Chapter 24

• On the far side of campus there were a group of modern duplex dorms tucked in the trees that were reserved for upperclassmen. Annie had toured them when she first visited the college with her mother. They were almost like real townhouses, and had large common spaces. Annie could tell from the sound of music and raised voices which of the houses she was going, and felt herself getting nervous. The party seemed to have spread to a number of the houses. But there was an especially big group of students out front of one, smoking and talking excitedly. Loud music poured from the doors. She looked down at herself. She'd zipped the cardigan up against the cold, but it was fitted and she could see her nipples even through the ribbed knit. She'd stopped, thinking there was still time to go back and change when she heard Sue call her. "Annie you came!" Sue was trotting towards her, a red cup hand. She offered Annie the drink with a laugh. "No idea what's in it, but it's good."
• Annie smiled and took a sip; it was sangria. "It's good" she told Sue. "You look pretty." And she did. Sue wasn't as tall as Michele, but she was a tall girl. She had long straight straw colored hair, and a dancer's body. Right then she was flush, even though all she wore was a light flowery dress that showed off her figure and dressy little sandals. "Thanks, I came out to cool down", she explained, "but I'm starting to freeze", she wrapped her arms around herself. "Come on, everyone else is inside." Sue led her by the hand through the crowd of smiling boys and girls milling around outside and into the dark loud crowded scene within. Short as she was, Annie couldn't really see where they were going, but Sue kept a good hold of her as they pushed through the crush, and almost unbelievably, the music grew louder and louder as they did. They came into an large commons and Annie understood why Sue was overheated. It was as hot as a sauna, the widows fogged with humidity, and packed with dancing kids. Sue pointed to a pile of coats next to a sofa and leaned over to yell into Annie's ear. "That's our stuff!" Annie understood. She unzipped the cardigan and put it with the others' things. Pulling nervously at the hem of her shirt she turned back to Sue, who took her by the shoulders, gave her the once-over twice, and then mimed a snarl and mouthed the words "DAMN GIRL!" Annie smiled with relief at the compliment. Sue wrapped her arm around her and guided her through the jostling crowd.
• Nancy saw them first and gave Annie a sweaty hug. She was in a little black dress and heels. Her eyes were made up and her hair was down. Annie hadn't seen other girls as dressed up as Sue as they came in, but seeing Nancy her outfit made sense now. 'She upped the game.' There were a few other girls from yoga, all in dresses ('I didn't get the memo' Annie thought.) Jill and Rachael from Cross Country, some boys she recognized but didn't know, and a few more boys she didn't even recognize, and Michele - who smiled at Annie, almost bashfully. Annie understood why there were so many boys in the group. Michele was in heels too, which Annie realized because she stood taller than even the tallest of the boys. She was wearing a little silky blue dress with spaghetti straps that was so plain it could have been a slip. But it draped Michele like a Goddess, and left nothing to the imagination. Even as she thought this, she felt the stronger girl's eyes moving over her like hands. The hungry thing eclipsing the bashful smile. She barely had the chance to smile shyly back before Nancy grabbed her and started dancing.