Vanessa Makes an Excuse to Go Home

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Vanessa takes a deep breath. Mariah is annoying her, and this irritation gives her courage.

“I just don’t feel like getting hit by a car,” she says. “It’s not my idea of fun.”

Mariah drops her arm and makes a face, then teeters over to Damian and laces both arms around his waist, ignoring Vanessa. 

Out of the corner of her eye, Vanessa sees Carlos give a little laugh, then cover his mouth. This also gives her courage. She makes a decision to act before anything else happens. 

“Anyways … I gotta go,” she says suddenly, turning and walking away quickly. “Later!” 

She has no idea what she’s doing, but keeps walking. Behind her Mariah is yelling, “What the…?” Vanessa doesn’t turn around.

After a block, she slows down, relieved. She realizes now how uncomfortable she was feeling with those guys, weaving into the road and drinking in plain sight. She’s glad she got out of there.

It was hard to walk away, and now Mariah might not speak to her again. But she’s also not going to be a sad story on the evening news. 

“You’re a dork,” she tells herself with a smile. But it actually makes her feel the opposite.