Spencer blinked. “What are you doing here?” she barked.
Reefer looked around the room. “Well, a professor invited me to lunch. And then I met Daniel in the dining hall, and he told me about tonight’s shindig.”
It was the most preposterous thing Spencer had ever heard. “A professor invited you here?”
“Yeah, Professor Dinkins,” Reefer said, shrugging. “He’s in the quantum physics department. That’s what I’m majoring in next year.”
Quantum physics? Spencer stared again at Reefer’s dirty jeans and beat-up hemp shoes. He didn’t even look capable of using a washing machine. And was it normal for professors to invite incoming freshmen to tour the campus? No one from the faculty had invited Spencer to visit. Did it mean she wasn’t special?
“There you are.” Harper grabbed Spencer’s arm. “I’ve been looking all over for you! Wanna keep me company outside?”
“Please,” Spencer said, relieved.
“You can ask Reefer if he wants to come, too,” Harper stage-whispered.
Spencer glanced over her shoulder at Reefer. Luckily, he was now talking to Daniel and paying no attention to either of them. Maybe Daniel would realize how much of a dork Reefer was and ask him to leave.
“Uh, I think he’s busy,” Spencer said, turning back to Harper. “Let’s go.”
Harper kicked open the back door and led Spencer across a brick patio to a small gazebo. Several kids were sitting around a fire pit, drinking wine. A couple was making out near the hedges. Harper settled down on a bench, pulled a cigarette from her jacket pocket, and lit it. Smelly smoke swirled around her head. “Want some?”
It took Spencer a few seconds for her to realize it was a joint. “Um, that’s okay. Pot makes me sleepy.”
“Come on.” Harper inhaled hard. “This stuff is amazing. It gives you the best high.”
Snap. A twig broke in the woods. A whooshing sound filled the air, and then soft, feathery whispers. Spencer looked around nervously. After what had happened last summer with Kelsey, the last thing she wanted was to get caught with drugs.
“Do you really think you should do that?” Spencer said, eyeing the joint. “I mean, couldn’t you get in trouble?”
Harper flicked a bit of ash off the tip. “Who’s going to tell on me?”
There was another snap. Spencer gazed into the dark woods, feeling more and more nervous. “Um, my drink’s running low,” she mumbled, holding up her empty cup.
She ran into the house, feeling relieved as soon as she returned to the overheated room. Refilling her cup with lemon-infused vodka, she strutted onto the dance floor. Quinn and Jessie invited her into their dancing circle, and she let three songs go by without thinking, trying to lose herself in the music. A junior boy named Sam cut in, dipping Spencer dramatically. The vodka zoomed through her veins, fiery and potent.
When she saw the flashing lights reflecting across the window, she thought someone had been pulled over on the street outside the house. But then, two uniformed cops opened the front door and poked their heads inside. Most of the guests hid their drinks behind their backs. The music stopped dead.
“What’s going on in here?” One of the officers shone a flashlight into the room.
Everyone scattered. Doors slammed. The other cop raised his megaphone to him mouth. “We’re looking for Harper Essex-Pembroke,” his muffled voice boomed. “Miss Essex-Pembroke? Are you here?”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. At that very moment, Harper appeared at the back door, her hair mussed, and a startled look on her pale face. “I-I’m Harper. What’s the problem?”
The cop stepped toward her and grabbed her arm. “We got an anonymous tip that you’re in possession of marijuana, with the intent to sell.”
Harper’s mouth dropped. “W-what?”
“That’s a serious offense.” The corner of the cop’s mouth turned down.
Everyone watched as Harper was escorted through the room. Quinn shook her head in horror. “How the hell did the cops find out Harper had weed?”
As if she’d heard Quinn’s question, Harper turned around and glared at Spencer. “Nice job,” she hissed. “You ruined this party for everyone—and yourself.”
Spencer’s eyes bulged. “I didn’t say anything!”
Harper just gave her an incredulous look as the cops escorted her out the door. Jessie and Quinn gaped at Spencer. “You told?” Quinn exclaimed.
“Of course not!” Spencer said.
Jessie’s brown eyes were wide. “But you were outside with her, weren’t you? None of us would tell.”
“It wasn’t me!” Spencer exclaimed. “I swear!”
But her words fell on deaf ears. Within seconds, everyone else at the party was looking at her suspiciously. Spencer slipped out of the room, her face burning. What the hell had just happened? How was she suddenly to blame?