreallyknowhowtomakeagirlfeelspecial.”
***
Theygottotheclubthemomenttheclockstruckfouronlytofindeveryone elsewaitingonthem.“Thereyoulittlehoodlumsare,”MissKilgoresaid.
“Whatmischiefhaveyoubeengettingintonow?”
“Nothing,”theysaidwithidenticalmischievoussmiles.Karihadinfact shopliftedanexpensive,lacybraandpantiesfromthelingerieshop,bothof themalavendercolorthatlookedreallycuteonKrisee.Theydidn’tlookso goodonKari,atleastnotuntilshehitagrowthspurtofherown.
“Gositdown.Mr.Lecauwillbeheresoon.”
Karipouredthemeachaglassofvodkaastheywaited.Shedidn’twantto thinkaboutwhatTaihadtosay.Iftheywereluckythiswouldjustbearoutine meetingaboutboringpoliciesorsomesuchthing.Butshecouldn’thelp worryingthatKriseemightberightabouthimwantingtofiretheminfrontof everyoneelse.Orhemightjustgivethemacoupleofblackmarkstomakethem moreawkwardthantheyalreadywere.
ShelookedarounduntilshesawValsittingatatablewiththeother dancers.CatchingKari’seye,shebegantolaughandwhispersomethingtothe others.ItwasprobablysomebitchylittlecommentaboutKari’sacneormaybe herglassesorbraces.Karilookedaway,notgivingherthesatisfactionof showinganyreaction.
ShehadfinishedasecondglassofvodkabeforeTaicamethroughthe doors.“SorryI’mlate,”hecalledout,thoughKaridoubtedhewassorryabout anything.Hesatontheendofthestage,wherehecouldlookdownonthem.
“Allrighteveryone,let’sbringitin.Thatmeansyoutwohooligans.”
KaritookKrisee’shandandthentheytrudgedovertositdownnexttoMiss Kilgore.KarikeptholdofKrisee’shand,givingitareassuringsqueeze.Krisee gaveherasqueezeback.
“Now,Ihavebadnewsandgoodnews.Thebadnewsfirst:theclubis goingtobeclosedforthenextthreedays.”Taipausedtowaitfortheshocked
murmurstodiedown.“Don’tworry,youwillbecompensated.Now,thegood news:wehaveaverybigeventthreedaysfromnow.I’mgoingtobehostinga littlepartyatmyhousewithsomeveryexclusivefriends.Andyougirlsare goingtobetheentertainment.”
Theshockedmurmursturnedtoexcitedones.Karionlybitdownonher lip.ShecouldsensesomethingTaihadn’ttoldthemyet,anotherpieceofbad news.Val,thelittlesuck-up,raisedherhandasiftheywereinschool.“What kindofshowarewegoingtodo?”
“Yougirlsdon’thavetoworryaboutdancing,atleastnotthatkind.These areclassygentlemen.Buttheywillrequireanescortfortheevening.”
NowKariunderstood.Taiwouldbeusinghishouseforabrothelthat evening.His“classy”friendswouldprobablybetakingturnsontheminthe bedroomsallnight.Sheshiveredatthisthought.
“Thesemenareveryparticularabouttheirescorts,sothisisgoingto requirealittlecostumechangethatwilltakesomegettingusedto.”
Insteadofjustwinkingatthem,theStoneofChangeonTai’sringbeganto glow.KarigaveKrisee’shandanothersqueezeasshewaitedtoseewhatwould happentothem.Shedidn’thavelongtowait;justafewsecondslatertheir handsbeganshrinking,slippingawayfromeachother.
Havinggonethroughthisoftenenoughalready,Karionlywatchednumbly asherbodyshrankintothatofascrawnylittlegirl.Thelastof
hertattoosfaded awayandherpiercingsvanishedsothatshecouldbeaproperchild.Hertank topandleatherskirtbecameasilkypowderbluegown.Theskirtballooned outwardanddescendedtoenvelopherfeetwhilethepuffysleevesofthedress droopedlooselyoverherarms.Onlythetoesofhermatchingblueshoesstuck outfrombeneaththeskirt.Herhairgrewtothemiddleofherback,lighteningto amorenaturalred.Thenitcoileduplikeasnake,wrappingaroundthebackof herheadinanelaboratebraidwhileacurtainofbangsdescendedoverher forehead.Theacnefromherteenagefacedriedupintocrustybrownspotsthat smoothedintocutefreckles.
Nexttoher,Krisee’schangewasmoresevere.AsKarihadexperienced severaltimesalready,Krisee’sbodyturnedtofatasitcompacted.Herbody inflateduntilevenheroversizedblousebecametight.Herclothessoon expandedintoadresslikeKari’sexceptthatitwaspink.Herhairdarkenedtoa mediumbrownandthenshortenedtohershoulders,whereitflippedupatthe endswhileshetoohadacurtainofbangsoverherforehead.Hercheekspuffed upandacquiredswirlsoffrecklesaswell.OnceKari’sglassesteleportedonto Krisee’sface,sherealizedshewaslookingatherselfatsevenyearsold.
“I’msoooofat,”Kriseewhined,puttingapudgyhandonhergut.“Whydo
yougettobeskinny?”
“ItwaspwobabwyVaw’sidea.”
KarilookedoveratVal’stableandsawtheotherdancershadlikewise shrunkintolittlekidsinlooseballroomgowns.Valwashardtosee,having becomesotinythatatfirstKaricouldn’tfindherbetweenthebulkydressesthe otherswore.ThenValstoodupandKarisawherformerbestfriendhadbecome atoddleragainwithamassofcurlyblackhaircrownedbyawhitebow.Unlike everyoneelse,herwhitedressactuallyfit.Despitehowtinyshewas,shestill gaveKariahaughtylook,nodoubtknowingallalongwhatTaiwoulddo.
Whenitwasover,andthegirlsstoppedwhimpering,KarisawTaiandMiss Kilgoreweretheonlyadultsleftintheroom.TheStoneofChangehadstopped itsglowingonTai’sfinger,meaningforthemomenttheyweresafe.