If she gave her up…

"Wait here," Karen ordered, moving towards her three friends in the corner.Obediently, but not without a flash of anger, the tall brunette sat down on abench near the door.

"What’s up?" Karen asked as she approached. "Neil said you wanted to meet."

"Just the final plans for tomorrow night," Sharon told her. "The footballparty." She looked over at where Ashley sat, staring at the floor."Everything’s cool with her? Did she cause any problems?"

Karen plopped herself down beside Neil. "No," she answered. "No problem. We’llbe there."

"Great," Sharon smiled. "I’ve got the perfect costume picked out; the guys aregonna love her." Neil chuckled at this, but Karen only frowned.

"Listen," she said tentatively, "she’s not gonna get… you know… hurt oranything like that?"

"Ha," Neil laughed. "Just get her brains fucked out. That’s all."

"No," Karen ignored him. "I mean like, beaten, or… well… you know."

"Huh uh," Sharon shook her head. "Nothing like that. It’s just a party; theguys on the football team at BCN just want to celebrate the end of the seasonwith a big blow out. Stacy was such a big hit the last time, they want her backagain." Sharon looked over at Gary who didn’t react. "I offered them Ashley aswell because you said you wanted the money. They were willing to pay twice asmuch for two girls."

Karen looked undecided.

"There’s not a problem with that, is there?" Gary asked. Karen looked over atGary, meeting his intense stare for a few moments and then looking away.

"No," she answered finally. "I just don’t want her hurt. That’s all."

The table fell silent for a few moments.

"OK then," Sharon stated. "That’s settled. You’ll meet us at my house at eightto get the girls dressed."

"Yeah," Karen told her, getting to her feet. "We’ll be there." This said, sheturned and walked away towards the waiting Ashley. She walked straight past herand out the door. After a confused glance at the three teenagers in the corner,Ashley scrambled to her feet and followed her out.

"What was that all about?" Neil muttered.

"Dunno." Sharon shrugged her shoulders.

Gary laughed. His two friends turned towards him. "It’s spring," he explained,grinning.

"Huh?"

"You know," Gary insisted. "Spring. Birds and bees and that sort of thing."

His two friends stared at him, blank looks on their faces.

Gary sighed.

"I think our Karen is falling in love…"

When Peter Jenkins had called to invite her to a party up in Point Hope, Stacyhad jumped at the opportunity. Peter was two years older than her, and had beena senior at Greenwood when Stacy had been in grade ten. They had gone steadyfor a little while - about nine dates altogether - but Stacy had eventuallydumped him when the current captain of the football team had expressed aninterest in her. She had never really seen much of Peter after that; she knewthat he didn’t get another girlfriend that year, but never really thought aboutit. In her mind, the split-up had been entirely natural, and, if it botheredhim, well… he’d just have to grow up a bit, wouldn’t he?

Thus, when he called her up, she had not hesitated to accept his invitation. Hehad moved to the nearby town of Point Hope after graduation, where he worked asa clerk in a department store. For Stacy, it represented the chance to get awayfrom her present situation; to go to a party with people who didn’t know herand wouldn’t force her to have sex with them. It sounded perfect.

She even bought a new dress for the occasion. A sleeveless green dress withlittle ruffles on the shoulders. It matched her eyes perfectly, and, shethought, it made her look a bit like a little girl. She had made a mental noteto do her hair up into a pony tail. It was the sort of look which used to drivethe guys wild back when she had enjoyed that sort of teasing. Now, of course,she was obliged, as often as not, to put out, so the cock-teasing was not asmuch fun as it used to be.

Not tonight, though. Tonight, she could be her old self. No one in Point Hopeknew her or went to Greenwood. It would be just like old times.

Peter showed up at 7:00 PM as planned. It was almost a two hour drive to PointHope, so he wanted to leave fairly early. She had been ready a good fifteenminutes before he arrived, but she still kept him waiting downstairs for almosthalf an hour; it was just like old times.

He hadn’t changed much. Always rather short, the last couple of years had seenhis body fill out quite a bit until he was beginning to show a bit ofpudginess. Obviously, the clerking job at the department store didn’t involvemuch physical activity. Stacy felt herself sneering a bit as he led her out tohis car - a somewhat battered Toyota Tercel; he was turning into a bit of aslob. The way he looked now, he couldn’t be getting too much in the way ofattention from any girls; that was probably why he had turned to his old highschool girlfriend for a date at this party. No doubt he’d be so overwhelmed athaving such a beautiful date as herself, he’d do whatever she wanted. What aschmuck!

The drive up the coast to Point Hope was not particularly scenic. The only realnice part of the drive came just as they passed by the Point Hope MaximumSecurity Penitentiary and crested the hill leading down into the town itself.Point Hope was a quiet little town nestled against the beach below thesandstone cliffs. The view from the top of the hill was little short ofspectacular.

Stacy, however, had seen it all before. Besides, she was having too much funannoying Peter. The two hour drive had been marked by small talk and longsilences, but Stacy had quickly discovered that Peter was still easily upset bytalk of their brief relationship a couple years earlier in high school. He hadflushed an angry red when she had brought it up earlier in the trip, and had,since then, shut up almost entirely. Stacy, however, was enjoying herselfimmensely. She made a point of bringing it up as often as possible. By the timethey arrived at the party, she was in a great mood, and Peter was quiet andsullen.

Peter fought to remain patient as he led Stacy up the walk to the front door.This had better be worth it!

He had received a phone call from a guy - some kid - at Greenwood, telling himsomething about Stacy’s recent activities, and about her "weakness" foralcohol. The caller had suggested that once she had a couple of drinks in her,she would do anything, and that wouldn’t it be nice if the two of them gotback together for a date.

Peter wasn’t sure if he believed him, but it was worth a try. Stacy had been anincredible bitch to him in high school, and any chance to get even was wellworth attempting.

Since the phone call, he had been experiencing this recurring fantasy…

Stacy quickly realized that she was overdressed for the party. Most of theguests seemed to be blue collar workers from a local fish packing plant; themajority of them wore nothing more fancy than jeans and tee-shirts. Stacy wasthe only woman there in a dress. She was also the only one young enough to bein high school.

Peter immediately brought her a glass of punch. When she sipped at it, Stacydiscovered that it was a bit strong for her taste, but not too bad. She tookanother, longer, drink from the glass. The way things were shaping up at theparty, a couple of drinks might well be called for. The whole idea of coming tothis party with her ex-boyfriend was beginning to look like a bad idea. Alittle alcohol never hurt anyone; she finished the drink. Peter brought heranother one and stood talking with her while she finished that one as well.

He asked her to dance.

At first, everything went well. The music was up-tempo and the dancing was fun,despite her inappropriate dress. After a while, though, she began to feel a bitqueasy. It must have been the punch. In fact, she realized suddenly, if felt alittle like…