The Party Read Online Free PDF Page B

obtained them—he and his friend were able to tap into the school’s files. Alice was fascinated, but before she could ask any questions, Bubba returned. And when Bubba realized that Alice had been made privy to what he obviously considered inside information, he quickly tried to present a more innocent picture of their doings.
    “What’s on this screen is only a photocopy of existing records,” he said. “It’s not the records themselves. We’re just looking at them, that’s all. It’s no big deal.”
    Alice grinned slyly. “Sure, you’re getting ready to turn the school upside down, and it’s nothing? I’m not that dumb. Come on, where did you steal these codes?”
    “What codes?” Bubba asked, glancing at Michael. “These photocopies aren’t confidential. You don’t need codes to access them.”
    Alice laughed gaily, much to Bubba’s displeasure. “I don’t believe you!”
    Bubba feigned nonchalance, quickly maneuvering out of the file, leaving the screen blank. “Suit yourself,” he said.
    “In fact, I think you could get into lots of trouble if certain people knew about this,” Alice said playfully.
    Bubba stopped, stared at her a moment. “No one’s going to get into trouble. No one’s going to talk about this. OK?”
    She didn’t understand what he was really saying.
    “He’s right,” Michael said. “This isn’t something that should get around. Do me a favor, Alice, and forget what I showed you here.”
    “All right,” she said cheerfully. “But I know it was all your idea, Bubba. Michael wouldn’t fool with people’s grades.”
    “Nor would I,” Bubba said curtly.
    Alice laughed again, oblivious to the tension in the room. Giving Michael a quick kiss on the cheek, she reminded him to be sure to get to the stadium by halftime. The instant she was gone, Bubba turned off the screen and shook his head.
    “Mike, you’re not improving your chances of being valedictorian by trying to get us both expelled.”
    “Alice won’t talk. She’s my friend.”
    “Alice is a fifteen yearold girl who is not my friend. I don’t trust her.”
    “Don’t worry about it. She was only kidding.”
    Bubba thought for a moment. “All right, Mike. Whatever you say.”
    Michael and Bubba went to the mall for lunch shortly after that. It was crowded. Michael remembered when the mall had been nothing but a piddling collection of failing stores. Put a roof over something and people swarmed in.
    Michael ordered a turkey sandwich from Ed’s Sandwich Selection. His mother was usually too tired after working all day as a secretary in a downtown highrise to cook; he had grown up eating most of his food wedged between two slices of bread.
    He was practically finished with his sandwich before Bubba had even decided what to order. Bubba finally opted for Indian food, which took time to prepare (to his specifications). By then many of Tabb’s students had already come and gone so they could be back for the special assembly of candidate speeches. Michael also had a mild interest in hearing the talks. Plus he hoped to run into Jessica Hart again. He had begun to take Bubba’s threat seriously. At Michael’s prodding, Bubba got his dishes to go.
    The assembly was well under way when they entered the gym. The bleachers were jammed. They stood near the ticket booth beside the entrance, Bubba holding his aromatic spiced Dahl and rice in a white cardboard container, surveying the audience for a seat. In a high, cracking voice, a girl at the microphone was talking about school spirit and how farout she was.
    “Do you see her?” Bubba asked.
    “I’m not looking for her.”
    “I believe you. I see her.”
    “Where? Don’t point.”
    “Sixth row on the far right, two rows behind Fosmeyer’s body.”
    Michael saw her. It was amazing how her beauty had magnified since morning. The shine of her long brown hair seemed to jump right out from the crowd. “All right, let’s leave,” Michael said.
    “But you