Vanessa Keeps Playing Along

• • •

“Oh, nothing,” Vanessa says, putting on a big grin and shoving her friend into the street. The effort makes her trip over her own foot, and she falls right onto Carlos. He falls back and suddenly the ground rushes up and hits her in the face.

When she sits up, her head is ringing, and when she tries to stand, a wave of nausea washes over her and she suddenly throws up. Worse—she can’t stop. She throws up three times, splashing vomit on her shoes. Everyone stands back and she can hear Mariah saying, “Omigod, omigod.”

Then it’s silent and Vanessa gets up and tries to wipe her face. She has vomit on her clothes, which smell bad, and her head hurts. She is dying of embarrassment and wants to be anywhere but here. She turns and hurries toward home with tears in her eyes, seeing Carlos walking way behind them. She’s pretty sure she won’t see him again. 

When she gets in the house, Vanessa’s mom is waiting for her, and her eyes grow big when she sees the scrapes on her face and vomit-covered clothes. Vanessa knows her troubles have only just started. 

And what did she get out of this alcohol adventure? A big fat nothing.