“No way,” Andrew says. “You’ve had like two bottles of wine.”

“It’s no big deal,” Dean says. “I do it all the time.”

“Oh, so you’re a pro.” Andrew’s tone is flat and sarcastic. He turns to me. “I’ll just drop you off. I haven’t had anything to drink since the restaurant.”

“Okay,” I say, my voice hesitant.

He turns to Danielle. “And I can take you on the way.”

“Oh, I can walk from here,” she says.

“It’s no problem though.”

“Yeah, but it’s only twelve thirty.” She pouts. “I don’t want to leave yet. Not all of us have curfews.”

“It’s not a curfew,” I say. “She’s just worried because I forgot to tell her where I was.”

I know Danielle’s parents don’t care where she goes—that’s the whole reason we were able to leave her house a few weeks ago to go to Dean’s party. But I don’t like the idea of her staying here alone with Dean, especially since they’ve both been drinking.

Apparently Andrew feels the same way.

“Just let me drive you home,” he says.

“So you can kiss me good night?” She’s smirking, leaning her body toward him.

He runs his hand through his hair. “Yeah,” he says. “This was a date, wasn’t it?”

“I don’t kiss on the first date,” Danielle says, but still she gets up and follows him to the door. “Bye, James Dean, bye, Cody.”

“I’m really sorry,” I say to Dean. “I wish I could stay.”

“I wish you could too,” he says, and then he pulls me into his arms and kisses me in front of everyone. I’ve never had an audience to a kiss before. It makes me feel powerful, like I’m finally a real girl—one that counts. But there’s another part of me that can’t help the embarrassment that washes over me as Dean pulls away.

I know it’s because Andrew is watching.

Andrew’s truck has only two real seats, with a little bench connecting them that’s only really big enough for a child. Luckily, I’m pretty much child-sized, so we all fit up front—Andrew in the driver’s seat, Danielle in the passenger seat, and me squished in between them.

It’s uncomfortable, to say the least.

“Are you sure you’re okay to drive?” I ask as Andrew slides his key in the ignition. Danielle turns on the radio and when a Beyoncé song comes on she blasts the music, singing along loudly, her voice raspy and off-key.

“I’m fine!” Andrew shouts so I can hear him. I turn the music down.

“Bitch!” Danielle says. She leaves it but continues mouthing the lyrics.