The Book of Masks (Vol. 4)

More and Merrier

Previously: "Back Seat Shenanigans" 

"Hey Will," Laurent says as soon as he answers the phone. "You have fun last night?"

You don't know how to answer that. How do I say "Yes" without him asking for details about stuff I didn't do? you wonder. How do I say "No" without sounding like an asshole?

Laurent saves you from humiliation by laughing and asking what's up.

"Well, I was waiting to hear from you—"

"Yeah, I was just gettin' ready to face the day," he says.

"You just got up?"

He laughs again. "Nah, I just got back from my run. So what kind'a action're you lookin' for tonight?"

"Oh. Well. I was calling to tell you I've got a, uh, new thing to show you. For our project."

"Cool, what is it?"

"Well, it's—"

"Hang on a minute. Ma!" he yells, and it sounds like he's shouting at someone in the next state over. "Ma! Yeah, I'm in—! Hang on a minute, Will."

There's a rustling, and then Laurent's voice sounds distantly. You pinch the bridge of your nose.

"Yeah, tell you what, Will," Laurent says when he picks back up, "can I meet you someplace? Or— Hang on." The line briefly cuts out. When he comes back on, he says, "I'll pick you up in ten minutes. Your place?"

"Sure," you say, and drop into your chair to still your spinning head after the line has gone dead.

* * * * *

It's closer to thirty minutes before Laurent's giant black pickup truck pulls into your driveway. He's not alone: Chris Ratliff climbs out of the cab to let you squeeze into the middle next to Laurent. You've got the book with you, and a backpack full of the supplies and tools you need to make more of those metal strips. But you feel shy about talking in front of Ratliff.

Not that either he or Laurent seem much interested in hearing from you. They just shout and laugh hoarsely at each other over the top of your head on the drive out to ...

Well, they don't tell you where you're going. Instead, they just compare notes on the previous night, with Laurent jeering at Chris about his inability to get close enough to a girl to get a mask onto her, and Chris jeering at Laurent about the girl that he managed to copy. Her name, you gather, is Mackenzie Fuller, and Ratliff wants to know if Laurent snagged her because he's hungry for Michael Wilson's cock. Judging by his laughter, that's the funniest thing Laurent has heard in days.

The conversation leaves your skin prickling in embarrassment at being so completely ignored. Even when sitting between them, it's like you're invisible.

But your skin prickles all the harder when Laurent pulls up in front of a large two-story house and kills the motor. There's a shirtless, barefoot figure in the front yard, playing a solitary game of hacky sack: Marc Garner, the captain of the school's soccer team. He grins and kicks the sack at Ratliff's head as Chris dismounts. Chris catches it, bounces it off his bicep, and tosses it back. Marc catches it in the crook of his foot and resumes playing without missing a beat.

Short greetings are bandied about, followed by Laurent asking, "Brownie late?"

"He had to pick up a coupla guys, he said," Marc replies. "Come on in. We got the place to ourselves." He catches the sack out of mid-air. "Mom and the girls are out shopping. Dad's with his buddies watching the Mets game."

"Your dad likes the Mets?" Ratliff asks in disbelief.

"And they left you alone?" Laurent laughs. "Shit, man, par-tay!"

Marc squints at him over his grin. "I didn't tell Hannah I had the afternoon free. You got my undivided attention for whatever your deal is."

Your heart freezes and sinks like a lead weight at those words. And only then do you notice that Laurent picked up your backpack as he exited the truck. "How much'd Brownie tell you?" he asks Marc.

"He just said it was more fun than getting laid. Shit, man!" Marc laughs and pumps his arms in the air. "Doesn't speak well of Brownie's prowess, does it?"

"Well, wait'll you see. It's goddamn close, though." Laurent grabs you by the shoulder. "Show 'im, Will."

* * * * *

The next hour is lost in hijinks. First, Laurent has to put on the Maria mask and show off for the astonished Marc. Then Marc has to have a go at it. Then Brownie and Noah arrive and pile into the house. They're not alone, either, having brought Ethan Nieves, another wrestler, with them, and he has to be shown the thing and have a go with it. Then Laurent gets to show off Mackenzie Fuller, who is a small-boned girl with a creamy tan, dark hair cut in a short bob, and a white smile bracketed by deep dimples, and Noah gets to show off Kendra Saunders, a gazelle-like cheerleader of Kenyan ancestry. The three girls entertain the rest of the crowd for a bit, and then masks are switched around for further fun.

The laughter is still boiling over when Laurent remembers that you have a new toy to show them. He quiets the others and they all crowd around as you take out the metal band you made. You explain that you haven't tried it out yet, but you show them the book, translate the description, and tell them what you think it means.

"Oh, fuck," Mackenzie (Chris) gasps. "We could find out if Mackenzie really likes Michael or just his cock!"

"We could find out what kind of bubbles Maria's got in her brain," Maria (Ethan) exclaims.

"Shit, man, get one of those on Mr. Muniz or Mr. Krohling," Marc says, "and forget ever having to study for a test again!"

Brownie snorts. "Only you'd wanna use this stuff to get better grades!"

Marc turns as red as a cherry tomato, but his grin is very white. "Well, we know what you'd want one of 'em for, Brown-nose," he jeers. "Get a thing like that on Chelsea so you can find out what Gordon's cock tastes like!"

There's howls of laughter all around—including from Brownie—but if you're not mistaken, there's an edge of nervousness to them.

* * * * *

Like yesterday, you feel like you're "in" the group but not "of" it. Your laughs are forced, and no one banters with you like they do with each other. Which isn't such a bad thing, maybe. You don't think you'd know how to banter back. But it does leave you feeling a little lost and alone after they go back to playing with the masks of Maria, Mackenzie, and Kendra.

You're in the kitchen, nursing a glass of water, when Laurent comes in to get a beer from the fridge. He nods at you and asks how you're doing. You tell him you're doing fine. But instead of returning to join the braying, guffawing crowd in the living room, Laurent settles back against a countertop and gives you a long look. "Haven't heard from you, Will, what you'd do with this stuff," he says.

You shrug. "Same as you guys, I guess."

"Yeah? We're gonna hit the Warehouse tonight. You coming?"

You hesitate, then shake your head. Then you blurt out: "I've never been to the Warehouse."

You expect to get chaffed, but Laurent turns a warm grin on you.

"Well, there's a first time for everything," he says. "First time to wear one of those mask things. When are you going to? With us, I mean." His glance turns keen.

Again, you hesitate. "I don't know," you mutter.

He cocks his head and gives you a very long look. Then with a soft grunt he pads out of the kitchen. Well, I've fucked it up now, you think. If you had your truck here, you'd probably bolt for home.

You kill a few minutes with another glass of water before returning to the living room. Some kind of argument seems to have broken out, for voices are raised. It takes you a moment to realize that Marc's got the embarrassed grin of a cornered animal, and that his friends are, verbally at least, prowling and batting at him. "No," Marc insists from behind raised hands. "No way! I can't!"

"Sure you can!" "Fuck that!" "Chickenshit!" the others yell back. "You wanna fuckin' die a virgin?" Brownie howls at him.

Laurent whistles through his teeth. "Garner just needs someone to cover for him, is all!" he shouts. He holds up one of the masks, and his grin turns wicked. "So one of us needs to take Hannah for a spin tonight while Garner goes to the Warehouse with—"

A great, roaring wave of laughter engulfs the room. Marc, his eyes bulging, protests wildly, but he's shouted down. "Who gets it?" someone yells. "Who gets to—?"

Laurent's eyes lock on you. You know what he's going to say even before he says it. "Will'll cover for him!" he shouts over the crowd.

All heads swivel toward you. The room seems to catch it breath. There's some scattered laughs, but some snickers too.

"Will!" Laurent beckons to you. He lays his hand on your shoulder when you stagger over. "Garner wants to come to the Warehouse with us, but he's got a date with his girlfriend."

"Don't do it, man," Garner says. His mouth is twisted up into a rictus.

"He needs someone to cover for him," Laurent continues. "You up for it?"

You gape. "I— I wouldn't know— How to— What to—"

"You just need his face." Laurent shows you the mask and waggles his eyebrows.

"But I don't know how to— How to—"

"Neither does Garner," Brownie hoots. You feel yourself blushing furiously.

"This thing you made." Laurent snatches that metal band off the mantle. "We can use it on Garner, and then you can use it with the mask. If it works like you say, then you will know. Well, you'll know whatever Garner knows," he corrects himself to guffaws from the others.

You catch Marc's expression. Agony shows in his grin. Is it fear that you'll say yes? Or fear that you'll say no?

Indeed, you could cover for Marc. But who would cover for you? You've got a tight curfew.

Next: "Maker's Marc" 

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"Table of Contents (Vol. 4)" 
"The Book of Masks (Vol. 4)"