CHAPTER 4

            We arrive in the big city at about a quarter after ten. I can't believe how big it is, giant compared to our small town. We end up parking next to the beach, since they say that's always where they park. Not that I have any problems with it, I love the beach. Too bad it was nearing winter, making the weather cold. They told me I was invited to come with them next summer to the beach-bash that they've had every summer for four years.

            I followed Mickey out the left door while Kira got out the right door. I just stood there waiting for everyone looking out to sea. The sky was looking pretty gray over the water, and it looked like there was a storm out at sea, which was told by the large waves crashing into shore. Even though the weather was cold and nasty, there were still so many people enjoying the beach. I guess a good thing will always be a good thing.

            Mickey grabbed my hand in his and smiled at me. I just smiled back, not knowing what to say. We all gathered on the sidewalk, Kira and Brandon, Taz and Nick, Morgan and Alex, and then Sam. Sam was the only one in our group that didn't have anyone else with him, but I was told that his girlfriend, Becky, was out of town for the week or he would have brought her along too.

            Alex and Morgan kissed each other once more and giggled at each other. Sam turned to us as we headed south along the beach, "Alright people, what do we want to do first? We don't have lunch for at least another two hours."

            Kira looked at Alex and Morgan and laughed, "How about we kiss?"

            Alex shot Kira a dirty look, and then smiled, "I say we head to the park and show Taya around. There are good things to do there this time of morning anyway."

            Sam laughed at that, "Oh yeah, we can get ourselves something good. Do we want Nazi speed or pink blotters this time?"

            Kira and Brandon simultaneously shouted, "Yaba!"

            Alex and Morgan just nodded in agreement. Mickey turned to me, "You'll love it."

            I knew something wasn't right here, but I wasn't about to argue. They were taking me with them after all, and no one's ever done that. Plus, Mickey told me that I'll love it, and I trust him now. Plus there's no way Kira and Brandon would do anything to hurt me, right? Either way, everyone here is still alive, so it can't be that bad, I'll just go along with it.

            When we got to the park I couldn't believe my eyes, it was amazing. It was so big that you couldn't see from one end of it to the other. It was full of people, much more than the beach was. Skaters, bikers, dogs and kids. This definitely had to be at least ten times the size of our park in town, the one that was almost always empty. This was much better.

            We reach the far end of the park, fighting our way through people along the way. We come to a couple of older men standing next to a park bench. Sam walks up to them, gives some sort of special hand shake thing, and starts talking to them. He pulls out some cash and hands it to them, they then hand something over to him and nod their head. It's the hand shake again and he turns around and heads back to us.

            "Okay, lets head down to the beach," Sam said, "Let's get away from all of these people"

            I shrugged my shoulders and turned to follow everyone else down to the beach. As we were leaving the park I saw many other guys like the ones before, almost all of them nodded or said hello to Sam. It must pay to be popular, but I'd never know that. A group of guys call out Sams name and wave him over. We all just stand and wait for him. The five of them stand there talking and laughing for a few minutes, and I can tell Alex is getting impatient.

            He walks back over, waving goodbye to the guy, "Hey, thanks again!"

            He carefully hands us each a small piece of paper that looks a lot like a postage stamp and winks at us, "For later... "

            "Sweet!" Kira says as she turns to me, "Thanks Taya, we got the new-girl freebie because of you. Last time we got that was when we took Morgan along with us."

            Everyone else stuck theirs in their pockets, but I just looked at mine. Kira came up behind me, "Just stick in your pocket and use it later. You don't want to use both of these at the same time, just wait until you need it."

             I shook my head slightly, not sure what I had gotten myself into, "But I..."

            "I'll explain it all to you later," Kira said as she took it from me and shoved it into my pocket.

            As we got to the edge of the park, only blocks from the beach, Sam stopped us all under the shade of a towering oak tree, and handed us each a pill. I watched what everyone else did with it and did the same. What had I just taken? I guess we'd soon find out. Sam gave Brandon a high-five and handed him two extra pills in a small plastic bag, which he then stuck in his pocket.

            Kira laid her head on my shoulder, "Now we head to the beach and wait. It shouldn't be long now."

            Deep down I knew this was wrong, very wrong. I was a little scared, I admit, but all together I really didn't care. I wasn't sure what that was or what was going to happen next, but what I did know is that no one else was worried. I was just scared because I did something wrong. Visions of getting arrested and sent to prison, getting the crap kicked out of me by my parents, all flashed through my head.

            We reach the beach finally, and everyone seems to be acting different. I too feel different. I feel a rush come over me, like new life has been breathed into me. Kira comes running up behind me and pushes me, she then takes off running with everyone else following her. I go with it and together we all run down the sidewalk, dodging the occasional fellow pedestrian. I can't really explain what I feel, but I like it.

            Sam takes the lead after about ten minutes of chasing Kira, and takes us all into town. We try our best to contain the energy and act normal as we head up Main Avenue. Sam drags us all the way down to the end of an alley, knocking three times, and then once more on some door. The door swings open and this huge, well built man steps out. We all just sit back and talk to each other while Sam talks to the man.

            After about two minutes of what I saw as pleading and begging, the man slipped on a large white bracelet onto each one of us, and then let us in. Sam slips him a fifty as we all get in, and goes off to take the lead again. We head down a hall and two flights of stairs to some room below ground. Sam opens the door to the well guarded room, exposing an explosive exhibition of flashing lights, fog, and extremely loud music. One by one we file in and head to the dance floor. I drag Mickey along with me.

            We end up dancing for hours. I've never really danced before, but here it's easy to pick up. Plus with the flashing lights, fog, and general dark room, no one can even really see anyone else. We get the occasional soda or whatnot, but no matter how hard we try, we can't get them to sell us any alcohol. Apparently the white bracelets that glow in the black light tell everyone that we're under-age.

            The music is high strung and upbeat, not a single slow song. I dance with Mickey, Brandon, and a few others in our group, plus about seven other people I don't even know. I feel like I could dance all night. Mickey finally finds me in the back part of the dance floor. He grabs my hips and starts to dance with me. I grin and just go with it. With every minute passing, he gets closer and closer to me. We dance together for at least an hour, not ever parting eye contact.

            "Hey, can I bump in?" Kira says as she bumps me out of the way, "Go get yourself something to drink, Coolie, before you get dehydrated."

            I shrug my shoulders and head over to the bar, to join Brandon and Alex. I slip in and ask for some water, "Hey, what's up?"

            Brandon leans back and looks at me, "So, Coolie, are you having fun yet?"

            The bartender sets my water in front of me, and I just stare at it for a minute. I can almost swear it's alive, "Did you see that?"

            Brandon shook his head, "Um... see what?"

            I stared at the water some more, I could swear it was moving. I shake my head and shrug my shoulders slightly, "Never mind... And yeah, I'm havin' a blast!"

            Brandon looked at Alex and then they both looked at me, "Good, I'm glad you're having fun. We never even had to go for lunch, and it's already time for dinner."

            My heart stopped a beat, I didn't imagine that. Time for dinner? No, it can't be! I put my water down on the counter, and stood up, "No! What time is it?"

            Brandon looked at his watch and gave me a confused look, "It's five-thirty-seven now, why?"

            My eyes grew big as I ran straight onto the dance floor and pulled Kira off, "Do you know what time it is!?"

            "Oh don't worry," she said laughing as she looked at her watch, her smile fading when she looks at the time, "Shit, Coolie! We need to get you home now!"

            Kira grabbed Mickey and I grabbed everyone else and we headed for the door. Kira led the way as we all ran for the car, "Come on, we need to go!"

            No one really knew what was going on except for Kira and I, but they did a great job at keeping up. It was already nearly dark out and only minutes from my curfew. I knew I was going to get it, but I had to try. All it takes is two minutes and my parents freak out, I've learned that the hard way before. My dad was in the army for seven years, and his father made it career, so anything like this set them off.

            We were running so fast back to the car, but I never even noticed how sore and tired I was getting until we all reached the car and piled in. Sam started up the car and backed out, "Okay, what is going on?!"

            Kira looked up at him and shook her head, "I'm sorry, Taya was supposed to be back before six."

            Sam shook his head as he sped up, "Sorry, Taya, can't happen. It's already five minutes to six."

            I shook my head over and over. This would be bad, very bad, "Um... it will be okay, just... try and hurry."

            I knew that it didn't matter if I was home now or four hours from now, the results would still be the same. Kira and Mickey looked worried as they watched me rock back and forth. Mickey reached over and tried to hug me, squeezing my back fairly hard and causing me to cry out in pain.

            Mickey and Kira both jumped back. Sam looked at me in his rearview mirror, "Hey, what's going on back there?"

            I shook my head at him, "Nothing, really. I'm fine."

            Mickey and Kira stared at me in horror. Mickey finally relaxed enough to lean over and kiss me, I turned and leaned into him. While he was kissing me I failed to realize that Kira had lifted up my shirt slightly and was looking my back. As soon as she went to touch it, I almost cried out again.

            I pulled my shirt down and started shaking my head at her. Her eyes grew wide with a hint of concern behind them, "Taya, I... wow."

            Mickey looked at me confused, not really understanding what just happened. I shook my head at him, "Don't worry."

            Kira pulled on my seatbelt so I'd look at her again. I think she was afraid to touch me anymore, "Taya, why didn't you say something? Is that from your parents?"

            By now Mickey and the rest of the car had heard what she had just said, and were all staring at me, except for Sam of course. Kira shook her head, "Taya, talk to me."

            I shook my head at Mickey, and then looked back to Kira, "It's nothing, don't worry. I fell down the stairs, I tend to do that a lot. Early morning drowsiness, you know..."

            Kira shook her head at me, "No, Taya... "

            I started to feel tears well up in my eyes as I stared into hers, "They're going to kill me..."