Chapter #18The party by: Seuzz   "Okay," you say, releasing her arm. "Just remember the favor I did you."
"You didn't do me any favors."
"Then just remember me anyway." You walk her to the door and watch the sway in her hips all the way to the gate.
* * * * *
Saturday morning you go looking for the Libras Personas, but apparently Blackwell took it with him. That's too bad: you wanted to study up on the mind-bands but now you'll have to wait. Instead, you rig up a new toy that you've been playing with in your spare time: a little disc that, when glued to your thumbnail, can be flicked like the action of a lighter and cause a small flame to erupt and dance on the end of your thumb. If Will Prescott is going to walk around with a reputation as a creep and a weirdo, let it be earned. You summon your doppelganger by cell phone to the house.
"God, I'm unpopular," he moans when he arrives.
"Not your fault," you tell it as you push it into a chair and take its hand. You peel the new sigil from your own nail—where you've been practicing it—and glue it firmly to the nail of your twin. "What about Caleb and Keith?"
"Still avoiding me. I mean, they run when they see me."
You suck on your lip as you concentrate on the sigil. "Could be they rubbed up against some of those bills I—or we—or you—were passing out." You explain your suspicions; it nods thoughtfully. "Things are going to get a little worse for you, too. Just try to enjoy yourself." You explain your plans for the evening, and then show it how to work the flame sigil.
"This is so freaking cool!" It looks at you jealously. "I wish I could make shit like this."
"I'll be keeping you supplied," you say. You have vague ideas forming in your head. "Just use this stuff only as a last resort."
* * * * *
After "Will" goes back home you call Yumi; Meghan Farris's party will be starting in about an hour. "I'm stranded at Blackwell's and need a few supplies. I need you to drop everything and bring them over."
"Can't you get your own guy to do it," she asks in an aggressively unfriendly tone.
"He mouthed off to his dad and he's grounded. You're the only one who can help. And I don't have time for backtalk, either. I got a real situation here." You give her a short list of ridiculous but easily obtainable items. Gracelessly, she agrees to bring them over.
The moment she appears you scoop her up over your shoulder and carry her upstairs. She shrieks but you ignore her—except for the appreciative squeeze you give her firm ass. "I haven't got time," you tell her when you get her to the bedroom. "Take your clothes off."
"Don't you freaking dare—" she spits.
"Oh, put a sock in it. I need your mask to get into the party, that's all. Jesus, you think I wanna remember Jared's hairy dick up my cunny the next time I wear you? Gimme a break." She glares but disrobes, and once she's naked you strip the mask off her, turning her back into a bare golem. You change: once the mask is on, you "remember" that you have to pick up Lin, so you're quick about it too.
* * * * *
The street leading to the Farris home is clogged with cars, some double or even triple parked. Her parents are well off, so it's a big house some distance from the other houses in the subdivision. Lucky, that, since Meghan is spoiled and the noise is loud. It's early, but underdressed guys and girls are already milling about near the front. You laugh and bump hips appreciatively with guys in the crowd; you grin and gossip with girls; you do a little light dancing in place; you make special care to flirt heavily with Lynch, Patterson and Javits in provocative fashion. You even smile widely at David Kirkham, who seems to be positioning himself as the lower caste's Jason Lynch: an utter psycho.
And as you do all this, your antennae sweeps every room you pass through, exploring the various nooks and crannies for hiding places and out of the way corners. You finally settle on an upstairs bedroom that has an interior bath.
It's almost nine by now, so you return to your car and fetch your bag. The timing is terrific; Will Prescott is sauntering up the street toward the house. You beat him back and are in the foyer near Gloria Rea when he hits the front door.
"The fuck are you doing here, Prescott?" Your compatriot is being blocked by a guy neither you nor Yumi know; Will is becoming truly infamous.
Gloria turns at the name and pales. "Oh God," she mutters.
You turn to follow her gaze, and grip her arm. "I can't believe Meghan invited him," you gasp.
"Something wrong, asshole?" Will innocently asks the guy. He puts a cigarette in his mouth and lights it with his thumb. He casually brandishes the flame before blowing it out.
The guy steps back; his lip curls.
"You can't smoke in here, Will," you shout at him in a shrill voice. "Lose the ash or lose your ass."
He holds your eyes, then shrugs. He taps out the cigarette and slips it into the front shirt pocket of the guy at the door. "Keep that safe for me."
You dart forward and pull him in. "Get in here before someone punches you." You hustle him into the living room; the crowd seems to spontaneously part as you push him through, and those nearby shrink back from the chair you shove him into. "You wanna make yourself useful? Watch my stuff." You drop your purse into his lap—he gives you a bemused look—and hurry way.
"What the hell are you doing?" Lin hisses at you. "Meghan will kill you if she finds out you let him in."
"Fine, you tell him to get lost," you hiss back. "You didn't see what he did at the door to get in." Her head jerks a little. "Besides," you continue, "if there's a snake around, I want to see where it is. The only thing creepier than Will Prescott sitting inside a house is Will Prescott circling around a house and looking through the windows."
"She's still gonna kill you."
"Just keep an eye on him. I gave him my stuff to keep him still for the moment. I have another idea, but I have to find someone to help me."
You're not sure who exactly that person is, though. It depends on who is available. Your choice target is Chelsea Cooper, but she has been surrounded all night long by a pod of suck ups desperate to avoid joining Cindy Vredenburg's fate. And sure enough, when you spot her again she is in the kitchen with a very frightened-looking Eva Garner and a few other girls whose backs are to you.
On the other hand, near the door to the dining room, Patterson is slouching casually against a wall and chatting lazily with Kim Walsh. He catches your gaze, and returns it with a lascivious grin and a wink.
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