BooksBarbecue
Back When We Were Friends
Chapters (52)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Dedication
  4. About the Author
  5. 31
  6. 14
  7. 31
  8. 14
  9. 31
  10. 14
  11. 31
  12. 14
  13. 31
  14. 15
  15. 31
  16. 16
  17. 32
  18. 16
  19. 32
  20. 17
  21. 32
  22. 17
  23. 32
  24. 17
  25. 32
  26. 17
  27. 32
  28. 18
  29. 32
  30. 18
  31. 32
  32. 18
  33. 32
  34. 18
  35. 32
  36. 18
  37. 32
  38. 18
  39. 32
  40. 18
  41. 32
  42. 18
  43. 32
  44. 18
  45. 32
  46. 32
  47. 33
  48. 33
  49. 33
  50. Acknowledgments
  51. Discussion Questions
  52. Booklist

“It’s not gross. Anyway, who is going to do a shot?” He produced two wet shot glasses from his armpit.

Another look passed, and the words “peer pressure” floated through my brain. Kim checked Matt was watching and then implicated all of us. “I’m totally in. Though I’m so drunk already.”

“And the rest of you?”

“I guess.” I shrugged. Amy looked suitably terrified. Jessica looked bored. “I’ll eat the worm,” she said, shrugging. “It’s not a big deal.”

The whole party turned to look at Jessica. I was surprised the music didn’t stop.

“You’re going to eat the worm?” Eric couldn’t quite believe it. “You know it’s like, super alcoholic, right?” he asked.

She raised an eyebrow. “That’s the point, right?”

Amy turned to whisper to me. “She did four shots of vodka when you were upstairs.”

“What?” I looked over and saw her eyes were unfocused. “Are you sure, Jessica?” I asked her.

“Why is everyone being weird?” Jessica laughed and threw up her hands. “It’s just a tequila worm.”

“LEGEND,” Matt called over.

Eric, flustered, started pouring out shots for us and we cradled them nervously.

“All in one?” Amy asked, sounding as if she really did not want to be doing a shot.

“Hang on,” Jessica said. “Where’s mine? I want a shot too.”

“On top of the worm?”

“I thought this was supposed to be a party?”

A group formed around us, as everyone pushed to see Jessica. Eric poured her a generous measure, and she winked at the rest of us. “On the count of three, girls, one, two, three.” There was a slight lag between Jessica tossing her shot back, and us watching how to do it and copying her. The alcohol seared through my mouth and curdled in my stomach. I couldn’t not make a face, wipe my mouth, and say “bleurgh.” Kim and Amy did exactly the same, whereas Jessica hardly flinched. She was already helping Eric scoop the tequila worm out using a spoon. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Jessica being the center of a chanting mob, shouting, “Eat the worm, eat the worm.” She was magnetic. Jessica tossed the worm down her slender throat while everyone cheered around her. She didn’t grimace, only said, “Gross—who has a beer?” Matt arrived at her side to hand her a Budweiser. She smiled as she thanked him, and downed half of it with feminine delicacy, and I think every single boy fell in love with her in that moment.