She handed me my bra and top. I got dressed as quickly as I could.
“Why did she say she spied on mi tía Isabela for you?”
“That was back when Adan was thinking about asking you out again. I wanted to be sure Isabela wouldn’t embarrass him. Forget it.”
“That X she mentioned, isn’t that the drug they accused me of taking?”
“It’s very common around here, especially with younger people. It’s as easy to get as popcorn. Only an idiot like Sophia has trouble getting some for herself.”
“So, you have this drug? Is that what you offered me earlier? Did you give it to her? I told you I have read about it, what it can do.”
“Stop being such a worrywart, Delia. I’m trying to help you have a good time, and all you do is think about the dark side of everything. C’mon.”
Other girls came into the bathroom, but none seemed to be paying any attention to me. I looked in the mirror. There was still a faint stain around my breasts, but it wasn’t going to be that noticeable when I left the bathroom.
“Are we going back to your apartment now?” I asked.
“It’s still early,” Fani said. “I don’t want your first night here to be a disaster, Delia. You’ve got to start a new life.”
“Why is it so important to you that I start a new life so quickly, Fani?”
“Larry told me about a party,” she said instead of replying. “Let’s at least stop by for a while. Maybe you’ll meet someone nicer than Clifford.”
“I’m just so—”
“Just come along,” she said, and pulled me toward the door.
I stepped out with her, terrified of facing a crowd of people looking at me and laughing. Instead, all I saw was what I had first seen when we came in, a crowd dancing, laughing, drinking. Fani leaned toward me.
“See? You’re already forgotten. No big deal. Let’s salvage what we can of the night.”
I followed her timidly back toward our table. Larry was there, but Cliff was not.
“Hey,” he said. “Everything all right?”
“Peachy keen. Where’s Mr. North Carolina?”
“He went off with that girl who made a big scene with Delia.”
“Sophia? Well, I’ll be,” Fani said. “I wonder what she offered him.”
Larry smiled lustfully. “You could make the same offer. I’m interested.”
“Don’t blow your gaskets, Larry. The night is young. Let’s go,” Fani told him. “We need a change of scenery right away.”
“Aye-aye, commander,” Larry replied, saluting and standing up quickly.
Fani looked at me and shook her head. “What an idiot,” she whispered. “We’ll lose him before the evening’s over.”
“When is it over?” I asked.
“When it’s over,” she replied.
We followed Larry through the crowd and out the front door.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“A secret party thrown by one of the fraternities. They do this once in a while, rent a house for a weekend. Since it’s out of the area and away from the college, they have more freedom, if you know what I mean.”